The high pressure remained over the UK producing a week of mist but settled weather and for once very little wind. This made the conditions for sea watching perfect as the sea was like a mill pond for much of the week. Undoubtedly the highlight of the week was the appearance of 5 Long-Tailed Duck off Church Norton. First reported on the 25th (when only 4 were present) they have delighted many of our visitors throughout the week, still present offshore on the evening of 28th. This excellent record had a supporting cast of a wide range of sea birds as numbers increased through the week. With the first Slavonian Grebes arriving last week numbers soon start to increase with up to 26 on the sea by Wednesday many of them forming little flocks along the spit. The 2 Velvet Scoters from last week were joined by 3 others by the end of the week. All three species of diver have been recorded offshore through the week.
Another highlight was a brief appearance of a Black-Necked Grebe on the 24th-25th. This was a very obliging bird that spend the majority of it’s time fishing at the entrance of the harbour, giving exceptional views of a normally shy bird.
The warmer weather and the sun meant that even the butterflies and dragonflies were given a final opportunity of the year to grace the skies with their presence, with red admiral and common darters both on the wing on 26th.
As Christmas grow near and the evenings close in it is worth a walk down to the harbour in the evening as the sunsets. Many of the birds are taking a last opportunity to communicate with there neighbours. Down Long Pool up to 6 Water Rail are becoming more vocal being interrupted but the ping of a Bearded Tit. The finale just as the last light fades in the distance the calling Brents slowly gets louder as the sky is filled with many shadows as the various feeding flocks descend on the harbour for the night. The flock has now 2500 individuals a wonderful sight
.
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon