2nd February 2014

The very high spring tide flooding into the old lifeboat house

With a forecast improvement in the weather on Sunday and a midday tide a bit of seawatching was the order of the day. A round of the traps didn’t produce any birds but gave the chance to inspect for any damage following the recent high winds. Some small damage has occurred  but this will be rectified before the spring with a planned working party taking place soon.

Eight  Purple Sandpipers roosted on the cliffs above tide gauge but were disturbed by a visiting birder just after high tide. Large numbers of Common Scoter were moving off the west side with 500 being logged. Red-throated Divers (20) and great-crested Grebes (100) were also noted in good numbers. There were lots of Razorbills (40) and a few Guillemots (10) moving before the high tide but sightings dropped off as the tide ebbed.

Seven Pintail and a single male Goldeneye were seen but the highlight was the large numbers of waders displaced by the high tides and looking for somewhere to roost. 200 Ringed Plover, 2000+ Knot and 500 Dunlin were seen flying around the islands.

An unusual sight was 67 Brent Geese roosted on the top of Middle Eye – including  the two regular colour ringed birds.

(PSW) + guest Mark Payne     photos PSW