WAXWINGS, a beautiful bird that I have seen on several occasions going back over the last few years, but as of yet I haven’t been able to capture one by camera, which  is very frustrating. Last Sunday morning the 9th December, I received a phone call from one of my sons who happens to live at Elvetham Heath. He told me that a flock of WAXWINGS were feeding on berries approximately 200yards from his house. I drove there straight away and walked the short distance to the area where they had been seen.  Shortly afterwards a flock of nineteen WAXWINGS appeared on top of the clock tower at the community centre and I readied my camera in anticipation of perhaps at last getting a decent shot of the birds when they descended on the Rowan tree a few yards away from me, which was where they had been feeding. A few seconds later, the flock took off, but instead of heading for the tree, flew on around the houses and out of sight. Unfortunately they didn't return and haven’t been seen there since. So I'm still waiting for my first photo of a WAXWING, hopefully I will get one or two before they depart the UK.
On the 17th, I started my day at North Camp station, where WAXWINGS had been seen the previous day, but no luck they didn't appear, so it was off to Wokingham for another WAXWING sighting and this time I was in luck, they were there, perched at the top of an Oak tree and then flying across the road to a small Rowan tree to feed. And as luck would have it I managed to take a few photos as well, even though the light level was poor. On the 30th, I again managed to see a good sized flock of 35 WAXWINGS at North Camp station and again managed a few pictures. So at last I have managed to get some shots of a lovely bird and very satisfied I am. Lastly I wish you all a very happy, prosperous and good birding year for 2013.

There hasn't been much birding this month, owing to the weather but, even so, some decent birds have been seen. At Moor Green Lakes on the 5th an AYTHYA HYBRID (Pochard x Ferruginous Duck) was seen on Colebrook Lake North. It appears that this is the same bird that perhaps overwintered last year. On the 13th, a PEREGRINE and YELLOW LEGGED GULL were present on the New Workings and on the 29th, GOOSANDER had arrived back on the lakes.
On the 19th, a trip to Thursley Common to see the GREAT GREY SHRIKE proved negative as the bird wasn't seen, another day perhaps. From Thursley I went to Frensham Great Pond in the hope of seeing the BLACK NECKED GREBE, but no luck, the bird had gone, however there was some compensation in the form of a very nice male SCAUP.
On the 27th, as the weather forecast was favourable, cloud but no rain, I ventured a bit further afield to Farlington Marshes, in the hope of seeing the RED BREASTED GOOSE, which had settled in the area for a few weeks. Well the forecast was completely wrong as it did rain with a very fresh breeze blowing from the north, which made conditions uncomfortable and cold. The flocks of BRENT GOOSE were scanned, to try to find the RED BREASTED GOOSE which was with them, which was proving difficult in the conditions. However just as hopes were starting to fade Tony, who had joined Gordon and me, finally spotted it, when the bird put its head up, at last. Also of note were 15 AVOCET, resting on one of the small islands near the car park. I’m hoping that December will bring drier weather, at least until after Christmas, fingers crossed.