21st January

We're looking to appoint an assistant warden for the 2016 season; full details:


....and an application form:

 
 
Not such enticing birding conditions today, with a freshening southerly wind spoiling most attempts at coverage of the land. The sea, however, had plenty of action, with auks more numerous than they've been at any time so far this winter, with sample counts indicated totals of 10-12000 per hour were passing the Bill for long periods during the morning; other routine seabirds were plentiful - including both Gannets and Kittiwakes passing Chesil at more than 100 per hour - whilst minor oddities tagging along including 11 Red-throated Divers and 7 Common Scoter off the Bill and 8 Red-throated Divers off Chesil. The only reports from the land were of the 2 Firecrests and single Blackcap still at the Obs and a Black Redstart still at Portland Castle.
 

 
Common Gull and Red-breasted Merganser - Ferrybridge, 21st January 2016 © Pete Saunders
 
As we mentioned yesterday, Nick Hopper popped down the night before last for his first sound recording session of the year. The recent chilly spell has got a few birds moving and Nick detected a decent enough selection overnight: 5 Golden Plovers (all singles), 4 loggings of Teal (which seemed to involve three small groups and a single bird, with one of the groups containing both males and females), a small group of Wigeon, 2 Lapwings, 2 Snipe and 2 Redwings; additionally, there was a fair bit of Short-eared Owl activity and, rather frustratingly, a likely Jack Snipe which was just too distant to clinch: