Friday 10th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was in the estuary feeding off Warren Point on the rising tide this morning. Also in the estuary just 260 Dunlin, 113 Grey Plover, 127 Wigeon, 59 Teal, 53 Knot, 43 Common Gull, 32 Ringed Plover, a Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe with a probable Glaucous Gull on Bull Hill at last light. Elsewhere six Velvet and 50 Common Scoter, 32 Great-crested Grebe, two Eider, 13 Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were offshore.

Thursday 9th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was again feeding off Langstone Rock but wasn't seen after 10am, also there five Velvet Scoter with at least three Red-throated (including a couple with obvious thigh patches) and two Great Northern Diver also off the seawall. Outside the recording area a Black Guillemot was south of Langstone and the Black Brant and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese were on Oak Meadow at Starcross.

Wednesday 8th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was again around Langstone Rock but the only other news was of the Long-tailed Duck again present, this time on the sea close in off Groyne 10.

Tuesday 7th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was again off Langstone Rock during the morning with six Red-throated Diver south in a short ten minute seawatch.

Monday 6th January

The Bonaparte's Gull was reported along the beach again this afternoon with the Slavonian Grebe and 20 Red-breasted Merganser in the estuary.

Sunday 5th January

Seawatching saw 18 Red-throated and six Great Northern Diver head south with five more distant diver sp, also flying around offshore a drake Tufted Duck and more unexpected a Sandwich Tern, only the second January record. The Bonaparte's Gull and at least five Velvet Scoter were still off Langtone Rock. Elsewhere a second Sandwich Tern was in the estuary with three Great Northern Diver, 52 Wigeon, 19 Ringed Plover, 11 Teal and a Goldeneye.

Sandwich Tern

Saturday 4th January

A Great Skua in the Bight early morning was the only new arrival but the seven Velvet Scoter and at least five Great Northern Diver remained off the seawall, whilst the Bonaparte's Gull was again seen along the beach. Also offshore a second winter Little Gull, 70 Common Scoter, seven Pintail, just five Great-crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere 84 Bar-tailed Godwit were in the estuary, a good count these days and two Mistle Thrush were by Pirate's Cove.

Friday 3rd January

Seawatching early morning saw c200 Kittiwake, 95 Gannet, 12 Fulmar and seven Red-throated Diver head south with at least seven Velvet Scoter, three Great Northen Diver and an adult Little Gull offshore. Elsewhere the Black Brant was in the Bight over high tide, around 1100 Herring Gull were feeding around site and 80 Shelduck, 25 Sanderling, two Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary.

Thursday 2nd January

The weather accommodated a full days birding and the majority of expected species were recorded on site. The Bonaparte's Gull was seen both in the estuary and off Langstone Rock, with at least six Velvet Scoter also off the rock. Also offshore 169 Shag, 13 Common Scoter, a Long-tailed Duck, seven Red-throated and four Great Northern Diver. In the estuary counts included 173 Grey Plover, 76 Wigeon, 54 Knot, 49 Shelduck, 26 Ringed Plover, a Greenshank, an adult Mediterranean Gull, the Slavonian Grebe and just one Teal. Elsewhere a Greylag Goose flew along the spit, 225+ Herring and 53 Great Black-backed Gull were feeding on the beach, 133 Linnet were around the Bight, a Siberian Chiffchaff was by the First Pond and two Cirl Bunting were in Greenland Lake.

Wednesday 1st January

A wet and miserable start to the new year with the only news 220+ Brent Geese and a pair of Stonechat on the deserted Golf Course, everything else was keeping its head down with only 31 species recorded during the afternoon.