FRI 29 DEC

After a stormy night with winds gusting F9/10 , heavy rain and lightning only a brief visit to South Huish Marsh - almost identical species as yesterday although there were 90 + WIGEON .

Offshore a few GANNET , KITTIWAKE & GUILLEMOT .

AT South Milton Ley Eric &Roger had WATER RAIL , also very brief views of a 2w M HEN HARRIER .

Next update likely to be 1JAN - To all of you who read and follow the blog thanks for your support this year , 2018 will almost certainly be a very interesting year .

THURS 28 DEC 

Hard frost this morning , calm and pleasant in the sunshine although increasing high cloud .

On South Huish Marsh - 60+ WIGEON , THE HYBRID , 30 TEAL , 

24 SNIPE , 1 LAPWING , 10 BLACK T GODWIT , 5 SONG THRUSH , 1M BULLFINCH, 7 CATTLE EGRET & 4 LITTLE EGRET ( spread out over 3 fields ) 1AD MED GULL in amongst a flock of BLACK H GULL .

On the rocks - 9 RINGED PLOVER , 4 TURNSTONE .

WED 27 DEC 

A VERY COLD MORNING WITH A F7/8 N WIND AFTER A STORMY BOXING DAY 

On South Huish Marsh this morning - 90+WIGEON , THE M HYBRID AMERICAN WIGEON / WIGEON , 30 TEAL , 40 SNIPE ( again flushed by a f SPARROHAWK ) , 10 BLACK T GODWIT , 1 LAPWING . In nearby fields 7CATTLE EGRET and 2LITTLE EGRET .In the copse 6 SONG THRUSH 

On the scrape ( now a small pool ) near my garden 10 MALLARD , 5 TEAL . Around the garden- 1m CIRL BUNTING , 1M REED BUNTING , 

6 LONG T TIT , Of note a m PHEASANT ( lucky survivor from the Boxing Day shoot ) 

 At Aveton Gifford Eric had a TREE CREEPER and 2 FIRECREST . 

Looks like a stormy and wet end to the year .

FRI 22 DEC

Another cloudy morning ,still very mild .

At Huxton Cross - 120FIELDFARE , 30 REDWING , 1 YELLOWHAMMER, 2RED L PARTRIDGE .

Joined by Dave P - quick visit to South Milton Ley - at least 20 CHIFFY , 1 SIBERIAN CHIFFY , GREY WAGTAIL , 2 WATER RAIL.

On South Huish Marsh same flock of WIGEON Including the hybrid AMERICAN WIGEON /WIGEON , TEAL , 2 SHELDUCK , LITTLE GREBE , LAPWING .A F SPARROWHAWK proved any total of SNIPE Is only a fraction of birds on the Marsh , at least70 took flight , another flock of 20 later flew over .In the farm field still 7 CATTLE EGRET 

In the Bay the GREAT N DIVER still .

in my garden this pm - 1M CIRL BUNTING , 1 CHIFFY , 1M REED BUNTING 

THIS IS LIKELY TO BE THE LAST POST BEFORE XMAS - TO ALL THE FOLLOWERS OF THIS BLOG A VERY HAPPY FESTIVE TIME ONLY  10 SLEEPS TO 2018- when the year lists start again . 

THURS 21 DEC

 Acloudy morning with a F3/4 W wind .

An hours seawatching from 09.30 produced - 105 GANNET-W, 

18 KITTIWAKE , 1 FULMAR , 1 GREAT N DIVER -E @09.57 , 1 also W@10.20 accompanied by a RED T DIVER .

On South Huish Marsh - 62 WIGEON , THE M hybrid AMERICAN WIGEON / WIGEON ., 30 TEAL , 30 SNIPE , 4 BLACK T GODWIT ( flew off up the valley at 11.20 ) 1 LAPWING . In the field 7 CATTLE EGRET 

SUN 17 DEC 

A cloudy morning with rain arriving at 11.45 , Wind SW F4 

On South Huish Marsh - 55 WIGEON , THE M hybrid AMERICAN WIGEON / WIGEON , 35 TEAL , 15 SNIPE , 10 BLACK T GODWIT ,

1 DUNLIN , 1 LAPWING , 1 LITTLE GREBE . In the copse field - 8SONG THRUSH .

Offshore 30+ GANNET, 8 KITTIWAKE , 5 AUKS & at11.25 a RED T DIVER flew W .

In my garden a pair of CIRL BUNTING , pair of REED BUNTING , 1F 

BULLFINCH, pair of TEAL ON THE SCRAPE .

