Those of you who are eagle eyed will be aware that the headings have been set up for 2023 

To everyone throughout

the world who logs on to the site a very Happy Christmas and an enjoyable start to the year listers on 1st January 

Keep safe , keep smiling and good health throughout 2023 

 - A monumental day in the history of this blog , on 24 Nov -

Achieved a total number of hits since I started it on 1 Jan 2012 of 

1, 000, 000 ( 1 million ) 

 in the first year 23,200 hits recorded, so far this year it is 107, 263

Thankyou to everyone who has visited the blog 

TUES 27 WED 

Probably the last post of 2022-

A cloudy morning with showers and a F7/8 SW wind 

Short Seawatch produced-

40 GANNET -NW, 25 RAZORMOT-SE, 1 GREAT N DIVER -NW, 2 KITTIWAKE, 6 SHAG 

On the rocks - 20 OYSTERCATCHER, 3 TURNSTONE.

'On South Huish Marsh-

90  WIGEON, 45 TEAL, 1 M SHOVELER, 3 MUTE SWAN, 7 MOORHEN, 1 HERON, 3 LITTLE EGRET, 40 CANADA GOOSE, 1 OYSTERCATCHER 

6 BLACK T GODWIT, 2 DUNLIN, 1 REDSHANK ( Irish Colour ringed )

1 SNIPE, 1 1W M BLACK REDSTART, 2 RAVEN, 1 WATER PIPIT, 

17 REDWING, 1 CHIFFY 

GULLS - 25 HERRING, 20 BLACK HEADED, 2 GREAT B B 

MON 26 DEC 

A nice sunny morning with just a light breeze. Spent part of the morning on the patio , recorded 28 species -

4 GREAT TIT, 4 BLUE TIT, 3 ROBIN, 8 HOUSE SPARROW, 1M 1F 

CIRL BUNTING, 3 BLACBIRD, 42 REDWING ( 1 flock of 35 ), 

2 DUNNOCK, 5 CHAFFINCH, , 1 GOLDFINCH, 1 GREENFINCH, 

3 PIED WAGTAIL, 1 F STONECHAT, 1 MIPIT., 1 SPRAWK, 3 BUZZARD, 1 CHIFFY, 1 WREN, 4 SNIPE, 1 HERON, 1 JAY, 

'Also not counted - MAGPIE, CROW, ROOK, JACDAW, WOOD PIGEON 

BLACK H GULL, HERRING GULL

SAT 24 DEC 

Reports received today -

Yarmer Beach -20 OYSTERCATCHER, 12 TURNSTONE, 5 RINGED PLOVER .

Gardens near South Milton Ley-

TAWNY OWL , BLACKCAP 

THURS 22 DEC 

Cloudy morning with rain, wind W F5 .

Offshore-poor due to limited visibility.

11 GANNET , 1 KITTIWAKE, 1 OYSTERCATCHER 

South Huish Marsh -

65 WIGEON, 45 TEAL, 1M SHOVELER, 12 MALLARD, 1 HERON, 

4 DUNLIN, 3 BLACK TAILED GODWIT, 12 SNIPE, 1 REDSHANK, 

5 OYSTERCATCHER , 1 MUTE SWAN 

GULLS - 85 BLACK HEADED, 5 MEDITERANEAN ( 4ad 1 1w) , 

2 COMMON , 10 HERRING.

Lanes - a flock of over 200 REDWING 

TUES 20 DEC 
A sunny morning with a W F4 breeze 

Short Seawatch from-.30-

7 GANNET- NW, 1 GREAT N DIVER -SE, 2 AD MED GULL-SE , 

1 PEREGRINE-SE 

South Huish Marsh -

55 WIGEON, 70 TEAL, 5 MALLARD, 1 M SHOVELER, 1 MUTE SWAN , 

35 CANADA GOOSE, 1 LITTLE EGRET, 1 HERON, 10 MOORHEN, 

1 WATER RAIL, 1 SNIPE, 1 REDSHANK, 1 BLACK TAILED GODWIT, 

3 DUNLIN, 10 OYSTERCATCHER 

GULLS - 10 BLACK HEADED, 5 HERRING, 1 LESSER B B.

