Towards the end of December, just before Christmas, good wader watching on the Thames at and opposite Rainham Marshes RSPB including the Thamesmead Peninsula, London. About 450 or so Black-tailed Godwits are wintering and hosted a Bar-tailed Godwit (20th/21st). A colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit was present (20th) with a history of visiting the Thames Estuary since at least July 2021. A lone Ruff present in the area and 200 Dunlin noted on the 20th, over 1000 in the area this winter. Also seen were colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls (yellow 2HSX and 2PNF) ringed locally 10 years or so ago with the former being seen in Leipzig, Germany in June 2018. 9 Brent Geese flew downriver (21st), noteworthy.
As the year came to a close, back home the South Yorkshire moorland edge brought in several raptor sightings and Crossbills were seen on most dates. On the 26th at least 24 in 3 groups moved between the evergreens of neighbouring moorland reservoirs.
Twitched the Black-winged Kite in the Norfolk Broads at St Benet's Abbey. The location as famous for its history as for hosting this big rarity to Great Britain, though arguably rarity status should change in the years to come. Arrived just after 10.00am the morning after news broke late on Boxing Day. No sign, despondent birders and confusion. A bitingly cold northerly wind and grey clouds maybe not inviting but the ruins of the Abbey offered shelter from the wind. The cloud cover did offer fine visibility and up until lunch the birding was good. Red Kites, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier and Kestrels seen. All 3 Egret species noted, half a dozen Whooper Swans and not to forget the bugle-like call that signalled up to a dozen Cranes in the area. Of what was turning into the first push of cold weather movement of White-fronted Geese into Great Britain, several were present in a mixed goose flock by the car park. On leaving just after 1.30pm and passed birders further along the entrance road arriving towards the site, they were both in a hurry and had that focused look on their faces that screamed out that "something's turned up". Soon back on site to breaking news that the Black-winged Kite was on show. From out of nowhere there it was hovering into the wind about a distant hedgerow, an area we had all been staring at on and off that morning! Distant but fantastic views. Never thought I would see this species in Great Britain.
The late December cold weather movement of Geese must be responsible for bringing in the unringed immature White-tailed Eagle to Yorkshire's Lower Derwent Valley between York and Selby. Very good chance of it being a wild individual tgat would usually winter on the continent. Twitched it with my Dad (28th) and saw it again on the 31st, most of the time it was either out of sight or perched up on distant floodbank. Always great to see and when in fight it dwarfed the attentive Buzzard and Marsh Harrier. Pink-footed Geese and 50+ Whooper Swans at this extensive wetland. Good to catch up with birders not bumped into for a while, please check out Alan Whitehead's cracking blog with a focus on the Eagle sightings over the Christmas period.
On both visits after leaving the Eagle early afternoon ended the birding day at the extremes of the Humber estuary, namely east of Goole at Blacktoft Sands RSPB (28th) and near Spurn at The Outstrays Nature Reserve (31st).
Blacktoft Sands RSPB held 12+ Marsh Harriers patrolling the reedbeds in the hour or so before sunset joined by nice views of a ringtail Hen Harrier late on. Kingfisher seen and both Bearded Reedlings and Cetti's Warblers heard 'pinging' and scolding respectively from deep within the reeds.
The Outstrays Nature Reserve, constructed through developing the Humber shoreline south of Patrington. Lots of potential for good birding and surely to be a factored into a future visit to Spurn. The site may take off similarly to the introduction of Kilnsea Wetlands. From a screen a small an immature male Peregrine watched the shore sat atop a snag, leaving only to take issue with a male Hen Harrier flying by, and a ringtail seen later over the shoreline as was a Barn Owl on looking back 'inland'. In fields to the north of the saltmarsh a group of 40 White-fronted Geese were present, and separately over 200 Brent Geese fed nearby. A selection of waders fed on the mudflats.
Old Moor RSPB, Barnsley, South Yorkshire held Goosanders and Marsh Harriers as one year ended and another started, plus 2 Red Kites drifting over the reserve on the penultimate day of 2025 were great to see. The site served as a late afternoon gull roost throughout and in early January 3 Caspian Gulls present on The Mere, 2x yellow colour-ringed 1st winters of clearly differing sizes and an adult. The colour-ringed Gulls too distant to read their combination, but a Cormorant with an orange colour-ring (442) was ringed in Cheshire in 2025 (per GL).
Back on the moors a male Merlin was a nice surprise on New Year's Day, it tried without success to disguise its flight to a flock of Goldfinches, and left swiftly and disappointed as the finches dispersed. At the turn of the year attention turns to movements of Pink-footed Geese across South Yorkshire, but this time additional focus was on the cold weather movement of White-fronted Geese. We were lucky to see the flock of 9 White-fronted Geese in the Scout Dike area do a couple of circuits of the reservoir before flying east (3rd).
Into the New Year and at Rainham Marshes RSPB a Jack Snipe showed reasonably well (17th), a date that saw 3 Corn Buntings along the landfill fenceline with 50 of the wintering Avocets in nearby Aveley Bay. However, the highlight were the single flock of approximately 50 White-fronted Geese in flight, calling as they headed east late morning over the reserve's northern boardwalk. Wintering Rock Pipits on the Thames shore this day and the next when Peregrine and Yellow-legged Gulls (1st winter and 2nd winter) seen about the Thamesmead Peninsula. The following Saturday (24th) produced 2 Brent Geese flying past Rainham Marshes RSPB, continuing Rock Pipits, Ruff and 2 each of Red Kite and Raven.
End of January (31st) visit to RSPB Wallasea Island found towards the Essex coast. The reserve developed from the excavations from the Crossrail project (Elizabeth Line). The visit chosen to coincide with a morning rising tide. Not only an excellent site for waders pushed in by the tide, good for wintering raptors.
Raptors - A Short-eared Owl was hunting close to the car park on arriving, Barn Owl seen from here at distance shortly afterwards, then a prolonged view of a ringtail Hen Harrier flying below the river wall. Several more sightings of presumably the same ringtail throughout the day plus brief views of an adult male Hen Harrier causing ducks to flush at the back of the reserve. A perched up adult female Peregrine surveyed all from the ground, whereas a small male Peregrine inspected the reserve from up high. Marsh Harriers, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk and Kestrels seen with a Merlin in a hurry seen from the car park heading towards the river before leaving the site.
Wildfowl - 100 or so Brent Geese in the area and 4 White-fronted Geese noted as well as the regular Canada and Greylag Geese. 4 Barnacle Geese presumed to be Category C types. Nice selection and views of dabbling Ducks and a female/immature Red-breasted Merganser showed from a hide, though it was busy feeding during our visit.
Waders - at least 10 species seen, Golden Plovers into the 1000s ever spooked over the grasslands. About 100 Grey Plovers on the estuary mud where 100s of Knots if not more were ever restless on the incoming tide. Here 200 Bar-tailed Godwits noted and about 300 Black-tailed Godwits were on the reserve's main pool. Redshanks commonly seen and 2+ wintering Greenshanks nice to see.
Others - Cormorants, Grey Herons, Little Egrets, a lone Great White Egret and 2 sleeping Spoonbills added to the variety, not to forget Kingfisher and several Corn Buntings.
February and a 1st winter Caspian Gull showed well at Wansted's Jubilee pond, and on the same date (8th) a pair of Egyptian Geese swam across a nearby pond with several small goslings. The warm weather for this date may have contributed to a Green Woodpecker to 'yaffle' and singing Chiffchaff. Visits to Rainham Marshes RSPB later in the month produced another 3 White-fronted Geese, 5 Water Pipits and continuing Rock Pipits.
