A Short-eared Owl over Barleycrates Lane was a first for the year today, whilst singles of Teal and Red-breasted Merganser through off the Bill were both mid-winter scarcities there. The only other reports were of 3 Red-throated Divers also through off the Bill, 14 Common Scoter and 2 Eider settled offshore there and at least one of the Redpolls still about on the land.