Copse- 2 LONG T TIT, 4 CHIFFY, 2 STONECHAT, 4 CHAFFINCH, 

1 SONG THRUSH, 2 REDWING, 15 STARLING, 1 GREEN WOODY 

South Milton Ley - 

90 + REDWING, 2 MISTLE THRUSH, 2 LONG T TIT, 40+ CHIFFY

1 FIRECREST 

MON 19 DEC 

After a stormy and very wet &windy night managed to visit South 

Huish Marsh - no offshore watching due to poor visability 

Big difference to my visit last Friday all the frozen water had gone ducks had readily returned-

90 MALLARD, 100 + TEAL, 50 WIGEON, 1 M SHOVELER, 

4 BRENT GOOSE flew over , 2 LITTLE EGRET, 1 HERON , 18 MOORHEN.

WADERS - 110 LAPWING, 29 OYSTERCATCHER, 5 DUNLIN, 4 BLACK T GODWIT, 1 SNIPE , 2 REDSHANK ( ringed and unringed).

GULLS - 100+ BLACK HEADED, 3 AD MEDITERRANEAN, 80 HERRING

10 COMMON, 32 LESSER BLACK BACK , 6 GREAT BLACK BLACK.

1 AD YELLOW LEGGED .

On the beach - 3 TURNSTONE, 1 F BLACK REDSTART 

SUN 18 DEC 

Despitr the driving rain Richie made the trip to South Huish Marsh 

2 BLACK TAILED GODWIT , 6 DUNLIN., WIGEON, TEAL, A photo mor 3 GULLS on the Marsh were - LESSER B B GULL, HERRING GULL AND AN ADULT YELLOW LEGGED GULL , many MIPIT 

SAT 17 DEC 

South Huish Marsh report - WATER PIPIT, 2 CATTLE EGRET .

Thurlestone Garden - 10 REDWING, 1 F BLACK REDSTART, 1 MISTLE THRUSH.

Report from South Milton Ley-

Fieldfare, REDWING, MISTLE THRUSH, 4 LSPWING, GOLD CREST. FIRECREST, many CHIFFCHAFF, FIELDFARE 

FRI 16 DEC 

THE SPELL OF VERY COLD WEATHER CONTINUES ,.Although a sunny and calm morning the Marsh was 100% frozen - some evidence of cold weather movement .

3 WIGEON & 15 TEAL on the ice . 
'Waders - LAPWING -41 ( 32 flew in off the sea , another 9 in the fields ) 70 + GOLDEN PLOVER ( feeding in the fields ), 24 SNIPE 

( also feeding in the fields ) 1 HERON , 2 LITTLE EGRET, 35 CANADA GOOSE, 1 MUTE SWAN, 40 STARLING, 3 STONECHAT, 5 STOCK DOVE, 3 SONG THRUSH, 1 MISTLE THRUSH , 5 FIELDFARE.

Offshore 09.30-10.45 -

2 GANNET, 2 KITTIWAKE, 120 BLACK H GULL , 1 AD MED GULL, 

35 HERRING GULL, 4 GREAT BB GULL, 8 CORMORANT, 4 SHAG .

On the sea- 1 GREAT N DIVER, 1 RED T DIVER, 4 RAZORMOT, 

13 MALLARD, 1 SHELDUCK, 1 M WIGEON , 3 COMMON SCOTER.

On the rocks - 1 F TEAL, 9 TURNSTONE, 10 OYSTERCATCHER, 

4 RINGED PLOVER, 2 REDSHANK .

IN the lanes -12 REDWING, 6 BLACKBIRD, 1 JAY, 1 SPRAWK

Report from South Milton Ley- 

1 GREY WAGTAIL, 2 BULLFINCH, 2 LAPWING, 12-20 TEAL 
 

WED 14 DEC 

Another light snowfall o/night , still very cold & cloudy , wind F4 E

Garden watch for an hour from 09.20 , 21 species logged inc 

2 SONG THRUSH, 1 BLACKBIRD , 5 HERRING GULL, 10 BLACK H GULL, 1 HERON, 1 DUNNOCK, GREENFINCH, BLUE& GREAT TIT , 

KESTREL, LITTLE EGRET, 3 GANNET 

Short visit to S M Ley - 40 + REDWING, 5 BLACKBIRD, 3 SONG THRUSH, 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 12 CHIFFY, 1 GREY WAGTAIL, 8 CHAFFINCH, WREN

TUES 13 DEC 

Light covering of snow o/night , cloudy morning with a F4 E wind .

