I
booked a rental car from 13th to 16th December 2025 for a trip away
from home to include visits to various sites in Essex, Suffolk and
Norfolk.
This
was my last trip of the year and my main aim was to add species to my
2025 UK year list before the year end.
However,
the main highlight was my first record anywhere of Siberian Chiffchaff, a
single bird seen at RSPB Titchwell,
taking my UK life list to 356 species.
I
was also successful in adding 7 species to my 2025 UK year
list taking the final total for the year to 197 species: Scaup,
Water Rail, Hen Harrier, Grey Partridge, Bullfinch,
Marsh Tit, Snow Bunting
13th
December 2025
– EWT Abberton Reservoir, Essex
The
huge expanse of EWT
Abberton Reservoir just south of Colchester in Essex is one of
Europe's top wetland sites. It is of international importance as a safe haven
for wild ducks, swans and other water birds, whether resident, passing through
on migration or over-wintering.
Addition to 2025 UK year list: Scaup
The
highlights during an excellent visit were as follows: Scaup (1
male and 3 females), Teal (at least 500), Wigeon (at least 200), Tufted
Duck (at least 200), Common Pochard (at least 100), Shoveler (at
least 100), Gadwall (at least 100), Goosander (c.60), Pintail (c.50),
Mallard (c.25), Goldeneye (c.20), Lapwing (c.30), Common
Redshank (2), Ruff (1), Black-throated Diver (1), Slavonian
Grebe (2), Black-necked Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe (at
least 200), Mute Swan (c.35), Canada Goose (c.50), Egyptian
Goose (7), Greylag Goose (5), Great White Egret (7), Little
Egret (7), Grey Heron (4), Cormorant (at least 200), Coot (at
least 500), Linnet (c.150), Reed Bunting (1)
13th December 2025 – Copt Hall Marshes
Copt Hall Marshes is located on the Blackwater Estuary
near Little Wigborough in Essex.
I
visited this site for the last 1.5 hours of daylight hoping to add Hen Harrier
to my 2025 UK year list.
Addition to 2025 UK year list: Hen Harrier
The
highlights during my visit were as follows: Hen Harrier (1 “ring-tail”
female), Barn Owl (1), Common Buzzard (1), Curlew (1), Fieldfare (c.50)
14th December 2025 – Flitcham-Anmer-Sherborne area, Norfolk
In the past, this area has been productive for farmland birds, most notably Grey Partridge which was my main target even though I had failed to record it during any visits in 2024 and in 2025 to date.
En-route to Flitcham, I saw 3 Red Kites at Hillington.
After much slow driving along the narrow lanes starting in Flitcham, I finally found a group of 6 Grey Partridge.
Addition to 2025 UK year list: Grey Partridge
The highlights during my visit were as follows: Grey Partridge (6), Red Kite (3), Common Buzzard (3), Kestrel (2), Fieldfare (c.20), Redwing (c.20), Brown Hare (6), Chinese Water Deer (1)
Photo: Grey Partridges
Photo: Grey Partridges
Photo: Red Kite
Photo: Brown Hares
Photo: Brown Hares14th December 2025 – Sculthorpe Moor, Norfolk
Sculthorpe Moor is owned and managed by the Hawk and Owl Trust and is located in the valley of the River Wensum just west of Fakenham. Its habitats include a rich mosaic of woodland, fens and reedbeds and there are several hides and viewing platforms accessed by a network of trails.
A number of bird feeders provide exceptional views and easy photo opportunities of common garden and woodland species, including some that are difficult to find and see well elsewhere, most notably Bullfinches and Marsh Tits.Additions to 2025 UK year list: Bullfinch, Marsh Tit, Water Rail
The highlights during my visit to this excellent site were as follows: Bullfinch
(1
male), Marsh Tit (5), Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit (c.20), Great
Tit (c.20), Long-tailed Tit (c.10), Nuthatch (1), Fieldfare (c.30), Redwing
(5), Greenfinch (c.10), Chaffinch (c.10), Goldcrest (heard
only), Red Kite (3), Common Buzzard (1), Tawny Owl (1),
Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only), Stock Dove (heard only), Kingfisher
(1), Great White Egret (1), Water Rail (heard only),
Mute Swan (2), Gadwall (8), Mallard (3), Shoveler
(1), Egyptian Goose (2), Grey Squirrel (9)
Photo: Sculthorpe Moor
Photo: male Bullfinch
Photo: Marsh Tit
Photo: Marsh Tit
Photo: Nuthatch
RSPB Titchwell is one of my most visited locations on the north Norfolk coast and it is a very productive site at any time of the year due to the mosaic of habitats including reedbeds, freshwater and saline lagoons, saltmarsh, sandy and shingle foreshore, sand dunes, woodland and grassland. It is an excellent site for breeding birds, passage migrants and winter visitors.The highlights during my late afternoon visit to this site were as follows (visitor centre to freshmarsh only): Chiffchaff (2),
Firecrest (1),
Goldcrest (2),
Marsh
Harrier (11 coming to roost),
Red Kite (1),
Pink-footed Goose
(at least 1000 flying over),
Lapwing (at least 200),
Golden Plover
(at least 200),
Teal (c.50),
Mallard (c.50),
Shoveler
(c.20),
Gadwall (c.10),
Shelduck (3),
Wigeon (2),
Pintail
(2),
Curlew (1),
Little Egret (1),
Cormorant (1),
Black-headed
Gull (at least 100),
Herring Gull (c.20),
Common Gull (1),
Chinese
Water Deer (1)
Photo: Pink-footed Geese
Photo: Lapwings
Photo: Black-headed Gull
Photo: male Pintail
Photo: male Teal and male Pintail
Photo: male Gadwall
15th December 2025 – RSPB Titchwell, Norfolk
