Local Wildlife Sightings, January 2026

 The year started with unusually cold weather, daytime temperatures hovering around 0C and a couple of light overnight snowfalls. I had a rare opportunity to spend a whole day birdwatching on a Saturday (the 3rd). The first bird that I saw was at the bottom of the back garden. I couldn't quite make out what it was until it flew up on to the fence as I came out to investigate and found a large female Sparrowhawk, which had been consuming its prey, a white feral dove! Unfortunately, my camera wasn't to hand and the Sparrowhawk flew off leaving behind the half-eaten bird and a pile of white feathers. The remainder of the dove was later consumed by a Magpie. I've seen Sparrowhawks before in the garden and I've also seen the remains of their prey, but never before the two together.

I spent the rest of the morning at Verulamium Park, St Albans. The park has got a deserved reputation for its Kingfishers, which give ridiculously close views as they fish from the River Ver, which runs down one side of the lake. Unfortunately for photographers the backgrounds are usually rather messy clusters of twigs and leaves, which also tend to catch the sun, making correct exposure virtually impossible. Nevertheless, I didn't look a gift horse in the mouth (images below). However, I missed out on the Yellow-browed Warbler and Mediterranean Gull that had also been seen in the park.

Kingfisher 1 (a male), St Albans, 3 January

Kingfisher 2 (possibly a different male), St Albans, 3 January

During the following week I spent quite a bit of time bird watching locally, trying to catch up with local rarities and building up modest year lists. On the 5th a visit to Amwell produced ten different duck species, including Goldeneye, Red-crested Pochard and a couple of female Smew. Bitterns have been seen here regularly, and I missed one flying in to the reedbed as I walked between the White Hide and the main viewpoint - such is life.

Ring-necked Parakeet, Amwell, 5 January

On the 6th I went on my 'round the villages' walk. Phillup's Lake (Reed End) was almost completely frozen over, giving me a rare opportunity to photograph a Little Grebe that was diving away in the small patch of available water. A pair of Coot (presumably the lake's resident pair) and a single Mallard were also there, whilst no fewer than 27 Canada Geese were attempting to graze on the neighbouring field.

Little Grebe and two Coot in a blizzard on Phillup's Lake, Reed End, 6 January

The highlight of the walk came a little further on, as I approached Therfield. I saw large flocks of Linnets, Corn Buntings, Chaffinches and Yellowhammers feeding in game cover and set-aside, then flying up into trees and bushes as I walked along the track. I reckon that I saw some 400 to 500 birds. Most impressive were the numbers of Corn Buntings seen: I reckon that 40 was a conservative estimate. Although Linnets made up the bulk of the birds there must have been around 100 Yellowhammers as well: my highest local count of this attractive farmland bird for a couple of years. Although the weather was now dull (with the occasional snow shower: see image above), the flat light made it easier to capture the features of these farmland birds - see the images below.

Corn Bunting, Therfield, 6 January

Nine Corn Buntings, Therfield, 6 January

Linnet, Reed, 6 January

The following morning saw me visit Scales Park near Meesden, hoping to see the wintering (and later breeding?) Crossbills. I was fortunate to see eight (a single male plus parties of three and four birds), although many more were probably present. I also saw a Raven, but there was no sign of Marsh Tits on this visit.

Record shot of a male Common Crossbill, Scales Park, 7 January

Later in the day I went to Roe Green, near Sandon, where up to three Short-eared Owls had been seen on previous evenings. The birds were reported to appear after dusk. I (along with others) probably stood in the wrong place to see the birds, because I only got only the most fleeting glimpse of what must have been one of the birds when it was almost completely dark. However, I did have three sightings of Woodcock flying out of or into Roe Green Wood.

