Tuesday, 28th January: Another very windy day with rain early on, clearing as the morning progressed. Generally grey and cloudy with a few brighter interludes and a near gale force W/SW wind, easing only slowly and always with the risk of a shower.
Elmer Rocks: Similar conditions to yesterday really, with a big high tide, waves crashing over the rock islands and the strong wind pushing the spray inshore. It was again very quiet birdwise, as might be expected, but there was just a little more to report.....
A Red-throated Diver flew east and a flock of 26 Wigeon and a single Brent Goose went west offshore. There were a good many of the commoner gulls feeding amongst the surf along the tideline, with at least a dozen Mediterranean Gulls and three Common Gulls amongst them. There were very few waders about as the waves were crashing up the beach, but a single Grey Plover and a handful of Turnstones made a brief appearance. A quick look at the wet and windswept fields behind the beach produced two Song Thrushes feeding amongst at least ten Blackbirds.
(above) Immature (1st-w) Mediterranean Gull and (below) two adults of the same species riding it out over a rough sea, whilst (bottom) a Common Gull feeds amongst the waves.
Monday, 27th January: A very windy and changeable day, with a gale-force SW wind, heavy squally showers and even hail, heavy black cloud at times, interspersed with bright sunny spells and then a mainly dry and sunny afternoon.
Elmer Rocks: Two visits for me today, with very little reward. My first was in the morning, co-inciding with a near high-tide, heavy waves crashing over the rocks, much spray and some heavy downpours.....diabolical really. There seemed to be nothing moving at all beyond a few of the commoner gulls and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls on the beach with a couple of lonely Oystercatchers. It became increasingly difficult to watch or find enough shelter and then finally a burst of spray told me it really was time to go...!
Stormy conditions produced very few birds this morning and defeated me too!
I later made a mid-afternoon visit in drier and sunnier conditions, although the wind was still near gale force. Hopes of any storm-driven birds soon evaporated, but two distant Gannets went west, whilst along the beach were 10 Mediterranean Gulls and 2-3 Common Gulls, then a number of waders dropped in with a handful of Sanderlings and Turnstones and half a dozen Oystercatchers around the rockpools.
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