Saturday 12th February 2011

Has spring sprung? Well this morning's weather may have suggested otherwise but the sound of singing Skylark's and the return of Great Crested Grebe, Oystercatcher & more Shelduck was certainly a sign that birds are already preparing for what will hopefully be another successful breeding season.

Once again another excellent variety of species seen at the following locations;

Stoneybeck Lake
26 Canada Geese, 6 Gadwall, 8 Teal, 23 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, drake Pochard, 2 Moorhen, 35 Coot, 2 Oystercatcher, 42 Curlew, 120 Common Gull and a Skylark in full song flight.

Foumarts Lane
The lane was absolutely swarming with birds this morning, the highlight being at least one Brambling in with a mixed Chaffinch/Greenfinch/Goldfinch flock totalling about fifty birds. Others included Redwing's, Tree Sparrow's, a male Great-spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper and two Long-tailed Tit's.

Castle Lake
Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 30 Canada Geese, 4 Shelduck, 2 drake Pintail,  fem. Goldeneye, 1m2f Goosander, 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Oystercatcher, 72 Golden Plover, 250 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 14 Redshank, 45 Common Gull, Skylark, and many of the more common wildfowl.
The strangest sight of the day was a Hare swimming across a narrow stretch of the lake at the southern end!

Two of the three Goosander on Castle Lake this morning.
(Brambling is species #131 on my Bishop Middleham list since April 2007).