Friday 8 December 2017

Goring, 8th December 2017

Rather fewer birds at sea and on the shore this morning but quality came in the form of an adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose heading west and a repeat appearance from the Red-necked Grebe, which also flew by that way, as did two Mute Swans. Otherwise, 15 Gannets, a Red-throated Diver, 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 23 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Guillemot were seen over the waves. Some waders were in strangley short supply, the roll-call involving 355 Dunlin, a Redshank, a Curlew, 39 Oystercatchers and 25 Ringed Plovers, but just five Sanderlings, six Grey Plovers and four Turnstones. Three Mediterranean Gulls, 43 Common Gulls and 15 Great Black-backed Gulls were noted, and other bits included a Chiffchaff, a Redwing, the Treecreeper, a Coal Tit, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, the male Stonechat, a Linnet and seven Greenfinches.

adult Pale-bellied Brent Goose
Mute Swans
Ringed Plover