Late December 2016

December 31st. Birds around included 800 Brent Goose, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Water Rail, a Woodcock, 7 Song Thrush, 6 Goldcrest, 2 Water Pipit and a Brambling..

December 30th. Frosty start.
 Around were 100 Brent Goose, 2 Goldeneye, a Water Rail, a Snipe, 4 Fieldfare, a Coal Tit and 2 Rock Pipit. Flying north-west were 8 Pink-footed Goose.
 An afternoon ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber, produced 17 new birds: a Robin, 3 Blue Tit, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock and 11 Greenfinch; and 22 retraps: a Goldfinch, 7 Blue Tit, 12 Great Tit and 2 Dunnock.

December 29th. Frosty start.
 Birds around included 80 Brent Goose, 4 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, a male Hen Harrier, 60 Lapwing, 2 Woodcock, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest and a Treecreeper. An adult male Marsh Harrier was over the New Saltmarsh at dawn.
Hen Harrier from Harvey's Hide, 29th December 2016
Photo - Paul Neale

Sunrise over the Visitor Centre Car Park, 29th December 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
December 28th. Frosty, misty start.
 Around were 8 Pink-footed Goose, 100 Brent Goose, 2 Goldeneye, a Water Rail and a Green Woodpecker.

Sunrise, 28th December 2016.
Photo - Jim Shaw

Frost at Sykes Farm, 28th December 2016.
Photo - George Gregory
December 27th. Birds around included 400 Brent Goose, 80 Lapwing, a Siskin and 2 Water Rail.

December 26th. Around were 300 Brent Goose, 400 Lapwing, 300 Golden Plover, 2 Brambling and 2 Goldcrest.

December 25th. A Glaucous Gull flew south offshore in the afternoon with numerous Herring Gull. On the sea were 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Common Scoter. Birds around included 400 Brent Goose, 2000 Lapwing, 1500 Golden Plover, 61 Black-tailed Godwit, a Goldcrest, 2 Water Rail and a Treecreeper.

December 24th. Around were 400 Lapwing and a Chiffchaff. Flying south was a Lapland Bunting.

December 23rd. Birds around included 600 Golden Plover and a Goldcrest. On the sea was a Black-throated Diver, 4 Red-throated Diver and 4 Great Crested Grebe.

December 22nd. The Brent Goose flock consisted of 400 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (including 1 colour-ringed female originally ringed in July 2004 in the Taimyr Peninsula, Russia), an adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a hybrid Black Brant x Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Other birds around included 1300 Golden Plover, 1000 Lapwing, 35 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Water Rail, a Green Woodpecker, 2 Water Pipit and 70 Corn Bunting.

December 21st. Around were 400 Brent Goose, 60 Pink-footed Goose, 600 Lapwing, 400 Golden Plover, 65 Black-tailed Godwit, a Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest and 2 Snow Bunting. Offshore were 20 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, a Shag and 6 Great Crested Grebe.

Snow Bunting on Greenshanks Creek, 21st December 2016
Photo - Richard Doan
Snow Bunting on Greenshanks Creek, 21st December 2016
Photo - Richard Doan