December 19th. Birds around included 16 Snow Bunting, a Hen Harrier, 1000 Pink-footed Goose, 9 Whooper Swan, 2 Bullfinch and 3 Corn Bunting. On Tennyson Sands were 5 Water Rail. South went 7 Stock Dove.
December 18th. Fairly strong south-westerly wind.
Around were 350 Brent Goose and 6 Whooper Swan.
December 17th. Birds around included 2000 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 9 new birds: 2 Goldcrest, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinch and a Blackbird; and 13 retraps: a Greenfinch, 4 Great Tit, 5 Blue Tit, 2 Goldfinch and a Robin.
December 16th. Light south-westerly wind with clear skies.
Around the reserve were 42 Snow Bunting, a Lapland Bunting, a Cetti's Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 1000 Pink-footed Goose, 4000 Golden Plover, 2 Common Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin and 54 Corn Bunting. Tennyson's Sands held a Water Rail, a Pintail, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Goldeneye. A mid-morning sea watch produced a Slavonian Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 42 Red-throated Diver, a Goosander, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, a Guillemot and 2 Kittiwake. Flying south over the reserve were 4 Whooper Swan, 124 Fieldfare, a Marsh Harrier and a Waxwing.
December 15th. Birds around included 12 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 2 Goldcrest and 3 Pink-footed Goose.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue was not very productive. The 2 new birds were a Great Tit and a Blackbird; and the 5 retraps were 3 Blue Tit, a Blackbird and a Dunnock.
A fungus found growing on an old Pine cone at Aylmer Avenue is possibly either Conifercone Cap (Baeospora myosura) or Pinecone Cap (Strobilurus tenacellus).
| Fungus on Pine Cone, 15 December 2014. Photo - George Gregory |
| Fungus on Pine Cone, 15 December 2014. Photo- George Gregory |
Around were a Coal Tit, a Bullfinch, 600 Pink-footed Goose, 40 Corn Bunting, a Fieldfare, 15 Goldcrest, a Merlin, 60 Blackbird, a Barn Owl and a Woodcock.
December 13th. Frozen morning.
Birds around included a Pink-footed Goose, a Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, a Coal Tit, 2 Siskin and 4 Goldcrest. On Tennyson Sands was a Water Rail.
December 12th. Around were 2 Goldcrest. Flying south were 55 Pink-footed Goose.
December 11th. Birds around included 22 Snow Bunting, 2 Bullfinch and 350 Brent Goose.