Jan 4th - my first visit to the patch this year (not very committed!) was a rather misty mid afternoon look at the gull roost.
There were plenty of gulls to look through - mainly Black-headed, but also good numbers of Common, Herring and LBBG. 28 GBBG was a fairly typical count at this time of year, mainly adult birds. I eventually picked out a nice 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull on the end of the near spit, but it was too murky for any sort of record shot. It had moulted a few of its lower scaps, which now showed a nice deep grey colour against the rest of the second gen feathers. There was also a whitish winged gull, but it was a leucistic BHG, showing a very pale brownish wash to what should have been black primaries.
All the usual duck were present in reasonable numbers: Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard and Tufted Ducks, along with a single male Shelduck. A lone Snipe joined the few Lapwing on the base of the spit and whilst watching this bird, 2 Chiffchaff made their way through the vegetation behind, often landing on the ground to pick off something or other to eat. A further Chiffchaff was calling near my position on the western viewpoint.
The usual Ring-necked Parakeets were flying around noisily and a couple of Red Kites and single Sparrowhawk flew over at dusk.
A single tit flock went through behind me and held Long-tails, Great and Blue plus a couple of Goldcrests, though I had been treated to the sight of the often elusive Coal Tit on my way in, as a bird has taken to feeding at the feeders of the cottages.
So a few good birds on my first foray and the year list moves on to 40.
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