Eakring Bird news

A pair of Shoveler on Eakring Flash this morning, were a very welcome year tick, as was the Little Grebe (heard but not seen) with both these species being rare here in recent years. Also at Eakring Flash were a pair of Shelduck and 13 Teal. Little going through this morning, apart from a couple of Stock Dove north and five linnet east. Two Siskin flew west over Eakring Meadows, with five Common Snipe flushed from one area.

Some evidence of wildfowl moving about either locally or nationally. The pair of Shoveler were again at Eakring Flash late morning and into the early afternoon, with two female Goosander at the southern end, a female Pochard, the Shelduck pair and the Little Grebe also still present.

The reward of checking a local patch for even an hour, paid off with a Curlew calling three times as it flew low north-east over Eakring Flash and Leyfields at 12:24h.

Two Common Buzzards were over Lound Wood, with another bird near Tug Bridge Farm.

March 5th

Just one female Goosander at Eakring Flash this morning, which arrived in from the west at 08:00h. Both male and female Shoveler and the female Pochard, were at the southern end of the flash for much of the morning. The Shelduck pair were briefly joined by a second pair and the Little Grebe continued to be elusive. Two Little Owls were near Eakring Field Farm, a locality in the area whcih has held a pair since at least 1994, but was left vacant in 2010 after the pair were both killed by passing traffic. Just east of Kersall, a flock of over 200 Golden Plover in fields.

There was a slight increase in visible migration, with 20 Starling east (groups of 11 and nine) two Linnet, single Pied Wagtail north-west. The first Meadow Pipit of the year flew north, with a single Song Thrush and Stock Dove through north and a Siskin west.

March 6th

The pair of Shoveler and the female Pochard all present again, with the Shelduck pair commuting between Eakring Flash and Penny Pasture Common this morning. Still a single Little Grebe at Eakring Flash. Apart from a single flock of 60 Starling east, little else was recorded moving through.

March 12th

Generally still quiet across the Eakring and Kersall area this morning, but a large increase in the number of both Fieldfare and Starling as migrant numbers build. Counts at two sites included 400 Starling and 120 Fieldfare at Tug Bridge Farm and 110 Starling and 160 Fieldfare at Eakring Flash. Only small numbers of migrants were moving through, with single Stock Dove, Yellowhammer, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit and Sky Lark all north-west. Two Coal Tits hurtled through Eakring Meadows where the five Common Snipe remained from last week.

At Eakring Flash, now two Little Grebe (still rare here) two female Goosander flew in at 08:15h, with another over briefly at 08:50h. Four Shelduck were again in the area and the female Pochard still present at Eakring Flash.

March 24th

Nine new Chiffchaff were new in the area since the last visit of the 19th, with three at Lound Wood, four at Hare Hill Wood and singles at High Trees and in Eakring village. Otherwise, despite the very fine weather, the area continues to be very quiet.

March 26th

A male Marsh Harrier at Eakring Flash from 06:55h this morning, was the highlight of a rather disappointing morning. Chiffchaff continue to arrive at the usual sites within the recording area and some migration with 107 Fieldfare, 18 Redwing north, along with much smaller numbers of common finches.

March 27th

Evidence of gull passage over the area this morning, with 35 Great Black-backed Gull and seven Herring Gull south and south-east. A 3cy Iceland Gull was obvious even at distance, as it went through with one group of 12 Great Black-backed Gulls at 08:38h. There was a trickle of migrants moving generally north until mid-morning, with counts of 77 Meadow Pipit, five Goldfinch, four Chaffinch and a single Lesser Redpoll through.

A female Goosander dropped into Eakring Flash and a Jack Snipe was with five Common Snipe at Penny Pasture Common. Common Buzzards included eight over Lound Wood and Red Hill late morning, with two in the Leyfields area. Possibly three of these were migrants, gaining height and drifting off north-west.

Eakring Bird news
March 2011
Featuring news and sightings from Eakring