20th October 2024

Weather: SE force 5  rain.   In the afternoon 7/8, then 9/10 later, with gusts of force 11 early evening.

Our brave observer stayed the tide and faced the storm force winds later on.  A Peregrine was about early but no Kestrel ventured over today in the blustery conditions.  Local passerines kept low but 2 chaffinch were recorded, one seen coming in off the sea. The sea got rougher as the morning progressed, sightings were a Red-throated Diver, 2 Guillemots, 70 Common Scoter and a Shag. In Niffy Bay 42 Redshank and 116 Turnstone roosted, 

 with 60 Ringed Plover and 214 Dunlin on the north end,

 and elsewhere 180 Knot, 214 Dunlin, 9 Grey Plover, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and 10,000 Oystercatcher (seen through the salt covered obs window as to rough to go out).

There were 200 Brent, 8 Shelduck and 3 Eider. As the tide flooded 800 Black-tailed Godwit were seen over Little Eye, they will be from the local wintering population.

Photos: AS