October to December saw the expected mix of autumnal weather. While total rainfall came in around average for our area, sunshine levels were well down in October but recovered to be above average in November and December. The consistent theme throughout was temperatures – above average again for all three months! Birding-wise, it was a quiet period but there were a few surprises.
In line with the recent trend, wildfowl numbers gradually declined as autumn progressed with logged high counts of 65 Mallard (Nov 13th), 32 Shoveler (Oct 12th and Nov 21st), 35 Tufted Duck and 22 Gadwall (both on Oct 8th). The exception was Pochard which inched up to nine by mid-December.
Scarcer wildfowl were limited to just a Mandarin Duck on October 24th and Wigeon, with a single on December 23rd and a pair on December 28th. A flock of 50 Greater White-fronted Geese were observed overflying Fleet town centre in the direction of the Pond on December 27th, but sadly kept on going. The UK saw a notable influx of both Greater White-fronted and Tundra Bean Geese from the continent in the latter weeks of December 2025 so it’s worth carefully going through any geese flocks that you encounter.
After 2025’s record-breaking breeding year at the Reserve, Great Crested Grebes underwhelmed with a high count of just 11 on October 8th and only the one Little Grebe was logged intermittently in October and early November.
The highlight of the period was a first winter Caspian Gull, sighted just off the Chestnut Grove jetty on October 28th, representing only the second confirmed record of Caspian Gull for the Reserve. The first record, also a first winter, was logged on September 25, 2005. Formerly treated as a sub-species of Yellow-legged Gull, Caspian Gull received full separate species status in 2007. They have been expanding their range westwards from the Caspian and Black Seas over the last 30 years and are now breeding in the Netherlands (since 2012), so further sightings are expected in future years. (Photo below credited to Simon Gillings)
An adult Mediterranean Gull was logged at the Pond on October 30th, leaving west and there was a scattering of Common Gulls, a passage migrant and winter visitor to the Reserve that seems to be in long term decline at Fleet Pond. Black-headed Gulls peaked at 230 on the evening of December 23rd with a leucistic individual sighted on several occasions between October and the end of the year.
Passerine sightings included a flyover (Red) Crossbill on October 8th. At least seven Firecrest (image below) were in residence in November and
early December and there was a notable count of 20 Goldcrests logged on a circuit of the Pond on December 11th. Common Chiffchaffs also put in a good late autumn showing with ten logged on the east side of the Pond on October 8th and up to five remaining into mid-December, perhaps a reflection of the warmer weather this autumn. Another species more normally associated with summer months was Blackcap with a male seen at Wellington Avenue on November 10th, with a pair there on December 3rd. Encouraging a female Dartford Warbler (image of male, below) was seen at both ends of December at the Dry Heath
while winter finches included two Brambling briefly on November 4th and peak counts of 40 Goldfinch (Nov 8th) and 120 Siskin (Dec 13th). Other notable reports included a Woodcock on November 26th and four Meadow Pipits on the MOD Common on December 30th. A minimum of eight Water Rails (image below) and five Cetti’s Warblers were present in the Reserve’s reedbeds in December.
A Great White Egret was present at the Reserve from October 6th until the end of the year, with two seen on December 22nd chasing each other, and there was an unconfirmed report of three on December 26th. Up to six Little Egrets continued to roost nightly throughout and other notable roost counts during the period included 70 Canada Geese (Oct 27th), 55 Greylag Geese (Dec 28th), 25 Great Cormorants (Oct 2nd), 1,640 Starlings (Dec 12th), 30 Redwing (Nov 4th), 210 Magpies (Dec 30th) and 700 Jackdaws (Nov 13th and Dec 14th). While the days maybe shorter and conditions colder, there is still plenty to see and find so do remember to take your binoculars on your next visit to the Pond!
William Legge
Contributing Observers: Mark Bravery, John Clark, Andy Golder, Nikki Golder, Seth Kelly, Jonathan Mist, Rosalind Mist, Lynn Morganti, Spike Millington, Mick Scott, Sarah Slingo, and Graham Stephenson.
Image credits: www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/a-z
Caspian Gull: Simon Gillings