Thursday, 29 December 2016

29th December 2016

Weather: SE force 1/2   heavy frost early
Two hundred and six Pink-footed Geese were found roosting on the north shore at first light, they soon took off and headed south east. A Long-tailed Duck was found on arrival, flying off passed the main island,
Long-tailed Duck (record shot, AEH)
 and a Raven flew around Middle and later returned to the island to give close views (below, AEH).
 The male Scaup was on the sea, and also seen was a drake Wigeon, a pair of Mallard (below,AEH), 2 males and a female Common Scoter, 10 Shelduck and 4 Great Crested Grebes.
Roosting waders (AEH)
Brent Geese (AEH)
The rock fall of last year in the morning light (AEH)
Counts on the east hoyle flood tide were as follows: 340 Grey Plover, 280 Curlew, 1,000 Knot and 12,000 Dunlin. A unusual record was of 6 Barnacle Geese flying south west, south of Middle Eye. A Jack Snipe was at the edge of the spartina on the West Kirby/Hoylake shore (in the Hilbre recording area).

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