January/February 2001
compiled by George Walthew
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PBC Bird Sightings
January/February 2001 compiled by George Walthew |
Eighteen Little Grebes were at Tallington Pits on 21 Jan (TW). 14 Great Crested Grebes were at Ferry Meadows on 8 Feb (DB). A Bittern was seen at Eldernell on 31 Jan (MC) and again on 16 Feb (CM). 17 Grey Heron were at the Rowing Lake on 3 Feb.
65 Mute Swans were at Deeping High Bank on 14 Jan (JR), 40 at High Wash on 24 Jan (BS) and 95 were on oilseed rape at Hill Farm, Thorney on 11 Feb (GW). 49 Bewick's Swans were at March Farmers on 28 Jan (RP), 87 at Eldernell on 31 Jan (MC), five on rape with Mutes at Hill Farm, Thorney on 11 Feb (GW), 250 plus at March Farmers on 11 Feb (TW) and 773 at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (JT). 15 Whooper Swans were at March Farmers on 28 Jan (RP), three were at Eldernell on 31 Jan (MC), 13 were at Deeping High Bank on 10 Feb, 100 plus at March Farmers on 11 Feb (TW) and 111 at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (JT). 16 Pink-footed Geese flew over at Orton Longueville on 22 Jan (SD) and there was one at Deeping Mere on 11 Feb (TW).
A Shelduck was at Dogsthorpe Star Pit on 17 Jan (BS), 24 were at High Wash on 24 Jan (BS), two were at Baston and Langtoft GP on 10 Feb (TW) and six were at Dog in a Doublet on 13 Feb (BS). 56 Wigeon were at Baston Fen NR on 14 Jan (JR), 105 there on 25 Jan (JR) and 70 on 6 Feb (JR). 14 were at Orton BP on 21 Jan (GW), 50 were at High Wash on 24 Jan (BS), five were at Tallington Pits on 7 Feb (DB), 38 were at Ferry Meadows on 7 Feb (SD), 40 were at Bainton Pits on 15 Feb to 50 (MH), and a massive 10,800 were at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (JT). 68 Gadwall were at Tallington Pits on 21 Jan (TW) with 78 there on 11 Feb (TW), and 29 were at Bainton Pits on 11 Feb (RT). 80 Teal were at Baston Fen NR on 25 Jan (JR). A Green-winged Teal was at March Farmers on 4 Feb amongst 3-400 Teal (PC). 55 Mallard were at Baston Fen NR on 25 Jan (JR), 68 at Bainton Pits on 11 Feb (RT), 77 at Maxey pits on 11 Feb (RT) and 108 at Tanholt GP also on 11 Feb (GW). A male Pintail was at Baston and Langtoft GP on 10 Feb (WB) and 2670 were at Nene Washes on 12 Feb, highest since 1968! (JT). A male Red-crested Pochard was at Tallington Pits on 21 Jan (TW), 12 were at Baston and Langtoft GP on 8 Feb (PO) and 15 on 11 Feb (TW). 122 Pochard were counted at Bainton Pits on 11 Feb (RT) and a record 4,060 at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (the previously highest was 2250) (JT). 121 Tufted Duck were at Tallington Pits on 7 Feb (DB), 58 were at Bainton Pits on 11 Feb (RT) and 750 were at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (JT). A female Scaup was seen at Baston and Langtoft GP on the 6th and 11 Jan (GRH), and the 10th and 11 Feb(WB, TW). 20 Goldeneye were at Deeping High Bank on 18 Jan (SD), 15 were at Tallington Pits on 21 Jan with 58 there on 11 Feb (TW), 8 plus were at Orton BP on 21 Jan (GW) and 15 were there on 17 Feb (GW), 28 were at Bainton Pits on 11 Feb (RT). A Smew was at Tallington Pits on 21 Jan (TW), four were at Baston and Langtoft GP on 8 Feb (PO) and five were there on 10 Feb (TW). Two were at The Lake, Deeping on 11 Feb (TW). Two Goosander were at Deeping High Bank on 11 Jan (GRH), 7 were there on 18 Jan (RT) and 10 Feb (SD) and two again on on 11 Feb (TW). Three were at Baston Fen NR on 6 Feb (JR), four were at Langtoft West End GP on 11 Feb (TW), 19 were at Maxey pits on 11 Feb (RT) and four were at Bainton Pits on 11 Feb (RT). A male Ruddy Duck was at Tallington Pits on 21 Jan and 11 Feb (TW).
