SOUTH WEST
AVON
CLEVEDON-WESTON-SUPER-MARE: The Blind Yeo held 20 Goosanders. There were 18 Little Egrets in the Clevedon-yeo area, with six on a disused airfield at Weston-super-mare. The Axe Estuary produced 118 Oystercatchers, 25 Ringed Plovers and 300 Redshanks. The Clevedon-yeo coast had a Merlin, two Spotted Redshanks, 39 Grey Plovers, 20 Knot, 1,700 Dunlin, 245 Curlews, 340 Redshanks and 10 Ravens. A Glaucous Gull was at Weston-super-mare. Three Crossbills flew over Locking. SEVERNSIDE: Seven Short-eared Owls were at Aust Warth. Merlins were there and at Northwick Warth. A Scaup and Avocet were at Portbury Wharf. Five Purple Sandpipers were at Portishead and 77 Kittiwakes at Severn Beach. Oldbury logged a Little Gull, 1,500 Black-headed Gulls, 1,000 Common Gulls, 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 300 Lapwings, 250 Curlews, 60 Turnstones, 2,000 Dunlin and 42 Snipe. Two Water Pipits were along the Severn shore. THE RESERVOIRS: Seven Scaup remained at Chew, with one at Blagdon. A Lesser Scaup was at Chew (1st). The Long-tailed Duck remained at Barrow Gurney. There were 90 Goldeneyes at Chew and 18 at Blagdon, where there were also 14 Goosanders. Three Black-necked Grebes visited both sites. A Bittern and two Cattle Egrets were at Chew. Great White Egrets were only recorded there as flyovers. Little Egrets were in single figures. There was a Marsh Harrier, Ruff, four Mediterranean Gulls, a Ring-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull (19th), ‘Heuglin’s’ Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Bearded Tit. OTHER SITES: A Cattle Egret was in Brislington, Bristol. Two Great White Egrets were seen around Kenn and Tickenham during the day, then roosting at Backwell Lake with 26 Little Egrets. There was a Goshawk and Merlin at Marshfield, with maxima of 200 Golden Plovers, 500 Common Gulls, 400 Fieldfares, 300 Rooks, 200 Linnets, 200 Corn Buntings and 60 Yellowhammers in the area. Saltford had a Merlin and 200 Golden Plovers, with 70 Golden Plovers at Bristol Airport. A Ruff was between Bristol Airport and Blagdon. There was a scattering of Jack Snipe, including five at Kenn Moor, and Woodcocks. Six Common Sandpipers were wintering around Bristol Harbour. Saltford held 650 Black-headed Gulls and 270 Common Gulls. Three Firecrests remained in Bristol with another in Westonsuper-mare. Local gardens were full of Blackcaps. Hawfinches were still numerous, including 18 at Prior Park, Bath and one in a birdwatcher’s garden at Marshfield. There were 107 Sky Larks and 350 Redwings at Saltford and 2,700 Starlings on Nailsea Moor. There were still a few coastal Black Redstarts and a handful of Bramblings. Jane Cumming
CHANNEL ISLANDS
JERSEY: Fifty Golden Plovers, hundreds of Lapwings, Redwings and Fieldfares, thousands of Chaffinches, hundreds of Snipe, a few Jack Snipe and 50 Woodcock were noted across the island. Water Pipits and Black Redstarts were expected, but not a Dartford Warbler which flew into a toy shop. A Hawfinch was taken into care and released to join other birds at Queen’s Valley, Grands Vaux and Rosel. Grouville Marsh held two Little Buntings, 55 Reed Buntings, four Firecrests, Cirl Buntings, a Common Sandpiper, Turnstones and 50 Rock Pipits. La Sente held 10 Greenshanks, 60 Redshanks, 48 Grey Herons, 15 Cattle Egrets, 110 Little Egrets and a Black Brant. Caspian Gulls were there and at St Ouen’s Pond. Sixty Mediterranean Gulls were at Pontac, La Sente and St Ouen’s. Some 300 Sanderling were at Gorey with tens of Great Northern Divers. A Red-necked Grebe was seen. There were 29 pale-bellied Brent Geese among 1,414 dark-bellied birds. Bertram Bree
CORNWALL
