December

                           Total number of species for the year 175

22nd

After hearing from Ian at Sandwich Bay about the influx of Woodcocks, Phil and I

walked around the area and found only two, however we did have a count of 200 newly arrived Skylarks in the fields.

12th

I joined Gerald for a seawatch on Kingsdown Beach after he had called and said that he had just had 3 Little Auks. We stayed for about an hour and had

17 Red-throated Divers and 140 Auk sp. south and, flying north, 16 Shelducks, 11 Eiders, 12 Shovelers, 2 Pintails, 4 Curlews, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Purple Sandpiper and a Great Skua. Just as we were about to leave 4 Whooper Swans (new birds for the year) flew north making standing in a freezing north-easterly wind all worth while.

5th

A quick walk around the Paddock produced no birds so I decided to look in the Bay which was no better. The only notable birds were singles of Shag, Grey Wagtail and Black Redstart. There was however a large flock of mixed gulls that I scanned but found nothing interesting.......mind you are there any interesting gulls?.