December & January
Birds to look out for in December /January
1. Winter Thrushes
- Redwing, Fieldfare – note flock sizes
2. Finches + Larks
- Brambling – very scarce so far this winter
- Siskin – look for flocks in Alder trees
- Redpoll – look for them on alders and in Siskin flocks. Separate Lesser from Common if possible
- Linnet – note flock size
- Skylark – note flock size
3. Ducks and Geese
- Goosander, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Pintail – All records
- Pink-footed Geese – All records
- Greylag, Canada & Egyptian Geese – note flock sizes
4. Waders
- Golden Plover, Lapwing – note flock sizes
- Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Snipe – All records
5. Rails
- Water Rail – usually more vociferous at dusk, all records
- Coot & Moorhen – note flock size
6. Gulls
- Record flock sizes and species
7. Mainly on coast
- Waxwings – all records from WVBS area
- Brent Geese,
- Common and Velvet Scoter, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser
- Bar-tailed & Black-tailed Godwit, Knot, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin, Ruff, Curlew
- Divers
- Grebes
8. Raptors & Owls
- Peregrine, Merlin, Rough-legged Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard – All records in WVBS area
- Short-eared Owl – Several around coast. All records in WVBS area
- Tawny, Barn & Little Owls – All records in WVBS area