UK Bird Sightings
A comprehensive round-up of birds seen during December
AVON
CLEVEDON-WESTON-SUPER-MARE: A Brent Goose was at Clevedon (13th). Two Common Scoters passed Sand Point (5th). Goosanders on the Blind Yeo peaked at 19. A Marsh Harrier was seen twice at Uphill. Four Avocets were at Clevedon-Yeo and one at Uphill. Clevedon-Yeo logged 33 Grey Plovers, 3,000 Dunlin, a Yellow-legged Gull (2nd), Short-eared Owls (2nd and 17th), a Merlin, Richard’s Pipit (2nd), Lapland Bunting (1st), Spotted Redshank (2nd) and Jack Snipe (18th). Kenn Moor had 62 Snipe and two Jack Snipe. Black Redstarts were at Portishead, Tyntesfield, Clevedon Pier and Uphill. A Firecrest remained in a garden near Weston-super-Mare. SEVERNSIDE: Brent Geese were at Aust (7th) and Severn Beach (28th). An unseasonal Garganey was at Portbury Wharf (from 24th). Northwick Warth had a Marsh Harrier (5th). Three Avocets were at Portbury Wharf and one at Oldbury (17th) where a Jack Snipe was flushed (31st). Severnside held 300 Knot, 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 110 Turnstones and a Merlin. Kittiwakes were at Oldbury and Severn Beach. Aust had a Short-eared Owl. Oldbury had a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. A Swift was reported at New Passage (16th). Oldbury had three Black Redstarts (1st-2nd), a Firecrest (3rd) and Water Pipit (31st). THE RESERVOIRS: Barrow Gurney held a Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Brent Goose, Marsh Harrier and 111 Cormorants. Chew had a Green-winged Teal, 16 Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, 70 Goldeneyes, 10 Goosanders (with 11 at Blagdon), a Black-necked Grebe, two Marsh Harriers, seven Great White Egrets (plus two at Blagdon) and 3,000 Coots on the two reservoirs. There were 2,000 Black-headed Gulls and 250 Common Gulls at Blagdon. Chew had two Yellow-legged Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull, four Bearded Tits, a Reed Warbler, plenty of Chiffchaffs, a Siberian Chiffchaff (with another at Chew Stoke) and 10,000 Starlings. OTHER SITES: The Whooper Swan remained at Bath Spa University. Three Goosanders were at Saltford. The Backwell Lake roost peaked at 55 Little Egrets. Golden Plovers included 200 at Dyrham, 130 at Saltford and 90 at Bristol Airport. Chipping Sodbury Common logged a Marsh Harrier and two Jack Snipe. There was a scattering of Woodcocks across the county. A Mediterranean Gull was at Eastville Park in Bristol. Some 100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over Bristol. Merlins were at Marshfield and Saltford. There were 500 Fieldfares at Marshfield. A Firecrest was in Bristol. Bramblings were in Leigh Woods near Bristol. The Southgate roost in Bath held 200 Pied Wagtails. Marshfield logged 200 Corn Buntings and 40 Yellowhammers. Jane Cumming
CORNWALL
HIGHLIGHTS: Two Whooper Swans were at Walmsley (20th). The four Pinkfeet remained around Hayle (to 3rd), with another at Walmsley throughout. The Ring-necked Duck remained at Siblyback, as did the Lesser Scaup at Stithians. The Long-tailed Duck remained on Drift, with others occasionally noted off both coasts. The Pacific Diver was in Mount’s Bay (1st-3rd). Great White Egrets were at Looe and Walmsley (4th). Cattle Egrets peaked at 88 at Walmsley (27th). Two Spoonbills were on The Tamar Estuary all month. A Ring-billed Gull was on Hayle (8th-22nd). Two Iceland Gulls were in The Far West all month. A possible Azorean Gull was at Sennen (2nd). Twelve Yellow-legged Gulls and three Caspian Gulls were on Hayle (8th), with a Glaucous Gull there (7th-11th). Black Guillemots were at Swanpool (7th-25th) and in Newlyn Harbour (19th-29th). A few Short-eared Owls included four at Crows-an-Wra (3rd). The Hooded Crow remained around Trevose. A few Swallows appeared (2nd-15th) with three at Chapel Amble (12th). A Pallas’s Warbler was at Cot (1st-4th). A few Yellow-browed Warblers, Siberian Chiffchaffs, Snow Buntings and Lapland Buntings were noted across the County. Ten Water Pipits were at Chapel Amble (29th). The American Buff-bellied Pipit was at Sennen (1st-28th). A Little Bunting was at Goonhilly Downs (1st). Sara McMahon
DEVON
