Cold, misty, light airs - Final circuits of the year at Lade and the local farmland, respectively, produced three Goldeneyes on south lake and a pair of `cronking ` Ravens over Hope Lane in the fog. I finished what was my 20th year on the Marsh with 217 species, which is about average for me now; my best year being 236 species in 2015. The Eastern Bonelli`s Warbler in the Trapping Area was a new bird; albeit poor value as views were fleeting but thankfully it was fairly vocal. However, far more more satisfying were a pair of very obliging Purple Herons on Long Pits, a Fan-tailed Warbler at Galloways, a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Dungeness and a Red-footed Falcon, a Red-backed Shrike and a Black-winged Stilt on the reserve. The Scotney area on the return passage delivered Dotterel, American Golden Plover and a confiding Buff-breasted Sandpiper which was my candidate for Bird of the Year. I didn`t do much seawatching this year but did have a habit of jamming in on several good watches that afforded terrific close views of Sooty, Balearic and Manx Shearwaters from the fishing boats. Influxes of Cattle Egret and Glossy Ibis were also enjoyable, as were this months White-fronted and Tundra Bean Geese. On the debit side I failed to see Grey Partridge and Goosander for the first time whilst many of the sub-Saharan migrants were in poor numbers, particularly Tree Pipit and Redstart. On the plus side autumn Chiffchaffs streamed through in extraordinary numbers. Below are some of my favourite pics of 2025.
Happy New Year to one and all and here`s to a bird-rich 2026
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