Weather: NNW force 2, light air by noon with lake district and top of Great Orme visible (below)
The clear sky at dawn featured the moon and the planet Venus (in the top right)
A Snow Bunting flew over the island and off towards the south west and it was while searching Middle on the chance it had dropped in there that a Short-earded Owl was disturbed and flew about giving spectacluar views.
Earlier 2 Little Gulls in first winter plumage were logged also a total of 7 Eiders including both 2 adult males and 2 immature males.
The Brent are reaching such numbers now that accurate counting is becoming impractical as they move around the islands, 500 were estimated today.
Shelduck numbered 180. In addition to the 2 Little Gulls, many good records of sea birds were recorded including 35 Red-throated Divers, 350 Common Scoter, 28 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Guillemots and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers. Waders also did not disappoint with 8,000 Knot flocking over the area, also 250 Dunlin, 250 Curlew, and 3,500 Oystercatchers.
While species in smaller numbers featured 100 Redshank, 38 Ringed Plover, a single Bar-tailed Godwit. Turnstone (250) roosted by the islands as did the 13 Purple Sandpipers.
Migration was minimal today although there were records of a Greenfinch, Siskin and a small number of Meadow Pipits passing, and 2 wandering Skylarks. A few more Wrens and Robins seemed to be about.
Others seen today were 4 Little Egrets, 3 Grey Herons and of course the photogenic Kestrel.
A lovely day for this time of year.
Ringed: 1 Blackbird, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Robin.
Photos AEH, PSW, SRW
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