26th-31st December 2009

Have recently been at Earlswood every day as I try to get as many good sightings before the period that the Bird Report will cover is over (2000-09), but unfortunately I've not had much time to venture away from the vicinity of the lakes to the more underwatched areas. So here's sightings from the last six days of 2009 at the lakes, unless noted otherwise:

• 26th: 1 Common Gull, 7 Herring Gulls, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 6 Tufted Ducks, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Grey Wagtail all at Engine Pool. Dead Hedgehog along Norton Lane unusual given the time of year!
  
• 27th: A Water Rail, 3 Pochards, 12 Tufted Ducks, 2 Mute Swans, 1 Kingfisher and 13 Long-tailed Tits at Engine Pool. Kevin Bates also saw a few Redwings and Goldfinches around the lakes.
• 28th: 3 Shovelers and a Kingfisher at Engine Pool, plus 2 Mute Swans and 13 Tufted Ducks at Windmill Pool. Tony Philp also saw 2 Pochards. [I went with John Yardley to Holt Fleet in Worcestershire to see the Glossy Ibis - a brilliant bird that gave good views; we also saw a Green Sandpiper, a Water Rail and 2 Snipes there.]
  
• 29th: 2 Mute Swans, 9 Tufted Ducks and 3 Pied Wagtails at Engine Pool. Tony Philp also saw a Grey Wagtail at Windmill Pool; whilst another regular told me he'd seen 2 Pochards and a male Wigeon at the lakes earlier during the morning.
• 30th: After finishing my tetrad survey nearby for the bird atlas, heard a Raven over Fulford Heath, and saw a Goldcrest and a Coal Tit in New Fallings Coppice. There were 3 Mute Swans at Engine Pool, including a newly arrived first-winter. Totals of 9 Tufted Ducks, 2 Treecreepers (together) and 8 Redwings noted.
• 31st: A Kestrel (over), 3 Mute Swans still, 9 Tufted Ducks and 3 Pied Wagtails at Engine Pool. Kevin Bates also saw a Bullfinch.
  

May I take this opportunity to thank everyone who's sent sightings to me since I set this blog up; you know who you are. Have a happy New Year, and good birding for 2010.

M.P. Griffiths