Tuesday 26th February 2013

Out and about again today with the following birds catching the eye;

Castle Lake - 2 Shelduck, 3 Pintail, 10 Pochard, 3f Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Oystercatcher, 4 Snipe, 15 Redshank and 35 Redwing.

A1 Flashes - 1 Mute Swan, 1 Greylag Goose, 90 Canada Geese, 50 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 11 Oystercatcher and 2 Green Sandpiper feeding together (poor picture below).

Low Hardwick - 3 Mute Swan, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Snipe over, 41 Curlew, Tawny Owl calling, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Willow Tit, 2 Nuthatch (the second sighting of this species in February away from Hardwick Hall CP) and 16 Magpie.

Fishburn Lake - 2 Mute Swan, 46 Gadwall, 38 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant and 1 Grey Heron.

Just some of the excellent count of 38 Pochard on Fishburn Lake today.

Stoneybeck Lake - 3 Shelduck, 6 Gadwall, 1 Pochard, 2 Oystercatcher, 300 Lapwing, 52 Curlew and 400 Woodpigeon.

Plenty of these around too...

Monday 11th February 2013

Birds seen today included the following;

Castle Lake - 3 Shelduck, 2 Pintail, 14 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Cormorant, 3 Oystercatcher, 26 Redshank, 14 Redshank, 1 Grey Wagtail.

One of three Oystercatcher back at Castle Lake.

Low Hardwick - 3 European White-fronted Geese, 37 Greylag Geese, 13 Canada Geese, 1 Sparrowhawk, 200 Lapwing, 300 Starling plus a Fox.

Bridlepath to Fishburn Lake - 1 Goldcrest, 8 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Willow Tit, 1 Treecreeper and 2 Lesser Redpoll.

Fishburn Lake - 8 Pochard with another 2 on Stoneybeck Lake.

Saturday 9th February 2013

Sightings today from John Olley and myself.

Castle Lake - 3 European White-fronted Geese dropped-in mid-morning with about 20 Greylag Geese, unfortunately they only stayed for 45 minutes, however later in the day 4 were located on the A1 flashes.

Poor picture of the Geese flock including the 3 White-front's.

Other Castle Lake sightings today included c200 Pink-footed Geese over north at 12:00, 3 Shelduck, 4 Pintail, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Cormorant, 1 Oystercatcher, 135 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 10 Redshank, 5+ Skylark singing, 1 Little Owl, 15 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush, 80 Redwing and a singing Nuthatch along Foumarts Lane.

Alan's Pool - 17 Moorhen, 1 Cormorant, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker over towards Low Hardwick and 2 Brambling in a hedgerow alongside good numbers of Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Linnet, Goldfinch and Corn Bunting.

Friday 1st February 2013

Another good selection of birds seen today, including the following;

Castle Lake - drake Shoveler, 14 Pochard, 1st-winter drake Scaup, 18 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Little Grebe, 180 Lapwing, 16 Redshank, 1-2 Skylark singing all morning and a Grey Wagtail.

The drake Scaup pictured this morning and looking very much like the same individual that put in an appearance in early January.

Stoneybeck Lake/ Farnless Farm - 2 Canada Geese, 15 Wigeon, 60 Mallard, 4 Pintail (3 drakes), 22 Teal, 2 Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 3f Goldeneye, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 26 Coot, 21 Curlew, 500 Woodpigeon, 40+ Fieldfare over, 200 Jackdaw and 200 Rook.

Stoneybeck Lake, still full to overflowing.

No caption necessary.

Monday 28th January 2013

Highlights from today;

Castle Lake (still 70% frozen) - 6 drake Pochard, 3 female Goldeneye, 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 30 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 14 Redshank, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 9 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush and 20 Redwing.

Castle Lake pictured last Thursday.

Stoneybeck Lake - A pair of Peregrine mobbing a Common Buzzard.

Thursday 24th January 2013

58 species seen today, not a bad total given the snow and ice gripping the area.

Hardwick Hall CP Lake - (about 70% frozen) - 16 Wigeon, 3 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye plus various numbers of Mute Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Coot, Gull's etc. Nuthatch in the park grounds and a single Skylark over south.

Loads of small birds were giving very close views along the boardwalk including four Robin's.

One of two ice-free areas of Hardwick Hall Lake.

Low Hardwick - 1male Sparrowhawk, 1 Woodcock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Treecreeper, 2 Tree Sparrow, 25 Lesser Redpoll, 7 Bullfinch, 2 Corn Bunting.

 

One of the very active flock of Lesser Redpoll near the Moto-X Pools.

One of these male Bullfinch was singing today.

Bridlepath to Fishburn Lake - 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Fieldfare, 8 Long-tailed Tit and a Willow Tit.

This Meadow Pipit was a surprise, feeding around a partially snow-free area.

Alan's Pool - 3 Grey Heron, 17 Moorhen and 2 Hare.

The three Heron were playing statue's near Alan's Pool.

Castle Lake (75% frozen) - 1f Goldeneye, 1 Little Grebe, 26 Snipe, 10 Redshank, 2 Great Black-backed Gull (an adult and a 1st-winter), 20 Corn Bunting plus the usual Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Coot etc.

Some of the Corn Bunting near the Island Farm seed-crop, some sub-song heard.

Snipe feeding in the field between Castle Lake and Town End Farm.

Saturday 12th January 2013

Today's sightings included the following;

Castle Lake - 89 Canada Geese, 1f Shoveler, 15 Pochard, 3 Grey Partridge, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 175 Golden Plover flew over, later 55 landed, 350 Lapwing, 15 Redshank, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush and 13 Redwing.

Stoneybeck Lake - 26 Canada Geese, 5 Shelduck, 14 Wigeon, 1m Pintail, 2m Pochard, 2f Goldeneye, 85 Curlew and 4 Brambling.