15th January 2010

Despite atrocious weather conditions (strong south-easterly wind and driving rain) another good day was had on the island bird-wise for one stalwart...

Sea-watching was hard work with only 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, but the rewards came later in the day after the tide with a Slavonian Grebe off the North End and another ring-tail Hen Harrier that came 'in off' the sea from the North West.

Waders were the main focus of the day with 10,000 Knot, 3,000 Dunlin and 250 Grey Plover on (or over) the East Hoyle bank and a solitary Peregrine hunted the islands. 12 Purple Sandpipers spent the high tide at the North End.

On the island thrush numbers had decreased only slightly, although they were keeping low because of the weather, with 6 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush and 5 Blackbird counted. 3 Snipe were around the islands including one by the New Pond and 2 Rock Pipits were mainly at the North End.

DB