December 31st

The year ended cold and sunny and this morning Derek Smith walked from Shuart, along the embankment and back by way of Coldharbour, Brooksend and Netherhale. In four hours he recorded 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Little Grebes, 5 Grey Herons, 12 Little Egrets, 500+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Tundra Bean Geese, 2 Common Buzzards, 5 Kestrels, 1 Peregrine, 2 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 35 Redshank, 93 Golden Plovers, 70 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 14 Curlew, 26 Stock Doves, 55 Blackbirds, 40 Fieldfares, 15 Redwings, 14 Song Thrushes, 5 Stonechats, 12 Robins, 65 Chaffinches, 8 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Goldcrests.