Saturday 2 February 2019

Slow January?

Into February already and the park is on 88 and for those who don't know, it's pretty good, take a look at the January tables I keep track of;

90 in 2016
88 in 2019
87 in 2011
86 in 2012, 17 & 18
84 in 2015 
83 in 2005, 06 & 13
81 in 2004 & 14
79 in 2007
76 in 2009
75 in 2003 & 2008

A new second place and that is without Goosander, Green Sandpiper, Stonechat and of course Hawfinch, to just compare 2018. What we are ahead with is Great White Egret, Mandarin, Red Crested Pochard, Golden Plover, Chiffchaff & Crossbill.

I've been hoping with the snow over the last 2 days we might get a Goosander, or a Pintail, but there's plenty of time.

So what the heck has happened to my year list? 7 off par, dreadful. Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Grey Wagtail, Coal Tit, Brambling, Crossbill, Lesser Redpoll. The worst is Crossbill, they are very rare and always only fly overs.

Speaking of fly overs, there was an obvious movement of finches this morning, Chaffinch sized, 4-5 groups all heading West, to North West, between 25 and 40 birds in each with the best views at the sailing club, where despite not one calling 2+ had deeply forked tails, which for me makes them Brambling.

Not much else was happening today, lots of crunchy, slippery ice, cold breeze, but nothing notable. I even popped back hoping for something...a Little Owl, Golden Plover, Raven...nothing, but notably a Barn Owl out at 15:30 testified that they are finding it tough right now.

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