The Kenn Moor Snipe count on the 1st was a damp affair but thanks to the sharp eyes of Rowan and Milo we recorded 18 Snipe. Jon weighed in with a flock of 40 Meadow Pipits and I flushed a further dozen so a very high count. The regular Stonechat was also noted. The following day the Great White Egret was back by Wemberham Lane after a fortnight’s absence and the Peregrine was on what I hope is becoming its favourite pylon. Despite the gloomy weather, a Skylark was singing. Another Great Egret was watched and photographed by the river at the Millennium Green, Congresbury.
The Congresbury section of the Strawberry Line produced 29 species on the 4th, a fine sunny day. The following day saw more cloud and drizzle but a Mistle Thrush was a surprise singing next to Kenn Moor Reserve. The Peregrine was back on the same pylon on the 8th.
Congresbury Moor had a dozen Siskins, a singing Skylark, 70 Redwings and a Kestrel on the 9th. Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch were all singing as were at least four Song Thrushes. The second winter survey there on the 13th produced a pair of Goosander on the river and a small passage of Stock Doves heading south. There were lots of some of our common breeding species, 23 Blue Tits and 16 Robins for example and also 25 Blackbirds, although it is likely that some of these were winter visitors.
The passage of Stock Doves mentioned above is unusual and continued, small groups were heading south west on the 20th. The most likely reason is a shortage of food further north but at the time of writing I haven’t seen any notes about it generally. On the same overcast day Jon was undertaking some maintenance at Congresbury Moor and noted a Kingfisher, Little Egret, half a dozen Mallards, a few Redwings and a flock of 15 Chaffinches on or around the Reserve.
Marsh Tits were seen at Cadbury Hill and Goblin Combe with nine Goldcrests at the latter site. A pair of Kingfishers was on Wemberham Rhyne with a big flock of Starlings at least a thousand, nearby. The local Ravens were nest building (24th) near Kingston Seymour and a group of four Mistle Thrushes there was unusual. The huge Dunlin flock was still present on the estuary between Clevedon and Sand Bay, it was estimated at least 10,000 birds!
The 25th was sunny and warm and the Strawberry Line was full of song, notably from at least four Chaffinches. The local Ravens were calling and a Kingfisher was on New Rhyne. A Kestrel was on Congresbury Moor Reserve along with a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Reed Bunting nearby. The next day at least 15 Siskins visited a Congresbury garden and a flock of 30 Linnets and a Kingfisher were by the Little River, Yatton. At the month end the Snipe count on Congresbury Moor recorded 13 plus a Jack Snipe.
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