Bird news for January 2010

January 1st

Generally quiet in the area late morning, apart from two skiens of Pink-footed Geese that were seen north Lound Wood at 11:15h. Both skiens were flying in opposite directions (122 south-east and 91 north-west) and were seen to pass each other at close range at one point. Small numbers of both Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls moving south-west early afternoon and 21 Golden Plover were in fields along the Kneesall Road, with 12 Lapwing. Six Lapwing also went west today.


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A Short-eared Owl was at Eakring Flash this morning, initially disturbed from long grass at the bottom of a bank, the bird then flew across a field and found similar cover for a while, before heading off back over fields and remaining in the area. Short-eared Owl is a true rarity at Eakring and this record is no doubt due to the very cold weather at the moment.

January 3rd

With very cold temperatures again today, there was a large movement of Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull throughout the morning, plus more Pink-footed Geese through. Three skiens of Pink-footed Geese were comprised of 20 west at 09:21h, 330 west at 09:29h and 13 west at 10:16h - a total of 363 west. A record number of Herring Gull included 395 high south and south-west, whilst 84 Great Black-backed Gull south and south-west, would have been a record in itself a couple of weeks ago.

There was clearly some cold weather displacement of birds further north and movements included 77 Golden Plover south-west and good numbers of Sky Larks, with 63 (including one flock of 57 birds) and 12 south-west. 53 were also in fields at Red Hill.

An adult male Peregrine was hunting Wood Pigeon at Lound Wood briefly this morning, but there was no sign of yesterday's Short-eared Owl in the Eakring Flash area.

January 7th

Some limited cold weather movement this morning, with 77 Lapwing (19 low south-west and 58 high south) 11 Sky Lark south-west, 38 Lesser Redpoll east and south-east, 16 Linnet south-east and south-west and eight Fieldfare south. A skien of approximately 95 Pink-footed Geese flew east at 10:55, with at least some appearing to come down, but these could not be located immediately afterwards. A drake Tufted Duck flew east.

January 14th

With little let up in the snowy conditions, there was little of note this morning, but single Water Rail were at Eakring Flash and the small Sewage Treatment Works at Eakring. A total of four Common Snipe were flushed from the latter site and along the smaller stretches of The Beck. There are increased numbers of Yellowhammer around the Eakring Flash area and a flock of 12 Reed Bunting were unusual. Bullfinches are also around in good numbers, with eight at Eakring Flash and two in the pastures area.

January 15th

Still quiet in the area, but the Water Rail was again calling from the filter beds at Eakring STW this morning and a Grey Wagtail there. Common Buzzards were at Eakring Meadows and Eakring Flash.

Three Roe Deer crossed open fields from Parkhill Plantation (east of Eakring Field Farm) and were seen to cross the minor road into Eakring Meadows.

January 17th

Some notable Sky Lark passage this morning, as birds moved through with the return to milder weather. A total of 179 Sky Lark west and north-west was made up of mostly two's and three's but two flocks of 19 and 26 also went through. A few birds also went south. There was obviously a great deal of movement this morning, with 194 Wood Pigeon north-west, 22 Yellowhammer west (including groups of nine and ten) nine Linnet west and a Tree Sparrow south. Small groups of Fieldfare included 40 at Eakring Flash, 28 at Tug Bridge Farm and 12 at Park Farm. Ten Fieldfare also went high north. 50 Siskin were at Eakring Meadows.

Seven Lapwing went north-east and one was in flooded fields at Park Farm, with four Common Snipe at Eakring Meadows. Common Buzzards included one at Lound Wood, two at Eakring Meadows and one over Hare Hill Wood.

Scarce birds seen this morning included two female Goosander south-east and a pair of Wigeon over Eakring Flash, the Water Rail was again at Eakring STW and a male Peregrine went east over Eakring Flash.

January 18th

Smaller numbers of Sky Larks still moving west with approximately 50 through this morning. On the whole, today was considerably quieter than yesterday, but other moving birds included eight Siskin north-east, two Linnet west and one north and a single Yellowhammer west. 110 Fieldfare and 48 Redwing were in fields at Eakring Flash.

January 20th

Virtually nothing moving through again this morning, but a Nottinghamshire rarity today, with a Lapland Bunting (second Eakring record) through low north-east over Eakring Flash at 08:31h. The bird called three times and appeared to have come down in a small area of rough grass, but there was no further sign, despite an extensive search.

Very little else about today, but a pair of Goosander were on Eakring Flash, till they flew off west with 64 Mallard there. 26 Long-tailed Tits were noted in three groups at Eakring Flash, Eakring Meadows and Penny Pasture Common, with a group of seven Bullfinch at the latter site.

Eakring Bird news
January 2010
Featuring news and sightings from Eakring