31st December - sunny until late afternoon when fast moving heavy showers from SW, max 9C

Early weather stats indicate this December has been the warmest on record, maybe 4C above the long term average, and in some parts of the UK the wettest.

Late news of a Barn Owl seen over the Moors Lane on Christmas Eve.

An afternoon visit to Brandon Marsh resulted in my first Little Egret for the site.  The water level was pretty high with many pools joined up along the river area.  Generally the duck numbers were down, no doubt they have many wet places at the moment all over the countryside.  2 Goldeneye, a Shelduck, c20 Gadwall, c10 Wigeon, a female  Goosander, c20 Teal and Tufted Duck plus c10 Cormorant.  Only 3 Lapwing on East Marsh and a Kestrel was hunting in the area.  A Kinfisher was zipping around and seen several times.  

Smaller birds were scare, a party of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits, several Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch were about.  A single Stock Dove sat in the far marsh tree.

I have seen 90 species of bird at Brandon Marsh this year, not bad at all.