December 2007

Yet another dull overcast day to finish off the year with 74 Red-throated Diver (58 N), 2 Gannet N, 31 Wigeon S, 10 Eider, 25 Common Scoter (21 S), 9 Goldeneye (6 on the sea), a Red-breasted Merganser N, a Merlin (Warren), 2 Water Rail (Canal area), the Purple Sandpiper off the Crown, 75 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Stonechat, a Fieldfare (Fourways) and 2 Redwing at the Point being of note.

With the wind easing a much better day birding although it remained dull, most of the highlights were at sea with 23 Red-throated Diver (18 N), a Great Northern Diver S, a Sooty Shearwater N at 11.30, 5 Mallard, 2 Eider and 17 Common Scoter all S and a trickle of Herring Gull S, elsewhere of note were 30 Pink-footed Geese S, 1 Water Rail, 3000 Golden Plover on the Humber, 62 Sanderling and a Snow Bunting S.

Still a force 6 W wind blowing but at least some sunny spells, highlights today were 30 Red-throated Diver (23 N), 79 Pink-footed Geese S, a Pintail on the Humber, 3 Lapwing (Walker Butts), 8 Snipe in the Salt Marsh, 6 Guillemot and a Razorbill N and 3 Stonechat (New Scrape).

Strong westerly winds curtailed any serious birding in gloomy skies a few birds were on the move with 6 Red-throated Diver N, 19 Pink-footed Geese, 1 Grey-lag Goose and a Long-tailed Duck all south elsewhere 90 Black-tailed Godwit were seen, 2 Stonechat (Triangle) and 3 Redpoll went south.

Very quiet today in cloudy conditions in a strong W wind with the only highlights being 2 Wigeon and 3 Goldeneye S, 2 Snipe (Triangle), 80 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Linnet at South Field Farm and a Siskin S.

Bright and sunny with just the odd new bird to look at with birds of note being 15 Red-throated Diver (14 N), 1 Common Scoter S, 2400 Golden Plover (Humber), 2 Snipe, 59 Black-tailed Godwit, a Stock Dove and 6 Wood Pigeon S, a Short-eared Owl in the Salt Marsh, single Meadow Pipit and Stonechat, a Goldfinch in the Triangle and a Siskin S.

A gloomy wet day with the odd new bird around with single Jack Snipe (Clubley’s), Snipe and Woodcock (Point), 52 Black-tailed Godwit, a Fieldfare (Church Field) and 4 Song Thrush.

Grey and dull with rain by the afternoon little of note found except a Snipe on Clubley’s, a Woodcock (Sheepfield), 76 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Stonechat and a single Song Thrush.

Little of note in a cold bright sunny day with a heavy overnight ground frost, of note today was 2 Eider N, 41 Black-tailed Godwit, a LBB Gull S along with quite a few Herring Gulls, a Merlin (Lighthouse), 1 Stonechat and 2 Song Thrush.

More grey skies with rain late on some Gees/ducks on the move but little else noted.

Highlights were 77 Pink-footed Geese, 29 Teal and 6 Shoveler all south, the Purple Sandpiper outside the Crown, 122 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Stonechat, 3 Song Thrush and a Goldfinch (Crown).

A similar theme with leaden skies and a light SE wind little found except a Cormorant S, a Grey Heron, 2 Wigeon, 19 Teal and 36 Mallard on the Humber, 2 Water Rail, 2 Snipe (Triangle), 3 Fieldfare (Triangle), 2 Song Thrush, a Brambling (Kew) and 3 Siskin S.

Another cold grey day with a moderate E breeze feeling rather cold, of note today were 5 Red-throated Diver, 216 Brent Geese and 35 Wigeon on the Humber, 3 Eider went out, the Purple Sandpiper of the Crown, 1 Snipe, a Woodcock at the Point, a Pomarine Skua went N, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit (Canal), 3 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin went S.

Another cold grey day with a moderate E breeze with just the odd new bird around with 43 Wigeon on the Humber, 6 Gadwall S, a Pintail, 6 Scaup and a Red-breasted Merganser on the Humber, 24 Ringed Plover, the Purple Sandpiper outside the Crown, a Jack Snipe (Canal Scrape), 56 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Fieldfare (Triangle), 3 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 13 Siskin S and a Snow Bunting at Chalk Bank.

. North of the area a Male Goosander and 4 Jack Snipe (Beacon Ponds), 53 Pintail and 550 Mallard between Sammie’s and Skeffling and 17 Twite at Skeffling.

A cold grey day with not a lot to keep you warm except 20 Eider out, 2 Merlin (Triangle), a Peregrine (Humber), 1 Water Rail, a Jack Snipe (Canal Scrape), 6 Snipe, 2 Woodcock (Triangle), 1 Song Thrush, and 1 Goldfinch went S.

A hazy day with some sunshine from time to time in a light SE wind a few birds at sea but little of note, wader count was done in the morning.