Along the lanes - 1 M BULLFINCH, 1 GREY WAGTAIL 

South Huish Marsh - still 90% frozen - evidence of cold weather 

movement .

32 WIGEON, 36 TEAL, 5 MALLARD, 1 MUTE SWAN, 37 CANADA GOOSE, 1 HERON .

'Waders - 3. DUNLIN. ,6 OYSTERCATCHER, 100 LAPWING (briefly )

Yesterday a report of 15 GOLDEN PLOVER ( 185 ) 

6 BLACK H GULL, 1 COMMON GULL., 1 GREAT SP WOODY, 1 RAVEN, 

GREENFINCH, CHAFFINCH, GOLDFINCH 

Offshore - 

100+ GANNET, 27 WIGEON, 8 SHAG, 5 CORMORANT, 1 GREAT N DIVER ( on sea ), 100 BLACK H GULL, 140 HERRING GULL, 

8 KITTIWAKE, 5 GREAT B B  GULL.2 RAZORBILL, 2 RED B MERGANSER-NW (186 )

On beach/rocks- 21 OYSTERCATCHER, 16 TURNSTONE, 4 DUNLIN, 

1 REDSHANK ( Colour ringed )20 ROCK PIPIT, 3 STONECHAT

MON 12 DEC

Cold spell continues but no big influx of birds .

During my time away reports received of 

South Milton Ley- CETTIS WARBLER, GREEN WOODPECKER, 

WATER RAIL, , SIBERIAN CHIFFY .

AT South Huish Marsh - GREAT WHITE EGRET -over, 1 WATER PIPIT .

Some work been undertaken at the Marsh- exit flow pipe now installed . Also changes to the island - 

MON 5 DEC 

Another cold cloudy morning only a light ENE breeze 
 

Seawatch from car park 09.20- 10.40 

62 GANNET , 3 KITTIWAKE, 2 GREAT N DIVER -on sea together , 

140 RAZORMOT- those that could be identied on the sea were 

RAZORBILL 

In the lanes a mixed flock of 20 + FIELDFARE & REDWING.

'Away until late Sun evening , so next post will be Mon 12 DEC .

Hopefully the forecast cold spell might bring in more duck and possibly some Geese 

Cotractors on site this morning starting to work on the replacement mash outflow pipe 

SUN 4 DEC 

Cold cloudy with light drizzle, wind E F4

Seawatch from car park 09.40-11.05 

135 GANNET ( largest flock 46 ) , 20 KITTIWAKE, 3 GREAT B B GULL

GREAT N DIVER - 1 SE @09.50, 1 NW @ 10.20 , 1 on sea off Yarmer Beach @11.00 ( probably same bird ) .4 WIGEON -on sea , 

2 COMMON SCOTER-SE, 2 BRENT GOOSE- SE@ 10.25 , 2 RAZORMOT.

On rocks - 5 OYSTERCATCHER, 1 HERON , 1 LITTLE EGRET.

At Aveton Gifford- 1 BLACK REDSTART, 1 REED BUNTING.

THURS 1 DEC

A fine sunny if cool start to the last month of the year .

On South Huish Marsh-

51 WIGEON, 60 TEAL, 1 M SHOVELER, 29 MALLARD, 1 MUTE SWAN, 1 CANADA GOOSE, 6 MOORHEN, 1 REDSHANK ( Colour ringed) 

6 SNIPE, 20 OYSTERCATCHER, 85 BLACK HEADED GULL, 

2 AD 1 1W MED GULL, 5 HERRING GULL, 1 COMMON GULL , 

1 LITTLE EGRET, 1 HERON, 2 BUZZARD , 1 KESTREL, 1 CHIFFY, 

25 GREEFINCH, 3 GOLDFINCH, MIPIT, ROCK PIPIT, 2 STONECHAT.

AT South Milton Ley - 20+ CHIFFY, 3 CHAFFINCH, 7 GOLDCREST, 

5 BLUE TIT , 2 MISTLE THRUSH, 3 SONG THRUSH, 1 JAY, 1 GREY WAGTAIL, 1 PIED WAGTAIL, 1 GREAT SP WOODY 

On Yarmer Beach- 20 TURNSTONE, 13. OYSTERCATCHER, 1 RINGED PLOVER, 1 KITTIWAKE ( dead ) 

South Milton Garden at 04.00- TAWNY OWL, BARN OWL 

TUES 29 NOV .

