It's always an exciting time for birdwatchers, the start of the new year and a new year list. When all the common birds are valued ticks to get your list up as high as possible and as quickly as possible and when frustrations rise when something so easy to see throughout the year (or even just a few days ago... like Jay) seemed to have all but disapeared! It's a bit silly really, as they will all probably get seen by the end of January and if not then by the end of the year for sure but it livens up the mid winter birding a little.
On the 1st common birds and a few uncommon winter visitors got the patch year list up to 51 species. Highlights were the drake Goosander - on the reservoir, a Common Snipe - in the usual wet field and three Stonechat - a pair at the Borrow Pit and a female at the wet field (probably the same bird that is sometimes in the cattle field). Late in the afternoon, eleven Herring Gulls at the reservoir is a good count for here.
Yesterday morning Adrian T picked up Siskin and there was still at least one around in the afternoon. The Goosander was absent in the morning but back in the afternoon when there was also two Gadwall on the reservoir.
Early this morning the Goosander was present still and there were three Wigeon on the reservoir and two drake Pochard flew in from the south and landed. They soon departed north and were later seen on the Borrow Pit pool with an additional female Pochard and ~45 Tufted Ducks. A Raven was also seen flying over the woodland and then the reservoir and the female Stonechat was back at the cattle field. Several Siskins were in the Alders along the river today. This took the patch year list up to 57 species.
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| Photos courtesy and copyright of Dave Fuller (taken in Dec) |
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