A quiet month...as usual!

You always know it's been a quiet end to the month when Coot headlines the blog!  However, this bird that turned up on 31st Jan is the first one of the year and signals the start of some spring movement of birds.  Many more will follow and, hopefully as in years gone by, will breed at the site.

The last half of January was quiet but the site list grew steadily to 77 by the month end with singing Mistle Thrush added and 3 Pochard on 31st.  A pair of Pintail on 24th was a nice surprise along with 55 Wigeon, 27 Gadwall and a few Shoveler.  A pair of Peregrine were also in the big field on that day and at least 5 Stonechats were on site.

Peregrine on 24th Jan 2025

The regular immature male Marsh Harrier came through the site on 31st whilst the Skylark flock has held at about 50-60 birds along with up to 200 Fieldfares.  Mute Swan numbers have fluctuated but tend to be around 15 birds and Lapwing numbers have varied from 30 to 100 birds.  A couple of Green Sandpipers continue to favour the site, commuting between the long drainage pit and pools in the arable fields across the road.

Gulls continue to provide a bit of interest although the 3rd winter Caspian Gull seems to now be favouring Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits a few miles away.  A possible adult Caspian was present on 29th but at distance it wasn't possible to be 100% sure and, despite the nice clean head and darker grey mantle,  I couldn't rule out a hybrid bird.

Some video-grabs of the possible adult Caspian Gull on 29th Jan 2025

On the passerine front, Linnet, Goldfinch and Chaffinch numbers have dwindled and only about 20-30 Meadow Pipits are in evidence.  A couple of Reed Buntings have also been mixed in with the flock along the track.

February beckons and with it the hope of some migrant waders arriving at the site - hopefully Oystercatchers but maybe also Dunlin and Redshank.