December 10th. Frozen start, gradually warming up a bit, then becoming cold again.
An escaped white phase Gyr Falcon, trailing a jess, was chased by a Peregrine. Also around were a Woodcock, 10 Whooper Swan, 40 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Stonechat and 1200 Lapwing with 400 Golden Plover flushed by the Peregrine/ Gyr Falcon combination. A Brambling was with Chaffinches near North Car Park, a male Bullfinch was in the East Dunes and 6 Corn Bunting remained around the Visitor Centre Car Park. Flying south were 20 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing and a Snow Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 3 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Cetti's Warbler. Offshore, a Puffin flew south.
December 9th. Cold again after a clear night with a hard frost.
No further sign of yesterday's Waxwing. Quiet offshore. 11 Snow Bunting were on the beach and 10 Pintail on the Haven. Other birds around included 240 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 220 Pink-footed Goose, 1200 Lapwing, 6 Woodcock, a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, 2 Goldcrest, 5 Fieldfare, 13 Redwing, 3 Stonechat, a Bullfinch, a Chiffchaff and 7 Corn Bunting. A flock of 55 Reed Buntings feeding around the Old Saltmarsh edge was an exceptionally good count by todays standards. Mixed in were a small number of Goldfinch and Corn Buntings. Heading south were 7 Whooper Swan. Birds of Prey seen from the Wash Viewpoint later afternoon were 3 Marsh harrier, 3 Hen Harrier and 2 Short-eared Owl.
December 8th. Cold all day.
Around were 240 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 2 Stonechat and 8 Corn Bunting. On the Mere were a Water Rail and 3 Snipe. Flying south were 80 Pink-footed Goose, 36 Eider and 4 Red-throated Diver; and north 4 Redwing. 2 Waxwing paused at the south end of the West Dunes before flying off north. A Jack Snipe came off the New saltmarsh.
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December 7th. Cold start with north-westerly wind, then becoming even colder.
Eider numbers continued to build offshore, with over 500 this morning, along with several Red-breasted Merganser and Red-throated Diver. A Velvet Scoter and 3 Goosander headed south at sea whilst overland, small numbers of Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Siskin passed south. A Lapland Bunting came off the marsh by the Wash Viewpoint and raptors seen this morning included Red Kite, Peregrine, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier and Merlin. 7 Ruff on Moat Scrape from Harvey's Hide was a good December record. Other birds around included 13 Pintail and 5 Woodcock (including 1 dead on shoreline).
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| Mistletoe, 7 December 2022. Photo - George Gregory |
December 6th. Fairly cold start, slowly warming up.
The Chiffchaff remained around Sykes Farm. On Moat Pond were 3 Ruff; on Croftmarsh a Buzzard; and on Fenland Lagoon a Kingfisher. Other birds around were 160 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 4 Marsh Harrier and 8 Corn Bunting. Going south were 190 Pink-footed Goose, 18 Eider, 12 Redwing and 8 Fieldfare.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 2 new birds: a Robin and a Blackbird; and 5 retraps: 2 Goldcrest and 3 Great Tit.
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December 5th. Fairly strong north-easterly wind with showers.
A morning sea-watch saw increased numbers of Eider, a light southerly movement of Red-throated Diver, two Great Northern Diver also heading south and a flock of 31 Snow Bunting feeding on the beach. The highlight of the day was an Arctic Redpoll with the Linnet flock around the outer dunes and beach, seen by the only birder on site at the time and not relocated in bad weather after the initial views. Also around were 160 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Scaup, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, 2 Redwing and 2 Fieldfare. Other birds heading south included 17 Whooper Swan.
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December 4th. Strong easterly wind with isolated showers.
Difficult conditions again. An hour's sea-watch was generally quiet, with small groups of Eider and small numbers of Red-throated Diver moving south. At least one Snow Bunting was around the beach. A Short-eared Owl coming in over the sea was the highlight.
December 3rd. Moderately strong north-easterly wind, with rainy spells in the morning and almost continuous rain in the afternoon.
Sea-watching was the main theme of the morning; 4 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 75 Kittiwake, 3 Little Gull, 41 Eider and 27 Red-throated Diver flew south and there were 22 Snow Bunting on the beach.
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December 2nd. Cold, misty start, gradually improving.
Around were 210 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Woodcock, 2 Marsh Harrier, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, a Stonechat, 4 Siskin, 7 Snow Bunting and 12 Corn Bunting. On the Mere were 2 Water Rail. Flying south were 7 Pink-footed Goose and 2 Red-throated Diver; and north 16 Common Scoter.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 6 new birds: 2 Blue Tit, 3 Chaffinch and a Blackbird; and 7 retraps: 3 Great Tit and 5 Blue Tit.
Ringing Control: Kestrel, ringed near Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire 27 June 2022, controlled GPBO 26 November 2022.
December 1st. A fairly mild and overcast start becoming brighter with increasing breeze from the north-west.
Birds around, including those trapped, were a Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, 10 Goldcrest, 4 Siskin and 2 Ring-necked Parakeet.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Keith Collett, produced 5 new birds: a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, 2 Chaffinch and a Blackbird; and 7 retraps: a Goldcrest, 5 Blue Tit and a Great Tit.
