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Brent Birders Monthly Bird Highlights

DECEMBER 2024

•  Barn Owl. Several sightings from Overbrent in early Dec.
•  Blackcap. One on feeder in Springfield Road, late Dec.
•  Firecrest. Seen and heard at Stidston on several dates.
•  Golden Plover. In Spurrell Cross to Three Barrows area, up to about 200 circling overhead on 16 Dec, with a       smaller number seen on the ground.
•  Goosander. Pair on R Avon at Brent Mill 13 Dec. Max of 26 (nine males) roosting at Avon Dam on 25 Dec. A         synchronized Devon roost count on 14 Dec found 132 (lower than in December in other recent years), of           which 40 were on Dartmoor, with 16 of these at the Avon Dam.
•  Fieldfare. Three, Forder Lane on 10 Dec, was the only record. Remains very scarce this autumn/winter.
•  Herring Gull. Max count (from photo) was at least 400 feeding in the barley field off Palstone Lane on 6 Dec     and resting on the Hope Wood site. None there on 17 Dec or subsequently, but small numbers persist on         village roofs and chimneys.
•  Little Grebe. Two at Somerswood Lakes on 16 Dec.
•  Mallard. Unusually, none on mid-month counts at either Avon Dam or Somerswood Lakes.
•  Mistle Thrush. One singing at Lutton on 6 Dec was the first.
•  Moorhen. Ten at Somerswood Lakes on 16 Dec.
•  Song Thrush. Widespread singing from 24 Dec on.
•  Skylark. About 50, seen in both cattle pasture and stubble on 8 & 10 Dec.
•  Snipe. One flushed from a field near Harbourneford Cross on 18 Dec.
•  Starling. About 100 between Harbourneford Cross and Marley on 8 Dec, but just two on 10th and none             subsequently; and none in Palstone barley field after 2 Dec.
•  Stonechat. Male in rough area of field below Lower Green off Palstone Lane on 12 Dec, but not                       subsequently.  Pair on Brent Hill.
•  Wigeon. Unusual absence at Somerswood Lakes (recorded there every winter since at least 2012).
•  Woodpigeon. Flock of about 200 in Palstone barley field on 17 Dec. None seen on 24th or subsequently.
•  Yellowhammer. Several still present in hedge in Palstone Lane on 2 & 17 Dec, but not subsequently.

JANUARY 2025
•  Barn Owl. Recorded from Charford and Overbrent on several occasions.
•  Blackbird. One singing off Hillside on 17 Jan, but none subsequently.
•  Blackcap. None for second consecutive winter in Brakefield garden, but singles in gardens at Clobells, Corn       Park and Moorland Park.
•  Cetti’s Warbler. One seen and heard at Palstone on 25 Jan. Only the second record for the parish – and             Dartmoor.
•  Chiffchaff. At least one on the sewage works filter bed on 9 Jan.
•  Cormorant. One in tree at Somerswood Lakes on 3 Jan.
•  Dipper. Recorded on the R Avon at Avonwick and in the village area, but not above Shipley.
•  Fieldfare. In fields with Redwing north of Aish Ridge on 20 Jan, and 150-200 there in mixed flock on 31 Jan,       but very scarce this autumn/winter.
•  Firecrest. One on sewage works filter bed on 9 Jan, with several Goldcrests. Continuous presence in woods       at Didworthy, and one in a Clobells garden on 26 Jan.
•  Golden Plover. Small numbers, with up to six on ground and 20 in flight, in Hickley Plain/Brent Fore Hill area     in early Jan, but there were 200, just outside the parish, on 31 Jan.
•  Goosander. Pair on R Avon at The Island on 21 Jan. A synchronized Devon roost count on 11 Jan found 179, of     which 51 were on Dartmoor, with 20 of these at the Avon Dam.
•  Great Black-backed Gull. One on dean lamb at Overbrent.
•  Greenfinch. Singing on and below Brent Hill on 25 Jan.
•  Kestrel. One seen on several occasions at Overbrent.
•  Little Grebe. Four at Somerswood Lakes on 3 Jan.
•  Mallard. None at Avon Dam, a few at Somerswood and elsewhere.
•  Meadow Pipit. Small flocks of about 10 seen on both Brent Hill and the field next to Headlands.
•  Shoveler. A male at Somerswood Lakes on 3 Jan. First for site and only the second parish record; a pair at         Avon Dam in Mar 1959 appears to be the only other record.
•  Snipe. Singles flushed from fields near Harbourneford Cross and Aish early Jan and two on Corringdon Ball       on 31 Jan.
•  Stonechat. Pair on Brent Hill until 15 Jan, and one below Glasscombe Corner on 31 Jan.
•  Wigeon. One female at Somerswood on 3 Jan with a few Mallard was the only record.
•  Woodcock. Records of singles from The Island, Didworthy and Glaze Valley.
•  Wren. Considered to be scarcer than usual.
•  Yellowhammer. Present at regular garden site in Didworthy but in reduced numbers.

OVERALL, 66 species were recorded during the month, slightly less than the average of 68.3 for January over the last 10 years
Records provided by Mark Bancroft, Nicky Cozens, Phil Dean, Paul Heatley, Sylvia & Pete Hamilton, Kerry Honnor, Mike Goss, Laurette Guest, Mike Ingram, John Luscombe, Dave MacDiarmid, Chris & Andy Morgan, Keith Male, Ken Neal, Richard Oram, Gaynor & Adrian Platt, Peter Reay, Graham Royle and Dave Scott.