LUNDY: Highlights included five Whooper Swans, a Merlin, Brambling, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, Black Redstart, Iceland Gull, two Mediterranean Gulls, 1,000 auks and three Great Northern Divers. NORTH DEVON: Bursdon Moor had two Hen Harriers and two Merlins. A Great Northern Diver was at Instow. Ilfracombe had three Swallows, three Iceland Gulls and two Black Redstarts. Braunton had two Water Rails, a Marsh Harrier and three Scaup. Skern had two Great Northern Divers, nine Cattle Egrets and a Spotted Redshank. The Glossy Ibis remained at Fremington. Baggy Point had a Siberian Chiffchaff, 90 Common Scoters and a Black Redstart. Tamar Lakes had five Ring-necked Ducks, a Green Sandpiper, 27 Goosanders, 11 Willow Tits and two Whooper Swans. A Snow Bunting was at Woolacombe. SOUTH DEVON: Paignton had two Mediterranean Gulls and five Firecrests, Hallsands had a Yellow-browed Warbler. Soar had 71 Yellowhammers, 42 Cirl Buntings, a Black Redstart and 1,220 Sky Larks. The Plym Estuary had six Greenshanks, five Jack Snipe, two Great Northern Divers and two Common Sandpipers. The Exe Estuary had a Whimbrel, 1,000 Black-tailed Godwits, 750 Golden Plovers, 320 Avocets and 80 Pintails. Hen Harriers were at Two Bridges, Heckwood Tor and Walla Brook, Dartmoor. Starcross, Exeter had a Great White Egret and several Cattle Egrets. Torbay had two Black-necked Grebes, 47 Great Northern Divers, a Velvet Scoter, Pomarine Skua, two Peregrines and five Purple Sandpipers. Exminster Marshes had three Barnacle Geese and a Marsh Harrier. A Red Kite flew over Burrator Reservoir. Slapton had Black-necked Grebe, Ring-necked Duck, Scaup and Glaucous Gull. Two Bearded Tits were at Countess Weir. Plymouth had a Jack Snipe, 128 Snipe, 450 Dunlin, 50 Turnstones, a Common Sandpiper, 43 Purple Sandpipers, five Knot, 60 Ring-necked Parakeets, five Avocets, a Spotted Redshank, Grey Plover and four Knot. Bowling Green Marsh logged a Bittern, Long-billed Dowitcher, Scaup, 75 Pintails, 150 Avocets, 40 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Grey Plover, Marsh Harrier, Ruff and 750 Black-tailed Godwits. Haldon, Exeter had six Hawfinches, 21 Crossbills and a few Bramblings. A Marsh Harrier was at Dartington. Avon Dam had 21 Goosanders. Longdowns had 200 Redwings, nine Hawfinches and five Crossbills. Torquay had 12 Purple Sandpipers. Dawlish had 285 Snipe and four Great Northern Divers. Topsham had two Egyptian Geese and three Bearded Tits. A Black Redstart was at Berry Head. Cockwood had 21 Cattle Egrets. Okehampton had 6,000 Starlings. THURLESTONE BAY: Maxima included a dark-bellied and two pale-bellied Brent Geese, three Common Scoters, two Red-breasted Mergansers, three Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, Fulmar, 185 Gannets, 33 Oystercatchers, 12 Ringed Plovers, two Knot, eight Black-tailed Godwits, three Dunlin, a Woodcock, Jack Snipe, 36 Snipe, 27 Curlews, a Common Sandpiper, five Greenshanks, two Turnstones, 85 Kittiwakes, 1,000 Herring Gulls, five Mediterranean Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, 215 auks, a Little Auk, five Firecrests, 28 Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, 20 Redwings, five Fieldfares, a Cirl Bunting, a Black Redstart and two Water Pipits. Harvey Kendall and Mike Passman (thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk)
DORSET
HIGHLIGHTS: The Ring-necked Duck remained at Sturminster Marshall GP. A Great Grey Shrike was around Morden Bog and Wareham (2nd-30th). Cattle Egrets were at Hampreston (two), Holmebridge, Abbotsbury Swannery (24), Buckland Ripers (six), Radipole Lake RSPB (five), Waddock Cross (two), Portesham (26), Spetisbury (22nd-23rd), Longham Lakes (three) and Nottington (five). Abbotsbury Swannery also recorded a Scaup, Common Sandpiper and Great White Egret. Radipole Lake also had a Siberian Chiffchaff (7th-11th). Black Brants were at Arne RSPB (7th-17th) and East Fleet (15th and 29th), along with a Slavonian Grebe. Another was at Wyke Regis (23rd), plus three Slavonian Grebes, a Great Northern Diver and Velvet Scoter. Portland Harbour had a Siberian Chiffchaff (3rd-27th) and 12 Black-necked Grebes (3rd). A Great Bustard from the Salisbury Plain release project was at West Bexington (3rd-5th). A Swallow flew past there (3rd). Two Siberian Chiffchaffs were at Trent (18th), with singles at Wareham (19th-27th) and Chideock (21st).
