Late December 2020

December 31st. Frozen start, then misty.

 On Tennyson's Sands early morning were 2 Bewick's Swan. Birds around included 400 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 4 Pink-footed Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a male and a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, 3 Snipe, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine, 2 Merlin, a Chiffchaff, 2 Redwing, a Water Pipit and 2 Bullfinch. Going south were 14 Fieldfare, 24 Redwing and a Snow Bunting.

Bewick's Swans, 31 December 2020.
Photo - Stuart Ainsworth

Sunrise, 31 December 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

Visitor Centre, 31 December 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

Merlin, 31 December 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

December 30th. Around were 40 Pink-footed Goose, a Buzzard, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Merlin and 58 Fieldfare. On Tennyson's Sands were 110 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 3 new birds: a Chaffinch, a Goldfinch and a Blue Tit; and 11 retraps: 3 Great Tit, 7 Blue Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, retrapped 30 December 2020.
Photo - George Gregory

December 29th. Some early morning rain.

 Birds around included 230 Pink-footed Goose, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Snipe, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker, a Peregrine, 5 Stonechat, a Fieldfare, 2 Redwing and 3 Bullfinch. On Jackson's Marsh were 350 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

December 28th. Around were 450 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 60 Pink-footed Goose, 600 Wigeon, 110 Red-throated Diver, a Buzzard, a Merlin, 4 Stonechat and 2 Siskin. Heading south were 660 Common Scoter.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Jenni Godber resulted in a new Blackbird; and 15 retraps: 5 Blue Tit, 8 Great Tit, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Dunnock.

December 27th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.

 Birds around included 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

December 26th. Increasing south-westerly wind.

 Around were 110 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 670 Pink-footed Goose, a Buzzard and a Chiffchaff. Flying south were 15 Eider, 70 Red-throated Diver, a Black-throated Diver and 16 Great Crested Grebe.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Jenni Godber provided 4 new birds: 2 Blue Tit, a Goldfinch and a Great Tit; and 4 retraps: 2 Blue Tit and 2 Great Tit.

December 25th. Brief light early morning snow, then quite sunny.

 Birds around included 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 8 Pink-footed Goose.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 3 new birds: 2 Blue Tit and a Blackbird; and 11 retraps: 4 Blue Tit, a Goldfinch and 6 Great Tit.

December 24th. Moderately strong north-westerly wind, with spells of rain and sleet.

 Around were 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3000 Pink-footed Goose, 6 Bean Goose, 3 White-fronted Goose, 2000 Golden Plover, 800 Lapwing, an Iceland Gull and 2 Snow Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh was a Black Swan.

Iceland Gull, 24 December 2020.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

December 23rd. Increasing north-easterly wind, with foggy and rainy spells.

 Birds around included 15 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Goldcrest, 4 Fieldfare and 3 Stonechat. On the Mere was a Black Swan.

Black Swan, 23 December 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

December 22nd. Around were 400 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 3600 Pink-footed Goose, 1400 Lapwing, 2000 Golden Plover, 2 Snipe, a Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl, a Green Woodpecker and 7 Stonechat. On Tennyson's Sands were a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Jenni Godber yielded 4 new birds: a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit and 2 Greenfinch; and 11 retraps: 4 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit and a Goldfinch.

Short-eared Owl, 22 December 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

Water Rail, 22 December 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

December 21st. The winter Solstice - the shortest day. Moderately strong mostly southerly wind, with rain in morning.

 Birds around included 55 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 1600 Lapwing. Offshore were 3 Great Northern Diver.  

Mid December 2020

December 20th. Moderately strong southerly wind.

 Around were 60 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Hen Harrier, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin and a Stonechat. Offshore was a Great Skua. Flying south were 15 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 148 Pink-footed Goose, a Long-tailed Duck, 3 Goldeneye, 16 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Black-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, a Fulmar, a Gannet, a Kittiwake, 13 Golden Plover and 29 Fieldfare.

Stonechat, 20 December 2020.
Photo - Richard Brown

Stonechat, 20 December 2020.
Photo - Richard Brown

December 19th. Fairly strong southerly wind.

 Birds around included 30 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1166 Pink-footed Goose, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 1500 Golden Plover, 1860 Lapwing, a Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, 2 Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Peregrine, 2 Merlin, 3 Stonechat, 8 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing and 15 Rock Pipit.

December 18th. Quite strong southerly wind.

 Around were 25 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker and 2 Redwing. Offshore was a Great Northern Diver. Heading south were 7 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pintail, 122 Golden Plover, 21 Black-tailed Godwit, a Black-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver and a Fulmar..

December 17th. Birds around included 45 Dark-bellied Brent Goose.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 7 new birds: 3 Goldfinch, a Blue Tit and 3 Greenfinch; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Blackbird and 2 Robin.

December 16th. Moderately strong southerly wind.

 Around were 160 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Buzzard, a Fieldfare and 2 Stonechat, On Jackson's Marsh were 35 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a Black-tailed Godwit. Flying north were 3 Eider and a Fulmar; and south 32 Pink-footed Goose, 11 Common Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Northern Diver.

December 15th. At about 1040hrs a Glossy Ibis flew south-east over the reserve. Birds around included 200 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, a Short-eared Owl, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 2 Stonechat and a Redwing. Heading south were 60 Golden Plover.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 9 new birds: 5 Goldfinch, 2 Great Tit and 2 Blue Tit; and 8 retraps: 3 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit and a Goldfinch.

Buzzard, 15 December 2020.
Photo - Richard Brown

December 14th. Moderately strong southerly wind.

 Around were 50 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 1800 Lapwing.

December 13th. Rainy spells.

 Birds around included 35 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1800 Lapwing, a Goldcrest and 2 Redwing. On Tennyson's Sands were a Black-tailed Godwit and a Snipe. Going south were 60 Pink-footed Goose.

December 12th. Around were 24 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1180 Pink-footed Goose, a Woodcock, a Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, a Goldcrest, 8 Stonechat, 5 Fieldfare and 7 Redwing. On Tennyson's Sands was a Cetti's Warbler.

 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 22 new birds: 7 Goldfinch, 3 Blue Tit, 6 Great Tit, 5 Greenfinch and a Blackbird; and 13 retraps: 5 Great Tit, 6 Blue Tit and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

December 11th. Rainy morning.

 Birds around included a male Hen Harrier and 300 Blackbird. Offshore was a Black-throated Diver.

Hen Harrier, 11 December 2020.
Photo - Jack Adams

Early December 2020

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.

Guillemot, 10 December 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

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. 

Record shot of Shags, 8 December 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

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.

Sunset, 5 December 2020.
Photo - Guy Barton

Shoveler, Gadwall and Teal, 5 December 2020.
Photo - Nige Lound

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.