February 2010 Bird Report

February weather was normal compared to January’s freeze up.

The juvenile colour ringed Cormorant from Essex, first seen in November, was seen again on the 10th and 21st. Up to 3 Little Egrets daily and a Heron seen inspecting last year’s nest site.

Waterfowl counts on various dates: 6 Great crested Grebe, 17 Barnacle Geese, 50 Greylags, 406 Wigeon, 117 Gadwall, 48 Teal, 63 Shoveler, 43 Pochard, 267 Tufted Ducks, 20+ Goosander, 1 male Goldeneye, 61 Coot and a pair of Shelduck on the 28th – let’s hope they find the recently installed nest box on Plover Island!

Lapwing numbers reached 400 mid month. 5+ Common Snipe seen on the lake margins (probably many more). Water Rails are present, but not easily see – Grove scrape at dawn or dusk is the most likely place to find one. Green Sandpiper present all month with 2 from 20th.

Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard present, plus Peregrine on 5th, Red Kite on the 21st. Two Barn Owls present on Manor Farm, at times hunting during the day when it has been wet overnight. The 3 pairs of Little Owls often seen sunning them selves, particularly the pair in the old willow at the bottom of the car park paddock.

Black-headed Gulls are beginning to congregate on Colebrook Lake during the day, some already in breeding plumage. Common Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls present and a few Herring Gulls and Yellow-legged Gulls with a Great Black-backed Gull on two dates.

The wintering Skylarks began to chase each other about on fine days. No sign Stonechats since the snow in January. Pied and Grey Wagtails in evidence. Blackbirds and Song Thrushes claiming territories.  Redwings and Fieldfares still present, but no Mistle Thrushes this month that I am aware of.

Nuthatches are regular on the peanut feeders on trees just south of the car park. Treecreepers seen in trees along the river. Three reports of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in trees along the river are welcome news; it has been some years since one was present at Moor Green.

All the common finches are present; Bullfinches often around the paddock. Flocks of 50+ Siskins and 50+ Lesser Redpolls may be found feeding in the Birch and Alders along the river.  Approximately 10 Linnets present, Yellowhammer from 16th and up to 8 Reed Buntings and Coal Tit have been present at the feeding station.

My unofficial count of species recorded for 2010 is about 84, including the escaped Snow and Barnacle Geese.

As always, please report your own sightings on the record sheets in Colebrook Hide or send them to Ian Brown, the Moor Green Bird Recorder.

Bruce Archer