12th February 2023

 Weather: SSE force 1/2    late district visible

Flat calm sea meant it was a sea-duck day! Plenty of scoter, thought to be 1,200 distantly, the highlight were 7 Long-tailed Duck,  2 Goldeneye and a male Eider off the East Hoyle seen from the obs balcony, also 3 more Eiders and 14 Goosander around the north end of Hilbre.

 

Here is a library picture of a male Long-tailed Duck, what a magnificant creature it is when seen at close quarters. 

The calm sea enabled 15 Great Crested Grebes to be noticed, whikle wader counts included 4 Purple Sandpipers, 18 Grey Plover, 45 Sanderling, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 120 Dunlin and 2,000 Knot were seen Flying north. Brent are still in good numbers, 285 today. Fifteen Linnets were roaming around Middle Eye and 12 Meadow Pipits were on the islands with 6 Rock Pipits.

Photos CJW