At South Efford Marsh Eric reports no change in the numbers of Waders , 200+ WIGEON , 90 TEAL . ON the estuary Rod reported the Juv SPOONBILL again .

At South Milton Ley Dave P photographed a WATER RAIL at the feeding station 

FRI 15 DEC 

A fine sunny morning with a cold NNW F4/5 WIND .

On South Huish Marsh the hybrid AMERICAN WIGEON / WIGEON still amongst the WIGEON flock of 50+ . Joined this morning by Alan , James & Julia , Eric , Terry . Paul B had visited earlier . Although a sunny morning views not as good as yesterday due to the glare .

Also - 30 TEAL, 1 LITTLE GREBE , 11 BLACK T GODWIT , 10 SNIPE , 1 CATTLE EGRET , 1 CHIFFY , 1 GOLDCREST , 2 SONG THRUSH AND A REDWING . Earlier a KINGFISHER reported .

in the last week both BARN &TAWNY OWL have been seen by the Marsh and private gardens .

A local resident ( near South Milton Ley ) reported in their garden both a pair of GREY &a RED L PARTRIDGE THIS WEEK . 

At South Efford Marsh Eric reports - 6 GREENSHANK , 4 REDSHANK ,6 COMMON SANDPIPER , 90+ TEAL , PEREGRINE, 1 WATER PIPIT , 

NUTHATCH .

After the recent days of rain there is a small scape just outside my garden - at 08.00 were 10MALLARD , 2 TEAL , 2 STONECHAT , 2 SONG THRUSH .This afternoon a F BLACK REDSTART ON THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE 

THURS 14 DEC

AFTER A STORMY NIGHT HEAVY SHOWERS OF RAIN / HAIL.

Only time for a short visit to South Huish Marsh -

Amongst a flock of 60 WIGEON was a very interesting duck showing signs of a 1w AMERICAN WIGEON , took some photos ( in very poor light with the duck c200yds away ) Discussions with a number o f birders in the evening -consensus of opinion is a hybrid AMERICAN WIGEON / WIGEON - MALE AMERICAN MOST LIKELY PAIRING WITH A FEMALE WIGEON .THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH THE ID .

ALSO 30 TEAL , 2 SHELDUCK ( first returning birds ) 10 BLACK T GODWIT , 1 CATTLE EGRET, SNIPE , LAPWING .

TUES 12 DEC 

AFTER a cold night with a frost gradually improved, only a light breeze .

Garden Watch 08.00- 08.50 27 species - 2 GOLDCREST , 5 LONG T TIT , 6 SONG THRUSH , 9 BLACKBIRD , 5 SKYLARK , 40 GOLDFINCH , 11 CHAFFINCH , 2 CHIFFY , 1 GREEN WOODY 

A45 min seawatching from 09.30 - 45 GANNET , 1 RED T DIVER (E @ 0935 ) GREAT N DIVER ( 1W @ 09.35 , James K 1 E @ 10.45 ) 

13 AUKS -E , On the rocks 2 TURNSTONE .James also had 2 COMMON SCOTER -W @08.30 , also on 8 DEC he had the first returning FULMAR

ON South Huish Marsh - 55 WIGEON , 20 TEAL , 1 DUNLIN , 10 BLACK T GODWIT , 14 SNIPE , 4 LITTLE EGRET , 2 CATTLE EGRET , 1 FIRECREST , 2 CHIFFY , 2 SONG. THRUSH , 1 REDWING 

On Yarmer Beach Nick had 2 TURNSTONE , 5 RINGED PLOVER ,.

At Huxton Cross some evidence of cold weather movement - 

100+REDWING , 75 FIELDFARE , 60 STARLING , 20 CHAFFINCH , 10 LINNET , 1 SKYLARK , 1M CIRL BUNTING , 1M YELLOWHAMMER .

NEARBY Eric had a flock of 45 LAPWING , AND A FIRECREST IN HIS GARDEN 

FRI 8 DEC 

AN EARLY MORNING GARDEN WATCH FOR AN HOUR FROM 07.45 , CLEAR BUT COLD WITH A BRISK NNW WIND 31 SPECIES RECORDED INC - 1F BLACK REDSTART , 1M REED BUNTING , GOLDCREST , 2 FIELDFARE , 1 MISTLE THRUSH , 1 SONG THRUSH , 2 GREAT SP WOODY, 1 SPARROWHAWK .

