My mention of the possible appearance of Nutcracker last month brought a swift response. A reader from Darlington wrote and described what was undoubtedly a Nutcracker seen in a garden in the West Cemetery area of the town at the end of October.

Unfortunately, despite some extensive searching, there has been no further sign of the bird but it is tempting to wonder if it may still be somewhere in the area.

This sighting was all the more remarkable because the anticipated influx of the species hasn't occurred with only one other report nationally after the early sightings.

In a rather quiet November the best find was a Firecrest which was caught and ringed near Catterick. This was one of only a handful of local sightings of this little gem of a bird. Virtually all of the previous sightings have involved birds trapped or seen in birdwatchers gardens and it does raise the issue of how many scarce birds must pass through this area unseen each year.

The only other sighting of note was a count of 121 Ruddy Duck at Bolton-on-Swale which represents the highest total ever seen in this area.

My other "prediction" last month was for Waxwings and there have been good numbers arriving in the North-East, including one flock of 300 birds in Wallsend, but so far the tally for this area has been one - a single bird seen in Ainderby Steeple. I am confident there will be more arriving as the coastal birds filter inland and any area of berry bushes is worth scanning.

Supermarket car-parks seem to hold a particular attraction for the species so keep your eyes peeled whilst you do your Christmas shopping!

Talking of Christmas, a couple of readers have written asking for suggestions for Christmas stocking fillers for birdwatching relatives. For a relatively cheap but always useful present I'd recommend a good note-book. Ideally this should be a "police officer" type with a waterproof cover, which opens vertically and with a band to hold down pages when it's windy. Most good stationery shops usually stock something appropriate.

For more specialised gifts a padded binocular strap is a real boon, they are made of stretchy neoprene fabric which spreads the weight of a heavy pair of binoculars and really make a difference, particularly if you like to take your binoculars when you're out walking.

Somewhat more expensive, but in my experience well worth the money, is a car-window mount. This is a tripod head for your telescope which fixes to the open window of your car effectively turning it into a mobile hide. It is particularly useful when scanning reservoirs or gravel pits and when a freezing north-easterly is blowing it is worth its weight in gold.

Another recommendation is for an Audubon bird-call. I picked one of these up when birdwatching in America a number of years ago but I've noticed some of the specialist wildlife/optical shops in this country are now stocking them.

They consist of a small wooden collar and a metal key, twisting the key produces a high-pitched squeak which can be remarkably effective in attracting small birds in woodland and scrub. You can get the same effect by kissing the back of your hand or making a pishing sound but using the bird call is far more civilised and significantly less embarrassing in company!

Finally, can I just wish all my readers a merry Christmas and a happy and bird-filled New Year