Frampton Marsh - 3rd February 2024

 Last weekend, Jayne and I had a drive over to Willow Tree Fen and RSPB Frampton Marsh, clocking up an impressive 11 species for the Year List.

Our first stop was the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's Willow Tree Fen, where we saw 6 Common Cranes (105), including a pair that were calling and displaying. Whilst there, we also saw 3 Marsh Harriers (106).

Common Crane

Moving on, we arrived at Frampton, where the 1st winter Lesser Yellowlegs (107) was putting on an amazing show, on the wetland, by the car park! This bird has now been present since last year (130+ days!) and it was great to see how its moult had progressed since we last saw it back in October (see here). These photos shows a few remaining brown, juvenile feathers.

Lesser Yellowlegs

We had a walk around the reserve, spotting the following birds: Mute and Whooper Swan (1), Canada, Greylag and Dark-bellied Brent Geese (108), Meadow Pipit (109), Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Pochard (110), Pintail (111), Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Lapwing ('000s) and Golden Plover (000's). Up on the seawall, we spotted another couple of Marsh Harriers, and, after a lot of searching, a very distant, male Hen Harrier (112, yes!). Heading back down to the Visitors' Centre, we spotted Black-tailed Godwits (113), Avocets (114) and, perched up on the barn, a male and female Peregrine Falcon (115).

Rufford Gulls - 20th January 2024

 Last weekend (20th), I went across to Rufford for a couple of hours. In total, I recorded 16 green-ringed Black-headed Gulls, and metal-ringed EL87245. 

Birds seen were: 246A, 258A, 273A, 293A, 295A, 297A, 254B, 272B, 280B, 202C, 207C, 245C, 258C, 264C, 273C and 275C.

273A and 280B

275C

Year List Update - 28th January 2024

 This last week, I've managed to add three new species to the Year List.

The first species, Dipper (102), was added last Sunday, when 1 bird was seen in Monsal Dale. The second species, Egyptian Goose (103) was seen yesterday, when 3 were seen at Center Parcs whilst gull ringing. The third new species, Great (White) Egret (104), was seen today on Carburton Lake, Nottinghamshire. In fact there were 2 Great Egrets and 6 Little Egrets together, all within about 100m!!

Great (White) Egret

Just before we saw the egrets, Jayne and I had had a short walk around Clumber Park. We'd gone to see a Red-breasted Goose, that had appeared on the South Lawn. Unfortunately, it was wearing 2 plastic rings, so was an escapee from a collection, and can't be added to the list. Still a lovely bird to see at such close quarters.

Red-breasted Goose

Last, but by no means least, was a new Norwegian-ringed Black-headed Gull, J2847. This bird, a 2nd calendar year, had been ringed 995km away, in June 2023, as a pullus. Our sighting was the first since ringing.

J2847

Linacre WeBS - January 2024

 Last week (20th), I walked around Linacre to carry out this month's WeBS count. 

After a week of very cold temperatures, the bottom reservoir was about 25% frozen, and there were some good numbers of birds: Mallard (145), Mandarin Duck (45), Moorhen (12), Coot (12), Grey Heron (2), Goosander (13; 8 males and 5 females), Teal (c.32), Cormorant (2), Grey Wagtail (1) and Tufted Duck (28).

Year List Update - 14th January 2024

This weekend, I managed to add another 4 species to my "Year List" for 2024, taking my total so far this year to 101.

The first new addition was Barn Owl (98), when I was spotted whilst driving across to Center Parcs for some gull ringing. The second bird was Great Grey Shrike (99) that Jayne and I saw up at Ramsley Reservoir in the afternoon. It was quite distant, and the sky was grey, but I managed a record shot.

Great Grey Shrike

Late this morning, Jayne and I drove across to Ogston Reservoir, where we added two new species. The first, and my 100th of the year, was Brambling (100) - a stunning male. I love this shot, a bit different!

Brambling

The final bird was a Water Rail (101), that came out of the reeds to feed under the feeders briefly.

Water Rail

Rufford - 8th January 2024

 I had my first visit of 2024 to Rufford on Sunday. There weren't a lot of Black-headed Gulls around (c.150), but I did see 13 of "our" green-ringed birds along with the Lithuanian-ringed bird, P519 and the British metal-ringed bird, EL87245.

Birds seen were: 258A, 273A, 295A, 254B (ringed by me on 22nd October 2022 and my first sighting since October 2023), 272B, 280B (ringed by me on 19th November 2022, and my 4th sighting this winter), 202C, 207C, 215C, 258C, 264C, 268C (ringed by me, as a 3, born in 2023, on 31st December 2023, as an adult, age 4) and 273C (ringed on 6th January 2024).

268C and 273C were the first sightings since being ringed.

268C

273C

As well as the gulls, I also spotted a very impressive 43 Goosander (27 female and 16 males).

Linacre - 7th January 2023

 After our week away, I was back down at Linacre on Sunday for my second walk of 2024. It was a cool 3 degrees, grey and overcast.

Birds seen were: Mallard (104), Goosander (5; 2 males and 3 females), Great-crested Grebe (2 on the middle reservoir, including 1 in near full breeding plumage), Little Grebe (1), Moorhen (17), Coot (7), Tufted Duck (32), Black-headed Gull (70), Mandarin (37) and Cormorant (1).

I also managed a couple of "Year Ticks"; 1 Grey Wagtail (96) and 1 Green Woodpecker (heard - 97).