9th January

A really pretty grim day with rain and an ever-freshening westerly setting in far sooner than forecasts had suggested. Seawatching was just about the only worthwhile option at the Bill: singles of Great Skua and Pomarine Skua were again in attendance around the feeding flock and 6 Red-throated Divers and a Brent Goose passed by. The day's only other report was of a Black Redstart still at the Bill.

Our seawatch at the Bill was interrupted by this Little Egret scuttling about on the wave cut platform between the obelisk and Pulpit Rock; we're guessing its prey is some sort of blenny - a look in one book suggested perhaps a Montagu's Blenny © Martin Cade: