December 2008
50 species so far this monthGreat Northern Diver
Little Grebe
Slavonian Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Mallard
Red-breasted Merganser
Sparrowhawk
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Mediterranean Gull >
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull >
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock >
Robin
Stonechat
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit >
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw >
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow >
Chaffinch >
Greenfinch
Goldfinch >
December 2nd
A very quiet start to the month with just 2 Ravens, a Great Northern Diver and a few Great Crested Grebes from Downclose. Some excellent fungi though, see the plants page for photos.
December 7th
A beautiful sunny day so it didn't matter that there were no birds about, although a Slavonian Grebe off Sandsfoot was a good sighting, if a little distant. The merganser flock in the harbour has now reached 100 birds and the Great Crested Grebes are up to 30, although mostly in the north-eastern corner off Bincleaves and not visible from the trail itself.
December 14th
Another quiet day but I can't really complain after seeing 2 Great Northern Divers I suppose. A Great Spotted Woodpecker at Newstead Road was the first I have seen in section 1 of the trail.
December 20th
The resident Song Thrushes chose the shortest and darkest day of the year to start singing, with birds heard near Buxton Road and Hillcrest Road. Today also saw the belated return of the wintering Chiffchaffs, at Downclose Cutting and Rodwell Halt.
December 21st
6 Mediterranean Gulls over Newstead Road were the first I've seen at the north end of the trail.
December 28th
On this bitterly cold day most birds were hiding but at the south end there were at least 1,000 Brent Geese flying over Ferrybridge of which 300 or so did a circuit of the harbour before returning to the Fleet.
December 30th
A Great Northern Diver and a Ringed Plover were the best birds this morning but the highlight was a Grey Seal just off Sandsfoot Castle.