A Red Kite was at Kings Cliffe on 2 Jan (GRH) and two were at Morborne Hill on 28 Jan (RP). A male Hen Harrier was at March Farmers on 28 Jan (RP). Sparrowhawks were seen at: Longthorpe; Ferry Meadows (GRH) (GRH); Baston Fen NR (JR); Dogsthorpe Star Pit; Fletton; Stanley Park, Peterborough; Dog in a Doublet; Eastfield (BS); Peterborough cathedral (CH); Tanholt GP (GW); Eldernell (CM). Two Common Buzzards were at Morborne Hill on 28 Jan (RP), one at Elton on 5 Feb (BS) and two there on 13 Feb (KS). Kestrels were seen at: Thorney (GRH); Newborough; Borough Fen; Barholm; Stowe Farm (DB); Bretton; Morborne; Morborne Hill; Warmington; High Wash; Eye; Wittering; Elton (BS); Ferry Meadows; Serpentine Green (TS); Eldernell on 3 Feb (WB); Hill Farm, Thorney (GW). A Merlin was at Fletton BP on 7 Feb (BS). A Peregrine was at Nene Washes on 12 Feb adult (JT).
Forty Red-legged Partridges were at High Wash on 24 Jan (BS). Two Water Rails were at Baston Fen NR on 14 Jan and again on the 25th (JR) and 10 Feb (WB). One was seen at Orton BP on 21 Jan (GW) and three were at Eldernell on 31 Jan (MC).
An Oystercatcher was on the ice at Orton BP on 21 Jan (GW). 100 plus Golden Plovers were at Eldernell on 27 Jan (MF) and 200 were at Dog in a Doublet on 7 Feb (BS). 400 Lapwings were at Eldernell on 11 Jan (GRH), 120 flew over Baston Fen NR on 6 Feb (JR), 200 were at Dog in a Doublet on 7 Feb (BS), 100 at Ferry Meadows on 8 Feb (DB), 187 flew SW at Elton on 11 Feb (BS) and 7,100 were at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (JT). Two Knot flew east at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (JT). 20 Dunlin were at Eldernell on 31 Jan (MC). 12 Ruff were at Eldernell on 27 Jan (MF) and 20 were there on 31 Jan (MC), 16 were at March Farmers on 28 Jan (RP). Two Woodcock were at Southey Wood on 28 Jan (RP), one was at Baston and Langtoft GP on 10 Feb (TW), and four were at Tanholt GP on 11 Feb (GW). 20 Black-tailed Godwits were at Eldernell on 27 Jan (MF), 54 were there on 31 Jan (MC) and 280 were at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (JT). Three Redshank were at Dogsthorpe Star Pit on 18 Jan (GRH), six at Baston Fen NR on 25 Jan (JR), 10 at Eldernell on 31 Jan (MC) and three were there on 3 Feb (WB). A Green Sandpiper was at Stowe on 6 Jan (GRH).
200 Black-headed Gulls were at Ferry Meadows on 24 Jan (GRH) and 15,000 were at the roost on the reserve at Nene Washes and March Farmers on 12 Feb (JT). 50 Lesser Black-backed Gull were at Longthorpe on 1 Jan (GRH). A Yellow-legged Gull (michahellis) was at Dogsthorpe Star Pit from the 17th to 19 Jan (BS, SD, GRH, PP) and two (Caspian) were at March Farmers on the 27th and 28 Jan (MF). A first winter Glaucous Gull was at Dogsthorpe Star Pit on the 17th to 19 Jan (BS et al.) and one first winter was on the ice at Orton BP on 21 Jan (GW).
150 Stock Doves were at Thorney Dyke on 11 Jan (GRH). Two Barn Owls were at Eldernell on 1 Jan (GRH), one on the 19th, 27th, and 31 Jan (MF, MB, MC) and three on 3 Feb (WB). One was at March Farmers on 28 Jan (MF). Two Long-eared Owls were reported by the warden at Dogsthorpe Star Pit on 2 Feb, (BS). A Kingfisher was at Eldernell on 1 Jan (GRH); at Newborough on 16 Jan (DB); at North Bank on 19 Jan (BS); at Ferry Meadows on the 20th, 26th and 29 Jan (TS); and at Bainton Pits on 15 Feb (MH). Green woodpeckers were seen at: Dogsthorpe Star Pit, Ferry Meadows, Morborne Hill, Oxey Wood, Maxey Pits, Bainton Pits, and Orton BP. Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen at: Baston Fen NR, Barnack-Wittering Road, Castor Hanglands, Baston and Langtoft GP, and Ferry Meadows. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming at Longthorpe on 9 Feb (GRH), two were displaying in Bluebell Wood at Ferry Meadows on 10 Feb, (MW) and one was drumming there on 14 Feb (MF).
