27th December 2015

Weather: SW force 1/2
A high tide visit was quite productive with a Short-eared owl on Middle Eye, and a drake Long-tailed duck that flew west towards the point of Ayr. Six Wigeon and 20 Teal were other ducks present, while a boat disturbed a huge flock of about 4,000 Common Scoter that were stationed close to the wind farms. Three Red-throated Divers and 10 Great Crested Grebes were logged, also a Shag, a Peregrine, 63 Ringed Plovers, and 4 Purple Sandpipers in the high tide roost. As the tide ebbed the Brent Geese dropped in between Hilbre and Middle Eye and a count of 101 Pale-bellied and a single Dark-bellied bird was made. Two of the regular colour ringed birds were located in the flock. On the passerine front a Song Thrush was present in the SK Paddock and the resident Dunnocks, Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds were all recorded. An unusual sighting was of 6 Grey Seals hauled out on buoys HE2 and HE3.

Song Thrush (PSW)

Turnstones (PSW)

(PSW,+ Mark Payne)