December 20th. Cloudy, with fresh south-westerly wind and some late drizzle.
Single Goldcrest and Sparrowhawk were noted today - no other reports.
December 19th. Mostly clear, with fresh northwesterly wind.
A fairly quiet morning sea-watch with several Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver that landed close inshore and a Slavonian or Black-necked Grebe that flew south at speed. The north-westerly wind pushed the tide height higher than predicted which in turn pushed more waders up to the roost including 6000 Knot and 2200 Dunlin. A Merlin was also around the beach.
December 18th. Mostly cloudy, with strong but decreasing southwesterly wind.
A Velvet Scoter was leading a flock of southbound Common Scoter early morning with the morning Scoter count up to 221. Also offshore there were 15 Red-breasted Mergansers, and 9 Pintail flew south. A flock of 850 Golden Plover came off the Haven and a Whooper Swan flew south there late afternoon.
December 17th. Cloudy, with increasing southwesterly to southerly wind.
Today's focus was on the wader roost for the monthly WeBS count. Typically a challenge this month with reduced daylight hours and slightly challenging weather, counts of Grey Plover, Dunlin and Sanderling were below average whilst Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit were in pretty good numbers with 19000 and 1600 respectively. At sea a Velvet Scoter went south with 2 Common Scoter.
December 16th. Partially cloudy, with moderately strong south-westerly wind.
Full counts of the waterbodies were made today, commencing with the overnight roost of 2000 Pink-footed Geese leaving for local fields at dawn and whilst there was no sign of the Bittern, two Bearded Tits on Jackson's Marsh were the first of this species for a while. Other highlights from the west side were a Merlin, a Hen Harrier and 4 Water Pipits.
December 15th. Cloudy, with increasing south-westerly wind.
Today's highlights included 710 Lapwing, 460 Pink-footed Geese, a Great White Egret, a Hen Harrier, a Merlin, a Kingfisher, a Water Pipit, a Chiffchaff, a Cetti's Warbler and a Goldcrest.
December 14th. Mostly clear, with light north-westerly wind.
A Hen Harrier was seen from the Wash Viewpoint, 8 Corn Bunting were at the 'Hump' and a Chiffchaff was in the Plantation.
December 13th. Cloudy, with light south-easterly to south-westerly wind.
A Bittern flew from Tennyson's Sands to Jackson's Marsh in the morning and was seen again flying back to the north end of Tennyson's Sands late afternoon. Other birds around included 2 Water Pipits.
December 12th. Cloudy, with spells of drizzle and light north-easterly wind.
Around was a Barn Owl.
December 11th. Cloudy, with light north-easterly wind.
A generally quiet sea-watch except for a Puffin, 5 Velvet Scoters south, an increase of Red-throated Divers and an arriving Woodcock. The beach area was very busy with well over 3000 mixed Gulls feeding on a washout of Starfish and Razor Clams, and 800 waders also feeding, including Oystercatcher, Redshank, Sanderling, Knot, Grey Plover, Curlew and Turnstone. A vocal Siberian Chiffchaff moved through West Dunes early morning. Also in the dunes were at least 7 new Woodcock and 8 Song Thrushes. Other birds around included a Chiffchaff, 25 Redwing, a Water Pipit, 4 Merlin, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Hen Harrier.
