These Bewick’s Swans were an early Xmas present pic @samodonell25.bsky.social A Christmas Eve visit from two Bewick’s Swans - the first record for 12 years - was the stand-out record of December. The month, which finished well after a very slow start, also saw two fly-over White-fronted Geese and the only Woodcock of the year as well as the re-appearance of the Ravens and unseasonal Little Gulls and Common Whitethroat.
In all, 81 species were seen across December, two less than in 2024. The three additions to the annual list means it finished on 148, again two short of last year's record but still the second highest ever total. Scoter and Common Redstart - both for the second year running - Mandarin, Scaup, Short-eared Owl and Ring Ouzel were among the species missed which might have been expected. But there was plenty to enjoy in 2025 including Red-necked Grebe, Ruff, Honey-Buzzard, Hoopoe, Bittern and Yellow-browed Warbler along with successful breeding by Little Owls and remarkable passage of both Brent Geese and Bar-tailed Godwits.
Our flock of 14 Barnacle Geese continued to roost on the reservoirs and feed on the neighbouring playing fields. But they were eclipsed by two White-fronted Geese , well picked up by SD after they had been seen flying south high over at nearby KGV reservoirs on the 30th. They are the first record of White-fronts since 2020 when, during a similar influx from Europe, a single bird spent several weeks on the reservoirs.
The White-fronts were part of a cold weather movement of wildfowl into the UK in late December which also saw an early Christmas present with the arrival of two Bewick’s Swans arrive on the 24th. They were watched flying in by SD mid-morning before landing on East Warwick where they stayed all day, drawing in a stream of birders to enjoy a true London rarity. They are the first at the Wetlands since 2013 and seem to be the first to have landed this century. Individual Bewick’s can be identified by the pattern of yellow on their bills so we know that they continued on to the WWT reserve at Slimbridge 120 miles to the west where they had arrived by Boxing Day.
By the end of December, several Shelduck might normally have been expected back at the Wetlands from their post-breeding moult but the only record was one on the 20th. Wigeon were also scarcer than usual, with just singles on the 23rd and 31st and a pair on the 30th. Goldeneye numbers, too, were down with two drakes on the 19th, 22nd and 27th the highest count. This was better than Goosander with no records at all over December when, even a decade ago, there would have been regular sightings across the month.
Great White Egrets were seen early morning on the 27th and 29th, perhaps emerging from the Little Egret roost on the south side. The only Buzzard was on Christmas Eve although others were seen heading towards the Wetlands from Walthamstow Marsh.
Five species of waders were seen with the best a Woodcock which came off the grass side of Lockwood on the 12th, the only record of the year. Up to three Common Snipe were seen regularly in the East Warwick island while at least two - and perhaps three - Common Sandpiper are wintering at the Wetlands with a single Green Sandpiper seen on the 21st. The cold weather saw two Lapwing arrive on the 23rd before at least 100, including a flock of 66, passing over next day.
In a remarkable co-incidence, a Little Gull which is normally a Spring bird was found for the second consecutive Christmas Eve at the Wetlands. As remarkable, it was being watched by SD when he saw the Bewick’s fly in, the second month in a row that two rarities were spotted by the same person from the same place at the same time following CF's Bittern/Yellow-browed Warbler double in November. More evidence of how far birds travel to the Wetlands came in a Common Gull rung in Bremen in Germany.
Ravens, whose regular appearances have been one of the highlights of the year, returned after an absence of a few weeks with a single on the 17th and a pair on both the 19th and 24th. Kingfishers continued to show well with many sightings on the Coppermill both north and south of the main road.
There was a better showing than normal from warblers with a Common Whitethroat, the first winter record since 2012, photographed by SD on the 13th. Single Blackcaps, usually rare at the Wetlands in winter, were seen on the 11th and 30th and two on the 5th. 'Siberian' Chiffchaffs were also regular with two caught on the 3rd.
It continues to be a poor winter for Redwing and Fieldfare with numbers feeding on the berries remaining in the low single figures. Three Stonechats continue to winter, usually on West Warwick, while single Siskin were seen on the 6th and 14th with a pair of Redpoll at the Sensory Garden on the 24th. Up to six Reed Buntings could be seen feeding on the seed heads in No 1 reed bed on calm days throughout the month.
DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social
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