Temperatures for January have been reasonable, apart from the last week, when it got very cold, not helped by a biting wind.
On two occasions the lakes at my local patch Moor Green, were frozen over, except for a few small open areas of water. This helped the birders, in that the waterfowl were confined together and easier to scan through binoculars or telescope.
A good flock of REDWING were seen on the 5th, foraging for food at the pony paddock near the car park. With them were two FIELDFARE, which were surprisingly, my first at Moor Green this winter. In the past I have managed to see them before Christmas, but numbers seem to be on the low side for whatever reason.
On the same day a male DARTFORD WARBLER was found at the New Workings. I'm wondering if this is the same bird that was seen on the 20th October, 2014. It was in the same area and could be overwintering.
The male and female SMEW have stayed at the reserve throughout the month as has the male GOLDENEYE.
On the 9th, I was sitting in the hide at Colebrook Lake North, when the LAPWING flock that had been resting at Tern Island, suddenly took off. A few seconds later, a PEREGRINE dived into the middle of them, but failed to make a kill. The Falcon gave up shortly afterwards and flew off, leaving the LAPWING to circle the area for sometime, whilst they calmed their nerves.
At the sewage farm on the 21st, were thirty PIED WAGTAIL, all feeding on the small flies that seem to be available there all year round. Three overwintering CHIFFCHAFF seem to have taken up residence there, obviously attracted by the plentiful food supply.
On the 26th, I saw my first SISKIN of the winter. It was feeding in Alder trees, with a small flock of LESSER REDPOLL and LONG TAILED TIT. I was beginning to think that perhaps I wouldn't see one at all, as they certainly haven't visited this area in anything like the numbers that we have had in the past.
On two occasions the lakes at my local patch Moor Green, were frozen over, except for a few small open areas of water. This helped the birders, in that the waterfowl were confined together and easier to scan through binoculars or telescope.
A good flock of REDWING were seen on the 5th, foraging for food at the pony paddock near the car park. With them were two FIELDFARE, which were surprisingly, my first at Moor Green this winter. In the past I have managed to see them before Christmas, but numbers seem to be on the low side for whatever reason.
On the same day a male DARTFORD WARBLER was found at the New Workings. I'm wondering if this is the same bird that was seen on the 20th October, 2014. It was in the same area and could be overwintering.
The male and female SMEW have stayed at the reserve throughout the month as has the male GOLDENEYE.
On the 9th, I was sitting in the hide at Colebrook Lake North, when the LAPWING flock that had been resting at Tern Island, suddenly took off. A few seconds later, a PEREGRINE dived into the middle of them, but failed to make a kill. The Falcon gave up shortly afterwards and flew off, leaving the LAPWING to circle the area for sometime, whilst they calmed their nerves.
At the sewage farm on the 21st, were thirty PIED WAGTAIL, all feeding on the small flies that seem to be available there all year round. Three overwintering CHIFFCHAFF seem to have taken up residence there, obviously attracted by the plentiful food supply.
On the 26th, I saw my first SISKIN of the winter. It was feeding in Alder trees, with a small flock of LESSER REDPOLL and LONG TAILED TIT. I was beginning to think that perhaps I wouldn't see one at all, as they certainly haven't visited this area in anything like the numbers that we have had in the past.
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