92 Species
What a brilliant start to 2012 it has been. The mild and relatively benign January has meant plenty of observers in the field and bird numbers high on the reserve. A count of 4350 Lapwing at the begin [...]
What a brilliant start to 2012 it has been. The mild and relatively benign January has meant plenty of observers in the field and bird numbers high on the reserve. A count of 4350 Lapwing at the beginning of the month was the highest for many years and exceptional for January. Generally peak counts of wildfowl have been lower this winter as milder condition in Europe mean less movement of birds into the UK. Notably the lowest number of Bewick's Swan since records began.
A new addition to the reserve list in the form of Cetti's Warbler was a highlight for this observer and the count of species to the end of January has hit 92. We've only been collating a specific year list since 2010, so comparing the actual counts isn't particularly significant, but in the previous two January's we recorded 86 and 83 species of bird respectively.
There were two new additions to the year list today; Collared Dove (surprisingly absent until now) and Stonechat. The later could be relied upon during many recent mild winters but were moved on during the harsh winter of 2010/11 and was only seen briefly on passage during the autumn of last year.
Biggest count of the year of Marsh Harrier with 7 different birds. A good raptor day all round with Hen Harrier (ringtail), 7 Common Buzzard, Merlin (briefly as usual), 2 Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
Some new waders in with 45 Black-tailed Godwit, 20 Dunlin, 15 Common Snipe and 79 Ruff. A small 'stint like' wader was seen briefly with Ruff.
Other sightings included 137 Pochard, 61 Tufted Duck, Water Rail, 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker and 2 Treecreeper, the latter three species from the Janet Kear Hide.
AB