25 Meadow Pipits were at Baston Fen NR on 25 Jan (JR), a flock 24 were at Marholm Church on 3 Feb (GW) and 22 were at Dog in a Doublet on 13 Feb (BS). A Water Pipit was at Eldernell on 20 Jan (MC) and at Dog in a Doublet on 7 Feb (BS). 15 were at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (JT). A Grey Wagtail was at Borough Fen on 24 Jan (DB), Stanground on 28 Jan (CBS) and Werrington on 2 Feb (DB). 28 Pied Wagtails were at Baston Fen NR on 14 Jan (JR) and several hundred were at Bourges Boulevard in a pre-roost on 13 Feb (GRH).
Three Waxwings were at Shrewsbury Lane, Peterborough on 10 Feb (MW). Two Stonechats were at Baston Fen NR on 14 Jan (JR), one at Newborough on 16 Jan (DB), Stanground on 28 Jan (CBS), Eldernell on 19 Jan (MB) and 3 Feb (WB), Dog in a Doublet on 11 Feb (TW), and three at Nene Washes on 12 Feb (JT).
15 to 20 Blackbirds were seen in a single field at Folksworth on 22 Jan (BS), 14 were at Morborne Hill on 22 Jan (BS) and at least 27 were seen heading west in 5 minutes at Longthorpe on 10 Feb, (GRH). 64 Fieldfares were at Thorney Dyke on 11 Jan (GRH), 75 plus were at Southorpe Paddock NR on 18 Jan (SD), 255 were at High Wash on 24 Jan (BS), 70 were at Borough Fen on 24 Jan (DB), 260 were at Barholm on 7 Feb (DB) and 100 were at Bainton Pits on 15 Feb (MH). Mistle Thrushes were seen at: Langtoft (RS), Morborne Hill (BS), Marholm Church and Hill Farm, Thorney (GW) with 7 at Borough Fen on 24 Jan (DB).
A male Blackcap was in a garden at Longthorpe on 4 Jan (GRH) and one was at Orton Waterville on 30 Jan (TS). 30 Goldcrests were counted at Southey Wood on 3 Jan (GRH). 30 Long-tailed Tits were at Ferry Meadows on 24 Jan (GRH). Marsh Tits were seen at: Southey Wood (GRH), Southorpe Paddock NR (SD), Barnack-Wittering Road, Oxey Wood and Castor Hanglands (PP). Two Willow Tits were at Southey Wood on 3 Jan (GRH). A Nuthatch was at Castor Hanglands on 25 Jan (PP). Treecreepers were seen at: Baston Fen NR (JR, WB) and Morborne Hill (BS).
A Jay was at Southey Wood on 3 Jan (GRH), at Oxey wood on 23 Jan (PP) and two at Marholm Church on 3 Feb (GW). 300 Rooks were at Ferry Meadows on 24 Jan (GRH).
40 House Sparrows were at Eldernell on 11 Jan (GRH) and 45 plus were at Newborough on 2 Feb (DB). Several Tree Sparrows were at Eldernell on 19 Jan (MB), 40 Chaffinches were at Thorney Dyke on 11 Jan (GRH). A Brambling was at Eldernell on 1 Jan (GRH). 15 Siskins were at Southey Wood on 3 Jan (GRH), one was at Newborough on 12 Jan (DB) and several were in mixed a finch flock at Ferry Meadows on 19 Jan (MB). 15 Redpolls of indeterminate species were at Ferry Meadows on 27 Jan (CBS) and another three were seen there on 7 Feb (SD). Bullfinches were seen at: Orton Mere, Southey Wood, Longthorpe (GRH), Southorpe Paddock NR (SD), Thornhaugh, Barnack-Wittering Road, Oxey Wood (PP), Bainton Pits (RT) and Ferry Meadows (MF, TS).
100 Yellowhammers and 50 Reed Buntings were at Eldernell on 3 Feb (WB). Five Corn Bunting were at Thorney Dyke on 11 Jan (GRH).
Abbreviations
BP - Brick Pit, GP - Gravel Pit, NR - Nature Reserve
Contributors
Mac Bell, David Belson, William Bowell, Margaret Casbon, Pete Clements, Mark Cornish, Chris Dawn, Steve Dudley, Matt Francis, Chris Hamlett, Gordon Hamlett, Malcolm Holley, Chris Monk, Peter Overson, Richard Patient, Philip Precey, John Redshaw, Roger Scothern, C.B. Shaw, Brian Stone, Karen Stone, Trevor Sturgess, Jonathan Taylor, Bob Titman, George Walthew, Mark Ward, Matt Webb, Trevor Williams.