Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory Blog: December 2018

Late December 2018

December 31st. A juvenile Iceland Gull and a Mediterranian Gull flew south late in the afternoon. Around were 49 Whooper Swan, 1200 Pink-footed Goose, 80 Brent Goose, 2 Hooded Crow, a Brambling and 30 Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were a Water Rail, a Snipe and a Kingfisher; and on Jackson's Marsh 63 Wigeon, 2 Pintail and a Black-tailed Godwit. Offshore were 14 Velvet Scoter, 20 Red-throated Diver and a Great Crested Grebe.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue, with Jenni Godber, provided 3 new birds: a Great Tit, a Blue Tit and a Goldfinch; and 4 retraps: 3 Great Tit and a Blue Tit..

Great Tit with unusually brown-tipped remiges, ringed 31st December 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

December 30th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 42 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults), 1500 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Velvet Scoter, a Grey Heron, a Buzzard, a Water Rail, 350 Lapwing, 11 Snipe, a Short-eared Owl, a Merlin, 3 Hooded Crow, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 6 Fieldfare and 23 Corn Bunting. Flying south was a Peregrine.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 11 new birds: a Goldcrest, 2 Goldfinch, a Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit and 5 Greenfinch; and 5 retraps: 3 Great Tit and 2 Blue Tit.

December 29th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind.
A Waxwing was seen at the Hump briefly before flying north. Around were 48 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults), 2000 Pink-footed Goose, 150 Brent Goose, 2 Pintail, a Marsh Harrier, 400 Lapwing, 19 Snipe, a Merlin, 2 Hooded Crow, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 6 Rock Pipit, a Bullfinch and 15 Corn Bunting. Going north were 22 Red-throated Diver, a Guillemot, 12 Fieldfare and 15 Redwing; south 20 Red-throated Diver, 8 Ringed Plover, a Kittiwake and 14 Siskin; and west 8 Fieldfare.

Common Snipe, 29th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont.

December 28th. Birds around, including those trapped, were 3200 Pink-footed Goose, 11 Brent Goose, 5 Bewick's Swans, a Hen Harrier, 350 Lapwing, 3 Goldcrest and 2 Coal Tit.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded 3 new birds: a Blue Tit and 2 Greenfinch; and 6 retraps: 4 Blue Tit, a Great Tit and a Coal Tit.

Coal Tit, retrapped 28th December 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

December 27th. Around were 3000 Pink-footed Goose and 400 Lapwing.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 9 new birds: 3 Chaffinch, 2 Blue Tit and 4 Greenfinch; and 10 retraps: 5 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, retrapped 27th December 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

December 26th. Foggy morning.
Birds around included 50 Brent Goose and 300 Pink-footed Goose.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 6 retraps: 3 Goldfinch, a Coal Tit and 2 Great Tit.

December 25th. Around were 150 Pink-footed Goose, 20 Red-throated Diver, 11 Red-breasted Merganser, 110 Eider, a male Hen Harrier, 6000 Oystercatcher, 7000 Knot, a Woodcock and a Merlin. Going south were 120 Fieldfare, 8 Redwing and 3 Brambling. .

December 24th. Soggy start, slowly drying out.
Birds around included 600 Pink-footed Goose, 8 Brent Goose and a Woodcock.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in 4 new birds: 2 Goldfinch, a Blue Tit and a Chaffinch; and 8 retraps: 3 Blue Tit, a Goldfinch and 4 Great Tit.

December 23rd. Rain for much of day.
Around were 12 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults), 600 Pink-footed Goose, 50 Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, 7 Redwing and 5 House Sparrow.

