Saturday 21st December

With no visit over high tide wader counts were much reduced but 348 Brent Geese, 71 Shelduck, 14 Ringed Plover and the Slavonian Grebe were in the estuary with 19 Sanderling along the beach. Elsewhere four Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver were offshore. Offsite 20 Cattle Egret were at Cockwood Marsh early afternoon.

Friday 20th December

The recent rain increased the forecast height of the tide and kept the water up much later than usual. Counts from the estuary included 920 Dunlin, 912 Oystercatcher, 307 Wigeon, 294 Brent Geese, 130 Bar-tailed Godwit, 122 Knot, 86 Snipe, 71 Shelduck, 59 Grey Plover, 33 Teal, 12 Red-breasted Merganser, two Kingfisher and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere three Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver were offshore with 25 Great-crested Grebe and a female Eider. 

Grey Plover - Lee Collins

Monday 16th December

Counts from the estuary included 185 Knot, 164 Grey Plover, 85 Bar-tailed Godwit, 63 Shelduck, 23 Ringed Plover and Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere a pair of Shoveler were on the Main Pond with single Eider and Common Scoter offshore with three Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver.

Sunday 15th December

Counts from the estuary included 70 Shelduck, 70 Snipe, 55 Common and three Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. The crows continued to flush the roosting and feeding waders but two Polish ringed Dunlin were noted. Elsewhere 32 Great-crested Grebe were offshore. Late news concerns four Cattle Egret some when last week, only the fourth site record so further details welcome.

Saturday 14th December

Five Great Northern Diver and 34 Great-crested Grebe were off the seawall with the Slavonian Grebe still in the estuary.

Thursday 12th December

Counts from the estuary included 1260 Dunlin, 517 Wigeon, 244 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 218 Teal, 169 Knot, 162 Bar-tailed Godwit, 95 Grey Plover, 55 Snipe, 42 Shelduck, 25 Sanderling and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere 26 Great-crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver were offshore and three Shoveler were on the Main Pond.

Thursday 5th December

A low high tide reduced wildfowl and wader numbers with just 440 Dunlin, 265 Wigeon, 104 Teal, 87 Redshank, 51 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 42 Grey and a Golden Plover, two Sanderling and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere the three female Eider, 19 Great-crested Grebe, six Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver were offshore.

Shag - Alan Keatley

Tuesday 3rd December

A Golden Plover in the Bight was the only unexpected addition to the regular flocks of waders and wildfowl in the estuary with six Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe also present. Elsewhere the Scandinavian Rock Pipit was still at the seawall and half a dozen Cirl Bunting were on site.

 Golden Plover (with Dunlin & Grey Plover) - Lee Collins

Cirl Bunting - Lee Collins

Monday 2nd December

A Whimbrel was off Cockwood but no other news was received.

Sunday 1st December

The crisp & cold weather was not the only sign of impending winter with 19 Fieldfare and two Lapwing overhead and a couple of Redwing in Dead Dolphin Wood. In the estuary a female Goldeneye was a new arrival with 162 Dark and five Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 59 Shelduck and the Slavonian Grebe also present. A total of 82 colour-ringed Oystercatcher were recorded over high tide.

Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver was offshore, 45 Goldfinch were feeding in the Entrance Bushes and at least four Water Rail were in the flooded areas around the First and Main Pond.