Carsington Water Bird Notes December 2014
December Highlights: Great Northern Diver, Black-necked Grebe, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Geese, Common Scoter, Goshawk, Common Sandpiper, Med Gull and Caspian Gull.
There were 91 species this month which is about average for December. Last month I commented about the absence of a Great Northern Diver and hoped December would bring our now to be expected Diver(s). Well on 6th the presumed returning adult duly arrived and was still present at the month’s end. Maximum Wildfowl numbers are from the WeBS count on 13th unless stated: 6 Little Grebes, 48 Great Crested Grebes, the Black-necked Grebe last seen on 7th, 20 Cormorants on 21st, 2 Grey Herons on 15th, 11 Mute Swans, 2 Whooper Swans on 2nd, 4 on 3rd and 2 on 28th. Pink-footed Geese movement include 55 on 1st and 250 followed by 275 through on 28th. 4 Greylag Geese, 114 Canada Geese on 4th, 29 (feral) Barnacle Geese on 21st, 1 Shelduck on 1st and 6th, a Mandarin on 4th, 42 Wigeon, 17 Gadwall, 106 Teal, 140 Mallard, 15 Pintail on 2nd is the best count since 1992, 4 Shoveler on 26th, 2 Red-crested Pochard on 1st, 170 Pochard on 18th, 228 Tufted Duck, 5 Common Scoter on 9th, 19 Goldeneye on 18th, 13 Goosander on 1st and 1125 Coots.
Notable raptor activity this month includes a Goshawk on 6th, displaying Sparrowhawk observed on 12th, 3 Kestrel on 4th and a Peregrine on 2nd and 18th. Waders included: 850 Lapwings on 19th, 3 Dunlin on 3rd, 27 Snipe on 1st, a Woodcock on 2nd, a Curlew on 6th, 2 Redshank on several dates. A Common Sandpiper reported on 5th is unusual given the time of year. Only one previous December record when one over wintered in 2001/02.
The gull roost held a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull on 28th, a leucistic Black-headed Gull on 14th, 400+ Common Gulls on 4th, 2 Herring Gulls on 1st, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls on 4th, an adult Caspian Gull roosted on 14th and 14 Great Black-backed Gulls on 16th.
A circular walk on 4th produced 7 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 48 Wrens, 16 Dunnocks, 42 Robins, 104 Blackbirds, 9 Song Thrush, 77 Redwing, 6 Goldcrests, 40 Long-tailed Tits, 7 Willow Tits, 7 Coal Tits, 30 Blue Tits, 27 Great Tits, 4 Nuthatch, 5 Treecreepers, 17 Magpies, 41 Chaffinch, 6 Greenfinch, 51 Goldfinch, 3 Linnets and 22 Bullfinch.
Other notable sightings include: A Skylark on 1st, 18 Meadow Pipits on 28th, 3 Raven on 30th, 40 Tree Sparrows on 4th, 16 Siskin on 28th, a Yellowhammer on 28th and 6 Reed Buntings on 12th.
91 species recorded this December compared with 82 in 2013, 85 in 2012, 91 in 2011 and 89 in 2010.
