Saturday 28 January 2017

Winds had picked up slightly but a rise in temperature made for a pleasant change from the icy blow a few days earlier. The Narrows and South End area were productive as ever with life, most notable birds being a pair of Lapwings hiding amongst the Oystercatchers and three Golden Plovers scuttling about the grassy coast just west of the lighthouse. A boggy area east of the lighthouse housed nine Common Snipes, whilst close by were four Shelducks, eight Mallards, 14 Rock Pipits, and an assortment of gulls including two Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Additional waders included 96 Oystercatchers, six Purple Sandpipers, 18 Curlews, 10 Redshanks and 14 Turnstones seen close by. Numbers were scarce offshore and although attempts at sea watching were made final counts amounted to just four Gannets, four Common Scoters, 24 Kittiwakes and a handful of Auks.

Dead bull Grey Seal, although sad, a great opportunity to see an individual in close proximity  
A Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and Peregrine rounded off a nice trio of raptor sightings for the day. Other highlights around the island included a squealing Water Rail in the Wetlands, five Meadow Pipits, three Stonechats, a Song Thrush, a Goldcrest, whilst elsewhere on the island 12 Choughs fed on the seaweed and four Ravens soared high above the mountain.

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