Addition to UK life list: Siberian Chiffchaff
The highlights during my full morning visit to this site were as follows: Dark-bellied
Brent Goose
(at least 400), Pink-footed Goose (c.10), Oystercatcher (at least 100 on the shoreline), Sanderling
(at least 20 on the shoreline), Bar-tailed Godwit (at least 20 on the shoreline),
Grey Plover (2 on the shoreline), Common Redshank (10), Avocet
(4), Black-tailed Godwit (4), Curlew (1), Wigeon (at least
200), Tufted Duck (c.25), Teal (c.10), Shelduck (c.10), Mallard
(c.10), Shoveler (c.10), Common Pochard (2), Water Rail
(1), Great White Egret (1), Little Egret (4), Cormorant
(4), Red Kite (2 over the A149 by the reserve entrance and 2 over the
reserve), Siberian Chiffchaff (1), Chiffchaff
(2), Firecrest (1), Goldcrest (1), Goldfinch (c.100), Atlantic
Grey Seal (1 offshore), Reeves’ Muntjac (1), Grey Squirrel
(1)
Photo: Pink-footed Geese
Photo: Pink-footed Geese
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Photo: Dark-bellied Brent Geese
Photo: male Shoveler
Photo: Avocets
Photo: Avocets
Photo: Little Egret
Photo: Robin
Photo: Robin
Photo: Reeves' Muntjac
Photo: Reeves' Muntjac15th December 2025 – NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes (Stubb Mill raptor viewpoint), Norfolk
My day concluded at NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes and specifically the Stubb Mill viewpoint.
NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes is the largest of the Norfolk Broads and is a year-round haven for wildlife and holds a significant percentage of the UK population of Common Crane as well as important breeding numbers of Bittern, Marsh Harrier and Bearded Tit. In winter, large numbers of Marsh Harriers roost in the reedbed north east of Stubb Mill and Hen Harrier, Merlin and Barn Owl can also often be seen. Interesting mammals include the introduced Chinese Water Deer plus Red Deer and Otter.
I spent around 2 hours at the Stubb Mill viewpoint and stayed until it was almost completely dark (a torch is recommended for the long walk back to the car park!). Compared with previous winter visits, it was relatively disappointing with no raptors, other than a smaller number than usual of Marsh Harriers, and no Common Cranes.
The notable records from my visit walking to and from the Stubb Mill viewpoint were as follows: Marsh Harrier (c.15), Mallard (at least 200), Teal (c.20), Shoveler (c.20), Grey Heron (1), Cormorant (1), Roe Deer (2), Chinese Water Deer (1), Brown Hare (1)
Photo: NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes
Photo: NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes (Stubb Mill)
16th December 2025 – NNR Winterton Dunes, Norfolk
The first visit of the final day of my trip was to NNR Winterton Dunes, primarily to add Snow Bunting to my 2025 UK year list. I failed with that but I did enjoy seeing and photographing the large breeding colony of Atlantic Grey Seals which has extended south from Horsey Gap .... see Friends of Horsey Seals
NNR Winterton Dunes is an extensive dune system on the east coast of Norfolk located within the Norfolk Coast National Landscape. The site is unusual in that it shows greater ecological similarities to the dune systems of the Baltic coast countries which support acidic plant communities rather than the dunes on the north Norfolk coast where the sand is calcareous.
NNR Winterton Dunes shows good coastal habitat succession from the open sand and shingle beach, through embryo and fixed dunes to acid heathland and low-lying wet dune slacks with areas of scattered scrub.
In spring, migrant birds pass through, often including uncommon or rare species. Little Terns and Ringed Plovers nest in shallow scrapes on the sandy beach, Nightjars use the heath to feed and breed and Skylarks and Stonechats are often seen and heard. The temporary pools in the dune slacks provide breeding sites for nationally important colonies of Natterjack Toads and Atlantic Grey Seals and Common Seals may be seen offshore and throughout the year. The range of habitats here also provide suitable homes for many rare insects such as sand wasps, many dragonflies and damselflies and a variety of butterflies.
Photo: NNR Winterton Dunes
Photo: NNR Winterton Dunes
Photo: NNR Winterton Dunes
Photo: NNR Winterton Dunes
Photo: NNR Winterton Dunes
Photo: NNR Winterton Dunes - Atlantic Grey Seal count
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pup
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal pups
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seal
Photo: Atlantic Grey Seals
16th December 2025 – Kessingland, Suffolk
Addition to 2025 UK year list: Snow Bunting
Having failed to see the Snow Buntings at NNR Winterton Dunes in Norfolk, I visited Kessingland in Suffolk where a large flock of c.100 of these birds had been regularly reported along with 4 Shorelarks.
Unfortunately, I was not aware of the precise location of the birds other than they were on the beach north of Kessingland and I accessed it at the wrong point. The birds were present well beyond a marsh and series of pools that it was impossible to cross. I did have a very distant view of c.50 Snow Buntings when the flock occasionally took flight. There was no chance at all of seeing the Shorelarks from where I stood.
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