JERSEY
HIGHLIGHTS: Beaumont Marsh had a Common Redstart (6th) and 67 pale-bellied plus 300 dark-bellied Brent Geese. Black Redstarts, Firecrests and Chiffchaffs were widespread around the coast. Swallows were at Les Quennevais School and Beaumont Marsh. The Wetlands Centre held two Penduline Tits, 100
Snipe, the odd Jack Snipe, 15 Marsh Harriers, a Bittern, 30 Shovelers, seven Pochards, 50 Teal and 100 Reed Buntings. Siberian Chiffchaffs were at Grouville Marsh and La Rocque. A Great Skua was at Grosnez. Blackcaps and Woodcocks were common. Off the south and east coasts were hundreds of divers, Common Scoters, Eiders, a few Velvet Scoters and Red-breasted Mergansers, hundreds of Kittiwakes and Guillemots, and thousands of Razorbills and gulls. Gorey had 50 Curlews, a Whimbrel, Purple Sandpipers and hundreds of Oystercatchers. Saint Ouen’s Bay held 100 Mediterranean Gulls, a Common Sandpiper, 50 Ringed Plovers, Dunlin and Sanderling. Seymour slipway had 170 Grey Plovers, 300 Sanderling, 600 Dunlin, 300 Curlews, 200 Turnstones and a few Sandwich Terns. A Penduline Tit was at the North Canal (28th). Great Northern Divers were off La Rocque. La Sente held a few Cattle Egrets, 300 Brent Geese, a Black Brant, 45 Herons, 130 Little Egrets, 12 Ravens, Redwings, Fieldfares, thousands of Chaffinches and a few Bramblings, Linnets and Goldfinches. Bertram Bree
ISLES OF SCILLY
HIGHLIGHTS: The long-staying Hermit Thrush was last seen at Kitty Down, St Mary’s (7th). The two Choughs remained on St Mary’s into the New Year, with occasional visits to St Martin’s. Two Swallows remained on St Mary’s until the second week. Other long-staying birds included the Pink-footed Geese on Tresco and St Agnes and the Scaup and Pintail on Tresco. The Hen Harrier was most often seen on St Mary’s but also visited all the other islands. Ten Black Redstarts were wintering. Four Spoonbills were in the Samson area. A few Firecrests were on St Mary’s. Two Slavonian Grebes were between St Martins and St Mary’s, with a Long-tailed Duck near Carn Near, Tresco and ten Common Scoters in the Eastern Isles. Five Purple Sandpipers were between the islands (4th). The six pale-bellied Brent Geese in Tresco Channel (4th) were on the eastern side of Tresco later in the month. A Brambling was at New Grimsby, Tresco (5th). Two Whooper Swans were on St Mary’s, St Agnes and St Martin’s (9th). A Short-eared Owl was at Higher Town, St Martin’s (9th). A Dusky Warbler was on Lower Moors (11th, 16th and 29th). Glaucous Gulls were on St Agnes (11th and 22nd), and at Porth Hellick and Porth Cressa, St Mary’s (21st-22nd). An Olive-backed Pipit was at Longstone (25th-27th). A Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull were at Morning Point St Mary’s (26th). The long-staying Cetti’s Warbler was at Porth Hellick (28th-30th). A Grey Plover was on Tresco and six Whimbrels at Pendrathen, St Mary’s (29th). A Jack Snipe was on Tresco (30th) when 12 Great Northern Divers were off Tresco. A Black-necked Grebe and the long-staying Great Northern Diver were in St Mary’s Harbour (31st). Will Wagstaff
WILTSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A pair of Cranes were at Hurdcott briefly, Great White Egrets at the Cotswold Water Park and Fonthill Lake and Siberian Chiffchaffs at Swindon and Westbury STW. The White Stork from the release scheme was again at Durrington and the Ruddy Shelduck remained at Langford. Early in the month there was an influx of Blackbirds and Fieldfares but Redwing were in smaller numbers. Crossbills were at Great Ridge Wood and Groveley, Siskins at five sites but there was only one record of Lesser Redpoll and two of Brambling. Blackcaps were at 11 sites and Chiffchaffs at five. Wildfowl counts at the Water Park included 121 Pintail, 326 Shoveler and 336 Teal, while Goosanders were at eight sites and Goldeneye at the Water Park in small numbers. A count of 117 Little Egrets near Corton was a county record. Merlins were at eight sites but there were only four records of Hen Harrier, all from SPTA and a Marsh Harrier was at the Water Park. Barbury Castle was the place for Short-eared Owls and others were ion SPTA. Other sightings included 300 Golden Plover at Stoford, a Hawfinch at Great Ridge Wood, Jack Snipes at Blakehill and Swindon STW, Yellow-legged Gulls at five sites and an influx of Woodcock mid-month. Rob Turner