WeBS count comes around again

14th January 2013 – sunshine and showers N1
Wildfowl and Waders
The monthly WeBS count located 8870 Oystercatcher, 1425 Redshank, 1310 Knot, 1080 Wigeon, 875 Lapwing, 855 Curlew, 700 Dunlin, 555 Teal, 400 Golden Plover, 222 Shelduck, 175 Turnstone, 160 Grey Plover, 160 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 120 Mallard, 100 Eider, 82 Ringed Plover, 48 Snipe, 43 Pintail, 32 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Sanderling, 29 Canada Goose, 21 Red-breasted Merganser, 20 Goldeneye, 9 Shoveler, 8 Greenshank and 4 Purple Sandpiper.
Miscellaneous
A flock of 50 Twite held at least three colour-ringed birds with the combinations suggesting Heysham, Machrihanish and Isle of Man origins. Single Merlin and 2 Raven were the best of the rest.