On the 8th I was out again, walking east from Royston along the Icknield Way to Heydon Pig Farm. More Linnets and Yellowhammers were seen, along with a Meadow Pipit and four species of thrush. Gull numbers at the pig farm were much lower (around 80 individuals) than in previous winters - perhaps the frozen ground had persuaded some to head further south and/or west. Amongst the gulls present, which were viewed and photographed distantly, were a probable Yellow-legged Gull and an interesting black-backed bird that had black markings behind the eye (see image below). This was most likely a strangely marked Lesser Black-backed Gull, even though it appeared smaller than the gulls around it. I harboured hopes that it might be something much rarer, such as an American vagrant (Laughing Gull or Franklin's Gull), but the shape and structure is unfortunately wrong for these birds, as well.

Fieldfare, near Heydon, 8 January

Some of the gulls at Heydon Pig Farm on 8 January, with the apparently small and oddly marked Lesser Black-backed Gull in the left hand group.

I always make a point of visiting the attractive little Lemsford Springs reserve, near Welwyn, early in the year. This is one of the best places in the UK to see Green Sandpipers during the winter (and for most of the year). They feed on Freshwater Shrimps that live here in the River Lea, only leaving for around three months in the summer to nest in Scandinavia. Jack Snipe had been reported here in the week leading up to my visit on the 10th, so the hides were almost full when I arrived. I was lucky to see Jack Snipe from both hides and was able to photograph one as it bobbed up and down on the edge of the river, feeding. Snipe were also present and one showed very well in front of a hide. By the 10th I had therefore seen two wader species (Woodcock and Jack Snipe) that I didn't see at all in 2025!

Jack Snipe, Lemsford Springs, 10 January

Common Snipe, Lemsford Springs, 10 January

Green Sandpiper, Lemsford Springs, 10 January

Closer to home, things were pretty quiet although I did see a pair of Stonechats along the track that curves south-east from the bottom of Church Hill, also on the 10th. I returned to Roe Green on the afternoon of the 12th and, standing by the side of the road (as I should have done on my earlier visit), I did this time see three Short-eared Owls at dusk (it was too dark for photography by the time that they appeared) on and over the Sandon Rewilding Farm fields.

Male Stonechat, Therfield Heath, 10 January

On the 16th I made a return visit to St Albans, this time visiting the Watersmeet Nature Reserve. Lots of Siskins were feeding in the Alder Trees, but there was no sign of Redpolls on this occasion. I caught up with a Peregrine on the cathedral, but there was again no sign of the Mediterranean Gull in Verulamium Park during my visit, although it was reported both beforehand and afterwards. Other gulls (Black-headed, Common and Lesser Black-backed) allowed a close approach: I've attached an image of a first winter Common Gull below.

First Winter Common Gull, Verulamium Park, St Albans, 16 January

Peregrine, St Albans Cathedral, 16 January

'Record Shot' of a Female Siskin, Watersmeet LNR, St Albans, 16 January

Atrocious weather during the following week further restricted my local activities, although on the afternoon of the 19th I did see my first local Peregrine for two years, which took off from the mast at the eastern end of Newmarket Road (close to the junction of the A505), soared and then headed east. A visit to Amwell on the 24th produced a Great Black-backed Gull (a minor rarity for Hertfordshire), seen from the Great Hardmead Lake viewpoint.

Great Black-backed Gull, Amwell, 24 January

The final week of January was very wet, with regular bands of rain heading up from the south west to provide saturated ground and a soggy end to the month. We were lucky - there was extensive flooding in Devon, Somerset and Dorset. There were breaks in the weather, and the 26th saw me return to Bramfield (last visited on 31 December), hoping to see a Hawfinch or two in the churchyard. However, sightings of this species have been scarce this winter and I was unlucky again. One species that has, in contrast, been relatively widespread and common has been the Crossbill. A visit to nearby Bramfield Park Wood provided me with sightings of males and females close to a woodland pond where they would no doubt have drunk and bathed once I moved on. For a change, the image below features a female bird. On the same afternoon I visited Phillup's Lake (36 Canada Geese now grazing nearby - a record count) and the area of Reed End where I had previously seen hundreds of Yellowhammers, Corn Buntings and Linnets. Bird activity was much reduced on this occasion, but I did see a large flock of Linnets and several Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers.

