2025 in review - Part 2 (Dec)

December 2025

With a record 155 species on my 5 Miles From Home List for 2025 could the final month take the total any higher? Of course it could! Cold easterlies ensured that birds were on the move and December proved remarkably lively. An indication of this was the annual Herts Bird Club Christmas Count recorded a record-breaking 118 species during the period between Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

The eclipse male Garganey I found at Coursers GPs on 23rd November stayed until year end, by which time it has almost completely moulted into summer plumage. The photos below show the bird as it first appeared in November to how it appeared late December but in flight it was always immediately obvious with its pale blue-grey wings.

A Cattle Egret also appeared at Willows Farm on 7th and then remained until Boxing Day.  Possibly the same bird that was seen on 25th Oct, although where had it been in the meantime? The bird was easily viewable as it fed amongst the cattle in the old pumpkin field and was joined by several Little Egrets. On 14th Dec, with a Great White Egret on site, I was able to see all 3 egret species at one site on the same day - I think a first for me in Herts.

The Cattle Egret at Willows Farm

While chasing egrets at Tyttenhanger on 14th December I noticed a white blob on the fishing lake and putting bins to eyes revealed a beautiful male Goldeneye! My first locally for several years and perhaps the first male bird I had seen at Tyttenhanger.  More importantly, a new bird for the year coming in at #156.

Male Goldeneye on 14th Dec at Tyttenhanger GPs

With family birthdays and Christmas festivities taking over mid-month the news of flocks of White-fronted Geese flying over the county on Christmas Eve got me itching to get out searching. The obvious starting place would be Willows Farm where a regular and sizeable flock of Canada & Greylag Geese had accumulated. Come Boxing Day I headed to Willows Farm and sure enough 13 White-fronted Geese had joined the goose-flock!  My first White-fronted Geese locally since the single bird at Stanborough GPs in 2021 and #157 for my local list.

It was great to have these wild geese from the Russian (albifrons) population feeding with the more familiar Greylags and Canadas and somewhat dwarfed by them. They were last seen on 29th but who knows, we may get more if the easterly chill continues.

​The closing weeks of 2025 felt a little bit like a 'Groundhog Year' with many birds in place by the 31st that were also in place in 2024. A Jack Snipe reappeared at Stanborough GPs while a Black Redstart spent a day there on 19th. Like clockwork, a Great Black-backed Gull appeared at Coursers GPs on 28th - the same day as in 2024. While tempting to think that it might be a returning bird this one was ringed and further research revealed it had been ringed in Le Havre, France in May 2024 so clearly not the same bird as the un-ringed bird last Dec!

Great Black-backed Gull at Coursers GPs on 28th Dec - a county scarcity nowadays

The real Groundhog moment came with the discovery of a Yellow-browed Warbler on 31st Dec at Verulamium Park in St Albans. Along with the returning (now 2nd winter) Mediterranean Gull the end of the year finished as it had begun with a group of birders and photographers all assembled near the Fighting Cocks Pub for views of this, presumably returning, Siberian gem.

Two presumed returning birds to Verulamium Park - the Mediterranean Gull & Yellow-browed Warbler

A great variety of birds wrapped up 2025 but would any of them stay to 2026? The year had proved to be exceptional, not just for my local list with 157 a new record but county-wide too.  Long may it continue!

🎉 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎉