Late December 2017

December 31st. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
 On Jackson's Marsh were a Bittern and a Goldeneye. Around were 200 Lapwing and a Barn Owl.

Bittern on Jackson's Marsh, 31st December 2017.
Photo - Kevin Simskin
December 30th. Soggy start.
 Birds around included 315 Brent Goose, a Merlin, a Hen Harrier, a Goldcrest, 21 Fieldfare, a Bullfinch and a Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pintail and a Goldeneye; on Tennyson's Sands 5 Snipe; and on Croftmarsh a Common Buzzard and 250 Lapwing.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 5 new birds: 3 Goldfinch, a Great Tit and a Greenfinch; and 3 retraps: 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Blue Tit.

Noisy Great Spotted Woodpecker, retrapped 30th December 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
December 29th. Rain most of day, with fairly strong, variable and decreasing wind.
 Around were 150 Lapwing, 2 Barn Owl and 20 Fieldfare.

December 28th. Freezing start, slowly thawing out.
 On Croftmarsh were 152 Pink-footed Goose, a Common Buzzard, 400 Golden Plover and 200 Lapwing; on Jackson's Marsh 65 Shoveler and 60 Wigeon; and on Tennyson's Sands 300 Brent Goose, a Pintail, 55 Shoveler, 4 Water Rail, 17 Snipe and a Kingfisher. Birds around included 2 Barn Owl, a Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechat, 80 Fieldfare and a Water Pipit. Heading south was a Bullfinch; and west a Grey Heron.

Fieldfare, 28th December 2017.
Photo - Paul Johnson
Starling, 28th December 2017.
Photo - Paul Johnson
 December 27th. Rain until noon, then quite strong north-westerly wind.
 Around were 200 Lapwing and 20 Fieldfare. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew north at sea.

December 26th. Decreasing then increasing south-westerly wind.
 Birds around included a Treecreeper, a Stonechat, 60 Fieldfare and 4 Goldcrest.

Stonechat, 26th December 2017.
Photo - Colin Casey
December 25th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
 Around were 500 Pink-footed Goose, 300 Lapwing, 250 Golden Plover, 100 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, a Treecreeper, a Brambling, 2 Bullfinch, a Siskin and 2 Redpoll Spp. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Black-tailed Godwit.

December 24th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
 Birds around included 300 Golden Plover, 60 Lapwing, 3 Woodcock, a Merlin, 50 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 50 Song Thrush, a Goldcrest and 3 Bullfinch. On Croftmarsh were 4 Water Pipit. Going to roost were 12000 Black-headed Gull, 3500 Common Gull and 500 Herring Gull.

December 23rd. Slowly increasing south-westerly wind.
 Around were a male Hen Harrier, 2 Water Rail, 2 Woodcock, a Merlin, 70 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, a Stonechat, a Water Pipit, 3 Bullfinch and 11 Corn Bunting. On the Mere were 42 Gadwall and a Pintail; and over Croftmarsh 2 Buzzard and a Peregrine. Heading north were a Brent Goose and 3 Common Scoter; and south 100 Pink-footed Goose and a Red-breasted Merganser.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded just a retrap Great Tit.

December 22nd. Birds around, including those trapped, were 1600 Golden Plover, a Green Woodpecker, a Goldcrest, 80 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 4 Water Pipit, 5 House Sparrow and a Siskin.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 3 new birds: a Chaffinch and 2 Greenfinch; and 9 retraps: 5 Blue Tit, a Wren, a Goldcrest and 2 Great Tit.

December 21st. Around were a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Goldcrest, a Coal Tit, a Treecreeper and 120 Fieldfare. On Tennyson's Sands were a Pochard, 5 Water Rail and 9 Snipe.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber, produced 3 new birds: 2 Goldfinch and a Greenfinch; and 17 retraps: 7 Blue Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Greenfinch and 6 Great Tit.

Mid December 2017

December 20th. Birds around included a Woodcock, 100 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing and a Stonechat. On Jackson's Marsh was a Water Pipit. Flying north-west were 8 White-fronted Goose.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 4 new birds: a Blue Tit, a Great Tit and 2 Greenfinch; and 7 retraps: a Coal Tit, 2 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit and a Greenfinch.

December 19th. Fairly cold start, slowly warming up.
 Around were 120 Pink-footed Goose, 200 Brent Goose, 3 Hen Harrier, a Woodcock, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Merlin, 5 Goldcrest, 160 Fieldfare, a male Blackcap, a Brambling, 3 Bullfinch and 2 Siskin. On Tennyson's Sands were 57 Shoveler and 8 Snipe. Offshore were 85 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, a Shag and a Great Skua.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber, provided 14 new birds: 5 Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, a Chaffinch and 6 Greenfinch; and 2 retrap Blue Tit.

December 18th. Cold start, slowly warming up.
 Birds around included 120 Brent Goose, a Hen Harrier, 300 Golden Plover, a Barn Owl, a Merlin and 50 Fieldfare.
 A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 5 new birds: 2 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, a Blue Tit and a Greenfinch; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit, a Goldfinch, a Great Tit and a Dunnock.

December 17th. Freezing start, gradually thawing out.
 Around were 4 Whooper Swan, 3 Water Rail, a Woodcock, a Barn Owl, a Kingfisher, 3 Stonechat, 22 Fieldfare, 12 Song Thrush, 3 Bullfinch and a Snow Bunting. Offshore were 70 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Crested Grebe. Going south were 30 Wigeon and 30 Teal; and north a Great Crested Grebe.

Sunrise, 17th December 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson
Roe Deer, 17th December 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson
 
Whooper Swans, 17th December 2017.
Photo - Rob Watson
December 16th. Freezing start, slowly thawing out.
 Birds around included 60 Brent Goose, 200 Golden Plover, a Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfare, a Yellowhammer and 16 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh was an immature Whooper Swan.

Recent Ringing Recoveries and Controls:
Blackbird, ringed GPBO 31/10/2011, controlled Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire 26/11/2017
Goldfinch, ringed GPBO 12/4/2016, controlled Shotley, Suffolk 3/11/2017
Chiffchaff, ringed Mickley, Northumberland 25/6/2017, controlled GPBO 12/9/2017
Reed Bunting, ringed Wakefield, Yorkshire 1/7/2017, controlled GPBO 9/10/2017
Goldcrest, ringed GPBO 12/9/2017, controlled High Halstow. Kent 26/10/2017
Chiffchaff, ringed GPBO 3/10/2017, recovered Safi, Morocco 15/11/2017
Chiffchaff, ringed GPBO 4/10/2017, controlled Queen Mary Reservoir, Surrey 17/10/2017
Blackbird ringed GPBO 13/11/2016, controlled Kilnsea, Yorkshire 27/10/2017

December 15th. Increasing north-westerly wind with occasional light rain.
 Around were a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, 2 Goldcrest, 11 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing and a Yellowhammer. On the Mere were a Water Rail and a Jack Snipe; and on Jackson's Marsh an immature Whooper Swan and a Goldeneye. Heading south was a Siskin.
 A brief weather-restricted morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Mike Polling, yielded just a new Dunnock.

Barn Owl, 15th December 2017
Photo - Chris Tyler

Barn Owl, 15th December 2017
Photo - Chris Tyler

Barn Owl, 15th December 2017
Photo - Chris Tyler

December 14th. Cold start, with decreasing south-westerly wind.
 Birds around included 144 Brent Goose, 300 Wigeon, 2 Common Buzzard, a male Hen Harrier, 3 Water Rail, 800 Golden Plover, 500 Lapwing, 15 Snipe, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, a Goldcrest, a Coal Tit, 2 Stonechat, a Fieldfare and 3 House Sparrow. On Jackson's Marsh was an immature Whooper Swan. Flying south were 300 Pink-footed Goose and a Black-tailed Godwit.

December 13th. Around were 50 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Goldcrest and a Redpoll. On Jackson's Marsh was an immature Whooper Swan. Going south were 4 Whooper Swan.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 10 new birds: 6 Great Tit, 3 Blue Tit and a Chaffinch; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit and 3 Great Tit.

December 12th. Frozen start, slowly thawing out.
 At Greenshanks Creek were 3 Shorelark. On Jackson's Marsh was an immature Whooper Swan. Birds around included 900 Pink-footed Goose, a Marsh Harrier, 450 Golden Plover, 360 Lapwing, a Goldcrest, 5 Stonechat, 3 Fieldfare and 3 Snow Bunting. Heading south were 28 Lapwing; and west 4 Pink-footed Goose.

December 11th. Moderately strong north-easterly wind.
 A Great White Egret flew down the River Steeping. Over Croftmarsh were 1500 Pink-footed Goose. Around were a Red Kite, a Barn Owl, a Goldcrest and a Bullfinch.

Early December 2017

December 10th. Cold start, then snow and rain for most of day.
 On Jackson's Marsh was an immature Whooper Swan. Birds around included 2 Goldcrest.

