10th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) -  Bittern from B hide at midday (A Powell) and a second bird flew into B pool at dusk, 2 Willow Tit, 9 Shelduck, 10 Pochard, 6 Goosander, 4 Mandarin, 4 Egyptian Geese (P Softley)
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 3 Great Egret, 7 Little Egret, 90 Wigeon, 8 Goldeneye, 4 Pochard, 3 Water Rail, Stonechat, 6 Redpoll (D Corfield), 2 Green Sandpiper, 10 Goosander [North Pit], 5 Great Egret roosted riverside.

9th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Willow Tit, 9 Pochard, 4 Shelduck, 5 Goosander, 2 Little Egret (P Lichfield), Bittern [B Pool 4pm], 7 Mandarin, Siskin, Redpoll, 2 Peregrine (S Cawthray).

8th January

RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Pintail, Shelduck, 2 Egyptian Geese [Jubilee], Great Egret, 2 Goosander [North Pit], Great Egret [Dosthill NR], 2 Pochard, Water Rail, 4 Goldeneye, 5 Cetti's Warbler (S Atkinson).

7th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - Bittern, 8 Pochard (P Softley).
Coton - 21 Shelduck, 51 Pochard, 1121 Tufted, 7 Goosander, 56 Shoveler, 120 Teal, 262 Mallard, 250 Wigeon, 165 Gadwall 168 Mute Swan, 28 Canada Geese, 105 Greylag Geese (P Forbes).
RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 27 Little Egret and 2 Great Egret roosted in the Heronry, 2 Woodcock through (RSPB).
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 19 Little Egret in the riverside roost (RSPB).

6th January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 2 Bittern, 10 Egyptian Geese, Willow Tit, 5 Pochard (P Softley).
Tameside NR - Redshank, 22 Lapwing,  Little Egret, Goosander (M Scott).

5th January

RSPB Middleton - 7 Pochard [Fishers Mill], Great Egret, Pintail, 2 Goldeneye [Jubilee], 4 Goosander [river], 4 Goldeneye [Dosthill NR] (K Sargent).

4th January

RSPB Middleton - 3 (m,2f) Pintail [Jubilee].
Alvecote - Great Egret, Little Egret (M Scott).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 6 Mandarin (J Holian).
Coton & Lea Marston - 14 Shelduck, 76+ Pochard, 2 Chiffchaff (D Hutton).

3rd January

RSPB Middleton (Warks) - 3 Shelduck [Hall Lake], Raven (S Atkinson), Bittern [Fishers Mill] (D Corfield), 28 Little Egret roosted in the Heronry but no Great Whites.
RSPB Middleton (Staffs) - 2 Pintail, 2 Egyptian Geese, Shelduck [Jubilee], Great Egret [North Pit], 3 Goldeneye (S Atkinson) - later 3 Pintail, Woodcock, 3 Pochard, Water Rail, 5 Goldeneye, 6 Redpoll (D Corfield).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 2 FIRECREST behind Riverwalk hide , 4 Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, 3 Redpoll, (P Softley), Peregrine, 2 Raven, 2 Mandarin (P Forbes).

2nd January

RSPB Middleton - 20 Goldeneye, Great Egret (S Atkinson), 3 Pintail, 2 Egyptian Geese, 9 Little Egret, Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Gulls, 8 Pochard (M Smiles).
Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - FIRECREST between Riverwalk and Bittern Hides (possibly 2 birds) also Bittern on B pool, 5 Mandarin, 7 Egyptian Geese, 4 Snipe (P Softley, S Cawthray, D Eaton).

1st January

Ladywalk NR (WMBC Members only) - 3 Peregrine, Oystercatcher (K Whiston).
KWP North - Great Egret [Otter Pool], 5 Goldeneye, 3 Little Egret (C Waring).
KWP South - Scaup, 6 Goldeneye, Oystercatcher, Yellow-legged Gull (A Dean).
Coton - 13 Goosander, 3 Chiffchaff (A Dean).
Lea Marston - 12 Shelduck (A Dean).
RSPB Middleton - 3 Pintail, 15 Goldeneye, 8 Pochard, 5 Shelduck, Great Egret, 5 Little Egret (M Smiles), 44 Golden Plover through, 3 Egyptian Geese, Stonechat (J Owen), 13 Goosander (North Pit), 5 Great Black-backed Gulls, 6 Common Gulls (Jubilee) and 5 Great Egret roosted riverside.

Happy New Year - Thanks again for all your sightings from last year. Much appreciated and makes the blog well worthwhile.

The RSPB Middleton year total finished on 157. This was 10 less than the previous year with the winners and losers when compared to 2018 as follows:-

Additions                                  Omissions

Kittiwake                                   Common Crane

Little Stint                                  Firecrest

Little Tern                                  Glossy Ibis

Redstart                                    Green-winged Teal

Ring Ouzel                                Hawfinch

Wryneck                                    Little Owl

                                                  Long-eared Owl

                                                  Marsh Tit

                                                  Pied Flycatcher

                                                  Red-crested Pochard

                                                  Short-eared Owl

                                                  Siberian Chiffchaff

                                                  Spoonbill

                                                  Spotted Crake

                                                  White-fronted Goose

                                                  White-rumped Sandpiper