December 2000/January 2001
compiled by George Walthew
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PBC Bird Sightings
December 2000/January 2001 compiled by George Walthew |
Twenty-one Great Crested Grebes were counted at Ferry Meadows on 14 Jan (GW). At least 91 Cormorants were at Deeping Mere on 3 Jan (PP). A flock of 165 Mute Swans were on rape at Hill Farm, Thorney on 31 Dec (GW). Seven Bewick's Swans were at Eldernell on 5 Jan (MF), 1000 plus were at March Farmers on 13 Jan (MF) and 8 were on rape with Mutes at Hill Farm, Thorney on 31 Dec (GW). Two Whooper Swans were at Eldernell on 5 Jan (MF). A flock of 300 Greylag Goose were at Baston and Langtoft GP on 20Jan (TW). A dark-bellied Brent Goose was at Eldernell on 5 Jan (MF).
A Shelduck was at Star Pit, Dogsthorpe on 17 Jan (BS) and three were on 'The Lake' at Welland Bank on 31 Dec (TW). Twenty plus Wigeon were at Baston and Langtoft GP on 4 Jan (MF), 50 plus were there on 20Jan (TW), 100 were at Bainton Pits on 14 Jan (MH), 11 were at Baston Fen NR on 9 Dec and 36 on the 18th (JR). Seven Gadwall were at Milton Park on 5 Jan (TW), 10 were at Ferry Meadows on 14 Jan (GW) and 79 were on 'The Lake' at Welland Bank on 31 Dec (TW). 258 Teal were on 'The Lake' at Welland Bank on 31 Dec (TW). 71 Mallard were at Baston Fen NR on 9 Dec (JR) and 229 were on 'The Lake' at Welland Bank on 31 Dec (TW). A Pintail was at Bainton Pits on 14 Jan (MH) and 1100 were at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT). 34 Shoveler were on 'The Lake' at Welland Bank on 31 Dec (TW). 15 Red-crested Pochard were at Baston and Langtoft GP on 30 Dec (TW) and 14 on 31 Dec (MC), 16 on 4 Jan (MF, TW), 15 on 16 Jan (PP), and 13 on 20 Jan (TW). 100 Pochard were at Bainton Pits on 14 Jan (MH), 2230 were at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT), and 66 were at 'The Lake', Welland Bank on 31 Dec (TW). A female Scaup was at Baston and Langtoft GP on 30 Dec (TW), 4 Jan (MF, TW) and 6 Jan (GRH). Five Goldeneye were at Bainton Pits on 30 Dec (MH) increasing to 10 on 6 Jan (RA) and 13 by 17 Jan (MH, PP). Four were at Baston and Langtoft GP on 30 Dec (TW), 10 plus on 31 Dec (MH) but only one on 20 Jan (TW). One was at Baston Fen NR on 18 Dec (JR), one was at Crown Lakes on 26 Dec (GW), one was at Maxey Pit on 7th and 14 Jan (RA), and nine were at 'The Lake', Welland Bank on 31 Dec (TW). A redhead Smew was at Baston and Langtoft GP on 1 Jan (AB) and two were there on 4 Jan (TW, MF). A Goosander was at Ferry Meadows on 28 Dec (CS), 11 were at Deeping High Bank on 1 Jan (AB), five were at Maxey Pit on 7 Jan (RA) and 31 were there on 14 Jan (RA), 22 were at Tallington Pits on 30 Dec (TW) and 16 were there on 11 Jan (MH). Three Ruddy Ducks were at Ferry Meadows on 28 Dec (CS) and a male was at Tallington Pits on 16 Jan (PP).