HIGHLIGHTS: Two Whooper Swans were on the Camel (1st-23rd). A Pink-footed Goose was at Drift/sancreed (1st-11th). Green-winged Teal were on the Lynher (1st-17th) and at Walmsley (17th-23rd). The Lesser Scaup remained at Dozmary. The three Surf Scoters were off Porthpean (1st-25th). A Bittern was at Marazion (17th-22nd). Cattle Egrets included 20 near Truro (16th). The Glossy Ibis remained around Kingsmill Lake (to 18th). A Great White Egret was at Drift (1st-24th). Spoonbills remained on Hayle, Walmsley (two), Kea (two) and on the Tamar (four). A White-billed Diver was off Mousehole (16th-21st). Pacific Divers were off Pendower (1st-4th) and in Mount’s Bay (4th-25th). Little Gulls were at Colliford (17th) and Siblyback (24th). Ring-billed Gulls were at Newquay (2nd-27th) and Hayle and Penzance (17th). An American Herring Gull was at Newlyn (4th) and Hayle (18th). A possible Azores Gull was at Mousehole (8th). Iceland Gulls were at several sites, including two at Mousehole (8th). Kumlien’s Gulls were at Mousehole (8th-12th), Mevagissey (15th) and Sennen (17th). Glaucous Gulls visited various sites, including three at Mevagissey (1st) and three at Godrevy (3rd). Short-eared Owls were at Crugmeer (1st), Rosenannon Downs (7th-16th) and St Columb Major (18th). Yellow-browed Warblers were at Allet Common (15th) and Carnon Downs (1st-25th). Water Pipits included 17 at Chapel Amble (25th). A few Hawfinches remained throughout. Sara Mcmahon
DEVON
NORTH DEVON: Isley Marsh had two Spoonbills. Lundy logged 279 Fulmars, three Water Rails, a Great Northern Diver, Iceland Gull, Black Redstart, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, six Red-throated Divers, 1,541 Guillemots, 600 Razorbills, seven Snipe, a Merlin and Hen Harrier. Braunton had a Firecrest, Tundra Bean Goose, Marsh Harrier, five Spoonbills, two Water Pipits, 350 Chaffinches and 65 Redwings. Three Black Redstarts were at Ilfracombe. A Hen Harrier was at Clovelly (4th). Kinsford had four Short-eared Owls, two Hen Harriers and a Red Kite. A Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Merlin were at Bursdon Moor. A Glossy Ibis was at Fremington. Two Peregrines were at Hartland Point. Bideford had two Spoonbills. The Torridge Estuary had 12 Common Sandpipers. The Taw Estuary had 300 Dunlin. SOUTH DEVON: Torbay had a Red-necked Grebe, four Black-necked Grebes, 80 Common Scoters, an Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, 650 Gannets, Grebes, seven Great Northern Divers, five Red-throated Divers, a Firecrest, three Mediterranean Gulls and 41 Cirl Buntings. Beesands had a Scaup and Ring-necked Duck. Twelve Cattle Egrets were at Bere Ferrers (3rd). The Plym Estuary had 13 Goosanders, six Red-breasted Mergansers, four Greenshanks, 228 Dunlin, 145 Redshanks, 49 Curlew and three Jack Snipe. Some 25,000 Starlings roosted at Heathfield. Topsham had 1,800 Black-tailed Godwits, a Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, 1,300 Golden Plovers and two Hawfinches. Exeter had a Bonaparte’s Gull and 100 Pintails. Exwick had 28 Hawfinches. Bowling Green Marsh RSPB recorded a Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, three Bramblings, two Ruff, a Hawfinch, Water Rail, 184 Pintails and 100 Grey Plovers. Slapton had a Ring-necked Duck. Plymouth had a Black Redstart, two Sandwich Terns and three Greenshanks. Dawlish Warren held two Firecrests, three Great Northern Divers and several Eiders. Dartington had 400 Chaffinches, five Bramblings, 60 Yellowhammers, 15 Cirl Buntings, nine Wood Larks and 15 Hawfinches. Bolberry logged 45 Cirl Buntings, 300 Sky Larks and 90 Linnets. Postbridge had six Crossbills and 60 Golden Plovers. Teignmouth had 12 Common Scoters, two Great Northern Divers and an Iceland Gull. Teigngrace had two Cattle Egrets. A Pink-footed Goose and five Cattle Egrets were at Powderham. Lympstone had a Firecrest and Iceland Gull. Two Glaucous Gulls, an Iceland Gull and Purple Sandpiper were at Brixham. A Glaucous Gull was at Prawle Point. Paignton had a Yellow-browed Warbler. Matford Marsh had an American Wigeon and 50 Snipe. Yarner Wood had two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. The Exe Estuary had three Great Northern Divers, a Slavonian Grebe, Eider, 300 Pintails, 