Sunny periods with only a light breeze.

Offshore just 11 GANNET. 1 RAZORBILL - on sea . On rocks behind the flats a F BLACK REDSTART.

On South Huish Marsh -

47 TEAL, 42 WIGEON , 1 M SHOVELER, 16 MALLARD , 1 REDSHANK ( Colour ringed ) , 6 SNIPE, 4 LITTLE EGRET, 1 HERON, 2 CHIFFY, 

3 STONECHAT, 1 GREAT SP WOODY.

The high water level in South Milton Ley will fall considerably- 

the sandbar was breached at 12.00 by a digger 

Alan ringed52 new birds this morning at South Milton Ley-inc

CHIFFY.   1 FIRECREST, 1 BLACKCAP, 3 GOLDCREST. 3 CETTIS WARBLER 

MON 28 NOV 

Showers and sunny periods with a WNW F 4/5 wind .

Offshore - 16 GANNET-NW, 30 RAZORMOT-SE 

On South Huish Marsh -

44 WIGEON, 31 TEAL, 1 M SHOVELER, 18 MALLARD , 1 MUTE SWAN, 

1 HERON, 1 LITTLE EGRET., 21 OYSTERCATCHER, 1 GREENSHANK , 

1 REDSHANK ( Colour ringed bird still ) , 20 + ROCK PIPIT , 

30 GREENFINCH.

Near the footbridge- 1 BLACK REDSTART , also a dead 1W KITTIWAKE .

SUN 27 NOV 

Thurlestone- 1m BLACKCAP, 1 JAY

South Huish Marsh - PEREGRINE 

Aveton Gifford - 15 SISKIN, 1 F BLACK REDSTART, 1 BULLFINCH

FRI 25 NOV 

Only time for an hours seawatching from carpark .Sunny morning good viz wind W F4/5 

11 GANNET, 20 KITTIWAKE, 10 RAZORMOT, 1 RAZORBILL ( on sea) 

6 ad MED GULL 

In my garden 2 SONG THRUSH 

THURS 24 NOV 

Another day of cloud and heavy showers with a SW wind F 7 increasing to 8/9 in the squalls,poor visibility offshore 

Seawatch from 09.30 - 10.30

5 GANNET, 12 KITTIWAKE, 1 1W LITTLE GULL , 1 RAZORMOT-all SE.

On the rocks - 2 TURNSTONE, 4 OYSTERCATCHER, 1 LITTLE EGRET 

On South Huish Marsh 

35 WIGEON, 25 TEAL, 1M SHOVELER, 2 SNIPE, 1 REDSHANK 

GULLS -35 HERRING, 5 GREAT B B , 1 LESSER B B , 1 BLACK HEADED, 1 ad  KITTIWAKE 

WED 23 NOV 

On South Huish Marsh this morning, wind W 8/9 with heavy showers .

44 TEAL, 41 WIGEON, 1 M SHOVELER, 1 F MALLARD, 1 HERON, 1 MUTE SWAN, 1 WATER RAIL, 2 REDSHANK ( the colour ringed bird still present . Surprisingly no Gulls 

On beach 2 TURNSTONE,

Offshore a large feeding flock of over 400 GANNET & 200 KITTIWAKE 

The work to install the new outlet pipe started this morning, pipes are on site .

Richie has received confirmation the REDSHANK ringed NXN was ringed on 26 Oct 2022 at Rogerstown Est North County Dublin Ireland . Last seen there on 8 Nov 2022

TUES 22 NOV 

Cloudy , heavy rain up to 10.00, WNW wind gusting F10 .

First time I have not been able to access my seawatching site due to the strength of the wind 

On South Huish Marsh - 09.20-10.45

36 WIGEON, 50 TEAL, 12 MALLARD, 1 M SHOVELER, 6 MOORHEN, 

1 MUTE SWAN, 1 DUNLIN, 3 SNIPE , 1 HERON 

GULLS - 55 HERRING, 12 BLACK HEADED, 12 LESSER B B , 

14 GREAT B B , 1 KITTIWAKE, 1 1W COMMON, , 1 1W  MED 

At Aveton Gifford- 1 FBLACK REDSTART, 1 FIRECREST