Saturday, 8th February 2014

Offshore

1 male Long-tailed Duck, 33 Common Scoters west, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes east & 2 south plus 1 on the sea, 11 Kittiwakes west, 146 Little Gulls west & 40 south, 1 Guillemot and 3 Auk sp. west.

 

 Little Gull (above & below)

Others

400 Teal, 3 Pintails, 7 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 1 Merlin, 47 Ringed Plovers, 120 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 42 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Stonechat, 35 Goldfinch and 1 Snow Bunting.

 

 Sanderlings

 

 Snow Bunting

Friday, 7th February 2014

A member of the public called in at the observation tower at Rossall Point this morning saying that she thought there was an injured Dunlin on the beach. One of the volunteers, Peter, went to see if he could find the bird in question, which he did but it was no Dunlin. The bird turned out to be a stunning adult Puffin!! Unfortunately the bird was exhausted and soon died.

 

 Puffin

Offshore 

1 male Long-tailed Duck, 50 Common Scoters, 2 Goosanders west, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Kittiwake west, 45 Little Gulls over the sewage outlet late afternoon, 1 Guillemot, 2 Auk sp. west and 1 Puffin on the beach.

Red-breasted Merganser

Others 

1 Whooper Swan, 3 Pintails, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 600 Golden Plovers, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Ruff; very rare in winter here, 53 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtails and 12 Twite.

Thursday, 6th February 2014

Offshore 

1 Shelduck west, 3 Teals west, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 55 Common Scoters, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 6 Little Gulls west and 2 Auk sp. west.

 

 Great Crested Grebe

Red-breasted Merganser

Visible Migration:

7 Woodpigeons in off the sea.

Others

5 Pintails, 10 Goldeneyes, 2 Buzzards, 44 Ringed Plovers, 250 Golden Plovers, 158 Grey Plovers, 1,500 Knot, 85 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 750 Dunlins, 11 Snipe, 1 Woodcock, 27 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Stonechat and 9 Rock Pipits.

 

 Sanderlings

 

 2CY Yellow-legged Gull (left of centre)

Stonechat

Wednesday, 5th February 2014

Offshore 

1 Teal west, 1 male Long-tailed Duck, 14 Common Scoters west, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Kittiwakes west, 7 Little Gulls west and 2 Auk sp. west.

 

 Great Crested Grebe

Others

330 Pink-footed Geese, 9 Pintails, 9 Goldeneyes, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 95 Golden Plovers, 64 Grey Plovers, 1,500 Knot, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 52 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Grey Wagtail, 7 Rock Pipits and 40 Goldfinch.

 

 Goldeneye

Tuesday, 4th February 2014

Offshore

2 Shelducks west, 150 Common Scoters, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 18 Kittiwakes west, 25 Little Gulls, 1 Guillemot west and 6 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration 

21 Woodpigeons south.

Others 

8 Pintails, 1 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 1 Water Rail, 48 Ringed Plovers, 240 Golden Plovers, 250 Sanderlings, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 77 Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Stonechat and 9 Twite.

 

 Sanderlings

 

 Ringed Plovers

Monday, 3rd February 2014

A most bizarre moment occurred today whilst seawatching. A Stock Dove was seen coming in off the sea and it was just about to make landfall when a Carrion Crow started to attack it. Struggling in the strong southerly wind, with a Carrion Crow on its tail, it crash landed into the Observation tower at IG`s feet!!

Stock Dover

Offshore:

33 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west & 1 on the sea, 11 Kittiwakes west, 41 Little Gulls west and 4 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

1 Stock Dove in off the sea.

Others 

12 Whooper Swans, 600 Pink-footed Geese, 600 Teal, 9 Pintails, 9 Goldeneyes, 1 Little Egret, 47 Ringed Plovers, 275 Golden Plovers, 175 Sanderlings, 4 Purple Sandpipers, 97 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Stonechat, 14 Rock Pipits, 30 Goldfinch and 1 Snow Bunting.

 

 Teal

Sunday, 2nd February 2014

Offshore 

1 Shelduck west, 3 Pintails west, 17 Common Scoters west, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Red-throated Divers west, 5 Great Crested Grebes west, 119 Kittiwakes west, 26 Little Gulls west, 2 Guillemots west and 11 Auk sp. west.

Others

400 Pink-footed Geese, 320 Wigeons, 550 Teal, 7 Pintails, 8 Goldeneyes, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 45 Ringed Plovers, 185 Grey Plovers, 1,500 Knot, 270 Sanderlings, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 800 Dunlins, 4 Jack Snipes, 43 Snipe, 33 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Med. Gull, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Stonechat, 12 Rock Pipits, 1 Water Pipit, 33 Linnets, 18 Twite and 1 Snow Bunting.

 

 Teal