Two Red Kites were at King’s Cliffe on 27 Dec (MC, GC) and one was at Fotheringhay on 7 Jan (BS). A Sparrowhawk was at Baston Fen NR on 18 Dec (JR), at Orton Malborne on 20 Dec (BS), at Elton on 29 Dec (BS), were at King’s Dyke NR on 31 Dec (GW), two were at Helpston on 8 Jan (SD), one at Elton and one at Westwood on 13 Jan (BS), and one at Milton Park on 16 Jan (PP). A Common Buzzard was at Elton on 25 Dec (RD), two were there on 5 Jan (BS), one was at Castor Hanglands on 30 Dec (CD) and again on 7 Jan (RA), four were at Elton on 7 Jan (RD) and one on 11 Jan (KS); and two were at Blatherwick on 14 Jan (MF). Kestrels were seen at Newborough (DB), Willow Drove (DB), Elton and Alwalton Hill (BS). A Merlin was at Barnack Hills and Holes on 8 Jan (TS), at Thorpe Road on 13 Jan (MW) and at Blatherwick on 14 Jan (MF). A Peregrine was seen at Baston Fen NR on 18 Dec (JR).
Two Water Rails were calling at Baston Fen NR on 18 Dec (JR), one was at Skaters Way on 30 Dec (MH) and one was calling at King’s Dyke NR on 7 Jan (GW). 563 Coot were counted at 'The Lake' at Welland Bank on 31 Dec (TW).
60 Golden Plovers were at Chesterton on 27 Dec (MC, GC) and 42 flew east at Hill Farm, Thorney on 31 Dec (GW). 100 Lapwings were at Elton on 14 Jan (BS). Two Knot flew east at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT). 30 Ruff were at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT). 30 plus Snipe were at Ferry Meadows on 28 Dec (CS). A Woodcock was seen near Helpston on 27 Dec (CD), another at Royce Wood, Helpston on 29 Dec (RA), one at Hill Farm, Thorney on 31 Dec (GW), one at King’s Dyke NR also on 31 Dec (GW), two at Maxey Pit on 7 Jan (RA), and another two at Bainton Pits on 12 Jan (PP). 18 Black-tailed Godwits were at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT). Two Redshank were at Eye on 1 Jan (CDS) and 180 were at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT). A Green Sandpiper was at Stowe Scrape on 6 Jan (GRH). A Common Sandpiper was at at Deeping Showground on 31 Dec (GC) and at Stowe Scrape on 8 Jan (CD).
An adult Mediterranean Gull was reported at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT). 142 plus Common Gulls were at Milton Park on 5 Jan (TW) and 750 plus were at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT). An adult Yellow-legged Gull (L. c. michahellis) was at Star Pit, Dogsthorpe on 17 Jan (BS). A 1st/2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT), and one was at Star Pit, Dogsthorpe on 17 Jan and this was still present on the 20th (BS).
A flock of 600 Woodpigeons were at Morborne Hill on 9 Jan (BS) and 800 were on oilseed rape at Hill Farm, Thorney on 31 Dec (GW).
Two Barn Owls were seen at Eldernell on 1 Jan (GRH) and one was roosting at Bretton on the 26th and 30 Dec (CS). A Little Owl was roosting at Maxey on 3 Jan (PP) , one roosting at Newborough on 6 Jan (DB), one roosting at Bushy Wood on 8 Jan (PP) and one roosting at G Spinney on 10Jan (PP).
A Kingfisher was seen at Newborough on 13 Dec (DB), one at Baston Fen NR on 18 Dec (JR), at Eldernell on 1 Jan (GRH), at Baston and Langtoft GP on 4 Jan (MF), at Newborough on 6 Jan (DB), at Newborough on 9 Jan (DB), two were at Blatherwick on 14 Jan (MF), one at Elton on 14 Jan (KS), at Langtoft/Westend GP on 16 Jan (PP) and at Baston and Langtoft GP on 16 Jan (PP).
There were 32 plus Skylarks at Upton on 16 Jan (PP), flocks of 200 and 160 at Hill Farm, Thorney on 31 Dec (GW). A flock of 20 Meadow Pipits were on set aside at Hill Farm, Thorney on 31 Dec (GW). A Water Pipit was seen at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT). A Grey Wagtail was at Skaters Way on 30 Dec (MH) and at Foster's Coppice on 8 Jan (PP).
