December is a quiet time for bird watching. The days are very short, the weather is frequently dull, cold, wet and windy and bird movement is very limited. Birds to add to my various lists are few and far between. To be fair, there were a few sunny and relatively mild days this December and I was able to take advantage of one of these (the 2nd) to visit Lackford Lakes in Suffolk, where a Green-winged Teal had been reported on most days in the previous week. Unfortunately, the bird had 'done a runner' (it wasn't reported from here thereafter), but I enjoyed a relaxing, sunny walk nonetheless and took a few images of the birds.
Lapwings at Lackford Lakes, 2 December
Events other than bird watching took over later in the month, but I did manage one more trip to the coast, on the 19th when I visited RSPB Titchwell on a sunny day. I had hoped to add Long-tailed Duck to my year list there, but there was no sign of it on the sea. I did again see a Firecrest, as well as several Chiffchaffs including a purported tristis sub-species ('Siberian Chiffchaff'). However, as is my way, I spent most of my time there walking along the beach, photographing some of the many wader species that I saw. A few of the images are below.
Bar-tailed Godwit in Flight, Titchwell Beach, 19 December
Marsh Harrier (a youngish Male), RSPB Titchwell, 19 December
Sanderling with Cockle (Part of the Shell is nearby), Titchwell Beach, 19 December
Having failed to see any Cranes this year, I took the afternoon off on the 22nd to drive up to Willow Tree Fen (near Bourne in Lincolnshire), to see them coming in to roost. Up to thirty roost here almost every evening during the winter months. On this occasion six came in at about 3.50pm, slightly earlier than usual, and I was able to get some 'record shot' photos in the half light of what had been a bright day. No more Cranes arrived before I left at about 4.20pm. However, I did see several Goosanders coming in to roost at a nearby lake, as well as around 20 Marsh Harriers (I counted 14 in the air at the same time). I was a little surprised to see the Goosanders, but apparently this is a regular winter roosting site for them.
'Record Shot' of four Cranes at Willow Tree Fen, 22 December
Between Christmas and the New Year we spent a few days in the north west of England and visited New Brighton (for the first time) on the 29th, with my brother and his family. Amongst the Turnstones on the beach groynes was a single Purple Sandpiper (an uncommon winter visitor), whilst a leucistic Sanderling (image below, with other Sanderlings) was the first that I have seen. No new species were added to my UK year list which, at 223 species, was my lowest since 2008. Nevertheless, I did add five UK 'firsts' during the year, I was out of the country for around five weeks, spent time in hospital and didn't visit Scotland. Yes, the excuses are there, but I'm hoping to do better in 2026 - given good health.
Sanderlings (Leucistic Bird second from left), New Brighton, 29 December
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