ON THURS DAVE P HAD A YELLOW B WARBLER AT SOUTH MILTON LEY , ALSO ON FRI 2 WATER R AIL AT THE FEEDING STATION 

1-6 DEC 

Whilst I was away in Cyprus reports received were -

CATTLE EGRET AT BOTH South Milton Ley and South Huish Marsh.

on 5DEC A BITTERN (203) seen flying over North Marsh to land in reeds ( first record for a few years ) 

on the same day Alan Ringed 29 new birds at South Milton Ley inc-

12 CHIFFY , 1 SIB CHIFFY , 1 FIRECREST , 5 GOLDCREST, 1 SONG THRUSH, Also a U.K. control GOLDCREST and 2 retrap CETTIS WARBLER .

ON 6DEC DAVE P reported the juv SPOONBILL ON S H MARSH 

THURS 7 DEC 

AFTER A STORMY AND WET NIGHT THE MORNING ENDED WITH SOME SUNNY PERIODS ALTHOUGH A F6 NW WIND AND ROUGH SEAS 

At South Huish Marsh - the juv SPOONBILL, 1 CATTLE EGRET , 3 LITTLE EGRET, A M TUFTED DUCK WAS ONLY THE 3RD RECORD THIS YEAR , 55 WIGEON , 35 TEAL , 1 LITTLE GREBE , 11 BLACK T GODWIT , 1 DUNLIN , 1 LAPWING , 18 SNIPE , Amongst the flock of GULLS - 4COMMON GULL , 2 MED GULL 

At Huxton Cross -75+ FIELDFARE, 5 REDWING , 35 STARLING 

ERIC HAD 2 FIRECREST IN HIS garden 

CYPRUS UPDATE 2 TUES 4 DEC 

LOOKS LIKELY  THE TRIP TOTAL WILL  BE 78 -ADDED LITTLE OWL , LONG LEGGED BUZZARD , WHIMBREL , GOLDEN PLOVER, PEREGRINE .WHITE FRONTED GOOSE .

Couple of photos - SPUR WINGED PLOVER AT PAPHOS SEWAGE WORKS LATE TUES AND A MALE BLACK REDSTART THIS MORNING ALONG THE COAST PATH 

SUN 3 DEC - CYPRUS UPDATE 

Trip list up to 72 species - highlights - BLACK REDSTART, BLUE ROCK THRUSH, 30 CHUKER , WOODLARK , LOTS OF CRESTED AND SKYLARKS , BLACK FRANCOLIN , 5 RED THROATED PIPIT , AT PAPHOS SEWAGE WORKS 20 SPUR WINGED PLOVER 

ON Sat made the long trip up to the Larnaca region - about 200 miles , best days birding by far - 

on Oroklini Marsh - 50 FLAMINGO, 150 SHOVELER , 5 PINTAIL ,

2 SPUR WINGED PLOVER , 1 REDSHANK , 1M MARSH HARRIER , 

NEXT SITE - LARNACA SEWAGE POOLS -  1 DRIED OUT , THE OTHER FULL OF BIRDS - 1000 SHOVELER , 20 FERRUGINOUS DUCK ,

6 POCHARD , 2 WIGEON , 2M GADWALL , 2F PINTAIL , 10 TEAL ,

22 BLACK NECKED GREBE , 20 LITTLE GREBE , 25 LAPWING ,

1 CURLEW , 150 BLACK H GULL , 10 YELLOW L GULL 3 ARMENIAN GULL , 1F MARSH HARRIER .ON THE TELEGRAPH WIRE A LAUGHING DOVE , -

THEN ONTO THE LARNACA AIRPORT POOLS - 60 FLAMINGO , 70 SHELLDUCK , 100+ DUNLIN , 20 KENTISH PLOVER , 5 RINGED PLOVER , 5 REDSHANK , 50+ LITTLE STINT .

ON THE WAY BACK STOPPED OFF AT ZAKAKI MARSH - CAN NO LONGER SEE ANY OF THE LAKE DUE TO THE HEIGHT OF THE REEDS , 

1 EACH OF LITTLE AND CATTLE EGRET , 1SPARROWHAWK .

THIS MORNING A SHORT WALK OVER SCRUBLAND TO THE BRIDGE OVER A SMALL STREAM WITH DENSE REEDS - 2 LITTLE CRAKE ,

2 FAN T WARBLER , A BLACKBIRD , 2 TURNSTONE .

A FEW PHOTOS TAKEN WITH THE P900 POSTED BELOW