Bird news for February 2008

Two Goosander were back on Eakring Flash this morning, with a Water Rail calling again there. At Eakring Meadows, an obvious influx of Common Snipe was noted and the resulting total of 42 birds was the highest here since February 2002, but there was no sign of any Jack Snipe once again. A male Peregrine was also noted over Eakring Meadows this morning, before drifting back towards Kersall.

February 6th

An increase in the number of duck present today, including a good site count of 12 Gadwall on Eakring Flash this afternoon, with 20 Mallard there. Numbers over recent years have struggled to reach double-figures for the latter species.

February 7th

Still very quiet generally, with nine Gadwall on Eakring Flash this morning. At Eakring Meadows, at least 24 Common Snipe and two Teal were present, with two Common Buzzards over Hare Hill Wood and Kersall village.

Highlights for the morning both came away from Eakring Flash, with a Woodcock on the eastern side of Hare Hill Wood and a single Long-eared Owl flushed from the same roost that was used by two birds early last year. Both these species are especially tricky to get onto the year list here and although both have become more or less annual over recent years, they are not certainties.

At Eakring Flash there was a drake Shelduck, three Teal and now 15 Gadwall. Ten Starling east over there, was the first indication of the start of return migration.

Four Common Buzzards in the Tug Bridge Farm and Kneesall Road area this morning.

February 10th

A second Woodcock within the space of two days was flushed from Penny Pasture Common this morning. Still no sign of any Jack Snipe, despite an extensive search of the Eakring Meadows area, but 23 Common Snipe present today. The Tug Bridge Farm Common Buzzard was again in it's favoured tree and at Eakring Flash, a Water Rail was at the southern-end with 16 Gadwall there.

February 13th

Single Water Rail calling briefly at Eakring Flash this afternoon, with 17 Gadwall and two Pochard there. Two Common Buzzards were high over the Red Hill area, with good numbers of Golden Plover and Lapwing distant. A single Jack Snipe was flushed from Eakring Meadows. A single flock of 74 Starling flew east.

February 16th

Quiet this morning. Two flocks of Fieldfare moved through Eakring Flash including 48 north-west and 15 north-east. An increase in the number of Common Gulls in the area, with 18 noted today.

February 17th

Very quiet again this morning, but a flock of 198 Golden Plover were in fields at Church Hill and Tug Bridge Farm. Golden Plover have been extremely scarce here this Winter. A Common Buzzard was at Tug Bridge Farm.

A late evening visit proved much more productive. Little Owls included a single at Kersall and two near Eakring Meadows. A Common Buzzard (same bird seen earlier today) flew over Eakring Meadows towards Eakring Field Farm and a Woodcock flew across the road and onto Penny Pasture Common. Nearby, a Barn Owl hunted the set-aside strips near Eakring Field Farm and a Tawny Owl was seen near Eakring village.

February 18th

A single Long-eared Owl was in the usual Kersall roost site again this morning, with a total of 18 Common Snipe around Eakring Meadows (per Robin Brace)

February 28th

Following a very quiet spell, some notable signs of Spring passage this morning. Three Stonechat were at two sites, with a male along the roadside between Eakring and Wellow and both a male and female along the boundary fence at Penny Pasture Common. Stonechats have been noted arrivng at some south-coast sites over the past few days and these were the first February records since 2001. An unusual record at Penny Pasture Common was a Water Rail near the small pool, only the second Water Rail record away from Eakring Flash. Two Brambling were at Eakring Flash briefly and a single flock of 22 flew high north. Two Shelduck were at Eakring Flash.

Eakring Bird news
February 2008
Featuring news and sightings from Eakring