December 2010

53 species so far this month

Little Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Teal
Mallard
Red-breasted Merganser
Goosander
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Golden Plover
Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Turnstone
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull >
Herring Gull >
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Skylark
Woodlark
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock >
Robin
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Dartford Warbler
Goldcrest
Firecrest
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit >
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw >
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow >
Chaffinch >
Greenfinch
Goldfinch >




December 28th
In much calmer and warmer conditions no less than 15 Black-necked Grebes could be found today along with 2 Slavonian Grebes ans a single Goosander.

December 27th
Today produced one of the weirdest records of the year with a Little Egret stood on the platform at Rodwell Halt, looking for all the world as if it was waiting for a train! Sandsfoot turned up trumps again with a record number of 5 Goosanders and a single Black-necked Grebe.

December 21st
Another 2 waders for the December list today with an Oystercatcher at Whitehead's Pier and 2 Turnstones flying towards Ferrybridge. A group of 3 Goosander were feeding off Smallmouth and the castle produced 4 Slavonian and 3 Black-necked Grebes.

December 18th
Another snowy day but little on the move apart from a Ringed Plover and a Dunlin flying along the harbour shore.

December 12th
The star bird today was a Firecrest just above the Newstead Road entrance to the trail. Apart from that not very much after last weeks amazing bird blizzard, although it was good to hear the Dartford Warbler calling at its usual home in Downclose Cutting.

December 2nd
Several inches of snow overnight resulted in the expected cold-weather movement of Skylarks and Lapwings, with about 100 of each moving roughly in a northerly direction between 11 and 12. The star birds though were 4 Woodlarks which passed over Downclose during this movement. Other birds seen included 2 Golden Plover, a Dartford Warbler and a Red-necked Grebe, all seen from the Downclose area.