28th January 2013

Weather wise the best part of the day was the walk across after dawn which was quite pleasant, the return in the afternoon after the tide was more exciting with rain and a gale blowing moving the members quickly across the sands. As expected the land birds were scarce, just the few regular Blackbirds, Robins and Wrens etc and most time was spent sea watching over the high tide, and it was time well spent. The regular movement of Red-throated Divers, nearly all tracking to the south west was the main feature, 79 being counted during the day along with 71 Great Crested Grebes, 10 Guillemots, 1 Razorbill, 40 Common Scoters and a single Velvet Scoter. Competing with the Velvet Scoter for the bird of the day title however was a Great Northern Diver that also showed well. Also logged today were 3 Wigeon, a Little Egret, 3 Canada Geese, 17 Purple Sandpipers and an impressive roost of thousands of Herring Gull on the east hoyle after the tide. A Common Seal was discovered at the north end of Middle before being disturbed,
(KMc+SD,AO,CS+DS) and 3 welcome visitors from Woolston.