December 22nd. A Waxwing was discovered by the roadside next to the Plantation before flying south. Birds around, including those trapped, were 46 Whooper Swan, 5 Bewick's Swan, 75 Brent Goose, 1200 Pink-footed Goose, 400 Wigeon, a Pintail, a Grey Heron, 2 Water Rail, 1500 Lapwing, 2 Kingfisher, a Hooded Crow, a Stonechat, a Coal Tit, a Brambling and 45 Corn Bunting, On the sea were 100 Common Scoter, 14 Velvet Scoter, a Great Northern Diver, 20 Red-throated Diver and 10 Red-breasted Merganser. Heading south were 10 Red-throated Diver, 55 Fieldfare, 44 Redwing, 2 Siskin, a Redpoll and a Lapland Bunting.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 7 new birds: a Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch, a Brambling and a Greenfinch; and 3 retraps: a Coal Tit, a Blue Tit and a Goldfinch.

Waxwing, 22nd December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Brambling, ringed 22nd December 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Ringing Control:
Blackcap ringed GPBO 2 August 2018, controlled Plaisance, Charente-Maritime, France 25 September 2018.

December 21st. Intermittent rain.
5 Bewick's Swan (including 2 adults) were found on the fields west of the River Steeping. Around were 53 Whooper Swan, 70 Brent Goose, 1200 Pink-footed Goose, a Pintail, a Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, a Water Rail, 200 Golden Plover, 800 Lapwing, a Merlin, a Goldcrest, 106 Fieldfare, 64 Redwing, 4 Rock Pipit and 40 Corn Bunting. On the sea were 100 Wigeon, 2 Eider, 120 Common Scoter, 11 Velvet Scoter, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, a Great Crested Grebe and a Slavonian Grebe. Flying south were 83 Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 3 Red-throated Diver, 128 Fieldfare and 16 Redwing; and west 25 Fieldfare.

Bewick's Swans, 21st December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont.

Mid December 2018

December 20th. A Waxwing was around the Plantation in the morning. Birds around included 48 Whooper Swan, 2500 Pink-footed Goose, 3 Pintail, a Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 300 Lapwing, 500 Golden Plover, a Woodcock, a Merlin, a Peregrine, 3 Hooded Crow, a Coal Tit, a Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit and 22 Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were 40 Snipe. Going south were 175 Wigeon, a Goosander, 20 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 375 Fieldfare and 29 Redwing. On the sea were 3 Eider, 140 Common Scoter, 8 Velvet Scoter, 11 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Red-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe and a Razorbill.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 5 new birds: 3 Goldfinch, a Blue Tit and a Blackbird; 2 retraps: a Blue Tit and a Goldfinch; and a control Goldfinch.

Blackbird, 20th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Great Black-backed Gull, 20th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

December 19th. Some rain in morning,
Around were 46 Whooper Swan, 1200 Pink-footed Goose, 150 Brent Goose, a Sparrowhawk, 1000 Golden Plover, 800 Lapwing, a Hooded Crow, 25 Fieldfare, 2 Rock Pipit and 20 Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands were a Grey Heron and a Water Rail. Heading west were 62 Fieldfare.

December 18th. Moderately strong south-easterly wind, with rain in afternoon.
Birds around included 51 Whooper Swan, a Grey Heron, 80 Golden Plover, a Woodcock, a Hooded Crow, a Coal Tit, 11 Redwing, 3 Water Pipit, a Bullfinch and a Corn Bunting. Flying south were 2 Brent Goose, 5 Eider, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Common Scoter.

December 17th. Around, including birds trapped, were 57 Whooper Swan, 2600 Pink-footed Goose, 150 Brent Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier, a Buzzard, 4500 Golden Plover, 250 Lapwing, a Green Woodpecker, a Peregrine, 2 Merlin, 3 Hooded Crow, 4 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Tree Sparrow, 3 Rock Pipit, a Bullfinch, 6 Brambling and 45 Corn Bunting. Over Tennyson's Sands was a Water Pipit; on the Mere was a Kingfisher; and offshore were 40 Wigeon, 120 Common Scoter, 8 Velvet Scoter, a Guillemot and a Great Crested Grebe. Going south were 25 Chaffinch and 7 Brambling.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 4 new birds: a Goldfinch, a Tree Sparrow, a Blue Tit and a Chaffinch; and 3 retraps: 2 Great Tit and a Blue Tit,.