Female Crossbil, Bramfield Park Wood, 26 January

Corn Buntings at Reed End (Therfield), 26 January

On the 30th I made my first visit of the year to Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits. One of two Great White Egrets was seen and two Chiffchaffs were showing well in bushes close to paddocks that are situated close to the main lake. However, I had been particularly encouraged to visit by a report of a Caspian Gull on the main lake (Rupert Evershed). I found around 250 gulls, mainly Black-headed, present as well as Common, Lesser Black-backed and maybe 8-10 'Herring-type' Gulls. I managed to take a few photos before the gulls flew off and then (typically) spent hours poring over the images, trying to work out whether Caspian Gulls were present and, if so, how many! It seems that, no matter how hard I try, my identification skills do not improve - or perhaps the variability of these species is too great for anyone other than the most hardened gull expert to identify. Anyway, here are a couple of cropped images, with comments below them.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (left) with possible Caspian Gull, Tyttenhanger, 30 January. Note the clean white head and neck, dark eye and upright stance of the Herring-type Gull. However, the legs are not visible and the bill is not as long as might be expected for the 'classic' bird.

Two Adult or near adult Herring-type Gulls, Tyttenhanger, 30 January. The bird on the left (behind the Moorhen) is a good bet for Caspian Gull, with longish straight bill, red spot only on the lower mandible and a 'gimlet', apparently black eye. I am guessing that the bird on the right is a Herring Gull, of the sub-species argentatus, a northern species that has a darker mantle than that of 'our' Herring Gull, sub-species argenteus. The colour of the legs rules out another possibility, Yellow-legged Gull (none of the adult Herring-type Gulls that I photographed had Yellow Legs). Make of that what you will!

One other point of interest was that I noticed a Common Gull with a surprisingly dark back (when compared to other Common Gulls present). This (image below) may be an example of the Russian breeding sub-species heinei, which has a darker back than our breeding birds, Larus canus. I don't know how common the Russian birds are in the UK in winter.

Common Gull, possible sub-species heinei, Tyttenhanger, 30 January

 

UK Wildlife Sightings, January 2026

 My first outing of any distance in 2026 was on the afternoon of the 3rd, when I visited Staines Reservoirs. My rationale for going on a Saturday afternoon was (a) that there were some interesting birds there and (b) the M25 would be relatively quiet on a Saturday afternoon. This was important, as in the past I have been caught up in the almost inevitable weekday traffic jams between junctions 13 and 16 on my return. The down side was that standing on the causeway between the north and south reservoirs, in sub zero temperatures and in a biting wind is not my idea of fun! Nevertheless, I persisted and was rewarded with views of a male Lesser Scaup (a vagrant from the USA and the rarest bird on the site), male and female Scaup and a single Black-necked Grebe (up to 13 had been reported here earlier). I missed out on Great Northern Diver (up to two reported here), but will have a chance to see that species at Grafham Water, where up to eight have been reported!

Male Lesser Scaup, Staines Reservoirs, 3 January. Note the little 'bump' at the back of its head, one feature that distinguishes it from the larger Scaup (image below).

Male Scaup, Staines Reservoirs, 3 January

Black-necked Grebe, Staines Reservoirs, 3 January

I had to wait until the 14th for my first visit to the coast. Titchwell was the venue, and I was able to add no fewer than 14 wader species to my year list, with the best being a single Purple Sandpiper, feeding on the beach between Titchwell and Thornham Point. Very little, other than a few Red-breasted Mergansers, was seen on the sea.

Record Shot of a Purple Sandpiper on Titchwell Beach, 14 January

Having visited the resident Tawny Owl at its regular roosting site, I was lucky to see a Firecrest on my way back to the visitor centre. Typically, the bird was rushing around looking for invertebrate food and all my images of it were blurred, with the exception of the one below.

