31st December 2008

(8.30am - 2.30pm)

Highlights:

Water Rail, Bullfinch and Kingfisher - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake

Sparrowhawk - Pillinge

c.10 Siskins and Yellow-legged Gull - Scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake

Scaup, Grey Wagtail, Redshank and Mink - Sailing club corner of Stewartby Lake

Song Thrush - Sewage works

Mink - Sailing club corner of Stewartby Lake

Siskin - Scrapyard corner of Sewartby Lake

Adul Yellow-legged Gull - Scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake.

30th December 2008

(9am - 1.30pm and 3.30 - 4.30pm)

Highlights:

2 Water Rail, Kingfisher, Bullfinch and Chiff-chaff around Marston corner of Stewartby Lake

c10 Siskin - Sewage works plantation

Bullfinch, Redshank and 3+ Shoveler - Pillinge

Sparrowhawk - near visitors centre

Water Rail -Marston corner of Stewartby Lake
Kingfisher -Marston corner of Stewartby Lake Bullfinch - Sewage works plantation
Little grebe - Pillinge

29th December 2008

(8.05am - 1pm and 3pm- 4.15pm)
Highlights:
Scrapyard corner:
Leucistic Herring Gull

Sailing Club railings to sluice:
Scaup, Redshank on main slipway and Grey Wagtail

Pillinge
2 Snipe on small pond near Pillinge. Usual ducks and several Bullfinch around Pillinge

Gull roost: (3pm -4.15pm)
Adult Mediteranean Gull - found by Keith Owen
Leucistic Herring Gull - scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake in morning
Scaup - still by Stewartby Lake sailing club

Grey Wagtail - also not far from Stewartby Lake sailing club

One of 2 Snipe seen to fly up from a small pond near the Pillinge.

28th December 2008

3.30-4.30pm - Gullwatch
Highlights:

A small "Black-headed Gull-type" gull seen briefly in the roost, approx 80-85% the size of the nearby BH Gulls. Not seen well or long enough to be sure of ID...

27th December 2008

7.55 - 11am
(Guided walk)
Redwing, Song Thrush and 2 Yellowhammers in car park and Siskin flew over (8am)
Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers near Stewartby Lake
2 Snipe flew from small pond near bramble meadow
2 Barn Owls, Sparrowhawk and 1 Redshank - Pillinge

Redwing - visitors centre overflow carpark

One of 2 Barn Owls near Pillinge

26th December 2008

(10am - 12.30pm)
Millbrook Station - Pillinge - Gullwatch
(Highlights)
Drake Scaup still near Stewartby Lake sailing club (12 noon) viewed from gullwatch Kingfisher Marston corner of Stewartby Lake
Jay - near visitors centre

25th December 2008

(8.20 - 9am)

Highlights:

1 drake Scaup - seen within about 30-50m of the bank from near the Stewartby Lake sailing clubhouse. The Scaup was with a group of Coots, Gadwall and Tufted Duck. Also present was a Pied Wagtail.

Drake Scaup - photo taken with digital SLR in poorish light, hopefully it will stay around long enough to get photos in better light...

24th December 2008

(9am - 4.30pm)
Highlights
1 Siskin flew over calling near visitors centre
Kestrel - over boardwalk near visitors centre
Buzzard - flew over visitors centre
3+ Bullfinch - near Wetland 3
Scaup - near clubhouse - seen distantly from gullwatch about 3.30pm
Adult Mediterranean Gull, 1st/2nd winter Caspian Gull and leucistic Herring Gull - in gull roost
Long-tailed Tit - by boardwalk near visitors centreGoldcrest - sewage works
Reed Bunting - Wetland 3 hide

Common Buzzard - visitors centre

Chinese Water Deer - from Jubilee Cottages lookout Robin - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake

23rd December 2008

(8.50am - 4.30pm)

Highlights:

10+ Siskins in Alders near scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake - from 9.30 to 10.30am at least (no sign of any Redpolls)

Water Rail - Seen from Wetland 3 hide (about 1.30pm)

Chinese Water Deer - Long Meadow
Kittiwake - adult in roost - (found by Keith Owen)

Chinese Water Deer - Long Meadow Siskin- near scrapyard corner
Wigeon - Pillinge

Partial albino Moorhen - Wetland 3

22nd December 2008

(8.40am - 2.50pm)
Highlights
1+ Chiffchaff and 2+ Goldcrests - Sewage works

Goldcrest - Sewage works Canada Geese and Feral Goose - Near visitors centre Shoveler - Wetland 3 (Digiscoped from hide in poor light at full Nikon Coolpix zoom)
Teal - Wetland 3Tufted Duck - Pillinge

21st December 2008

9am - 3.30pm
Highlights:
Scaup - Stewartby Lake - 9am only
Sparrohawk & 3 Redshank - Pillinge
Yellow-legged Gull - Stewartby Lake (in roost)

The Cormorant and Lapwing photos below were digiscoped using my new Nikon ED50 with 27x Wide-angle DS lens in bright but windy conditions...
Goldifinch - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake

Lapwing - Pillinge - digiscoped at full (non-digital) zoom on my Nikon 4500 Coolpix + ED50 scope.

Cormorants - Pillinge (Digiscoped)