Much nicer weather at last so spent most of the day birding although the continuing northerly wind is doing us few favours. A single Redwing was all that I could find at Skaw but a walk around Norwick proved more productive seeing the 2 Great Northern Divers, the 2cy Iceland Gull, 2 Woodpigeons, a colour-ringed Rock Pipit, the 2 Pied Wagtails, 35 Skylarks, 4 Redwings, my first Goldcrest of the year and 2 Chaffinches. We arrived at Burrafirth shortly after the loafing Gulls had been disturbed but saw 2 2cy Iceland Gulls and the 2 2cy Mute Swans were still on Loch of Cliff. Haroldswick added 2 Pink-footed Geese and 3 Redwings.
In the immediate aftermath of the 'Arctic blast' we saw 2 Great Northern Divers, our first Puffin of the year and the 2cy Iceland Gull in the wick and the Snipe, 4 Redwings & 4 Skylarks remain in our garden.
A true Arctic blast confining us to barracks where a Snipe, 4 Skylarks and 4 Icelandic Redwings were seen in our garden.
Gales did little to inspire me but I saw 2 2cy Iceland Gulls off Norwick, a Bonxie battling its way ashore there against the wind and a Redwing remained in our garden.
A 2cy Iceland Gull was present at Norwick but that was that... until 4.30pm, when at the onset of drizzle 4 Redwings appeared on our lawn and were briefly joined by a male Pied Wagtail.
A nice bright virtually calm albeit cold start to the day. A walk around Norwick produced the Woodpigeon, a Redwing and my first double-figure count of Meadow Pipits of the year - 15. We took a walk out to Heogland for a change of scene seeing a Whooper Swan, the 4 2cy Mute Swans, 4 Goldeneye, c.200 Long-tailed Duck, c.75 Eider and a 2cy Iceland Gull.
