3rd December 2024

 Weather: SE force 3,  later E 3

The big surprise of the day was that two Barn Owls were present on the main island, seen together briefly over the main paddock early morning with a sighting of a single bird at the unusual time of 3pm.

A short sea watch produced 6 Eider, a single Razorbill, 23 Red-throated Diver and 36 Great-creasted Grebe. Only 8 Purple Sandpiper were logged but a large number of small waders on the East Hoyle were estimated at 4,000 Knot, 6,000 Dunlin along with 140 Curlew and 6 Bar-tailed Godwit. Around the island Turnstone and Redshank numbered 180 and 90 respectively. The Kestrel was about, the Fox left evidence of it's presence and the Weasel was sighted in the Obs garden, with the number of predators around it was surprising to see a couple of Short-tailed Field Voles about on the paths.

 
 Photos AS

1st December 2024

 Weather: SSE 3   SSW 4 later

A visit over the morning tide found it very quiet and warm for the time of year. The Common Scoters featured with over 6,000 birds out towards the windfarm and also a few lingering near the island.

 

 

 

 

   An estimate of 350 Turnstone roosting was a very large number indeed

 

 

Some were on the cliffs with the 12 Purple Sandpipers

 Oystercatchers were estimated at 8,000 roosting.

 

 There were 220 Redshank.

 and 800 Knot, at least one that had been colour flagged.

 

Good sea watching produced 37 Red-throated Divers, 25 Great Crested Grebes and a single Gannet. Six Eiders hung about the islands. There were 8 Robins on the islands and surprisingly perhaps a Goldcrest was also here. As usual the Kestrel gave a great show.

 

 

 

Photos AEH

30th November 2024

 Weather: SE force 2/3   S 3/4 by the evening.

The Barn Owl showed well again today and hunted for a good hour.

 

The Kestrel showed up but only stayed briefly, 8 Linnet were in the SK paddock and a Pied Wagtail flew over. On the sea were 11 Red-throated Diver, 50 Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe, the Eider had increased to 5, still no adult males though. Three Grey Heron roosted on Middle along with 5,000 Oystercatcher but only a single Little Egret was noted. Purple Sandpiper had also increased with a good count of 20 being much better than recent years, 300 Knot were around the island along with 120 Turnstone. On the East Hoyle after tide were 36 Shelduck, 272 Curlew and 93 Bar-tailed Godwit. The Brent remain steady at 330 birds.

28th November 2024

 Weather: ESE force 3

A trip over early and in the dark ahead of the tide was worth it to discover that the Barn Owl is still on the island, it was hunting around the island before sunrise but was not seen to catch anything. Also before dawn 300 Cormorant flew out of the estuary and later a Shag was on the Whaleback, 4 female type Eider dived for crabs off the North End. A single Dark-bellied Brent Goose was noted along with 335 Pale Bellied Brent spread around the islands. Sixteen Purple Sandpiper had split into 2 groups, one feeding at the North End and the other below the Obs garden. After tide on the East Hoyle Bank were 320 Curlew, 115 Grey Plover and 4,000 Dunlin whilst around the island 160 Turnstone, 62 Redshank and 250 Knot were counted. A rustling in the Blackthorn drew attention to a Fox skulking about in the lanes between hedges.

 

18th November 2024

 Weather: ENE force 1   veering ESE 2 later

 A pre-dawn start provided excellent views of the Barn Owl. Brent numbers remain high although as they were widely scattered throughout the day, no accurate count was possible. The three Eiders remained around the islands while several hundred Common Scoter were noted, some very close inshore. A four hour seawatch over the hide tide produced a good count of Red-throated Divers with 40 noted, together with 18 Great Crested Grebe and nine Guillemot. An impressive 18 Purple Sandpipers were found roosting on the western cliffs. A Raven paid a visit and there were still good numbers of Blackbirds on the island with one Song Thrush and one Redwing present.

13th November 2024

 Weather: NW force 3

 Quiet this morning with the continued change in wind direction. A good count of Brent (330) but despite the big numbers the first juveniles in a family party for some time were noticed among them.

 A Merlin turned up again but was the only raptor, but a Raven turning up can also disturb the peace, normally just as a scavenger.

 

 A Redwing logged was the sole migrant thrush, a Starling was also here. Waders recorded included 90 Curlew, 85 Turnstone, 40 Dunlin, 125 Redshank, a Grey Plover, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Purple Sandpipers and 35 Sanderling.

 Just a Great Crested Grebe and a Shag on the sea and 2 female Eiders about the islands with 2 Grey Heron and 3 Little Egrets.

Photos  SRW

11th November 2024

 Weather:  WNW force 3

A very quiet morning with the wind in the north west and a short visit recorded over 300 Eider, 25 Shelduck, 85 Curlew, 120 Redshank, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Herons and on the island, 4 Blackbirds, 5 Robins and a Song Thrush.