Long-tailed Tit, 17th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Tree Sparrow, ringed 17th December 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Honeycomb in the West Dunes, 17th December 2018.
Photo - Kevin Wilson

December 16th. Birds around included 54 Whooper Swan, 70 Brent Goose, 850 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Pintail, a Goosander, a Grey Heron, a Marsh Harrier, a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 600 Golden Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, a Short-eared Owl, a Kingfisher, a Merlin, 3 Hooded Crow, 5 Goldcrest, a Mistle Thrush, a Stonechat, a Tree Sparrow, 9 Rock Pipit and 60 Corn Bunting. On Tennyson's Sands was a Cetti's Warbler; and on the sea were an Eider, 150 Common Scoter, 4 Velvet Scoter, a Slavonian Grebe and 2 Guillemots. Heading south were 50 Teal, 11 Shoveler, a Brambling and 5 Siskin.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue yielded a new Chaffinch; and 4 retraps: 3 Blue Tit and a Great Tit.

Corn Bunting, 16th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Stonechat, 16th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Coot, 16th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

December 15th. Increasing south-easterly wind.
Around were 44 Whooper Swan, 100 Brent Goose, 1000 Pink-footed Goose, 2 Pintail, 150 Common Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe, 2 Kingfisher, a Hooded Crow, and 35 Fieldfare.

December 14th. Birds around included 26 Whooper Swan, 90 Brent Goose, 1720 Pink-footed Goose, a Marsh Harrier, a Merlin, a Barn Owl, 2 Hooded Crow, a Chiffchaff, 145 Fieldfare, 26 Redwing and 56 Corn Bunting. On the Mere were 2 Water Rail and 6 Snipe; and on the sea were an Eider, 200 Common Scoter and a Velvet Scoter. Flying north were 8 Red-throated Diver and a Snipe; and south 4 Eider, a Red-breasted Merganser, a Great Crested Grebe and 5 Red-throated Diver.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 4 new birds: a Goldfinch, a Blue Tit and 2 Greenfinch; and 6 retraps: 5 Great Tit and a Blue Tit.

Common Snipe, 14th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

December 13th. Moderately strong south-easterly wind.
Around were 25 Whooper Swan, 500 Pink-footed Goose, 90 Brent Goose, 150 Common Scoter, a Velvet Scoter, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Woodcock, 2 Chiffchaff, 70 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing and 32 Corn Bunting. On Jackson's Marsh were 2 Pintail, a Grey Heron and 2 Black-tailed Godwit.

Blackbird, 13th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Chiffchaff, 13th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

December 12th. Birds around included 50 Whooper Swan, 2000 Pink-footed Goose, 16 White-fronted Goose, a male Hen Harrier, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, 900 Golden Plover, 450 Lapwing, a Woodcock, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine, 2 Rock Pipit, and 2 Corn Bunting.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced a new Greenfinch; and a retrap Blue Tit.

Pink-footed Geese, 12th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Ringing Recovery: Marsh Tit ringed Cottam PS, Nottinghamshire 11 July 2018, found dead GPNNR 25 September 2018.

December 11th. Around were 3 Tundra Bean Goose, 2500 Pink-footed Goose, a Shag, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Water Rail, a Merlin and 2 Yellowhammer. On the Mere was a Kingfisher. Going north was a Pomarine Skua; and south were 2 Great Northern Diver.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue by Mike Polling resulted in 4 new birds: a Blue Tit, 2 Chaffinch and a Greenfinch; and 5 retraps: 2 Great Tit, a Blue Tit, a Coal Tit and a Dunnock.

Shag seen on Cowbank Drain, 11th December 2018.
Photo - Kev Wilson

Early December 2018

December 10th. Around were 500 Pink-footed Goose and a Redwing. Heading south was a Water Pipit.
A brief morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue provided 3 new birds: 2 Goldfinch and a Greenfinch; and 4 retraps: singles of Blue Tit, Dunnock, Chaffinch and Great Tit.

