24th December 2022

Weather:  SE force 3, later ESE 5

The Christmas Eve bonus this morning was the presence of 5 Eiders (4 female types and an immature male), other wildfowl were 5 Wigeon flying east, 77 Shelduck and 212 Brent in view of the island. A sea watch came up with 7 Red-throated Divers, 25 Scoter and 6 Great Crested Grebes. Waders flocked in large numbers including 4,500 Knot, 3,800 Dunlin and 5,700 Oystercatchers. A single Oystercatcher unusually fed on top of the island.

A hundred Turnstones roosted as did 19 Purple Sandpipers.

 and 9 Ringed Plover.

A young seal was at the south end of middle before the morning tide, it seemed to be  healthy.

  A pair of Common Scoter preened on the rocks below the east side, 

 Five Rock Pipits and 3 Meadow Pipits were counted.

Photos AS