Early Spring activity

Spring is on its way...and the birds know it!

Oystercatcher
​Having not recorded one at the site last year, this Oystercatcher was a welcome 'first arriving wader' of the year on 15th Feb. A clear sign that Spring is on its way and a bird that might consider breeding at the site given the apparently suitable conditions. Let's hope a partner turns up to make this a possibility!

Shelduck
​Another bird that could possibly breed and also an early February mover is the Shelduck. Four birds were present at first light on 11th Feb but headed off east as the Canada Geese left at 7.40am. Their quick departure is a timely reminder that birds will often drop in late the day before or even during the night and to catch them you have to be up very early!

Other Interest
​Even without the movement of passage birds the site has held some added interest. This wing-tagged Buzzard has been hanging out in the turnip field, its orangey-red wing tags making it immediately noticeable. After a few enquiries the bird was found to have been ringed by the Southern Colour Ringing Group on the nearby Hatfield Estate in June 2023. Full details can be seen here and any further sightings by other observers will be added in.

In addition, a pair of adult Peregrines have also been sitting out in the fields and on the worked gravel areas for long parts of the day. The male bird is noticeably smaller while the larger female often calls to the male. They are likely to be local birds and may be ringed but it has not been possible to see their leg rings yet. While they are always a welcome sight it is not clear how much of a deterrent their presence is to other birds!