The last birding day of the year for us was on the 30th. A succession of ilnesses and colds over the festive period had seriously curtailed our birding chances – which seems to happen every December. Be that as it may we managed to get out just before the close of the year but were rather put off our preferred plan on walking along the marshes by the heavy presence of Christmas dog walkers who were so loud and boisterous that it was no fun being in the middle of them. Instead we concentrated on the dog-free Burton Mere Wetlands.
Still recovering from a bad cold, this was a rare foray into the wide world. W ehad been here on the the 2nd of December and at WWT Martin Mere on the 4th but the intervening period was bad weather and colds. We didn’t see a great deal when we were out but it was good to at last get out into the fresh air.
Bird Sightings Burton Mere Wetlands 30th December 2018
| Pink-footed Goose | 20 |
| Greylag Goose | 4 |
| Canada Goose | 60 |
| Mute Swan | 40 |
| Black Swan | 2 |
| Common Shelduck | 4 |
| Gadwall | 4 |
| Mallard | 30 |
| Northern Shoveler | 8 |
| Common Teal | 50 |
| Common Pheasant | 1 |
| Little Egret | 1 |
| Eurasian Marsh Harrier | 1 |
| Common Coot | 2 |
| Northern Lapwing | 40 |
| Common Redshank | 10 |
| Eurasian Curlew | 14 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | 2 |
| Black-headed Gull | 10 |
| Common Kestrel | 1 |
| Eurasian Jay | 2 |
| Rook | 8 |
| Carrion Crow | 20 |
| Coal Tit | 1 |
| Great Tit | 6 |
| Eurasian Blue Tit | 6 |
| Eurasian Nuthatch | 1 |
| Eurasian Blackbird | 4 |
| Common Chaffinch | 10 |
| European Greenfinch | 20 |
| European Goldfinch | 12 |
Bird Sightings Parkgate 30th December 2018
| Pink-footed Goose | 200 |
| Canada Goose | 40 |
| Eurasian Wigeon | 8 |
| Grey Heron | 1 |
| Great Egret | 1 |
| Little Egret | 2 |
| Eurasian Marsh Harrier | 3 |
| Common Buzzard | 1 |
| Northern Lapwing | 1000 |
| Common Wood Pigeon | 4 |
| Eurasian Magpie | 4 |
| Carrion Crow | 2 |
| Long-tailed Tit | 8 |
| European Robin | 1 |
| Eurasian Blackbird | 2 |
| Common Starling | 8 |
| Meadow Pipit | 2 |
| Reed Bunting | 20 |