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 |
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.
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| Noisy Great Spotted Woodpecker, retrapped 30th December 2017. Photo - George Gregory |
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.
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| Fieldfare, 28th December 2017. Photo - Paul Johnson |
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| Starling, 28th December 2017. Photo - Paul Johnson |
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.
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| Stonechat, 26th December 2017. Photo - Colin Casey |
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.
