A decent year with 179 species being recorded and one new addition to the list; an Ortolan Bunting. Despite some sightings of less than annual birds, record counts of some others, a few species were either worryingly absent or in low numbers. Scarce or rare sightings involved Glaucous Gull, Leach’s and Storm Petrels, a Red-throated Diver, multiple Whooper Swans, Bewick’s Swans, White-fronted Geese, Scaup, Garganey, 4 Great White Egrets, 4 Marsh Harriers, 2 Hen Harriers, 2 Ospreys, a record 18 Red Kites, a Goshawk, multiple Avocets including a the first brief breeding attempt, the 4th patch record of Stone Curlew, 3 Grey Phalaropes, multiple Wood Sandipers, just single Purple Sandpiper, Little Stint and Great Skua, the 3rd record of Rose-coloured Starling, several Ring-necked Parakeets, Snow Buntings, Woodlarks, Black Redstarts, Hawfinch, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest, Wood Warbler, Richard’s Pipit and rare wagtails including Ashy-headed, Blue-headed and Channel. Disappointments included no Auks, Sandwich or Little Terns, Pomarine Skua, Goldeneye, Eider, Pied Flycatcher or Spotted Redshank.
Click on the Calendar pictures below for detailed daily sightings and pictures for each month....
