16th December

Truly grim conditions saw it raining until well past lunchtime, although on the plus side the gale of dawn had subsided to little more than a waft of a breeze by the afternoon. Despite the rain there was a little bit of movement on the sea, with 11 Red-throated Divers, 4 Brent Geese, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Northern Diver through off the Bill and a Little Gull through at Ferrybridge; routine seabirds were also a feature and included a nearly four figure total of Kittiwakes feeding off the Bill where the 2 Eider were also still settled. The only other reports were of 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Ferrybridge and the Rosy Starling still at Easton.

Semi-expected during a mid-winter storm but always a highlight nonetheless - this morning's Little Gull at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders: