December 2009

The last day of the year continued cloudy with a cold force 4-3 ENE-E wind still some birds at sea with 10 Wigeon, 11 Eider, a Long-tailed Duck N, 4 Great Northern Diver S, 37 Fulmar with some blue phase birds, 8 Gannet, a Shag blogging, a Bonxie S, 4 Kittiwake and some more distant Auk’s.

Other sightings included a Water Rail (Fourways), 6 Snipe (Borrow Pit), 3 Woodcock, 334 Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), 3 Stonechat, 105 Blackbird, 4 Fieldfare, 40 Redwing (Triangle), 2 Blackcap (Chalk Bank/Kew), the Brambling (Kew), 2 Goldfinch.

A cold day with a stiff force 5-6 E wind making the sea very rough but at least it brought some birds with 2 Shelduck, 30 Wigeon and 4 Eider S, a Great Northern Diver S, 62 Fulmar (52 S) including at least 3 blue phase birds, 3 Manx Shearwater S, a Balearic Shearwater S, a Leach’s Petrel S, 29 Gannet, 7 Kittiwake and some distant Auk’s.

Elsewhere of note 110 Black-tailed Godwit were on the Humber, 2 Stonechat, 51 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, 10 Song Thrush, 64 Redwing (54 Triangle), a Brambling (Kew), 7 Goldfinch (Crown).

A dull cloudy day with a stiff E wind a good day seawatching especially for the time of year with 136 Wigeon S plus 62 blogging, 56 Eider, 64 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 205 Fulmar (185 S) including at least one blue phase bird, a Bonxie blogging, a 1st winter Glaucous Gull also blogging. Elsewhere of note were 16 Lapwing (Walker Butts), a Woodcock (Point), 2 Stonechat, 29 Blackbird, 3 Fieldfare, 7 Song Thrush, 32 Redwing. North of the area in the Easington Fields there were 4 Whooper Swan, 3 Pink-footed Geese and 220 Brent Geese.

A day the cleared up after thick cloud with a light SW wind worthwhile sightings were 64 Wigeon blogging, a Velvet Scoter S, 143 Red-throated Diver, 9 Snipe (Triangle), 14 Sky Lark (11 S, 3 North Field), 5 Stonechat, 29 Blackbird, 6 Fieldfare, 10 Song Thrush, 27 Redwing, 2 Blackcap (Chalk Bank/Kew), 7 Goldfinch (Crown).

The weather turned colder again today with light showers in a stiff S veering NW wind, sightings of note included 21 Pink-footed Geese and a Grey-lag Goose S, 46 Common Scoter (43 S), 3 Velvet Scoter (2 N, 1 S), 64 Red-throated Diver, a Grey Heron S, a Peregrine hunting the waders, 2 Snipe, single Sky Lark and Meadow Pipit S, 3 Fieldfare, 33 Redwing in the Kew area, a Blackcap (Kew), 9 Goldfinch, 3 Snow Bunting (Horseshoe Bungalow), a Yellowhammer (Triangle).

A milder day still bright and sunny with a force 2 SW blowing highlights of the day were 11 Pink-footed Geese S, 4 Wigeon N, 2 Teal on Canal Scrape, 42 Common Scoter (36 S), a Great Northern Diver N, 12 Lapwing (Humber), a Woodcock (Church Field), 47 Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), a Sky Lark and 2 Rock Pipit S, 5 Redwing, 8 Goldfinch (Crown).

Limited coverage as you can imagine today a cold but bright sunny day with a force 2-3 WNW wind blowing all that was notable were 300 Brent Geese, 16 Lapwing, 2 Fieldfare, 12 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 2 Goldfinch (Warren) and a Linnet went S.

A milder day than of late with a bright start but with some fog forming from time to time of note today were 9 Grey-lag Geese S, 3 Teal (1 N, 2 S), 92 Common Scoter (91 S), 4 Velvet Scoter N, 69 Red-throated Diver (66 N), A Grey Heron in the Triangle, a Bonxie N, a Water Rail (Canal Scrape), 8 Lapwing (Borrow Pit), 5 Woodcock, a Meadow Pipit, a Fieldfare, 10 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing (Church Field) and a Blackcap (Kew).

Bright and cold remaining frozen, although the roads thawed out quite a bit in the afternoon

Of note today were 47 Lapwing (1 S, 46 Walker Butts), 7 Snipe, 2 Woodcock, 2 Sky Lark S, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Stonechat, 24 Blackbird, 5 Fieldfare, 22 Song Thrush (14 Kew area), 6 Redwing (5 Church Field), 2 Blackcap (Chalk Bank/Kew), 8 Goldfinch (Church Field) and 2 Snow Bunting (Wire Dump/Clubley’s).

More unexpected fish today with another 27 Ray’s Bream seen along the tide line from the Blue Bell to the Warren but nowhere else!

Very little of interest today in contrast to yesterday and not a single skylark.

Of note were just 3 Greylag Goose S, a Tufted Duck S, 248 Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), a Peregrine (Humber), 53 Stock Dove N and a Woodcock (Triangle).

An excellent December days birding with a good southerly passage of 911 Skylark, 608 Meadow Pipit, 13 Whooper Swan, 9 Pochard, 27 Lapwing (plus 30 Triangle), 9 Snipe (plus 58 in), 22 Song Thrush (plus 32 grounded), 8 Snow Bunting and a Yellowhammer U-turned.

27 Reed Bunting were in the Triangle and 6 Stonechat.

A much colder day with a light north westerly.

Of note were 56 Lapwing (tringle) plus 4 S, 28 Snipe (Borrow Pit) plus 13 in, 47 Skylark S, Snow Bunting 2 N, Blackcap (Kew), 2 Mistle Thrush S and 2 Stonechat (Big Hedge and Warren).

North of the area a Goosander was on Beacon Ponds.

A cold but bright day with an overnight frost and snow showers from lunchtime.

Very little moving with just 2 Wigeon N, 1 Teal S, 1 Eider S, 2 Common Scoter N and 18 S, and 5 Kittiwake N. Also seen were 2 Woodcock (point, Church Field), 44 Lapwing (Triangle), 6 Snow Bunting (New Road), and the 3 Gadwall on Canal Scrape.

A cold day with a strong NE wind and occasional hail/sleet showers.

Seawatching produced (north unless stated) a Bonxie S, Arctic Skua S, 2 Great Northern Diver, Goosander, Fulmar, 39 Kittiwake, and 43 Auk Sp. Elsewhere 3 Gadwall and 12 Wigeon were on Canal Scrape, a Grey Heron was in North Field and 166 Black-tailed Godwit on the Humber.

Light NE wind with light rain throughout the day.

Moving at sea were 3 wigeon S (plus 17 Canal Scrape), 3 Shelduck S, 3 Teal S (plus 2 Canal Scrape), 4 Eider S, 28 Common Scoter S and a Goldeneye S. 2 Gadwall were on Canal Scrape, 4 Snow Bunting at New Road and 1 Tank Blocks, 18 Lapwing were on the Humber and Stonechats were at Canal Scrape and Big Hedge.

A bright day with light winds although remaining cold, little of note except for 220 Brent Geese, a Grey Heron (Church Field Pond), 2 Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), 2 Song Thrush (Point), a Blackcap (Kew) and 3 Goldfinch at the Warren. The most notable thing today was 2 Ray’s Bream washing up on the Point a deep water fish.

A very poor day with constant heavy rain making birding almost impossible just a couple of sightings of note with 4 Wigeon S, 10 Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), a Stonechat, a Song Thrush (Point), 2 Goldfinch, a Siskin S.

A dull cloudy day with heavy downpours from time to time a few birds at sea with, 52 Eider (45 N, 4 S and 3 on the Humber), 99 Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser N, 37 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver N, a Great Crested Grebe N and a Bonxie N, elsewhere a Little Egret, a Grey Heron, 10 Lapwing and 2 Black-tailed Godwit were on the Humber, single Song Thrush and Redwing were observed.

Bright and sunny although rather cold in a force 3 NE wind a few birds at sea with 2 Wigeon and 2 Gadwall N, a Black-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver N, 3 Bonxie blogging and a Kittiwake N. Elsewhere a Grey Heron blogging, a Merlin hunting the Salt Marsh, a Water Rail (Canal Scrape), a Snipe, a Meadow Pipit (North Field), 2 Fieldfare and 5 Goldfinch were about the best of it.

The coldest day so far with a heavy overnight frost but plenty of blues sky and a light NNE wind of note today were 22 Common Scoter S, 2 Merlin hunting, 3 Lapwing S, a Woodcock (Canal Hedge), 40 Wood Pigeon, 2 Meadow Pipit (Clubley’s), 2 Stonechat, 30 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, a Rook S, 10 Siskin S, 2 Snow Bunting (1 S, 1 blogging).

Another cold bright day with a light WNW wind producing very little with a Grey-lag Goose N, 33 Common Scoter, 24 Red-throated Diver (20 S), a Black-throated Diver out then N, a Water Rail (Canal Scrape), a Grey Heron, a Moorhen on Church Field Pond, 13 Wood Pigeon, a Fieldfare, 3 Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 11 Goldfinch (4 S), 2 Siskin S, a Linnet at Kew and a Yellowhammer blogging being noteworthy.

Another bright sunny day with a light SW wind but feeling colder than of late. Highlights were 5 Eider N, 2 Merlin blogging, 100 Black-tailed Godwit on the Humber, a Meadow Pipit S, 5 Stonechat, 30 Blackbird (2 in), 3 Song Thrush, 11 Tree Sparrow S, 4 Chaffinch (1 S), 4 Greenfinch S, 7 Goldfinch (1 S), 7 Twite S and a Yellowhammer blogging.

