February 2007 Bird Report

Little Egret seem to be present most days, but not in such numbers as last month. I assume, like the local Grey Herons, they are thinking of nest building – perhaps in one of the south coast colonies. Following last month’s hatching of Egyptian Geese, Steve Farmer found a nest of six eggs on Grove Island during the work party on the 20th, no wonder there are so many about.

Apart from good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Gadwall, Tufties and Mallard; up to 4 Goldeneye (sometimes on the Hampshire lakes) and up to 23 Goosander have been present. The pair of Pintail on Grove Lake has been joined by a second male mid month and the pair of Ruddy Duck on Horseshoe Lake has been joined by at least 2 more males. It is noticeable that toward the end of the month, the Ducks are moving about much more – possibly signalling a northward movement. I have not seen any Mandarin Ducks yet this year, but I hear that they are on the more sheltered lakes outside the Reserve.

A Peregrine Falcon has been reported sporadically through the month and entertained the work party on the 11th. The Little Owls have been more visible in the trees on the new workings and have been seen in the nest box over there.

Lapwing numbers reached 900+ on the 1st and I have seen Golden Plover with them on the 2nd (20) and on the 17th (8). Snipe became more visible during the frosty spell in the middle of the month and I heard of a report of 11 seen on Colebrook North. The Green Sandpiper has been elusive this winter; my only sighting of it was at Grove Lake on the 3rd. An Oystercatcher was reported on the 21st and Dunlin on 24th, so wader passage has begun. Water Rail have been seen from Grove hide.

The Gull numbers were falling off rapidly toward the month end – except for the 200+ Black-headed Gulls that are taking over Tern Island during the day with their courting behaviour even though it will be April before nest building starts.

The pair of Stonechat are still resident just the other side of the conveyer on the new workings.  Mistle and Song Thrushes have been singing for most of the month and the numbers of Redwing and Fieldfares have increased on the local paddocks as berry supplies run out.

Skylarks have been singing since the beginning of the month on fine days. The number of finches is much less than most years, with hardly any Siskin, Redpolls and Brambling – even the local Linnet flock is no more than a few birds.

Up to 12 Reed Buntings on the feeding station is a record, and Yellowhammer numbers seem to be higher than last year.

Bruce Archer