20th December 2021

 Weather: E force 2, ESE 3 at noon

A fox was noticed on the east shore before dawn, signs of a fox on the island are frequent but sightings are quite rare. Another movement before dawn was the routine spectacle of Cormorants exiting the estuary in numbers, 320 were on the list today.

In contrast 40 Pink-feet flew in the up-river direction. Wildfowl dominated the morning with 186 Shelduck, 15 Common Scoter, a single female Mallard, 6 Wigeon (2 male) which were on the water west of Middle, and 353 bellied and 2 dark-bellied Brent. 

A Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebes and a Shag were also sea sightings. A Raven flew west between the islands. The usual waders were present including sightings of Knot (4,800), Dunlin (820), Grey PLover (85), Redshank (46), Ringed Plover (12), Turnstone (90), and 14 Purple Sandpiper. Only 2 Little Egrets today, but 3 Grey Herons and a Kestrel were here. Land birds only seemed to be the winter regulars and 3 Rock Pipits.

A Grey seal on the whaleback (the rocks at the north west corner of the island) seemed to be an old and possibly sick individual (most will normally not settle on the island). As the tide flooded it was joined by others of its kind, as has been noted previously  in similar circumstances).

Photos AS