The first real frost of the winter hit the ground (and our cars) hard as crisp and crunchy footsteps broke the silence of a still calm morning. It was once again great conditions for Wood Pigeons as more began to move north in good numbers with 17,785 passing over Lytchett Bay in just 40 minuets. Spoonbills are now focusing on new feeding areas on the low tides with 2 in Lytchett Bay and 9 in Holes Bay often giving incredible views of down to 10 meters, especially by the outflow channel in Holes Bay north. Up at Gleblands, small numbers of finches were moving but it seems a Woodlark is over wintering somewhere with one calling from the ploughed Ballard fields and a Marsh Tit was in scrub at the entrance gate to Glebelands. There were also 2 Marsh Tit at Holton Lee. Off Middle Beach there were 12 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver and 2 Common Scoter. Out in central harbour, viewed from Shipstal Point, Arne the evening duck/grebe roost consisted of of over 100 Red-breasted Merganser, c50 Great Crested Grebe, c20 Goldeneye and a Great Northern Diver.      

  Spoonbill – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam