Weather: NNW then N force 5
An extremely cold day with significant wind chill with a bright Jupiter shining at dawn alongside a bright full moon.
The most notable birds of the day were the thousands of Herring Gulls congregating east of the islands on the ebb tide on a wreck of Clam shells. No less than nearly 16,000 were seen later moving west, several other species of gull were also present around the islands. The female Eider was here with 45 Brent and 65 Shelduck. In the afternoon a pair of Goldeneye were seen on the sea which on the whole was quiet apart from 280 Common Scoter, a single Great Crested Grebe and a Shag. Waders at the high tide were 6,500 Oystercatchers, 85 Curlew, 1,350 Knot, 3,200 Dunlin, 20 Sanderling, 92 Turnstone and 17 Purple Sandpipers.
Among the residents survivng the weather were 2 male Blackbirds, 2 Rock Pipits and a Robin.
The light looked pleasent before the sun went down but the sea was rough.
Plenty of water was lying on the north end of the island
Photos SRW, and with thanks to Pierre Montieth for some records
