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.