It was slim pickings from around the harbour today, but a slight break in the weather early morning allowed for some quick pleasant birding before the wind and rain set in…again! From the Middle Beach car park there were 7 Common Scoter, 5 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Great Northern Diver, 5 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe and 1 Sandwich Tern. In Brands Bay just 3 Black-necked Grebe were counted and the first Slavonian Grebe of the winter appeared in Shell Bay with 4 Great Northern Diver and another Black-necked Grebe. A Firecrest and Redpoll were at Boarder Road, Lytchett Bay and there were 4 Green Sandpiper at RSPB Lytchett Fields with a good number of Lapwing, Dunlin and Snipe.