Another winter almost over

Definitely still winter but not for long. Snowdrops in flower everywhere, daffodils poking through. Last weekend had that kind of feel about it - one senses birds are getting itchy to move on. Whole areas were very quiet, almost eerily so, and then you'd suddenly encounter flocks.

A record count for Fieldfare - 600 in one flock - comes off the back of an unremarkable winter for the species. They're clearly arrived recently and are gathering before migrating. Similarly, relatively huge counts of Lapwing, Linnet and Yellowhammer don't reflect the last few months.

Aside from this and the two Great White Egrets the picks of the bunch were Water Rail at Gembling, a Jack Snipe along Kelk Beck, 2 Green Sandpipers still wintering, and several Siskin.

17th-18th February 2018

Mute Swan - 31

Teal - 150

Red-legged Partridge - 1
Grey Partridge - 8
Cormorant - 1
Little Egret - 4
Great White Egret - 2
Grey Heron - 4 (surprisingly few!)
Sparrowhawk - 2
Buzzard - 11
Kestrel - 4
Water Rail - 1
Golden Plover - 2 with Lapwing
Lapwing - 715+ in 4 flocks of 100-215
Jack Snipe - 1
Snipe - 17
Green Sandpiper - 2
Woodpigeon - lots, largest flock 800+
Barn Owl - 1
Kingfisher - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Skylark - 20+ singing in Kelk Beck area
Meadow Pipit - 3
Fieldfare - 750+ incl. a flock of 600+
Redwing - 7
Mistle Thrush - 7
Jay - 2
Siskin - 6
Linnet - 180 in two flocks 150+30
Bullfinch - 1
Yellowhammer - 90+ incl. a large flock of 80+

Fifteen added to the year list, to a reasonable total of 71.

Some photos...

Buzzard. Not a weekend for them getting up in the air and showing well. This looks a pale bird, and that eye stripe is pretty distinctive!

Herring Gulls already acting like a loved up pair.

One of several triple-figure flocks of Lapwing totalling over 700 birds. This wouldn't be out of place in September, but is quite exceptional for February.

Song Thrush. Tricky to photograph usually.

Yellowhammer female in Alders rather than their usual choice of thorn hedge/bush.

Roll on spring!