December 2001 Bird Notes

December highlights were Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Red-crested Pochard, Common Scoter, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Knot, Mediterranean Gull, Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Iceland Gull and Raven.

A juvenile Red-throated Diver was observed at 15:50 hrs on the 16th and briefly the following morning, the first record since December 1993. Unlike the brief visit of the Red-throat the Great Northern Diver continued its stay and remained all month, giving excellent views from beside the dam. A dark bellied Brent Goose was present from the 13th till 26th usually accompanying Canada’s. 15 Barnacle Geese and a hybrid were present on the 2nd. One to two male Red-crested Pochard was recorded regularly during the month, the female Common Scoter remained from November was last seen on the 2nd.

Wildfowl counts were 19 Little Grebe on 2nd, 17 Great Crested Grebe on 2nd, 76 Cormorant on 2nd, 23 Mute Swan all month, 415 Canada’s on 2nd, single Shelduck on 23rd, 326 Wigeon on 2nd, seven Gadwall on 13th with smaller counts on other dates, c300 Teal on 19th with 168 counted on 17th, seven Pintail on 8th, eight Shoveler on 8th with singles on 11th and 12th, c200 Pochard on 19th with 167 counted on 2nd, 61 Tufted Duck on 2nd, up to six Goldeneye all month, four Goosander on 6th and 26th with two on 11th, 39 Ruddy Duck on 2nd with 34 on 27th. Coot numbers remained high with 1553 counted on 2nd. Heron were regularly present with up to six most dates.

Seven species of waders were recorded the highlights being a Bar-tailed Godwit on 26th a late Common Sandpiper was regularly recorded until the 30th, two were reporter on the 5th, single Knot on 1st and 2nd. A increase in Lapwing numbers were noted during the month with c300 regularly present, six Dunlin on 2nd with two on 5th and singles on several other dates, seven Snipe on 2nd with smaller numbers on other dates, a Woodcock was seen on 1st.

The gull roost decreased during the month from c10, 000 to approximately 3000 present at the months end, comprising mainly of Lesser Blacked-backed and Black-headed Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls roosted, a adult winter on 2nd, 8th, 9th, 17th and 22nd an adult winter and a 2nd winter roosted on several evening from 23rd till 31st, a 2nd winter Caspian Gull roosted on 9th, a 1st/2nd winter Iceland Gull roosted on 14th and 15th, several Yellow-legged Gulls were recorded in the roost most evenings, the roost also contained increasing numbers of Common and Great Black-backed Gulls.

Other species recorded were a female Hen Harrier on 30th, two Buzzard on 26th with singles on other dates, a Peregrine on several dates, a Water Rail was observed on 11th beneath the Wildlife Centre feeding area. A Little Owl on 11th, single Kingfisher on several dates during the month with two on 19th and 26th, two Raven on 25th, c18 Tree Sparrows were regular at the Wildlife Centre feeders with two present at the new feeding station near Lane end Hide.
Flocks of Redpoll and Siskin were regularly seen with 12 Redpoll counted on 2nd and 20th, 19 Bullfinch were counted on 13th with five on 16th.

An excellent month with 86 species recorded compared with 74 in December 2000, 71 in 1999 and 78 in 1998