12 Sanderling and five Goldeneyes. Two Mealy Redpolls were at Whimple. THURLESTONE BAY: Maxima included 20 Common Scoters, a Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, 60 Gannets, five Little Egrets, seven Cattle Egrets, a Spoonbill, 21 Oystercatchers, eight Ringed Plovers, 100 Golden Plovers, 18 Lapwings, three Dunlin, 55 Snipe, a Woodcock, four Black-tailed Godwits, 25 Curlews, three Common Sandpipers, five Greenshanks, nine Redshanks, 11 Turnstones, 18 Mediterranean Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, Glaucous Gull, Firecrest, 20 Chiffchaffs, two Siberian Chiffchaffs, a Black Redstart, three Water Pipits and two Cirl Buntings. Harvey Kendall, Mike Passman and Thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk
DORSET
HIGHLIGHTS: Black Brants were on the Fleet and in Poole Harbour. Egyptian Geese were at Bockhampton and Lytchett Fields RSPB. A Long-tailed Duck was on the Fleet. A Velvet Scoter was in Poole Harbour (4th-20th). Slavonian Grebes were at The Fleet, Poole Harbour and West Bexington. Red-necked Grebes were in Weymouth Harbour (3rd), with two (19th), and in Poole Harbour (10th). Great White Egrets were at several sites. Cattle Egrets were at Abbotsbury Swannery, Bridport, Chapel Hill, Portesham and Radipole Lake RSPB. Some 2,000 Golden Plovers were at Maiden Castle (6th). The Stilt Sandpiper remained at Christchurch Harbour, with a Jack Snipe there (12th). Glaucous Gulls were at Abbotsbury Swannery, Ferrybridge, Lodmoor RSPB and West Bexington. Caspian Gulls were over Alderholt (18th), at Radipole Lake (25th-26th) and in Weymouth Bay (12th). A Kumlien’s Gull was at Radipole Lake (13th). An Iceland Gull was at Stanpit Marsh (16th). A Ring-billed Gull and Thayer’s Gull were at Alderholt (18th). A Little Gull was at West Bexington (23rd). A Ross’s Gull was at Ferrybridge (from 21st), also visiting Lodmoor, Radipole Lake and Bowleaze Cove. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were at Oakers Wood, Canford Heath and Swanage. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Church Ope Cove (17th). A Great Grey Shrike was at Morden Bog throughout. Hawfinches were seen in good numbers at several sites. OTHER SITES: Red Kites were at nine sites. Hen Harriers were at Arne RSPB, Lodmoor, Lytchett Bay and Poole Harbour. Bitterns were at Lodmoor and Radipole Lake. Spoonbills were at Abbotsbury Swannery, Arne, Lodmoor, Lytchett Fields and Stanpit Marsh. Short-eared Owls were at Portland Bill. Water Pipits were at The Fleet, Lytchett Fields and Stanpit Marsh. Robin Trundle
ISLES OF SCILLY
HIGHLIGHTS: Up to five Iceland Gulls and three Glaucous Gulls were in the Porth Loo/ Porth Cressa areas of St Mary’s, with occasional records from the outer islands. The two Black-necked Grebes remained in St Mary’s harbour until the severe weather later in the month. A Kumlien’s Gull was in Porth Cressa (6th) and off Morning Point, St Mary’s (15th). The Snowy Owl reappeared on Tresco on several dates (9th-18th), usually on the Castle Down. The five Pink-footed Geese that had been on Tresco since September were near New Grimsby (17th-18th). A Goldeneye and Glaucous Gull were on the Abbey Pool, Tresco (18th). Will Wagstaff
WILTSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A Snow Bunting was along the Ridgeway near Barbury Castle. The Hawfinch invasion continued, with birds at Bradford-onavon, Chase Woods, Corsham, Cranborne Chase, Fonthill, Groveley Wood, Hilmarton and Marlborough. A Caspian Gull was at Old Sarum. A Great White Egret was at Cricklade. A Firecrest was at Westbury. Mediterranean Gulls were at Britford, Langford Lakes and Old Sarum. Wildfowl included 150 Pintails and a Smew at the Water Park, and 20 Mandarins at Gasper. Blackcaps were scarcer than usual. Bramblings and Crossbills were at eight sites. There were 150 Corn Buntings at Druid’s Lodge. A Siberian Chiffchaff was among the usual wintering Chiffchaffs at Westbury STW. Rob Turner