Two Waxwings were at Baston and Langtoft GP on 1 Jan (TD) and 30 were at Helpston on the 3rd and 4 Jan (JC, JB). Two Stonechats were at Baston Fen NR 9 Dec (KKH), one at Newborough on 6 Jan (DB) and five at Nene Washes on 15 Jan (JT). 25 Blackbirds were counted at King’s Dyke NR on 31 Dec (GW). 300 Fieldfares were at Fotheringhay on 7 Jan (BS), 50 at Morborne Hill on 9 Jan (BS), 84 plus at Woodcroft Road on 9 Jan (PP), 100 at Elton on 14 Jan (BS), 50 plus at Upton on 17 Jan (PP), and 50 plus at Baston and Langtoft GP on 31 Dec (MH). Ten Redwings were at Morborne Hill on 9 Jan (BS) and 12 at Crown Lakes on 26 Dec (GW).
A male Blackcap was at a Longthorpe Garden on 4 Jan (GRH) and a Chiffchaff was at Baston Fen NR on 9 Dec (JR). 30 Goldcrests were seen at Southey Wood on 3 Jan (GRH). 22 Long-tailed Tits were at Helpston in flocks of 13 and 9 on 8 Jan (SD). Marsh Tits were seen at Helpston (RA), Southey Wood (GRH, TW), Castor Hanglands, Foster's Coppice, Stamford Road Parkland, Hayes Wood, Milton Park, and Upton (PP). Two Willow Tits were seen at Southey Wood on 3 Jan (GRH) and one there on 5 Jan (TW); and one at Helpston on 6 Jan (MF). Coal Tits were seen at Southey Wood (TW) and Elton (BS). A Nuthatch was at Hayes Wood on 9 Jan (PP). Treecreepers were seen at Southey Wood on 5 Jan (TW), at Hayes Wood on 9 Jan (PP), at Upton plus on 17 Jan (PP), and at Bluebell Wood on 30 Dec (CS).
Four Jays were at a garden Helpston throughout December (RA), one at Baston Fen NR on 18 Dec (JR), Southey Wood on the 3rd (GRH), 9th (TW) and 10 Jan (PP). Four were at Hayes Wood, one at Oxey Wood, and 2 at Simon's Wood on 9 Jan (PP), one at G Spinney on 10 Jan (PP), and three at Milton Park on 16 Jan (PP). At least 25 Magpies were at Deeping Mere on 3 Jan (PP) and 50 Carrion Crows were there on 3 Jan (PP).
There were 55 plus Chaffinches at Upton on 17 Jan (PP) and 20 were at Elton on 23 Dec (BS). A Brambling was at Eldernell on 1 Jan (GRH) and another was at Maxham's Green Lane on 9 Jan (PP). 200 Greenfinches were at West Deeping on 11 Jan (MH). 15 Siskins were at Southey Wood on 3 Jan (GRH). 20 Linnets were at Helpston on 6 Jan (RA) and 28 were at Maxey Pit on 7 Jan (RA). A Crossbill was at Southey Wood on 3 Jan (GRH). Bullfinches were noted at Southey Wood (TW), Bainton Pits (MH, PP), Thorpe Wood (PP), Elton (BS) and Stilton (JD).
There were only two reports of Yellowhammer flocks: 16 were at Helpston on 6 Jan (RA) and 12 were at Maxey Pit on 7 Jan (RA). 43 Corn Buntings were at Baston Fen NR on 18 Dec (JR), two at Hill Farm, Thorney on 31 Dec (GW) and one at Eye on 1 Jan (CBS).
Abbreviations
BP - Brick Pit, GP - Gravel Pit, NR - Nature Reserve
Contributors
Richard Astle (RA), David Belson (DB), Jennifer Britton (JB), Andy Brown (AB), Martin Coates (MC), Geoff Cowley (GC), John Crudass (JC), Janet Darke (JD), Roger Davis (RD), Chris Dawn (CD), Terry Dixon (TD), Steve Dudley (SD), Matt Francis (MF), Gordon Hamlett (GRH), KK Harrison (KKH), Malcolm Holley (MH), Chris Monk (CM), Philip Precey (PP), John Redshaw (JR), Roger Scothern (RS), C.B. Shaw (CBS), Charles Shaw (CS), Brian Stone (BS), Karen Stone (KS), Tony Stones (TS), Jonathan Taylor (JT), George Walthew (GW), Mike Weedon (MW), Trevor Williams (TW).