December 10th. Birds around included 110 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pink-footed Goose, a Sparrowhawk, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Peregrine, 2 Blackcap, 50 Redwing, a Black Redstart (Visitor Centre), 2 Stonechat and a Lapland Bunting. Offshore was a Guillemot. On Tennyson's Sands were 115 Lapwing and a Cetti's Warbler. Heading south were 830 Lapwing and 20 Redwing.
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| Guillemot, 10 December 2020. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Hen Harrier, 10 December 2020. Photo - Nige Lound |
December 9th. Foggy morning.
Around were a Sparrowhawk, 2 Goldcrest and 11 Redwing. On Croftmarsh were 250 Pink-footed Goose and a Buzzard; and on Tennyson's Sands 7 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.
December 8th. Cold and foggy.
Birds around included a Short-eared Owl and 3 Stonechat. On the sea were 2 Shag. Flying north were 94 Pink-footed Goose and a Gannet; and south 4 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
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| Record shot of Shags, 8 December 2020. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Record shot of Shags, 8 December 2020. Photo - Nige Lound |
December 7th. Another frozen start, with iced up water bodies, then foggy and cold.
Around were 120 Pink-footed Goose, a Chiffchaff, 65 Blackbird and 14 Redwing. On Tennyson's Sands were a Water Rail and 2 Bearded Tit.
December 6th. Frozen start.
Birds around included a Grey Partridge, 105 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, a Chiffchaff, 95 Blackbird, a Fieldfare, 2 Redwing and 2 Song Thrush. On the Mere was a Water Rail. Going north were 107 Pink-footed Goose, 4 White-fronted Goose and a Lapland Bunting; and south 1574 Pink-footed Goose and 8 Whooper Swan.
December 5th. Around were 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 13 Pink-footed Goose, a Great White Egret, a Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, 1600 Lapwing, 30 Blackbird, 4 Stonechat, 22 Redwing and 2 Lapland Bunting (over Old Saltmarsh). On Tennyson's Sands were a Black-tailed Godwit and a singing Cetti's Warbler. Heading south were 7 Goosander and a Great Northern Diver.
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| Sunset, 5 December 2020. Photo - Guy Barton |
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| Shoveler, Gadwall and Teal, 5 December 2020. Photo - Nige Lound |
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| Water Rail, 5 December 2020. Photo - Nige Lound |
Fair Isle Bird Observatory Appeal:
https://www.shetland.org/60n/blogs/posts/fair-isle-observatory-appeal
December 4th. Rainy spells.
Birds around included a Peregrine, 2 Redwing and 80 Blackbird. Going north were 10 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Gannet and a Buzzard; and south 2 Eider and a Gannet.
December 3rd. Rain for most of day.
December 2nd. Around were 45 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1500 Lapwing and 30 Blackbird.
December 1st. Birds around, including those trapped, were 538 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2000 Pink-footed Goose, a Velvet Scoter, an adult male Hen Harrier, 3 Sparrowhawk, 3 Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier, 3000 Oystercatcher, a Woodcock, a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 100+ Blackbird, 2 Stonechat and 2 Snow Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh was a Scaup; and on the Mere a Water Rail. In off the sea came 2 Tundra Bean Goose and 3 more Snow Bunting. Heading south were 8 Red-breasted Merganser, a Pomarine Skua and 2 Great Skua.
A brief, final morning ringing session in East Dunes yielded 3 new Blackbird.
