 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.
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 Two weeks into the year and the Stanborough Gravel Pits year list has climbed to a healthy 60 or so species. New Year's day saw terrible wet and windy weather and yet a few of the regular species could be found - Green Sandpipers, Stonechats, Wigeon and the a Little Grebe. The highlight of the day was a lone Golden Plover battling low against the wind and rain. A larger group of nearly 30 were then seen on 9th with 3 on the field near the model airstrip. A Marsh Harrier put in an appearance on 6th and a Jack Snipe was flushed on 12th. An unusual sighting on 13th was an Alexandrine Parakeet flying over the site with the regular flocks of Ring-necked Parakeets. Freezing conditions gripped the pits in the second week of the year and the main pit froze over save for a small pool. While wildfowl numbers weren't as high as expected a surprise aspect of the freeze was a big increase in Mute Swans with 26 on 12th.  Mute Swans on 12th Jan The first really good bird of the year appeared (albeit distantly) on 16th in the form of a Short-eared Owl. Not recorded in 2024 it is really pleasing to get one in the first winter period. It appeared to come up from near Cromer Hyde Farm where owls were present in 2023 but headed off NW gaining height all the time. Hopefully it won't be the last sighting this year.  A rather distant screengrab of the Short-eared Owl on 16th Jan |
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