A lovely bright sunny day with a light SW wind some light passage S with 103 Pink-footed Geese, 19 Common Scoter plus 2 N, a Great Northern Diver, a Gannet, 2 Cormorant, 2 Kittiwake, 2 Sky Lark, 3 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin and a Linnet. Elsewhere of note were 3 Grey-lag Geese on the sea, a Moorhen along Kilnsea Road, a Meadow Pipit (Clubley’s), 4 Stonechat, 34 Blackbird, 2 Redwing, a Brambling (Kew) and 4 Goldfinch (Crown).

Dull all day with light showers thrown in and a stiff S wind making it rather cool, highlights of the day were 40 Pink-footed Geese S, 4 Wigeon S, a Gadwall on Canal Scrape, a Pintail S, a male Long-tailed Duck S, 26 Common Scoter, 32 Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), a Snipe (Triangle), single Merlin and Peregrine being naughty, a Rock Pipit S, 3 Sky Lark, 3 Stock Dove, single Song Thrush and Redwing.

Heavy rain to start the day clearing later on with a freshening SW wind of note today were 1 Whooper Swan S, 2 Teal S, 15 Eider, a Goldeneye on the sea, a Black-throated Diver N over the Triangle, a Shag S, single Merlin and Peregrine hunting, 2000 Golden Plover and 133 Black-tailed Godwit (Humber), a Pomarine Skua S, a Stock Dove S, 2 Meadow Pipit, 3 Redwing, 2 Siskin S.

Limited coverage today due to a work party day which remained bright and sunny in light winds of note were 2 Eider N, a Fulmar N, 12 Shag S, a Water Rail at Kew, 31 Lapwing (Humber), a Arctic Skua S, 2 Rock Pipit (1 S), 46 Blackbird, a Fieldfare, 2 Redwing (Chalk Bank), 2 Mistle Thrush S, 4 Siskin (Crown), 30 Twite S, a Lapland Bunting and 20 Snow Bunting S. North of the area 2 Whopper Swan and 3 Grey-lag Geese (Long Bank) and a Chiffchaff and a Snow Bunting were at Beacon Lagoons.

Just some light passage in a day with plenty of sunshine and a light NW wind, of note today was 6 Whooper Swan S, 4 Grey-lag Geese (1 S, 3 blogging), 46 Wigeon (1 S, 45 on the sea), 18 Eider (17 S), a Long-tailed Duck S, 65 Common Scoter, a Great Northern Diver blogging, 16 Cormorant (15 S), a Bonxie S, 2 Stock Dove S, 55 Blackbird, 18 Fieldfare (Triangle), 10 Redwing, 8 Goldfinch (4 S), single Siskin and Lesser Redpoll S.

A much quieter day with rain coming in late morning for the rest of the day in a gusty W-NW wind.

Some birds at sea with 23 Wigeon (20 S), 14 Teal and 3 Tufted Duck S, 76 Eider, 65 Common Scoter (46 S), 9 Goldeneye S, 4 Goosander S, a Great Northern Diver S, 300 Golden Plover in, 172 Lapwing and 6 Knot in, a Purple Sandpiper N.

Elsewhere on land a Snipe (Triangle), 75 Blackbird, 2 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, a Chiffchaff (Crown), 6 Goldfinch, 2 Siskin S were noteworthy.

An excellent days birding in cloudy conditions with light rain first thing and a light S-SE wind producing some ducks at sea and a good arrival of Blackbirds. With the highlight of the day being a drake SMEW N at sea.

Also at sea (all S unless stated) were 24 Brent Geese, 45 Shelduck, 291 Wigeon plus 6 N, 2 Gadwall, 209 Teal plus 18 N, 12 Mallard, 8 Pintail, 13 Shoveler, 24 Pochard, 16 Tufted Duck, 13 Scaup, 181 Eider, 171 Common Scoter plus 209 N, 17 Goldeneye, 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Goosander, 2 Great Northern Diver N, a Shag N, 86 Golden Plover, 53 Dunlin, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Elsewhere 2 Stonechat, 350 Blackbird was probably an under estimation as birds were going S as well as going inland after arriving, 45 Redwing, 200 Starling, a Siskin S and 2 Yellowhammer (1 S).

The day started with a frost but soon warmed up with plenty of sunshine and light winds, a small arrival of birds plus some passage so all in all plenty to look at.

Of note today were 3 Bewick Swan, 3 Grey-lag Geese in Walker Butts, 104 Wigeon, 175 Teal (108 N), 3 Shoveler N, 44 Eider, 3 Velvet Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Merganser S, 8 Great Northern Diver (5 N, 3 S), a Manx Shearwater N, 3 Shag N, single Merlin and Peregrine, a Water Rail at the Warren, 2500 Golden Plover (Humber), a Purple Sandpiper N, 2 Woodcock, 10 Little Auk N, 6 Stock Dove S, a Great Spotted Woodpecker came in, 6 Meadow Pipit and 4 Rock Pipit S, 4 Stonechat, 84 Blackbird, 3 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 2 Blackcap (Kew), a Chiffchaff (Kew), 17 Goldfinch (11 S), 6 Siskin S, 11 Redpoll S, a Bullfinch (Warren), 91 Snow Bunting and 3 Yellowhammer S.