27th October 2012

Wigeon with Cormorants

A very cold northerly wind greeted observers today and although the sun shone throughout it never felt warm. Again there was no movement of thrushes, just a single Song Thrush and possibly only 1 out of the 4 Blackbirds was new in. A flock of 200 Starlings flew west over the island followed some time later by another 8. A group of 8 Wigeon flew low over the sea out of the Dee in the morning with Cormorants for company, and another 3 were noted later. Two Goldfinches were down for a while, 1 checking the feeders, also the long staying Chaffinch has put on weight during its stay, perhaps due to the provision of seed. Turnstones settled in Niffy bay for the high tide and 82 were counted with 21 Redshank, although the Purple Sandpiper found the other day could not be located. Two Razorbills around the island and 9 Great Crested Grebes flying east in ones and twos were the only sea birds of note, and sighting of the day was a harbour Porpoise that breached a couple of times out to the west at about 11.00hrs.The change to cold weather does not seem to have affected ' thumper' the rabbit who was seen scampering rapidly passed the bungalows.

(CJ +VB,KMc,PSW)         photo  CJ