| February
1st |
| The
opening day produced an adult female Peregrine
west over Eakring Flash early morning. Elsewhere, a flock
of 67 Lapwing were in fields at Tug Bridge Farm, with
over 500 Fieldfare there. Other Fieldfare in the area
totalled some 400+ birds. At Eakring Meadows 56 Teal were
again present. |
| |
| February
2nd |
| Very
quiet this morning with little about. A Shelduck flew
over Eakring Flash briefly and a Yellowhammer flock of
c55 birds was found in set-aside near Eakring village.
Still large numbers of Fieldfare around, but Redwing have
suddenly become very scarce here. |
| |
| February
4th |
| Four
Shelduck were on Eakring Flash this morning. The Lapwing
flock at Tug Bridge Farm numbered 35 birds. Fieldfare
were still numerous throughout the area, but the only
Redwing flocks found were two which totalled 47 birds at
Eakring Meadows during the afternoon, with a Common
Buzzard there. |
| |
| February
5th |
| Two Water
Rail were showing along the eastern-side of
Eakring Flash this morning. The most favoured section and
best place to look, being around the two obviously
trampled (less vegetated) areas. At the southern-end of
Eakring Flash were 33 Snipe. 54 Golden Plover were in
fields at Red Hill and five Yellowhammer flew north. |
| |
| February
6th |
| The only
sighting of note today were three Common Buzzards over
Lound Wood late morning. |
| |
| February
7th |
| A female Merlin
was at Eakring Flash briefly at 9:10am,
providing a rare record (the area's 7th and the third for
February) At the southern-end of Eakring Flash, at least
one Water Rail was calling this morning.
At Tug Bridge Farm, now 48 Lapwing present with good
Fieldfare counts there. |
| |
| February
8th |
| Six
Shelduck (five drakes and one female) were on Eakring
Flash early morning till flying off towards Bilsthorpe
pit top. Small numbers of birds are moving through
presently, including seven Yellowhammer and six Linnet
today. Many Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting are now moving
back into territories at various locations. |
| |
| February
9th |
| Three Jack
Snipe were found around the small pool at Penny
Pasture Common, Eakring Meadows, with the female Peregrine
and Common Buzzard again there. The Peregrine had taken a
Moorhen and flew off towards Parkhill Plantation. The
year's second Corn Bunting record
concerned one flying west over the same site. |
| |
| February
10th |
| 1100
Fieldfare in the area this morning, with Tug Bridge Farm
holding 800, along with increased numbers of Starling and
Redwing. A further 300 Fieldfare were in fields in the
north of the area, around the Severn Trent works where a
single Common Buzzard flew west late morning. This bird
possibly was'nt one of the three Common Buzzards near
Hare Hill Wood during the afternoon (per C Cornish)
One Water Rail showed well in it's
favoured section of Eakring Flash. |
| |
| February
11th |
| Wildfowl
at Eakring Flash early morning only, included 19 Pochard
(new highest count) five Shelduck and two Gadwall. A
Common Buzzard was in the area late morning and a Water
Rail still. Two Jack Snipe were
again at Eakring Meadows. Common Gulls were moving through.
Two largest groups made up of 37 moving high west and 24
east. Possibly up to 76 birds were noted during the
morning, with smaller numbers of Herring Gull and two
Lesser Black-backed Gull. Possibly confirming a gull
movement was the 35 Black-headed Gull east and
south-east.
There were
no large Fieldfare flocks in the area. Small groups were
at Tug Bridge Farm and over Lound Wood, but 70 Redwing
were in the High Trees/Church Hill area. Small flocks of
Starling again moved south, 45 in total today.
|
| |
| February
12th |
| Generally
quiet this morning, but there are some small signs of the
start of Spring migration. 39 Lapwing flew north in three
groups and odd Skylark seem to be moving north-west as
well with Fieldfare, which again produced only small
numbers today. 80 Redwing were still in the High
Trees/Church Hill area. Two seperate flocks of 12 and
then 13 Linnets flew south-east, made up a 25 bird total.
Four Cormorants on Eakring Flash mid-morning were an
unusual sight. The Water Rail was again
present at the same site. |
| |
| February
13th |
| 300 Pink-footed
Geese went north-west at 8:45am over Eakring
Flash, also drake Goosander through.
Good numbers of Fieldfare, most of which were probably
commuting/feeding flocks, although numerous small loose
flocks flew north during the morning. The Common Buzzard
was again around the Lound Wood/Leyfields area. |
| |
| February
14th |
