Storm Darragh arrived bringing with it gale force winds and rain which brought a tree down along the path, the river was fast flowing while on the flash the calmer water had attracted an Otter who was observed from the Heron hide on the 7th and Kingfisher hide on the 8th. Waterfowl was flushed on both occasions before the Otter hastily retreated back to the river. A female Kingfisher was also spotted fishing from the branches of a Willow tree at the hide which was sheltered from the wind. On the 26th a Water rail was recorded with a fish and on the 31st the Otter was reported once more from the Heron hide. Kingfisher.
Several wetland bird counts recorded 9 Mute swan (5 over), 8 Canada geese, 3 Greylag geese, 3 Grey heron, 22 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 14 Mallard, 6 Shoveler, 6 Tufted duck, 2f Goosander, 14 Cormorant, 2 Little egret, 3c Water rail, 5 Little grebe, 8 Moorhen, 32 Coot, 9 Common snipe, 70 Black-headed gull and 2 Herring gull. On the 9th a Great white egret was reported on the flash and 30 Lapwing were noted passing over fish pass. 6 Whooper swans also passed through on the 8th and 16th while near Newton Ings on the 15th Jack snipe, Woodcock and meadow pipit were reported. A male Pochard was noted at the flash on the 28th. Pochard.
Supplementary winter feeding from the Heron hide continued to attract a number of birds which included Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Blue tit, Coal tit, Chaffinch, Magpie, Moorhen, Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, Jay, Great spotted woodpecker and Treecreeper along with the attention of a male Sparrowhawk recorded at the feeding station on several occasions. At the Kingfisher hide a pair of Blackcap were regularly observed along with Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Wren and Song thrush. 2 Chiffchaff and a Cetti’s warbler were also noted while on the 5th a Siskin was spotted. Reed bunting, Redwing, Green woodpecker, Ring-necked parakeet, Mistle thrush and Fieldfare sightings were scarce during the month. Treecreeper.
Grey partridge, Pheasant and Red-legged partridge were noted locally during December along with sightings of Carrion crow and Jackdaw. On the 19th a pair of Raven flew over Levitt Hagg woods while on the 14th a Marsh harrier was spotted hawking over the reedbed at the flash before disappearing over Pot Ridings wood. Sparrowhawk, Common buzzard and Kestrel was regularly recorded during the month along with Peregrine falcon, reported passing through on the 9th and Tawny owl on the 12th. Common buzzard.
A total of 77 individual bird species was recorded during December with 115 species recorded for the year to date including Stock dove, Rock dove, Collared dove, Wood pigeon, House sparrow, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Grey wagtail, Pied wagtail, Starling and Greenfinch. Other sightings included American mink, Otter, Grey squirrel and Bank vole. 8 Linnet were recorded on the 5th with 30 reported at Newton Ings on the 30th.
Next report January 2025.
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