28th December 2014

Weather : no wind, slight mist
A cold night with snow showing on Snowdonia and ice on the island ponds, but some good records today. A total of 1395 Cormorants exited the estuary at dawn. Wildfowl featured prominently today with 150 Brent Geese counted, duck records included a huge flock of 320 Pintail flying out over the west hoyle, 13 and 11 Wigeon off the west side with 2 Teal and 14 Shelduck in flight. At 6pm a flock of 100 Pink-footed Geese flew over Red Rocks to the south west whilst calling ( visible due to the street lights !). Waders logged were 30 Bar-tailed Godwits flying south west, also 10 on the north shore, 45 Redshank and 40 Sanderling. A flock of 23 Linnets dropped into the wildlife pond when the ice began to break up.
(DB, later AAB,GB)