December 9th. Very cold start.
 Around were 6 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Brent Goose, a Barn Owl, a Peregrine, a Stonechat, 11 Song Thrush, a Fieldfare and 6 Goldcrest. On Jackson's Marsh were an immature Whooper Swan and a Grey Heron.

December 8th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind; cold start.
 Birds around included 500 Pink-footed Goose, 80 Brent Goose, 200 Teal, 400 Cormorant, a Hen Harrier, 550 Grey Plover, 400 Sanderling, 2000 Dunlin, a Merlin, 3 Goldcrest, a Treecreeper and a Redwing. On Jackson's Marsh was a Grey Heron. Flying south were 3 Common Scoter, a Slavonian Grebe, 5 Fieldfare and 6 Brambling.

December 7th. Strong south-westerly wind, gradually decreasing. Some mid morning rain.
 Around were 600 Pink-footed Goose, a Common Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, a Goldcrest, a Bullfinch and 2 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were an immature Whooper Swan and 2 Pintail.

December 6th. Increasing south-westerly wind.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were 500 Pink-footed Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Woodcock, a Peregrine, a Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat, 3 Goldcrest, 6 Bullfinch, a Brambling and a Snow Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh was a Water Pipit; and on the Mere a Water Rail. On or over the sea were 2 Eider, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 30 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe and a Kittiwake; while 2 Great Northern Diver and a Slavonian Grebe went south. Over land a Redwing and a Siskin went south.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber, produced 10 new birds: 2 Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch and 2 Blackbird; and 17 retraps: 2 Dunnock, 2 Blackbird, 3 Goldcrest, a Great Tit, a Robin, 7 Long-tailed Tit and a Greenfinch.

December 5th. Around, including birds trapped, were 6 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Common Buzzard, a Woodcock, a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl, a Goldcrest, 5 Stonechat, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Blackcap, a Siskin, 3 Bullfinch and 10 Corn Bunting. On the sea was a Slavonian Grebe. On Tennyson's Sands were 84 Shoveler, 3 Water Rail and 200 Lapwing; on Jackson's Marsh an immature Whooper Swan; and on Croftmarsh 2 Water Pipit. Heading south were 2 adult Whooper Swan and 6 Fieldfare.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber, resulted in 18 new birds: a Blackcap, a Bullfinch, a Goldfinch, 2 Blue Tit, 8 Greenfinch, a Song Thrush and 4 Blackbird; and 14 retraps: 2 Bullfinch, 2 Wren, a Blackcap, a Dunnock, a Blackbird, a Robin, a Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blue Tit, a Goldcrest, a Greenfinch and a Great Tit.

Bullfinch, ringed 5th December 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
December 4th. Frosty start, gradually thawing out.
 Birds around, including those trapped, were a Woodcock, a Goldcrest, a Blackcap and a Bullfinch.
 A frost-delayed morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 10 new birds: 3 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, a Blackcap and 4 Greenfinch; and 3 retraps: 2 Blue Tit and a Blackbird.

December 3rd. Around, including birds trapped, were 540 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Greenshank, a Woodcock, a Merlin, a Goldcrest, a Stonechat, a Treecreeper, 2 House Sparrow and 19 Corn Bunting.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 10 new birds: a Treecreeper, 2 Goldfinch, a Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 3 Blackbird and a Woodcock; and 10 retraps: 2 Dunnock, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Wren, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Goldcrest and a Great Tit.

Treecreeper, ringed 3rd, December 2017.
Photo - George Gregory
December 2nd. Birds around included 2 Merlin and 4 Stonechat. Flying south were 4 Bewick's Swan, 150 Teal, 21 Eider, 5 Great Crested Grebe, a Brambling and a Siskin; and north 11 Wigeon. In off the sea came a Marsh Harrier and 210 Lapwing.
 A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 13 new birds: 5 Long-tailed Tit, a Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and 5 Blackbird; and 7 retraps: a Blackbird, a Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, a Robin and a Wren.

December 1st. Snow gradually melting and strong northerly wind gradually decreasing.
 Sea-watching produced 2 Little Auk, 1300 Common Scoter, 10 Red-throated Diver and a Fulmar north; and a Black-throated Diver and 4 Eider south. In off the sea came a Snow Bunting. Around were 180 Brent Goose, 500 Golden Plover, 100 Blackbird, 3 Stonechat, a Fieldfare, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Lesser Redpoll and 15 Corn Bunting.