Bird Notes December 2022

December 2022 BIRD NOTES

Wishing everyone a Prosperous New Year

HIGHLIGHTS: Great Northern Diver returns, Marsh Tit, Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Lesser Redpoll.

Water bird maxima were from the WeBS count on 11^th unless dated otherwise. 1 Great Northern Diver seen most days after its return on 8^th, 4 Little Grebe 10^th, 37 Great Crested Grebe, 24 Cormorant 8^th, 1 Little Egret noted on 12 occasions, 1 Great White Egret reported from various parts of the reservoir 13 times in total this month, 3 Grey Heron 3^rd and 6^th, 6 Mute Swan 19^th, 8 Whooper Swan 3^rd, 250 Pink-footed Goose 12^th, 200 Greylag Goose 22^nd, 374 Canada Goose 3^rd, 34 Barnacle Goose 24^th, 3 Shelduck 13^th, 134 Wigeon, 110 Gadwall 21^st, 548 Teal, 192 Mallard, 3 Pintail 19^th and 24^th, 3 Shoveler, 12 Pochard 16^th, 64 Tufted Duck 21^st, 10 Goldeneye 7^th, 7 Goosander 21^st, 1 Water Rail, 6 Moorhen 2^nd, 11^th, 21^st and 31^st, 94 Coot 21^st, 1 Kingfisher 5^th, 7^th and 8^th.

Raptor sightings included 7 Red Kite 29^th, 2 Sparrowhawk 4^th and 21^st, 4 Buzzards 20^th and 21^st, 2 Kestrel 1^st, 5^th, 21^st, 24^th and 26^th, 1 Peregrine reported 11 times within the month.

Seven species of waders through this month with 550 Lapwing 25^th, 39 Dunlin 1^st and 2^nd, 11 Snipe 4^th, 3 Woodcock 3^rd, 1 Black-tailed Godwit 2^nd, 3 Curlew 8^th, 9^th and 12^th, 3 Redshank 6^th and 7^th.

Maximum Gull numbers were 1 Mediterranean Gull 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th, 6000 Black-headed Gull 8^th, 2800 Common Gull 8^th, 250 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 30^th, 5 Herring Gull 27^th, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls 2^nd (3 adults and 1 first winter), 2 Caspian Gull 7^th, 1 Great black-backed Gull reported 14 dates within the month.

Among other species were 1580 Wood Pigeon recorded flying North East 26^th, 4 Tawny Owl heard calling 1^st, 4^th and 25^th, 2 Red-legged Partridge 6^th and 8^th, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 5^th, 17^th and 19^th, 75 Meadow Pipit 6^th, 3 Grey Wagtails 21^st, 177 Fieldfare 3^rd, 725 Redwing 3^rd, 1 Chiffchaff 2^nd and 16^th, 8 Goldcrest 1^st, 2 Marsh Tit 30^th, 7 Willow Tit 1^st and 21^st, 70 Carrion Crow 5^th, 15 Raven 20^th, 7 Tree Sparrow 5^th, 1 Brambling 27^th, 100 Siskin 25^th, 5 Lesser Redpoll 30^th, 9 Bullfinch 7^th, 1 Yellowhammer present on 25^th.

The total 98 species noted compares to 97 in 2021, 94 in 2020, 93 in 2019, 87 in 2018, 92 in 2017.

This is the second highest total for December only being beaten by 99 in December 2006