December 2009
52 species so far this monthGreat Northern Diver
Little Grebe
Slavonian Grebe/Black-necked Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
Dark-bellied Brent Goose
Wigeon
Red-breasted Merganser
Buzzard
Oystercatcher
Mediterranean Gull >
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Herring Gull >
Great Black-backed Gull
Razorbill
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock >
Robin
Stonechat
Black Redstart
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Redwing
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit >
Great Tit
Treecreeper
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw >
Rook
Carrion Crow
Raven
Starling
House Sparrow >
Chaffinch >
Greenfinch
Goldfinch >
Linnet
Bullfinch
December 6th
A very quiet morning with just a few Mergansers and Great-crested Grebes in the harbour.
December 8th
A long-awaited addition to the bird list this morning when a Jay appeared in a Newstead Road garden. Also good views of a Treecreeper at Rodwell Halt, a Black Redstart at Smallmouth and an injured Skylark feeding at the edge of the trail above Marsh Road.
December 12th
My Open University Seabirds Identification Workshop coincided with a very quiet day for birds in the harbour, but we did just about manage to see a Great Northern Diver with small numbers of the other usual winter residents. An Oystercatcher near the Sailing Club was the first I've seen for a while and, not quite on the trail, a Black Redstart was in gardens at Melbury Road.
December 20th
2 Treecreepers at Rodwell Halt were the most I have ever seen together on the trail. The harbour was very quiet but the Black Redstart was at Smallmouth again and a Buzzard was being chased by a couple of crows low over Downclose.
December 22nd
A Goldcrest singing at Rodwell Halt was the first I have seen on the trail for weeks. Nearby a Bullfinch was at Buxton Road. A flock of 10 Wigeon flew east over Smallmouth, a new species for the trail. A couple of small grebes were off Sandsfoot, too far to decide whether they were Slavonian or Black-necked, but may well have been one of each.