SOUTH EAST
Highlights
Easily the most popular bird in the region during December (despite the entry fee) was the male Black-throated Thrush, which performed exceptionally well at Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire (and was still performing well into January).
BEDFORDSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: A Black-throated Thrush at Whipsnade Zoo (from 11th) was a first for Bedfordshire. A Ring-necked Duck was at Priory CP (13th) and Gadsey Brook (31st). The Great Grey Shrike remained in the Brogborough Lake area. A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Bedford Water Treatment Works. A Common Scoter was at Grovebury SP (22nd), with a Hen Harrier there (8th). A Little Gull was at Broom GP (29th). Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia – for enquiries please call 0330 3336946 or 07941333970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia facebook.com/robinchittenden7
BERKSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: Great White Egrets were at Padworth Lane GP (2nd-31st) and Eversley GP (18th-29th). DINTON PASTURES CP: Highlights included a Ferruginous Duck (2nd-8th), Shelduck (13th), Marsh Harrier (30th), Water Rail (2nd-13th) and Firecrest (17th-31st). MOOR GREEN LAKES: There were two Red-crested Pochards (29th) and a Shelduck (14th). QUEEN MOTHER RESERVOIR: There were three Black-necked Grebes (17th) and a Common Scoter (29th). THEALE GP: There was a Black-necked Grebe (21st-27th), Shelduck (22nd-29th) and two Water Rails (29th). OTHER SITES: Shelducks were at Eton Wick (31st) and Streatley (15th). Four Pintails were at Padworth Lane GP (29th-30th) and three at Lower Farm GP (29th). A Hen Harrier was at Compton (4th-30th). Merlins were there (23rd and 30th), and at Bury Down (18th). Marek Walford (www.berksbirds.co.uk)
HAMPSHIRE
BLASHFORD LAKES: A Ferruginous Duck was on Kingfisher Lake (5th). A Long-tailed Duck and three Black-necked Grebes were on Ibsley. A Scaup was on Rockford Lake (1st-4th). Three Great White Egrets roosted at Ivy Lake, with others at Bickerley Common (28th and 30th) and Ibsley (30th). A Caspian Gull, eight Yellow-legged Gulls and a Kittiwake roosted. A Merlin and Marsh Harrier were seen twice. There was a Common Sandpiper, two Green Sandpipers, 58 Goosanders, 16 Goldeneyes and 30,000 Starlings. HILL HEAD-HAMBLE: Titchfield Haven logged ten Water Pipits, and a Jack Snipe (13th). The Snow Bunting remained at Hill Head (to 2nd). Between Hill Head and Chilling, there was a Velvet Scoter (2nd and 7th), three Great Northern Divers, and a Slavonian Grebe (17th). A Long-tailed Duck was off Lee-on-the-Solent (29th). LANGSTONE HARBOUR: Farlington had two Marsh Harriers, a Spotted Redshank (30th) and Short-eared Owl. Three Short-eared Owls were at Southmoors. Langstone Harbour had a Merlin on three dates, a Long-tailed Duck (from 19th), Black-throated Diver (26th), Great Northern Diver (four dates), 12 Black-necked Grebes, and Slavonian Grebes (4th and 9th). A Red-necked Grebe was at Mill Rythe, Hayling (1st). The Black Point area had a Long-tailed Duck (3rd), Great Northern Diver (8th and 10th) and three Slavonian Grebes (15th). LYMINGTON-MILFORD-ON-SEA: There were six Spoonbills on the Lymington-Keyhaven marshes. The Snow Bunting remained (to 2nd). Waders included five Ruff, seven Spotted Redshanks and a Purple Sandpiper. There was a Long-tailed Duck (7th), Great Northern Diver (14th), Black-necked Grebe (25th), four Slavonian Grebes, a Merlin, Short-eared Owl, nine Marsh Harriers and three Water Pipits. OTHER SITES: A Hoopoe was at St Leonards (24th). The Turtle Dove remained near Bordon. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Millfield, Old Basing (17th). A Great Grey Shrike remained in the Holmhill area of the New Forest, with another at Newtown Common (13th). Hen Harriers were at Holmhill, Thorney Hill (2nd) and Martin Down (31st). Five Cattle Egrets were at Warblington. Three Great White Egrets roamed the Test Valley. A Bittern was at Fishlake Meadows (6th-21st). Weston Shore had three Velvet Scoters (8th-27th), five Great Northern Divers and a Slavonian Grebe (26th). Four Little Gulls were off Netley (27th). A Black Redstart was at Moorcourt (7th-9th). Eight Water Pipits were at Lower Test and 17 at Alresford Cress Beds. Tom Jordan
HERTFORDSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: A Waxwing was at St Albans (15th). A Black Redstart was at Batford. A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Rye Meads (8th and 28th). An Iceland Gull was at Hilfield Park Reservoir (17th). A Hen Harrier was at Therfield (20th and 29th). A Smew was at Wilstone Reservoir (28th). Two Cattle Egrets returned to the Lee Valley. Robin Chittenden. For the latest bird news please phone 09068 700 245. Calls to 09068 700 245 from a landline or mobile phone cost 65p per minute plus your phone company access charge. Service provided by Birdline East Anglia – for enquiries please call 0330 3336946 or 07941333970. www.birdlineeastanglia.co.uk twitter.com/BirdlineEAnglia facebook.com/robinchittenden7
KENT
HIGHLIGHTS: The Glossy Ibis remained around Worth Marsh (1st-9th), with one seen at Sandwich Bay (2nd-7th), a first-winter at Stodmarsh NNR (4th), one at Walmer (8th), and one at Dungeness RSPB (8th-9th). Rough-legged Buzzards were at the Isle of Sheppey (1st) and Funton Creek (7th-29th at least). Dungeness RSPB had a Siberian Chiffchaff (16th). Cooling Marshes had a Richard’s Pipit (22nd). One was at Halstow Marshes (26th-31st), plus nine Russian White-fronted Geese, three Bewick’s Swans and a Dartford Warbler. A Sabine’s Gull was reported off Dungeness NNR (9th), plus a Velvet Scoter. Cattle Egrets were at Worth Marsh, Dungeness RSPB, Elmley NNR, Ferry Marsh (Isle of Sheppey) and Cooling Marshes.
SURREY
HIGHLIGHTS: A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Unstead Sewage Farm (4th-23rd). A Great Grey Shrike was at Thursley Common (16th-19th), with one at Frensham Common (22nd). A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Shackleford (1st-8th), and one was at Thursley Common (8th). Three
Ring Ouzels flew over Puttenham (1st). A Short-eared Owl was at Papercourt Water Meadows (9th-16th), with a Water Pipit there (17th). A Hawfinch was at Effingham Forest (2nd), with two (22nd), and one was at East Horsley (7th). Four Black-necked Grebes were at Island Barn Reservoir (1st), with a Scaup there (22nd), and two Great Northern Divers and a Shag (14th-27th). A Great Northern Diver was at King George VI Reservoir (12th). A Black Redstart was at Gatwick Airport (11th). Two Waxwings were at Banstead (13th). Three Jack Snipe were at Holmethorpe Sand Pits (26th), and one was at Cattershall Meadow (31st).
SUSSEX
EAST SUSSEX: The Great Grey Shrike was still around Ashdown Forest early in the month. Rye Harbour NR had a possible first-winter drake Ring-necked Duck (14th), and a redhead Smew was present in the first half of the month. Rodmell Sewage Works had three Siberian Chiffchaffs (22nd-31st). A Glossy Ibis was at Iford (28th-31st), with a Russian White-fronted Goose also there (31st). WEST SUSSEX: Cattle Egrets were at Arundel WWT (two, 1st & three, 8th), Sidlesham (two, 8th), Sidlesham Ferry (20, 11th), Chichester GP (15th), Offham (two, 23rd) and Waltham Brooks SWT (30th). A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Steyning (1st-2nd), with others at Amberley (5th), Coldwaltham (7th) and Burpham (8th). A Great Grey Shrike was at Cissbury Ring (4th-18th). A Glossy Ibis was at Offham (28th). A Hen Harrier was at Arundel WWT (8th).