December

If November had been unusually dry (under 4" of rain in Moretonhampstead: and in the three months of September, October and November half the average we usually get), December has been somwhat wetter, including a very damp day at Roadford, when I realised that my Barbour jacket is no longer waterproof. The opportunities for watching birds have been few and far between, with our outings being mainly walking, not birding; although the month began with a fabulous day at Dawlish (and a memo to myself to remember to take our coffee to the hide: see my post "Nature's Fireworks" on http://blog.crosstreeparents.eu/2007/12/natures-fireworks.html )

Saturday 1 December Sun and rain

Dawlish Warren (11.00 - 14.00): off the beach, Common Scoters and a Slavonian Grebe; in the trees and bushes, Goldfinches and from the hide, Oystercatchers, Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers, Sanderlings, Dunlin, Turnstones, Brent Geese, Curlew, Egret, Shelduck, Pochard, Great Black Backed, Herring and Common Gulls, Shags
Cockwood: Canada Geese, Lapwings
Powderham (Estuary by the church): Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Widgeon, Goosanders
On the way there and back: Buzzard, Little Egrets (3 and 1), Kestrel

Saturday 8 December High wind and heavy squally showers; dark early

Roadford (10.30 - 14.00): Snipe, Woodcock

Sunday 16 December Grey and cold

Teign Valley, Clifford Bridge to Fingle (11.30 - 13.30): Dippers (3), Grey Wagtail (2), Heron (2). On the way back over Mardon Down, Fieldfares and Starlings in the hedgerows

Wednesday 19 December Bright and cold

Blewbury (10.30): Red Kite just on the outskirts of the village. Red Kites were re-introduced on the Chilterns Scarp some 20 or so years ago. When we first looked for them, 11 years ago, I remember being very excited at seeing them in the distance over Swincombe Down. Now they are a common sight in this part of the world, but I had not seen one quite so far over towards the Downs.

Sunday 23 December Damp and cold, brightening later

Hennock Reservoirs (14.00 - 16.30): Mallard and singleton Pochard on Trenchford, Shag on Kennick, Greenfinches in the treetops and later in the rhodedendron bushes along the path on the southern side of Tottiford, Pied Wagtails along the Trenchford Dam

Thursday 27 December Wind and low cloud, rain later

North from Two Bridges (11.00 - 16.00): the (very) occasional Skylark, 20+ Plover north of Lower White Tor

Saturday 29 December Bright and windy

Hennock Reservoirs (14.00 - 16.00): Goosanders (two pairs and a singleton m.) on Trenchford, Tufted Duck (14) on Kennick and a pair of Shag, Greenfinches in the treetops and Pied Wagtails on the mud of Tottiford and the Trenchford Dam, Sparrowhawk in the air over Trenchford as the light was lost and a Buzzard. Several pairs of Crows