The male Gadwall, although not seen today was noted on the 13th and 18th of this month prior to today. Place your bets on how long it will linger.

Common Snipe are generally flushed every now and then throughout the winter months around mostly the boggy Wetlands and Lowlands, the wetlands being one of the most favoured spots. Over the last few weeks this species has been recorded but mostly in the dark evenings during dazzling when many go undetected, so a walk through the Wetlands during the day was long over due. By the end of the trek through the sloppy bogs and long grasses 29 individuals had been noted, undoubtably there must be more in other areas not walked staying hidden. Very few other waders were seen in any great number. Numbers around this time of year are generally static so it can be assured that rather than this being a movement of birds leaving the island it is more likely that other numbers were not detected, residing on other parts of the Island not covered, three Oystercatcher, six Curlews, three Redshanks and eight Turnstones were the final tallies.

Chough numbers have failed to reach any significant height this winter, however a lot of the resident breeding pairs are seen on and off, mostly picking throughout the seaweed and sand on Solfach, although individuals seem to be spreading apart around the islands mountain slops and grassy fields, eight were present today. Other Corvids included nine Magpies, six Crows and four Ravens.