Eakring Bird news
January 2005
Featuring news and sightings from Eakring
 
   
January 2nd
11 Teal were on Eakring Flash this morning (per Tony Wardell)
 
January 3rd
Two Common Buzzards in the area this afternoon, at both Eakring Flash and in the Red Hill area. 20+ Tree Sparrows were with around 30 Chaffinch in the set-aside field along the Kneesall Road, adjacent to the old pump house. 14 Linnet were in fields at Eakring Flash.
 
January 6th
A walk around the area this morning, produced some area rarities. Four Jack Snipe were found at Eakring Meadows NR, with three at Penny Pasture Common and another nearby on the reserve. Numbers of Snipe included seven at Eakring Flash, with six at Penny Pasture Common and a further 17 birds in other parts of the water-logged meadows.

Some 51 Teal were around the small pool at Penny Pasture Common and were again harrassed by the adult Peregrine, which showed well for much of the morning as it flew over Hare Hill Wood with two Sparrowhawks. At Eakring Flash, a Water Rail was present along the eastern-side of the water, with a Common Buzzard nearby, in the Lound Wood/Leyfields area early morning.

Groups of Redwing today, included two of 19 and 17 birds and the only Fieldfare found, included up to 30 in the Church Hill area, with over 150 Starling. Still at least 20 Tree Sparrows in the set-aside field along the Kneesall road today, with a varied assortment of other wintering passerines.

 
January 8th
A Woodcock was at Eakring Meadows this morning, with 15 Snipe there. Nearby, at Eakring Flash, the regular Common Buzzard was in the area with 10 Skylark and 20 Linnets in the surrounding fields. Groups of Fieldfare included 50 west of Tug Bridge Farm, which were probably part of the 180 at Eakring Flash mid-morning (per Robin Brace and Tony Wardell)
 
January 13th
A female Goosander was at Eakring Flash late morning, with a Water Rail and seven Teal there.
 
January 17th
Approximately 151 Fieldfare were in fields at Eakring Flash this afternoon.
 
January 20th
30 Gadwall were on Eakring Flash this morning, a count which is the highest obtained for several years. 168 Fieldfare were in fields at Kersall.
 
January 21st
A Peregrine was high over Eakring Flash mid-afternoon, before drifting off east. Presumably, this is the long-staying individual most frequently seen around the Eakring Meadows/Hare Hill Wood area. At least 225 Fieldfare, with similar numbers of Starling were in fields around the Leyfields farm area.
 
January 22nd
A skien of 72 Pink-footed Geese flew west over Eakring Flash at 09:10am this morning. Wildfowl there included 22 Gadwall, 15 Teal and a Shelduck briefly. Two Jack Snipe were flushed from Penny Pasture Common and 20 Common Snipe were found there and elsewhere around Eakring Meadows.

Decent numbers of gulls through the area today. 76 Herring Gull flew north or north-west, with a further 28 in other directions. 11 Great Black-backed Gull went mostly west and north-west. Six Grey Partridge (three pairs) were around the Eakring Flash and Red Hill areas. Common Buzzards included a bird at Eakring Meadows and one south over Eakring Flash.

 
January 23rd
53 Pink-footed Geese eventually flew north-west through the area at 10:20-10:30am, but frequently changed direction and consequently were over the area for much longer than most skiens. On Eakring Flash, 14 Gadwall, six Teal and the Shelduck again. Near Eakring village, the first Golden Plover of the year included 27, with 12 Lapwing.
 
January 27th
24 Gadwall and six Teal were on Eakring Flash this morning, with a minimum of 30 Teal also at Eakring Meadows.
 
January 29th
A short mid-afternoon visit to the area produced three skiens of Pink-footed Geese going north-west. These were part of another large cross-country movement, which took place (it seems from late morning onwards) today. 471 birds in total were noted.
 
January 30th
Still at least one Jack Snipe at Penny Pasture Common this morning, with the Teal flock there now numbering 70+ birds again (per Robin Brace and Tony Wardell)
 
Previous bird news
Birds
Homepage
Contents