December 9th. Moderately strong north-westerly wind, with rain until early morning. A Great White Egret was seen briefly, first on Jackson's Marsh and then Tennyson Sands before flying off.
Birds around included 30 Whooper Swan, 400 Pink-footed Goose, a Merlin, 2 Hooded Crow, 3 Redwing and a Blackcap, Offshore were 9 Velvet Scoter and 2 Great Northern Diver; and on the Mere 62 Gadwall. Flying south were 400 Lapwing.

December 8th. Strong south-westerly wind, with some rain in afternoon.
Around were 400 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Fieldfare and 300 Lapwing. 2 Chiffchaff were in the plantation. Highlights from Mill Hill were 2 Great Northern Diver on the sea.

December 7th. Moderately strong south-westerly wind, with rain until early afternoon.
Birds around included 37 Whooper Swan, 400 Pink-footed Goose, 250 Wigeon, and Eider, 200 Common Scoter, 3 Velvet Scoter, a Grey Heron, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 8 Snipe, a Hooded Crow, a Merlin, 47 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 8 Rock Pipit and 2 Corn Bunting.

Snipe, 7th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

December 6th. Around were 35 Whooper Swan, 600 Pink-footed Goose, 24 Brent Goose, 11 Velvet Scoter, 300 Common Scoter, 2 Hooded Crow and a Brambling.
A morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue produced 4 new birds: 2 Chaffinch, a Goldfinch and a Blackbird; and 11 retraps: 3 Blue Tit, 7 Great Tit and a Coal Tit.

Coal Tit, retrapped 6th December 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

Tiny Toadstools on a Corsican Pine Cone, 6th December 2018.
Photo - George Gregory

December 5th. Rain for most of day.
Birds around included 36 Whooper Swan, 1600 Pink-footed Goose, a Grey Heron, 2 Hen Harrier (a male and a ringtail), a Water Rail, 8 Snipe, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Fieldfare, 9 Redwing, a Water Pipit and 16 Corn Bunting.

December 4th. Freezing start, slowly thawing out.
Around were 40 Whooper Swan, 1600 Pink-footed Goose, 200 Brent Goose, 100 Common Scoter, 5 Red-throated Diver, a Grey Heron, a Buzzard, a Water Rail, 400 Golden Plover, 900 Lapwing, a Woodcock, 5 Snipe, a Merlin, 47 Fieldfare, a Stonechat, a Yellowhammer and a Corn Bunting. Heading north were 11 Velvet Scoter; and south 8 Siskin.

Corn Bunting, 4th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Robin, 4th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Reed Bunting, 4th December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

December 3rd. Rain from mid morning.
Birds around included 32 Whooper Swan, 2500 Pink-footed Goose, a White-fronted Goose, 65 Brent Goose, a Great Northern Diver, a Red-necked Grebe and 200 Lapwing. Flying south were a Bullfinch and a Lapland Bunting.
A brief, rain-shortened morning ringing session at Aylmer Avenue resulted in a new Goldfinch; and 4 retraps: a Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit and a Goldfinch.

December 2nd. Moderately strong south-westerly wind, with some light early morning rain.
Around were 38 Whooper Swan, 2800 Pink-footed Goose, 160 Brent Goose, a Pintail, 11 Velvet Scoter, 4 Red-legged Partridge, 6 Red-throated Diver, a Marsh Harrier, 3 Hen Harrier, 3 Water Rail, 800 Lapwing, a Woodcock, 12 Snipe, a late Sandwich Tern, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine Falcon, 3 Hooded Crow, 2 Goldcrest, a Coal Tit, a Blackcap, a Treecreeper, 38 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, a Water Pipit, 2 Rock Pipit, a Brambling and 11 Corn Bunting. Going south were 4 Whooper Swan, 3 Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Northern Diver.

Little Egret, 2nd December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

December 1st. Birds around included 46 Whooper Swan, 3000 Pink-footed Goose, a Pintail, a Great Crested Grebe, a Marsh Harrier, a male Hen Harrier, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, a Woodcock, a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, a Merlin, a Chiffchaff, 18 Redwing, 2 Rock Pipit and 2 Brambling.

Grey Heron, 1st December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont

Teal, 1st December 2018.
Photo - Owen Beaumont