Firecrest, RSPB Titchwell, 14 January

On my way home I popped in to WWT Welney to see the swan feed. Only a handful of Mute and Whooper Swans were present, with the majority of the food being snaffled by a large flock of Pochards. No Bewick's Swans were seen, although several had been present on the previous day. A Cetti's Warbler was seen in the car park, both as I arrived and as I left!

Whooper Swan, WWT Welney, 14 January

Poor weather (well, it was January) restricted my movements in the second half of the month. A rare bright day on the 20th encouraged me to visit Abberton Reservoir where I was hoping, amongst other things, to see Russian White-fronted and Tundra Bean Geese. I parked my car on the Layer Breton causeway, from where I could see both male and female Smew, then walked along a permissive path between this and the Layer de la Haye causeway, looking for the geese. None were seen, so I decided to continue the walk, which I had not done before, to the other causeway (Goosander, Black-necked Grebe and Ruff were seen from here) and then on to the nearby visitor centre. More waders (Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, hundreds of Lapwings and a single Golden Plover) were seen from the hides here, but little else. I was somewhat despondent about not having seen my target geese on the way back along the permissive path, but half way along a flock of White-fronted Geese flew over me and I managed to grab some photos to confirm my sighting (image below). Three other geese flew over my head and landed out of sight - these were probably the Bean Geese (which were reported from nearby later on the same day), but I couldn't be sure.

Female Goosander, Abberton Reservoir, 20 January

Female Smew, Abberton Reservoir, 20 January

White-fronted Geese, near Abberton Reservoir, 20 January (characteristic breast markings can just be seen on three of the birds)

I brought some bird food along with me on a visit to Lynford Arboretum (Norfolk) on the 22nd, and it wasn't long before it had attracted Marsh Tits (my first of the year) down to feed. There was no sign of Hawfinches on this occasion, although (predictably, for this winter) Crossbills were both seen and heard on several occasions.

Marsh Tit, Lynford Arboretum, 22 January

On the 28th, a rare sunny day during a wet and windy period encouraged me to visit the Norfolk coast, this time starting at Sheringham and working my way along the coastline, via Salthouse, Stiffkey and Burnham Overy Staithe, to Thornham Harbour and Hunstanton Cliffs. I was lucky to see my second ever Eastern Black Redstart (a colourful, attractive sub-species of Black Redstart) almost as soon as I arrived at the esplanade in Sheringham. However, before I had the chance to photograph it in the open, the bird flew and disappeared into some dead vegetation, where it stayed for at least 20 minutes, giving very restricted views (see image below). I went off to see what else was about on the sea and along the coastline, and when I came back the bird had disappeared. Red-throated Divers were seen in flight and on the sea, a bunch of very friendly Turnstones were looking for food - any sort of food - along the promenade and Redwings seemed to be everywhere.

Record Shot of Eastern Black Redstart hiding in Vegetation, Sheringham, 28 January

Redwing, Sheringham, 28 January

Turnstone, Sheringham, 28 January

The rest of the day turned out to be rather frustrating in terms of birds seen, although I did enjoy walking in the sunny weather. I am told that I saw a flock of Twite (distant birds on a wire), but they flew off before was close enough to identify them, so I won't 'list' them. I missed three Glossy Ibis at Stiffkey and at Burnham Overy Staithe the Red-necked Grebe that I had hoped to see had swum out of sight on a reed-fringed pool, shortly before I arrived there, and didn't reappear. However, I did find a Rock Pipit here. There was little to see at Thornham Harbour, whilst I was able to see my first Fulmars of the year on the cliffs at dusk, during a 30 minute stop at Hunstanton.

