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.
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| Snipe, 7th December 2018. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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.
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| Coal Tit, retrapped 6th December 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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| Tiny Toadstools on a Corsican Pine Cone, 6th December 2018. Photo - George Gregory |
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.
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| Corn Bunting, 4th December 2018. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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| Robin, 4th December 2018. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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| Reed Bunting, 4th December 2018. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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.
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| Little Egret, 2nd December 2018. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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| Grey Heron, 1st December 2018. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
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| Teal, 1st December 2018. Photo - Owen Beaumont |
