A frozen Fowlmere held 19 Teals on the mere, a good count for Fowlmere! Later, a ring-tail Hen Harrier was found hunting in the fields south of the reserve; a year tick and a new bird for Fowlmere.
A visit to Shepreth L-moor produced a single Snipe before I continued to Amwell. Here were four Shelducks, a single Little Egret, and a female Red-crested Pochard, another year-tick.
Finally, just outside of Foxton village on the Fowlmere road, a Barn Owl was seen, the last bird of the year.
Two Snipe were seen during a lunchtime break from work, as well as a large number (over three hundred?) of Tufted Duck.
A walk with the family late afternoon to try out Michelle’s and Sam’s new binoculars! Three Marsh Harriers, a Barn Owl, and a Woodcock were seen, as well as a Ross’s Goose (with Greylag Geese) and an obviously captive Trumpeter Swan.
Apart from a close views of a perched male Sparrowhawk, there was little of interest at Fowlmere. Shepreth produced between four and six flushed Snipes.
One Little Egret and around four-hundred Golden Plovers during a pre-dusk walk.
In the evening, the midnight mass Christmas Carols were heard from the church side of the garden whilst a Tawny Owl called from the other. As usual, it couldn’t be seen.
One Ring-necked Parakeet heard outside Loftus Road before the 3-2 win over Preston!
Wet and windy. Very little seen during quick circuit of Fowlmere; just five Teals (four male.)
Not much action in the morning at Fowlmere (apart from very large numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare), so went off to Reed for the last hour of the day. The Rough-legged Buzzard hadn’t been seen for a few hours but performed really well the moment I arrived and continued to do so until dusk. Three Common Buzzards seen as well, making a nice comparison, especially when one of them saw off the Rough-legged.