4th December

A good birding day, no doubt helped by the almost flat calm conditions, although light rain persisted through the afternoon; the highlights included an adult European White-fronted Goose with Greylags near Hooking (new for the year), a group of 5 Ruff feeding with Redshank near Waterhouse (the first December record for the island) and a Black-throated Diver in Nouster.

                Other birds included 12 Red-throated Divers, 26 Great-northern Divers (highest total since May), 2 Mute Swans (the first ones since the breeding pair left at the start of July), 2 Whooper Swans, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 248 Wigeon, 7 Gadwall, 139 Teal, the Green-winged Teal still, 9 Pintail, 25 Long-tailed Duck, 3 Goldeneye, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 280 Golden Plover, 19 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Black-tailed Godwit (first one since October).

                Landbirds of note comprised single Hen Harrier, Merlin and Kestrel, 7 Rock Pipits, a Robin, 3 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 3 Chaffinches, 36 Twite, 29 Snow Buntings and 3 Reed Buntings.

Black-tailed Godwit