December 20th. Mild again after overnight rain. Mostly dry with light southerly wind.
The main theme of the morning was a significant arrival of Thrushes, mostly Fieldfare and Redwing but also new Blackbird and Robin apparent. By 1100, over 1000 Fieldfare and 850 Redwing had passed through, continuing south over and through the dunes. Skylark and Finches were also moving south in smaller numbers, including 3 Brambling and 2 Siskin. Also around were 10 Woodcock, 2 Blackcap, 2 Hen Harrier, a Marsh Harrier, a Water Pipit, 21 Snow Bunting and a Yellowhammer.
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December 19th. Mild but soggy start, with strong southerly winds.
Birds around included 30 Redwing, 2 Stonechat and 22 Snow Bunting. Heading south were 4 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Eider, 4 Red-throated Diver, 95 Starling, 3 Redwing and 41 Fieldfare.
Two Harbour Porpoises were offshore.
December 18th. Very cold start, with increasing south-easterly wind and rain in afternoon, but slowly becoming warmer.
Numbers of Redwing and Starling were still around, as were 180 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier and a Hen Harrier (roosted). Gull roost counts were 5000 Black-headed, 2000 Common and 5000 Herring.
December 17th. Another freezing start, with a very heavy overnight frost resembling light snow on the ground, slowly warming up a bit and thawing.
Quite a few Redwing were still present. Lapwing were arriving, with other waders on the move and feeding in unusual places. 11 Woodcock were feeding in areas of thawed ground. 7 Whooper Swan were on fields to the west, 3 Marsh Harrier and a Hen Harrier were hunting the marshes and a Red Kite flew south. Also around were 2 Snipe and 15 Snow Bunting.
December 16th. The freezing conditions continue but another clear and bright morning.
Redwing were prominent again in East Dunes where the supply of Hawthorn haws is diminishing rapidly. Starling numbers continue to build with over 400 passing south and 1300 at North End. A brief look at the sea yielded a Great Northern Diver heading north. Elsewhere several Woodcock were in the dunes, 5 Barnacle Goose flew south-west and a Buzzard north. Other birds around were 695 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Snipe, 3 Marsh Harrier, 15 Fieldfare, 11 Stonechat, 4 Corn Bunting, a Jack Snipe and 19 Snow Bunting. Approx. 800 Pink-footed Geese came in to roost after dusk.
December 15th. Very cold but again fairly calm and clear, becoming bright.
The main feature of the morning was an arrival of Thrushes, mostly Redwing, with over 400 arriving from the north and north-east and passing south through and over the East Dunes between 0745 and 0915hrs. 2 Blackcap were along North Building Ridge and a Long-eared Owl came out of a small hawthorn along Mill Pond Road and re-settled out of view in dense scrub adjacent. Also around was a Snipe.
December 14th. Another cold, icy morning but calm and clearer than of late.
Three Marsh Harrier were hunting the marshes from early on and 740 Brent Goose left the Haven to feed on local fields. 13 Whooper Swan flew south with others heard calling to the west later. A trickle of southerly passage involved a few Chaffinch, a Fieldfare, 15 Redwing and a Lapland Bunting, with a further 10 Redwing feeding in the dunes. 15 Snow Bunting were on the beach, 6 Corn Bunting were around the Visitor Centre and during the late afternoon 4 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier came in to roost. On the Mere was a Snipe. Other birds around were 3 Woodcock, a Sparrowhawk, 25 Redwing and 3 Stonechat.
December 13th. Freezing, misty start, slowly improving.
8 Whooper Swan flew south over Sykes Farm. Good numbers of wildfowl were seen on the sea and around the Haven as the fog cleared including 12 Pintail and 40 Shoveler amongst the Wigeon. 4 Avocet here were an unusual December record with 5 Black-tailed Godwit also present. Large numbers of buntings/finches/larks too: 15 Snow Bunting (+2 south), 110 Skylark, 5 Greenfinch and 320 Linnet. Also around were 40 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Woodcock, 39 Little Egret to roost, 2/3 Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Barn Owl and a Stonechat.
December 12th. Freezing, misty start, slowly improving.
A slight thaw on Tennyson's Sands saw the return of 61 Shoveler and 4 Black-tailed Godwit. Also around were; 340 Pink-footed Goose, 4 Woodcock, 2 Cettis Warbler and 3 Stonechat.
Birds around included 35 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Jay, 4 Redwing and a Stonechat.
December 11th. Fairly cold, then misty.
21 Common Scoter and a Gannet flew north offshore and there were 10 Red-throated Diver on the sea. On the Haven, it was apparent that freezing conditions inland had forced duck into more saline waters; 1155 Wigeon was a very good modern day count. Also present were 360 Teal, 14 Pintail and 66 Mallard. Around were 10 Woodcock, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 11 Long-tailed Tit, 5 Goldcrest, 11 Redwing, 2 Stonechat and 19 Snow Bunting. Going south were 20 Pink-footed Goose; and northwest 300 Pink-footed Goose.
A late morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 10 new birds: a Chaffinch, a Blue Tit, 7 Greenfinch and a Blackbird; and 5 retrap Blue Tit.
