January - the end of a lean first month...
Having virtually been the only one in the area for the first full month, Ross Ahmed has streaked away to an early lead with a total of 106. Peter Collins, ever present at Souter, is a very close second with 101 species. Only just behind, still lacking many of the commoner seabirds, is Mark Newsome with 95. The 'also rans' are still on holiday in Florida, hiding away in fear of revealing their poor efforts so far this year.
Some of Ross's highlights during the month were Brent Geese, Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter and Little Auk during the brief spell of northerlies, Jack Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Iceland Gull, Barn Owl and Chiffchaff. But Ross has already had one bird disqualified - his dead Black-throated Diver didn't managed to sneak through the stringent checking procedures. Other species seen by Mark and Peter include Black-throated Diver (a live one), Water Rail, Glaucous Gull and Little Gull.
Roll on February...