BIRD NEWS FROM CARR VALE NATURE RESERVE AND SURROUNDING AREA.

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2003

This bulletin covers the first two months of the year, as I didn't return from a five-week trip until 23rd February. My biggest concern whilst I was in Southern Africa was that our continuous run of daily visits would be broken. I needn't have worried because Dave Came, Tony Irons and Kev Navin (assisted by Ian Swain) were all marshalled by Richard Box and the daily coverage was maintained, albeit that the amount of time spent on the reserve was reduced. Nevertheless the January species total reached 73 and 78 species were noted in February. The January total is just above the eight year average for the month of 72.25 whilst the February total is the highest ever for the month beating the 76 in 2000. The yearlist progressed to 82, the second highest end of February total, the highest being 83 in 1996.

The year started well with Pink-footed Goose, Buzzard, Peregrine, Waxwing (5th record), tristis Chiffchaff (5th record from December), Firecrest (3rd record from December) and Brambling in January and Shelduck, Buzzard, Peregrine, Oystercatcher, Woodcock, tristis Chiffchaff (5th record) and Firecrest (3rd record) in February. In early January there was a spell of freezing weather and I am told that many days during February were also cold and frosty.

The first Great-crested Grebe of the year was present between 12th-14th February and Cormorants were a regular feature with records on 24 dates during January with a peak of five on four dates and on 24 dates during February, peaking at ten on the 9th. Herons were seen on 29 January dates and on 27 February dates with 11 on 25th and 27th January and nine on 8th February whilst the wing-tagged bird was still present on 24th February. Mute Swans (one or two) were seen on six dates during January and one to five were seen on 15 dates during February, plus six on the 18th. A Pink-footed Goose was present on 12th-13th January, 100 flew east on 23rd January with 40 north-west the following day. Canada Geese were recorded on 21 January dates with a peak of 98 on the 3rd whilst during February although birds were seen on 17 dates numbers were lower with a peak of 64 on the 13th.

A Shelduck was seen on 13th February and Wigeon continued to be recorded in good numbers with three-figures on all bar one January date and daily during February. Numbers were generally above 150 from 14th January reaching a record count of 180 on 2nd and 8th February with 176 still present on 28th February. Gadwall were a bit hit and miss during January with records for 21 dates but with double-figure counts on just two dates, 16 on the 2nd and 12 on the 31st. There were daily records (apart from the 6th) during February with double-figures on 16 dates including 23 on the 11th. Teal numbers during the first half of January were unimpressive; indeed the first three-figure count of the year wasn't until the 16th when 108 were counted. Thereafter there were seven further counts in excess of 100 until the end of the month including 127 on the 17th. During February there were 13 counts in excess of 100 (and there may well have been more but no figures were submitted for another eight dates) the highest of which was 141 on the 10th, almost a site record. Mallard were noted daily during the period but the highest counts were only 98 on 12th January and 86 on 1st February. Up to six Pochard were seen on 21 January dates and up to nine were seen on 18 February dates plus ten on the last two days of the month. Up to eight Tufted Ducks were seen on 21 January dates and up to ten were seen on 14 February dates with 11 on the 13th and 26th. Goosanders were seen on 16 January dates with a peak of five on the 29th whilst during February one to three were seen on 15 dates. After a male Ruddy Duck on 2nd January and again on 20th-21st January, a pair was present on the 23rd, 25th-26th with four on the 27th, three on the 28th and two on the 29th. In February one or two males were seen on four dates between the 8th and 13th and up to three birds were seen daily from the 24th to the month end.

Sparrowhawks were seen on 12 dates in January and on six in February including a record of three on 1st February, whilst Kestrels were noted on 11 dates during January and on ten during February. Single Common Buzzards were seen on 14th and 24th January and 1st, 19th and 25th February whilst an immature male Peregrine was seen on four dates between 8th-15th January and it or another was seen on 24th February. 14 Grey Partridges were seen on 12th January and three territorial pairs were noted on 23rd February, though a Red-legged Partridge on 15th February was more unusual. Good numbers of Pheasants were about with 28 on 18th January, Moorhens peaked at 25 on 12th January and there was a count of 66 Coot on 27th February, a new site record. One or two Water Rails were recorded on 13 January dates with three on the 14th and one or two were present on 12 February dates with three on the 20th.

