A beautiful calm day. A Blackcap and 5 Bramblings were present in our garden at dawn. A walk around Skaw produced a Wood Pigeon, 3 Robins, 5 Song Thrushes, 60 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Siskin, 2 Mealy Redpolls, 15 Bramblings and 11 Snow Buntings. Swartling was playing host to 2 Mistle Thrushes and 6 Mealy Redpolls. Lamba Ness added 3 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Song Thrushes, 15 Redwings, a Siskin, 3 Mealy Redpolls present at the tip (but unfortunately no sign of the Hornemann's) and 8 Snow Buntings. Our daily circuit around Norwick produced the Long-tailed Duck, a Velvet Scoter, a Swallow, 10 Robins, 70 Redwings, 10 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, a Mealy Redpoll, 2 Chaffinches and 100 Bramblings. A walk around Haroldswick produced a Long-tailed Duck, we were kindly shown an unfortunate Short-eared Owl that had been hit by a car, a Black Redstart, 3 Robins, a Chiffchaff, a Siskin, a Chaffinch and 15 Bramblings. Burrafirth was very quiet with just a Siskin seen. A last-minute decision to visit NorthDale in fading light paid dividends as there was a Waxwing atop a pine and we then found a first-winter Lesser Grey Shrike - brilliant!
Mistle Thrushes at Swartling
Mistle Thrush at Lamba Ness
Black Redstart at Haroldswick