Of note were 2 Great Crested Grebe S, 211 Brent Geese on the Humber plus 2 S, 48 Wigeon, 2 Teal and a Shoveler S, 39 Eider (38 N), a Goldeneye S, 2 Water Rail, 52 Lapwing came in, 7 Snipe (Triangle), 3 Stonechat, a Fieldfare came in and landed on the Spartina but within seconds had been killed by a Sparrowhawk which was then chased of by a Merlin before devouring the thrush itself, how hard nature is, 3 Redwing (Crown) and 14 Siskin went S.

A grey gloomy day with some drizzle in a light SE wind produced the odd piece of excitement for the time of year.

Highlights today were 20 Shag in, 12 Wigeon on the Humber, 30 Eider (21 N, 9 S), a Merlin, 2 Water Rail, 18 Lapwing (Walker Butts), 2 Snipe, an adult Iceland Gull that trickled S, 3 Stonechat, 6 Siskin at the Crown and 11 Reed Buntings.

A caravan caught fire at Sandy Beaches in the afternoon luckily nobody was seriously hurt as the fire brigade was soon on hand.

A cold that started bright and sunny but ended up 8/8 cloud cover in light southerly winds little of note except 52 Shelduck (Humber), a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine over the Humber, 3 Lapwing (Walker Butts), 120 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Song Thrush (3 Point) and 12 Siskin (11 S).

A few more birds around today with lengthy sunny spells in a light SW wind of note were a Merlin at the Warren, 40 Black-tailed Godwit, 90 Black-headed Gull (Old Den), a Redwing (Point), 3 Siskin S, 2 Redpoll S which were probably of the Common (Mealy) species.

Poor coverage resulted in just 40 Black-tailed Godwits being seen and little else in better weather conditions with some sunny spells and lighter winds.

Very little of note in occasional sharp showers and a strong force 6 N wind all that was of note was a Merlin at the Warren and 120 Black-tailed Godwits at the Tank Blocks.

A few good counts of waders today with cloud building and some light drizzle later on, in a light SW wind veering NW.

Of note today were 3 Great Northern Diver (1 S, 1 out and 1 in), 2 Goosander S, a Common Scoter S, 4,600 Golden Plover off the Crown, a Purple Sandpiper S, 240 Black-tailed Godwit and 650 Bar-tailed Godwit, 221 Herring Gull S, 60 Wood Pigeon S, 2 Siskin S and 7 Snow Bunting S.

A grey overcast day with rain becoming heavy in the afternoon and the wind picking up to strong as the day wore on, highlights were a Gannet S, 30 Shag S in one flock, 56 Common Scoter S, a Peregrine over the Humber, 463 Herring Gull S, 7 Chaffinch S, 14 Siskin S, a Redpoll S and a Snow Bunting over the Triangle.

A strong westerly wind produced some passage south with a Goldfinch and 83 Siskin with another 9 u-turning with the other notable sightings being a Shag N, a Sparrowhawk in the Church Field, 40 Black-tailed Godwits and a Chiffchaff at Fourways.

A wet old day today with rain turning into drizzle by midday, but very dull all round with the only counts of note being 5 Red-throated Diver blogging, 32 Common Scoter, 4 Grey Partridge (Church Field), 45 Ringed Plover at Chalk Bank, 62 Lapwing and 132 Black-tailed Godwit on the Humber, a Redwing in Church Field, 58 Siskin S plus 2 in the Crown.

Another dull cloudy day with a few showers in a strong SW wind very little of note with 5 Red-throated Diver, a few raptors with 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel and a Merlin, 81 Black-tailed Godwit (Tank Blocks), 2 Stonechat and 32 Siskin (30 S). The most important thing that happened today was 15 Highland cattle being put into the Sheep Field for grazing purposes.

A mainly cloudy day with just a glimpse of the sun from time to time little of note except an increase in Mute Swan with 8, 24 Wigeon, a Peregrine, 2000 Golden Plover and a Purple Sandpiper on the Humber, 2 Snipe (Wire Dump), 3 Woodcock, 76 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Stonechat, 7 Fieldfare (Triangle), single Song Thrush and Redwing, 10 Siskin S and 5 in the Crown.

Some light passage with at least some sunshine to start with before heavy showers moved in, highlights today were 57 Red-throated Diver, a Red-necked Grebe on the sea, 22 Wigeon on the Humber, a Peregrine hunting the Humber, the Purple Sandpiper was back on Canal Scrape, 1 Woodcock, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Stock Dove S, 64 Wood Pigeon in North Field, a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Crown), 9 Starling came in and 2 Brambling 1 at Kew the other came in of the sea.

An awful day for weather with constant heavy rain in a strong SW wind, of note today were 53 Red-throated Diver (40 S), a Goosander in, a Merlin (Warren), 1 Woodcock, 4 Kittiwake S, a Grey Wagtail N, 4 Stonechat, 2 Song Thrush (Point), 2 Redwing (Little Hedge/Church Field), 34 Siskin all south.

Strong winds hampering birding with the main highlight being 5 White-fronted Geese flying up river a 1st of the year, other birds of note were 2 Wigeon, a Kestrel S, 24 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Guillemot (5 N), a Fieldfare at the Point, 9 Greenfinch S, 5 Goldfinch (3 S) and 27 Siskin (21 S, 6 in the Crown).