My first visit of the year to the Nethergong and Chislet Marshes area on the 4th January from 7am for a few hours in cloudy conditions produced 47 species. Birds of note included 7 Gadwall, 1 Water Rail, 4 Golden Plover, 1 Jack Snipe flushed from the wet fields along with 5 Snipe. There were 566 Cormorant, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Tawny Owl, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 1 Raven, 1 Chiffchaff, my first ever in January here, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Fieldfare, 4 Stonechat, 22 Meadow Pipit, 8 Chaffinch, 1 Corn Bunting and 2 Reed Bunting. 

With the year drawing to a close, I thought I would share some highlights from the year and some stats. Pending any new birds in the next week, the year list made it to an excellent 132 species, which includes birds seen, heard and recorded during 'nocmig' sessions at night. I consider reaching 120 species at year here good, 125, very good and beyond 130 species, excellent. There were six new patch birds seen this year which included Wood Warbler, Garganey, Rock Pipit, Pink footed Goose, Egyptian Goose and Barnacle Goose which takes my personal Nethergong list to 154 species which does not include birds recorded at night. I made 105 visits throughout the year and recorded the following times during the months for 'Nocmig'. The 'first of the year' noted in brackets.

January     7                (White fronted Geese)

February   14               (Long eared Owl, Little Grebe)

March       22               (Avocet, Wigeon, Brent Geese, Common Scoter, Bittern)

April         13               

May         13

June         1

July         11               (Oystercatcher)

August    10

September    5

October       11

November   4

December   3

Although the early part of the year up until March was quite productive, it was generally a poor year for recording species at night in the area. This could be down to a number of factors including poor equipment (hopefully an upgrade to come soon) choice of locations recording, weather patterns and lack of birds generally moving. I would have expected to pick up a few more waders at night throughout the year including Redshank, Greenshank etc. Hopefully next year will prove a little better on this front. 

It was also great this year to observe and photograph a Beaver on the site which made the owners, Jed and Christine very happy. Add to this, a good range of dragonfly, damselfly and butterfly species noted and this area continues to produce some outstanding wildlife experiences. I have extended the boundary of the patch a little to include the southern end of Chislet Marshes from Chitty Lane and I hope that a few more species will be able to be seen throughout the year. 

Overall, it's been another brilliant year. I think finding a Wood Warbler on my birthday was probably my highlight and just goes to show with perseverance and knowing your patch, what can turn up. I just wonder what was missed also. I'm sure there are still more birds to be seen and found here and no doubt, 2025 will deliver some ornithological surprises. Many thanks as ever to Jed and Christine for allowing me access to bird the Nethergong campsite. That just leaves me to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a bird filled New Year. 

Garganey 

Tree Pipit

Wood Warbler (It's in there)

Firecrest

Birding Saturday morning in quite cloudy conditions from first light produced 1 Woodcock into roost at 06:48, 9 Pink footed Geese flying fields to the south, 3 Water Rail, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 19 Black headed Gull, 7 Common Gull, 188 Herring Gull, c425 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Barn Owl, 1 Kingfisher and 2 Great spotted Woodpecker. The highlight of the morning was seeing 2 Little Grebe along the Penn. In eight years of watching the area, I record them every year migrating over at night but have only ever seen one so to see two today was quite a bonus. There were 3 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Raven, 1 Skylark, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Mistle Thrush, 8 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 1 Stonechat, 3 Pied Wagtail, 6 Meadow Pipit, 1 Brambling, 2 Bullfinch, 7 Linnet and 4 Reed Bunting. A visit this morning in cloudy conditions with a slowly strengthening wind from first light produced 1 calling Little Owl, 32 Greylag Geese, 52 Mute Swan, 1 Water Rail, 23 Moorhen, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Grebe, 267 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 119 Rook, 2 Raven, 5 Skylark, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 4 Stonechat, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer and 1 Reed Bunting.  

Green Sandpiper

Little Grebe