The first Great Northern Diver for eleven years and a hunting Barn Owl were the highlights of an unusually interesting December. Brent Goose, Little Gull and Redpoll were among other surprising sightings in what is often, unless there is a freezing spell, among the dullest months of the year.
In all, 83 species were seen across the month. With the late addition of a Raven in October, the diver and owl take the year list to a record 150. This is three more than the previous best in 2017 when this monthly round-up began. The high total is in no small part due to the young eyes, ears and enthusiasm of SD who added and photographed several fly-over species including Hawfinch and Crossbill. Looking back at the year, while there were plenty of good birds, there was no outstanding rarity like last year's Alpine Swift. Unexpected omissions were Mediterranean Gull and both Common and Black Redstart which had been seen annually.
Our regular flock of 15 Barnacle Geese roosted every night on the reservoirs before leaving either to the adjoining playing fields or further up the valley to feed. But it looks as if the single bird may have provided an early Christmas dinner for the Wetlands' foxes as it disappeared mid-month. SD found a Brent Goose on East Warwick on the 14th. Having chosen to land on the busiest reservoir in the complex on a Saturday morning, it didn't stay long. A flock of six Shelduck flew south over the Wetlands on the 28th but did not stop to join the two that now seem settled on the reservoirs.
The tame Goldeneye continued to delight pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social
It was a good month for Wigeon with sightings on eight days including seven on the 10th and 12 on the 13th. Goldeneye numbers increased slowly to at least four by the 30th including a very tame and smart drake which, like its companions, popped up across the reservoirs during the month. Goosander continued to be very scarce with the sole record a drake on Lockwood on the 27th. The days when the Wetlands hosted a small flock in winter look as if they belong to history.
The roosting Buzzard continued to be seen early morning until the 27th when it may have finally got fed up with its retinue of crows and Magpies. A Red Kite soared over Lockwood on the 29th. The discovery by CF at dawn of a Barn Owl hunting the flower farm next to No 5 on the 13th was a real surprise. Even more surprising, it was there again next morning before disappearing. Barn Owls are just about annual but they are usually only seen when disturbed from a day-time roost.
The Barn Owl watching its admirers pic @MLP
Five species of wader were seen across December including the occasional Common Snipe and the wintering Common Sandpiper which means the species was recorded every month this year. A tame Oystercatcher on Lockwood on the 29th brought back memories of last December's winterer but, despite from the colour of its bill finding plenty of food, it had disappeared next day. Also one-day birds were the Dunlin on the 8th and the Green Sandpiper on the 11th.
December saw two good gull species with a IW Caspian Gull photographed by SD on the 17th and a more obliging Little Gull first seen flying south on Christmas Eve before taking up residence on West Warwick. Only the second record this year, it continued to be seen - often giving stunning views - until the 29th after which it looks as if it returned to KGV reservoir just up the valley where it had been for a couple of weeks before its visit to the Wetlands.
The star bird of the month, also found by CF, was a Great Northern Diver. It appeared on East Warwick in strong winds and heavy rain to show, once again, the link between bad weather and good birds at the Wetlands. Amazingly, it was its repeated eerie call which first gave away its presence in the gloom suggesting it had just arrived. The first since 2013, it kindly stayed around for a couple of hours before flying off high west.
The Great Northern Diver preparing for take-off pic @samodonnell25.bsky.social
There was far less excitement this month, as expected, with smaller birds. A Skylark was seen in the rain on the 8th. Winter thrushes continue to be extremely scarce with the only record of Fieldfare on the last day of the year when three flew over. Up to three Stonechats continued to be seen regularly around the Warwicks while the 6th produced six Siskin and single Redpoll which may be the same bird seen on the 16th.
DB davidbradshaw52.bsky.social
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