An Oystercatcher was present briefly on 28th February and the first Ringed Plover of the year was recorded on 24th February. Golden Plovers were generally scarce with just four records in January, between 6th and 9th peaking at 55 on the 8th and five records between 13th and 21st February, peaking at 48 on the 20th. 70 Lapwings on 16th January was the only count of note for that month but numbers started to increase during February reaching 200 on the 6th and again on the 21st. A Dunlin was seen on 13th February, Snipe were seen on 16 dates during January but the only double-figure count was ten on the 7th whilst during January the highest count was also ten on the 20th with records on a further ten dates. A Woodcock was flushed by a spaniel on February 26th, a Curlew was seen on 28th February and single Redshank were seen on 1st, 3rd and 19th January and daily between 26th-28th February.

The monthly peaks for Black-headed Gull were 480 on 22nd January and 700 on 1st February, Common Gulls were recorded on just three January dates but included a very good count of 18 down on the 29th, whilst during February one or two were seen on five dates. 31 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were noted on 16th February with 310 Herring and 37 Great Black-backed Gulls counted on 15th January but once again no unusual gulls were recorded. 24 Collared Doves flew into roost on 13th January and one was sitting on a nest from mid-February, a Tawny Owl was seen on seven dates between 16th and 23rd February, Kingfishers were noted on five dates during January and on five dates during February including two on the 24th. A Green Woodpecker was recorded on ten dates during January and on nine during February.

On 9th January c220 Skylarks included 200 flying west with between ten and 30 almost daily between 4th-11th January and a flock of 20 Meadow Pipits was noted on 26th February, plus the first of the year flying north. One or two Grey Wagtails were seen on 16 January dates, with a single bird on five February dates and good numbers of Pied Wagtails were present with 42 on 31st January and 66 on 27th February. A Waxwing was present briefly on 8th January, only the fifth record for the site and 40 Blackbirds were noted on 12th-13th January. 400 Fieldfare were present on 6th January with 160 on the 24th, whilst in February the best count was 190 on the 17th. Six Song Thrushes were singing on 24th February, 100 Redwing on 11th January with 80 on the 13th were by far the best counts in the period, although 50 were noted on 27th February. The long-staying tristis Chiffchaff was seen on 11 dates during January and on eight dates during February, it last being seen on the 24th. Meanwhile the ever elusive Firecrest was seen (or at least reported) on 12 dates during January and on seven during February, it been recorded last on the 23rd.

16 Long-tailed Tits were seen on 8th January and Blue Tit Great Tit and Treecreeper were all heard singing on 4th January with Willow Tit song first noted on 15th February. 100+ Jackdaws were noted on 7th January when 100+ Rooks were also seen with 150 Rooks on 24th February and 305 the following day, the highest count since 1997. 20 Chaffinches were seen on 19th and 30th January with 15 present on 6th February and two Bramblings on 17th January were most unusual, this species being most often recorded in October and November at Carr Vale. Siskins were around in reasonable numbers during January with counts of 25 on the 6th and 30 on the 19th but then in February they became very scarce with records on just two dates. One or two Linnets were seen on four January dates which is unusual and Redpoll were also seen on four January dates, including a flock of 20 on the 29th and then one or two were noted on six February dates. Nine Bullfinches on 4th January was the highest count during the first two months and good numbers of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings were present during January peaking at 60 of the former on the 23rd and 31 of the latter on the 30th. 40 Yellowhammers and 15 Reed Buntings were still present on 1st February but after the first week numbers started to dwindle.

There was little to report amongst the mammals with regular sightings of Grey Squirrels and Hares. The only other species of note were a Fox on 7th January (plus a dead one), a Water Vole on 24th February and a Weasel on 28th February.

Mark Beevers.