2020 Sightings

December is one of the quietest months with only 164 species recorded during the month. It can be a good month for wildfowl with the chance of Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander if inland waters freeze or some fly by Bewick’s Swans. A good selection of seabirds have occurred in December gales including Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Leach’s Petrel, Little Auk, Grey Phalarope and Pomarine Skua. Other rarities have included a stunning male Desert Wheatear (2013), Green-winged Teal (2013), Egyptian Goose (2013, 2019), Glaucous Gull, Waxwing (2010) and in the winters of 1940 & 1941, Cirl Bunting.

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Merlin, Northwick Warth 1.12.20

1st December
A bright and sunny morning. Combined reports from the Northwick Warth/Pilning Wetland included 2 Merlins (male & female), 2 Kestrel, a Sparrowhawk, 180+ Black-tailed Godwits, 140 Lapwing, 1000 Dunlin, 30 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, a Firecrest and a Cetti’s Warbler. A Snow Bunting, a Short-eared Owl, 3 Jack Snipe, 6 Snipe and a Stonechat were reported from Aust Warth.