Moon set, moon rise

     Moon set January 1st, at home from our bedroom window

1st January 2026: Hartlepool area

I set off for Hartlepool slightly later than planned as I overslept!  First wader of the year was on grass by the playground at Port Clarence - a lone oystercatcher. Overall I had a good day's birding although the wind and freezing temperatures [especially on the Headland at Hartlepool] made it hard work finding the birds. 48 was my final total.

Here are some photos including quite a few common birds that photographers often overlook...

You may notice that the great white egret is not pin sharp. I have discovered that taking pictures from the car without switching the engine off defeats the motion arresters of my Canon lens and camera. Lesson learnt.

Sign at the Headland. Birds have been tampering...

I called at Ward Jackson park. No parakeets.

...and at Saltholme.

January 1st pussy willow and moon rise.

Moon rise at Saltholme

January 3rd: North Duffield

I decided to try to find some bean geese but I gave up the idea. It was very packed in the Geoff Smith hide and the geese were a long way off. I added pintail and goldeneye [female] to my list and then walked to the viewpoint from the other end of the busy car park. Redwing and fieldfare were feasting on hawthorn fruits. Whooper swans - a large number- were downstream some way off. 

January 4th: Blacktoft Sands

Very cold indeed. My hands were soon frozen - I don't like gloves. House sparrows spotted in Whitgift hedgerow. Marsh harriers at Marshland hide. Pinkfeet overhead.

Large number of pinkfeet flew over the reserve.

57 UK 2026