Early December 2016

December 10th. Birds around included 300 Pink-footed Goose, 6 Pintail, 5 Water Rail, 85 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Avocet, a Woodcock, 6 Goldcrest and 2 Water Pipit. Flying south were 60 Golden Plover, 14 Redwing, 310 Fieldfare, 6 Brambling and 20 Chaffinch.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue with Jenni Godber produced 5 new birds: 3 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch and a Greenfinch; and 12 retraps: 4 Blue Tit, 6 Great Tit, a Dunnock and a Robin.

December 9th. The Long-tailed Duck was still on Jackson's Marsh. Around were a Bewick's Swan, 300 Pink-footed Goose, 900 Brent Goose, 5 Pintail, a Goldeneye, 2 Pochard, a Grey Heron, a Common Buzzard, 4 Water Rail, 300 Lapwing, 5 Turnstone, 80 Black-tailed Godwit, a Snipe, 2 Avocet, 250 Fieldfare, a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, a Coal Tit, a Water Pipit, a Brambling and 15 Corn Bunting. Going south/southwest were 300 Golden Plover and 300 Fieldfare; and to roost on the Mere 300 Starling.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling resulted in 6 new birds: a Blue Tit, a Chaffinch and 4 Greenfinch; and 26 retraps: 11 Blue Tit, 3 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 8 Great Tit, a Robin and a Goldfinch.

December 8th. The Long-tailed Duck remained on Jackson's Marsh. Birds around included 300 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Pintail, 2 Pochard, 6 Water Rail, 260 Lapwing, 80 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Snipe, 2 Avocet, 23 Fieldfare, 2 Chiffchaff and 20 Corn Bunting.

December 7th. On Jackson's Marsh were a Long-tailed Duck, 4 Pintail and a Pochard.

December 6th. Fog most of day.
 On Jackson's Marsh was a Long-tailed Duck.

December 5th. On Jackson's Marsh were now 2 Long-tailed Duck, photographed together. On Tennyson's Sands was a Water Rail. Around were a Merlin and a Corn Bunting.

Merlin, 5th December 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale

Long-tailed Duck on Jackson's Marsh, 5th December 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale

Water Rail, 5th December 2016.
Photo - Paul Neale
December 4th. The Long-tailed Duck remained on Jackson's Marsh. Around were a Scaup, 6 Pintail, a Common Buzzard, 2 Woodcock, 2 Snipe, a Green Woodpecker and a Twite. Heading south were a Great Northern Diver and 12 Redwing, and north a Gannet.

December 3rd. Offshore was a Great Northern Diver. The Long-tailed Duck was still on Jackson's Marsh. Birds around included 200 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Snipe, 8 Redwing and a Lapland Bunting. Flying south was a Black-throated Diver.

December 2nd. The Long-tailed Duck remained on Jackson's Marsh. Around were 16 Redwing and a Siskin.

December 1st. The Long-tailed Duck was still on Jackson's Marsh. Birds around included 200 Pink-footed Goose.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling produced 6 new birds: 3 Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, a Reed Bunting and a Greenfinch; and 25 retraps: 12 Blue Tit, 9 Great Tit, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock and 2 Robin.