27th February 2017

Weather: SE 2/3 vis 35 mls

A small flock of 10 Meadow Pipits on the island today felt like a harbinger of spring, but only one Skylark passed over the island. There was a Little Egret in the pools south of middle first thing and a Grey Heron roosted on top of middle over tide, together with 167 Curlew and 6,500 Oystercatcher. On the sea were 58 Common Scoter and 3 Great Crested Grebe, 128 Cormorant were counted.

Waders noted were 127 Redshank, 60 Dunlin and 14 Knot at the north end.

The roost on middle was put up a number of times as both a Sparrowhawk (juvenile) and Peregrine were present.

24th February 2017

Weather: NW 5/6 vis 8 mls

On a visit to check for damage following storm Doris 8,300 Common

Scoter were estimated to be around the island - at least 5,000 of them

in the swash, which is very unusual. Close in on the west side was a

male Red-breasted Merganser, also on the sea were 7 Great Crested Grebe and 60

Cormorant. Curlew numbered 123, Turnstone 112 and Oystercatcher 4,000.

Two Robins and 4 Wrens were noted with one of the Wrens singing in the

old obs garden.

21st February 2017

A peregrine was noted during a very brief visit.

20th February 2017

Weather: W 5/6 vis 30 mls

A very quiet day with few birds counted but there were 286 Brent geese

including the Canadian ringed bird which was on the whaleback. A female

and 2 male Wigeon were at the bottom of the gutter with a single Great

Crested Grebe noted on the sea. Redshank numbered 158 and 35 Curlew were

counted. Two Pied Wagtails flew over and a Dunnock, 3 Wrens and 2 Robins

were about the main island together with the regular 3 Carrion Crows.