December 10th. Cloudy, with fresh but slowly decreasing north-easterly wind.
A good selection of birds on the morning sea-watch, although no great numbers. Moving south were 2 Little Auks and north a Goldeneye, 32 Red-throated Diver, 4 Kittiwake, a Little Gull, 66 Eider, 60 Common Scoter and 67 Teal. A Goosander came in off and 300 Wigeon and the Long-tailed Duck were close inshore. 2 Whooper Swans had roosted overnight on Tennyson's Sands and moved south early. 2200 Lapwing were around Croftmarsh.
December 9th. Storm Darragh declining - still quite strong north-easterly wind, with occasional rain or drizzle.
A prolonged sea-watch over the morning and into early afternoon produced the following highlights: 14 Little Auks including a flock of 4 south, a Great Northern Diver, 3 Fulmars, a Manx Shearwater, 114 Kittiwakes, 2 Little Gulls and 61 Gannets north. The Long-tailed Duck was still present.
December 8th. Storm Darragh - strong northerly wind and rainy spells, becoming continuous rain.
A morning sea-watch in dire conditions with variable visibility produced a Little Auk and 3 Goosander heading south. The Long-tailed Duck remained offshore with several Common Scoter. Also around were 10 Black-tailed Godwits and a Stonechat.
December 7th. Rainy spells, with increasing north-westerly then northerly wind.
Unfortunately, by the time the wind had veered northerly, the rain precluded any chance of further sea-watching. However, an hour late morning saw a Great Northern Diver moving north and 2 Velvet Scoters head south. Both a male and a ringtail Hen Harrier were seen arriving over the sea and similarly a Merlin came in off carrying prey.
December 6th. Mostly clear, with moderate westerly wind.
A Yellow-browed Warbler was vocal along the Gibraltar Road edge, and 15 Corn Buntings were around the Visitor Centre Car Park with a Stonechat nearby in West Dunes.
December 5th. Mostly cloudy, with rainy spells and moderate south-westerly wind.
Offshore highlights were a Long-tailed Duck with 11 Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Red-throated Divers and 259 Cormorants, with 4 Snow Buntings along the beach. Other birds around included 550 Lapwings, a Water Pipit, a Song Thrush, a Stonechat, a Chiffchaff and a Redpoll.
Ringing Control: Goldfinch, ringed GPBO 7 October 2023, controlled Grembergen, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium 22 February 2024.
December 4th. Fairly cold, damp start, partially cloudy, with light south-westerly wind, becoming foggy.
A Purple Sandpiper was reported along the North End beach with Sanderlings and Turnstones.
December 3rd. Mostly cloudy, with light winds.
The Long-tailed Duck was offshore again with 12 Common Scoter, a Goldeneye and 6 Red-throated Divers in a brief watch. 158 Sanderling were feeding along the beach and 5000 Knot were on the Haven on the falling tide. There was another light movement of Thrushes and Finches. Other birds around included 14 Corn Buntings, 3 Woodcock, 3 Marsh Harriers and a Merlin.
Ringing Control: Blackcap, ringed Limerie, Luxembourg, Belgium 17 September 2024, controlled GPBO 4 October 2024.
December 2nd. Fairly calm and mild again becoming bright.
A 40 minute watch from Mill Hill shortly after dawn was productive at sea and with vis mig over the East Dunes. A Slavonian Grebe arrived from the north and settled offshore, followed by a Red-necked Grebe and a Black-throated Diver that both passed south. The Long-tailed Duck remained close in with Common Scoter. A single Lapland Bunting and 3 Bramblings passed overhead with a light passage of Chaffinches, Linnets, Skylarks and Rock Pipits.
December 1st. Dull and overcast with occasional light rain but mild with a south-westerly wind.
There was only light passage over the sea, mostly Gulls moving, but also a flock of 6 Snow Buntings went south over the sea. The Long-tailed Duck was close inshore with 8 Common Scoter. Heading south over East Dunes were 18 Fieldfares, 30 Redwings, 6 Rock Pipits and 11 Starlings. Other birds around included a Marsh Harrier, 6 Stonechats, 2 Water Pipits, 60 Linnets, a Blackcap and 2 Sparrowhawks. One of the Sparrowhawks caught a freshly arrived Starling but was quickly dispossessed by two Magpies.
