Northern Pits: immature SHAG on Pumphouse Pit, viewable from public footpath at NW end of pit. Also 1w female Scaup, 2 redhead Smew, 3 Pintail (2 drakes), drake Red-crested Pochard and Kingfisher.

A1 North Pit: adult and 1w female Scaup still. 5+ Corn Buntings, 40-50 Yellowhammers & c.40 Linnets around neighbouring stubble fields.

Heronry North Pit: redhead Smew and 2 drake Goosanders.

Shag, Paxton Pits.

Northern Pits: juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER (viewable from public footpath at SW end of Diddington Pit); 4 redhead Smew, 40+ Ruff and c.10 Black-tailed Godwits flew over during morning; Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, pair Pintail, drake Red-crested Pochard.

Juvenile Great Northern Diver, Paxton Pits. 

Happy Christmas (and a few sightings for Christmas Day)

A1 North Pit: 2 adult Bewick's Swans late morning, then flew off ENE. Drake Red-crested Pochard still, plus single Corn Bunting with Bunting flock.

Northern Pits: 5 redhead Smew, drake Red-crested Pochard, 5 Pintail, 5 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, 2-3 Chiffchaffs.

A1 North Pit: adult and 1st winter female Scaup still, plus drake Red-crested Pochard still. Also 1+ Corn Bunting(s).

Heron Trail: male Brambling with c.50 Chaffinches in hedgerow along haul road, just north of Southoe Brook.

A1 North Pit: adult female and 1w female Scaup, drake Red-crested Pochard, 2 Buzzards & 2 Corn Buntings with Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers around nearby stubble fields.

Heron Trail: 6 Redpolls over (1 landed by Visitors' Centre).

Northern Pits: 5 redhead Smew, 2 drake Pintail, drake Ruddy Duck, 2 Shelduck.

Adult female Scaup, A1 North Pit.

A1 North Pit: adult female Scaup, 2 drake Red-crested Pochards, Chiffchaff, c.15 Corn Buntings.

Heron Trail: c.30 Lesser Redpolls around Fisherman's car park briefly in morning; Chiffchaff along Haul Road.

Northern Pits: 5 redhead Smew, drake Ruddy Duck, adult and juvenile Egyptian Goose, Green Sandpiper, 2 adult Peregrines, Chiffchaff.

Washout Pit: Redshank calling.

One of two adult Peregrines at Paxton Pits this afternoon.

5 redhead Smew, female Red-crested Pochard, 2 Egyptian Geese still, 3 Little Egret, Green Sandpiper and a Barn Owl all at north end of pit complex this afternoon.

Weekend round-up

The 1st Smew (a redhead) of the winter was present on both Saturday and Sunday, whilst the male and female Ruddy Duck were also still present. A male Red-crested Pochard was on A1 North Pit briefly on Sunday morning (before being flushed by water skiers), with 2 Marsh Harriers also being noted. The adult and juvenile Egyptian Goose still remain and a female Shelduck was around all weekend. Other bits of note include a Woodcock flushed from a ditch east of the A1 Pits and 15+ Corn Buntings were among good numbers of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings which are again making use of the stubble/weedy fields east of A1 North Pit. Finally, 6 Siskins feeding briefly in Alders at Boughton Lodge Farm on Saturday morning (with the odd single noted passing overhead too) and at least 3 separate Chiffchaffs were noted.