Rock Pipit, Burnham Overy Staithe, 28 January

Local Sightings, December 2025

 After November, which was easily the wettest month of the year in Royston, December produced a mixed bag of weather, but with the wind direction mainly coming from the west the unsettled weather continued, with appreciable rain on five consecutive days from the 4th, but some pleasant, sunny days as well and temperatures generally above normal. I had a lot on in the first half of the month, including a hospital operation, so opportunities for bird watching were pretty limited. However, I did get out for a few local walks. A visit to the Church Hill area on the 3rd included a walk on the track that leads between Jubilee Wood and Thrift Farm. The head of a Barn Owl could be seen in the one remaining nest box there, whilst two Stonechats (possibly the same pair that had been previously seen near the Therfield Road) were feeding in the Thrift Farm Beet (?) field nearby.

The head of a Barn Owl in a nest box, Jubilee Wood, 3 December (it did move about in the box, honest!)

There has been a big influx of Crossbills from the Continent into the UK this autumn and winter, and I made another visit to Scales Park (Meesden) to see whether the Crossbills, first seen there on 16 October, were still present. They were, and after much effort and running around I managed to get a distant photo of a male, sitting on top of one of the many pine trees on which they were feeding. Will they stay to  nest in the early part of 2026? Also seen here were two Marsh Tits in different parts of the woodland, seven Redwings and a Raven (Ravens nest in these woods).

Male Crossbill, Scales Park, 5 December

A covey of six Grey Partridges was seen near Royston Hospital at dusk on the 11th and two more males were heard calling (singing?) nearby. A Tawny Owl was hooting, again from near the hospital, slightly later in the evening. I felt fit enough to walk round the villages of Reed and Therfield on the 17th, recording 43 species (37 seen). A flock of 32 Golden Plovers was seen in flight over Greys Farm. A Chiffchaff was seen near Phillup's Lake, where seven Tufted Ducks, nine Canada Geese and two Coot were swimming. A loose flock of 25 Fieldfares was seen around Therfield.

Golden Plovers over Greys Farm, 17 December

More Stonechats were seen on the 22nd as I walked along the track that runs from the bottom of Church Hill south through Thrift Farm towards the Therfield Road. At least two pairs, as well as a single male, were seen on fence posts and/or in the fields of Sugar Beet on either side of the track. A Raven was also seen. The woods themselves were quiet. Other local walks produced no notable sightings.

Male Stonechat, Thrift Farm, 22 December

The weather became much colder - more like winter - in the last week of the year. Family commitments over the Christmas period prevented any local bird watching until the final afternoon of the year, when I decided to visit Bramfield and Bramfield Woods (near Hertford) to look for Woodcock, a bird that I hadn't seen this year, as well as Hawfinches in the churchyard. I failed on both counts, but on my way back from the woods I came across a flock of nine Crossbills in trees near the village hall car park. These birds were close enough to get some more detailed photos. Typically, the males were posing on or near the tops of trees whilst the females were lower and hard to see. One of the males was singing. I took photos of three males (males 1, 2 and 3 in the images below). Their bills appeared to be chunkier than those of other males that I have seen in the UK. Examination of text books indicates that continental (Scandinavian) Crossbills do have chunky bills (but not as chunky as those of Parrot Crossbills), suggesting that these birds were part of the autumn influx from the Continent. The bills look uncommonly like those of the purported 'Scottish' Crossbills! However, I wouldn't dare to suggest that 'Scottish' Crossbills could be found in England. Take a look, particularly at male 2.

Crossbill Male 1, Bramfield, 31 December

Crossbill Male 2, Bramfield, 31 December

Crossbill Male 3 (the Singing Bird), Bramfield, 31 December

The slightly above average rainfall for November and December took the annual rainfall total in the back garden to 17.9 inches (450mm), making this the driest year since 2011, following on from the wettest year since I began recording in 1992. Such are the vagaries of the weather!

My 'Local Patch' year list, at just 75 species, was the lowest since 2009. Perhaps Treecreeper was the biggest 'miss'. My declining health and declining powers of observation, no doubt being accompanied by being in the wrong places at the wrong time, were contributory factors, but I do feel that numbers of birds are steadily declining locally. Here is hoping for a better 2026! 

UK Wildlife Sightings, December 2025

 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