Tuesday 08 December – Portishead

42 people met, with the weather warm and bright to start. The sea front was alive with activity, seeing Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtail, a tree full of Starlings, Goldfinch, three Reed Buntings, a Curlew, two Ringed Plovers, and Common Gull. On the lake were seen swimming Greylag Goose, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Mute Swan and many Black-headed Gulls. We then made our way to Battery Point and as the tide was out the Purple Sandpipers were not seen but three Rock Pipits were. We made our way through East Wood seeing Blue, Great and Coal Tits and, also seen by some, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper and Nuthatch. Once we got to the pier we found two Great Black-backed Gulls, Grey Heron, Redshank and approx 800/1000 Dunlins feeding on the mud across from the dock. About this time the heavens opened with a very heavy downpour and at the end of the dock was a lone Cormorant and 20 odd Canada Geese. A total of 39 species seen, so not quite our target of one bird species each. (Thanks Geoff.) Geoff Harris