November 2004
by Brian Stone
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PBC What To Look For November 2004 by Brian Stone |
Again I am going to suggest watching your garden for Blackcap, Brambling, Firecrest and Hawfinch over Christmas. There are always a few lucky observers who pick up one or more of these treats proving it is always worth keeping an eye on what is going on in your garden. This is the last chance to add species to your garden survey list and catch up with any winter visitors that eluded you in January/February. How about a Siskin or two attracted to the feeding station.
Wildfowl numbers are working up to their winter peaks over the next couple of months. Extraordinary numbers of birds use the Nene Washes - well into five figures at times. Your local lake or gravel pit should also have a few. With most duck now well out of eclipse plumage the drakes of all species are at their finest. Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and Pochard are among the most colourful but a big favourite with many is the handsome Pintail. They can turn up anywhere, but look where you normally see Wigeon for the pale, elegant form of this top dabbling duck. Only the males have the long tail extensions but even females look far more attenuated than other ducks and have the same long, slender neck.
If you fancy a challenge, while you are looking through flocks of Wigeon see if you can locate an American Wigeon. A good number of American birds (duck, waders and gulls) have been seen near Peterborough in recent years so and we are long overdue another American Wigeon. Males normally stand out with a creamy-white forehead and bottle-green eye patch but females are harder to spot. Look for a pale head peppered with black combined with bright orangy breast and flanks.
Other rare waterbirds to look out for are Great Northern Diver, Slavonian and Red-necked Grebes, Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Smew and Red-breasted Merganser. Some of these have been seen recently in the Peterborough area and there may be a chance of more.
Finally what about a nice Christmas present that everyone can enjoy. Waxwings are great value. As well as being stunning to look at they positively love urban areas so can even end up sitting on your TV aerial! Peterborough is blessed with enormous numbers of berry bearing trees and shrubs, just the sort of thing for a party of hungry Waxwings. Small number have already been seen during November and parts of northern Britain are experiencing very large numbers. For such a striking bird it is surprising how easy it is to pass off a group as Starlings as they sit on a trees alongside the road. As ever the message is to stay vigilant and look at all the birds around you. You never know when you are going to notice something unexpected.
Brian
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