Early January 2017

January 10th. Around were a Red Kite, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 550 Lapwing, 500 Golden Plover, 228 Sanderling, a Mediterranean Gull, 250 Brent Goose, 5 Pintail, 90 Red-throated Diver, 2 Merlin, a juvenile Peregrine and 2 Siskin. Going south were 2 Bean Goose, and west or south 20 Skylark.

January 9th. Birds around included 6 Pintail, a Long-eared Owl, 300 Lapwing and a Coal Tit.

January 8th. Around were 20 Pink-footed Goose, 400 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 3 Goldeneye, a Common Buzzard, 45 Red-throated Diver, 500 Lapwing, 500 Golden Plover, 5 Snipe, 49 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe, a Green Woodpecker, a Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 5 Goldcrest, a Water Pipit, 2 Siskin, 33 Corn Bunting and a Snow Bunting. West of Croftmarsh were 2 Whooper Swan.

January 7th. Birds around included 270 Brent Goose, 2 Pintail, a Goldeneye, 5 Water Rail, 600 Golden Plover, 600 Lapwing, 6 Redwing, a Treecreeper and a Chiffchaff. Heading southwest were 24 Pink-footed Goose.

January 6th. Frosty start.
 On Jackson's Marsh was a male Goldeneye. Around were 10 Pink-footed Goose, 200 Brent Goose, 5 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, 28 Turnstone, 7 Redwing, a Chiffchaff and a Brambling. In came 68 Teal, 17 Wigeon and 3 Goldeneye, while flying south were 12 Pintail, 13 Shelduck, 2 Tufted Duck, 7 Eider, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, a Razorbill, a Black-throated Diver and most of 43 Red-throated Diver.

January 5th. Frosty start.
 A Caspian Gull was discovered on the beach out from Mill Hill early morning. Birds around included 10 Song Thrush, a Redwing, 3 Fieldfare and 2 Stonechat. Offshore were 4 Red-breasted Merganser. North went 17 Little Gull and most of 73 Red-throated Diver.

January 4th. Around were 3 Hen Harrier (2 ringtails and a male), a Green Woodpecker, a Jack Snipe, 10 Fieldfare, 15 Redwing, 46 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Water Rail, a Woodcock, a Coal Tit, 2 Pintail, 40 Corn Bunting and a Siskin. At least 1 Twite was present with the Linnet flock on the Old Saltmarsh. Going north were 70 Gannet, 60 Common Scoter, 2 Fulmar and 3 Great Skua; south 5 Great Skua and 30 Red-throated Diver; and south-east 7 Whooper Swan (6 adults and 1 juvenile).

January 3rd. Frosty start.
 A group of 3 Waxwing were at Sykes Farm entrance briefly, then flew south with 4 Redwing. Around were 2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail), a Merlin, 25 Pink-footed Goose, 40 Common Scoter, a Goosander, 600 Golden Plover, 10 Ringed Plover, 250 Lapwing, 3 Goldcrest, 70 Blackbird (small arrival evident), 15 Redwing, a Brambling, a Siskin and 50 Corn Bunting. On the water bodies were 38 Shoveler, 4 Pintail, 157 Wigeon, 373 Teal, 4 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye and 2 Water Rail.

Curlew on Mere Meadow, 3rd January 2016.
Photo - Richard Doan
Waxwing (1 of 3) at Sykes Farm entrance briefly, 3rd January 2017.
Photo - Richard Doan
January 2nd. Heading south were an Iceland Gull, 30 Gannet, a Long-tailed Duck and 3 Red-breasted Merganser. Around were 800 Brent Goose, 20 Red-throated Diver, a Merlin, 200 Lapwing, a Goldcrest and a Brambling.

January 1st. Rain until mid afternoon.
 Birds around included a Pink-footed Goose and 50 Lapwing.