Friday 18th January 2013

A reasonable dusting of fresh snow overnight. Locks frozen. Pipes frozen to the welfare facilities. Helgoland roof sagging under the weight of snow. Spent some time trying to remove snow of the helli roof & dealing with contractors for English Heritage before finally getting around to starring out to sea for 1/2 hour from 10am. This produced a grand total of 4 Kitts, Common Scoter & an adult Gannet south although i did get the impression some Greater Black-backs might have been on the move. The only indication of any new passerines was a Song Thrush trapped. Infact i get the impression it's more of a case of passerines having left us rather than any arriving as the obs compound is very quiet. South-east gale now picking up.