28th to 30th December

The 28^th was a slightly better day than of late, with a strong Westerly wind provoking a movement of seabirds out to sea. A Red-throated Diver, five Gannets, 16 Fulmars, 14 Common Gulls and three Black-headed Gulls were seen off the North End in the morning, whilst the first Jack Snipe for at least a month was seen in the wetlands. A large movement of auks on the morning of the 29^th saw well over 3000 Guillemots and a few Razorbills passing the North end in the space of an hour; a Knot, a Red-throated Diver, 12 Gannets and two Fulmars also passed by. A Mistle Thrush in the lowlands was the only species worth mentioning inland. Despite the considerable drop in the wind, the 30^th was a very wet day with few birds around. The highlights came in the form of a Siskin over Ty Pellaf and a Woodcock in Ty Nesaf garden. 78 Starlings flew overhead and three Song Thrushes were seen in the island's gardens. The Brent Goose was present for the first two days of this period, but was not seen on the 30^th; the usual female Sparrowhawk continued to harass small birds inland.

Great black-backed Gull and Gannet passing the North Hide