Sussex and Weymouth (02-10 December 2025)

Tuesday 02 December 2025. Buckingham Park with Otis: 3 Jays, Goldcrest and Mistle Thrush. Adur: 54 Lapwing, 2 Grey and 3 Ringed Plover, Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 200+ Black-headed, 400+ Common and 300+ Herring Gulls.

Wednesday 03 December 2025. Sovereign Harbour: 5 Great Crested Grebes, single Common and Black Guillemots and 7 Red-throated (in a flock flying W) and a Great Northern Diver. West Rise Marsh: 20 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 3 Pochard 30 Tufted Duck, Water Rail in flight, 3 Common Snipe, Great Egret, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Stonechats, Water Pipit in flight and 8 Reed Buntings. Cuckmere Haven (disappointing gull roost): 2 Barnacle and 200+ Canada Geese, 150 Wigeon, 400+ Great and 20+ Lesser Black-backed, a probable adult Caspian and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls.

Black Guillemot in Sovereign Harbour

Great Northern Diver in Sovereign Harbour

presumed adult Caspian Gull based on white head, small dark eye, head shape, thin washed out bill, bulging breast and mantle colour. Despite watching it for half an hour or so its legs were not seen nor a good view of its primaries (although appears to have more white than black on p10) 

Thursday 04 December 2025. Buckingham Park with Megan and Otis: Mistle Thrush singing - very evocative.

Friday 05 December 2025. Journey to Weymouth with Megan and Otis: 4 Buzzards.

Saturday 06 December 2025. Weymouth (Rodwell/Sandsfoot/Nothe) with Megan and Otis: a Turnstone, 2 Great Northern Divers, Shag and Chiffchaff heard. Radipole with Megan and Otis: 58 Tufted Duck, 2 Water Rails heard, 70+ Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Cetti's and a Chiffchaff heard and 20 Goldfinches.

Sunday 07 December 2025. Lodmoor with Megan and Otis: 3 Shelduck, 5 Wigeon, male Gadwall, 15 Shoveler, 10 Teal, Water Rail (heard), 50 Lapwing, 40 Common Snipe, Great Egret, 2 Marsh Harriers,2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, Cetti's Warbler heard, 2 Greenfinches and 6 Goldfinches.

Monday 08 December 2025. Weymouth (Rodwell/Ferrybridge/Radipole) with Megan and Otis: 90 Brent Geese, 76 Tufted Duck, Water Rail heard, 310+ Mediterranean Gulls (170 Ferrybridge and 140+ Radipole), 3 Shag, Marsh Harrier (Radipole), 4 Cetti's Warblers (1 seen), 7 Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechats and a Grey Wagtail.

Tuesday 09 December 2025. Lodmoor: 6 Shelduck, 40 Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 20 Shoveler, 30 Teal, 50 Lapwing, 1100+ Golden Plover, 6 Turnstone, a Common Snipe, Cetti's Warbler heard, 2 Greenfinches and 6 Goldfinches. Radipole at dusk: 81 Tufted Duck, 195+ Mediterranean Gulls flying to roost in the bay and Cetti's Warbler heard.

part of the Golden Plover flock

Wednesday 10 December 2025. Weymouth Bay with Megan and Otis: Great Crested Grebe in the bay. Journey to Sussex: 2 Red Kites (Dorset) and 2 Buzzards (Sussex). Southwick Canal: Red-necked Grebe (too distant for photos), juvenile Shag (ditto), Kingfisher, male and female Peregrine and male and female Stonechat.