Boughton Park and Wierton Hill Farm

February 2010

High pressure continued to influence the weather, but only during the 1st. Low pressure systems then brought milder and wet conditions, followed by a colder spell, as a ridge of high pressure spread over the British Isles. Sleet, hail and snow showers fell from the 8th. A week later low pressure systems dominated and during the last week brought a variety of weather conditions across the country, with winter releasing its grip on the southeast – no frosts and diurnal temperatures reaching 10 ºC.

With high pressure still the dominant influence in the southeast, the 1st was cloudless at dawn, as the full moon dropped towards the western horizon and a light sprinkling of snow covered the ice on the reservoir and most of the lake. A Tawny Owl flew into the oaks north of the lake, where the small patch of open water below the feeder stream held 42 Mallard, one Gadwall, one Coot and, most surprisingly, the first Little Grebe for the year, while 18 Moorhens roosted in the island trees. Seven Siskins fed in the marsh alders but only a ninety-minute visit was possible and little else was seen.

It was cloudy, with a southwest wind and light showers on the 2nd, when 52 Mallard, one Gadwall and one Coot were present on the ice and small stretch of open water at the lake. The reservoir was still frozen but a pair of Mallard, six Moorhens and a Coot were present. A pair of Sparrowhawks looked as though they might display, as they dropped towards the poplar wood and about 12 Siskins visited the marsh and lake alders. The 3rd was overcast, still, dry and less cold, but the reservoir and parts of the lake remained frozen. Seven Tufted Duck had returned to the lake, where there were also two female Gadwall, with 15 Siskins feeding in the marsh alders. About 200 Fieldfares fed in the hay field north of the Greensand Way and 45 Redwings favoured the sheep pasture. When the corvid flock was disturbed from the arable west of Peens Lane, a flock of 15 Skylarks also circled around but didn’t venture over the patch.   

It was milder on the 4th, but miserably, wet and misty during the ninety-minute visit, when a Cormorant visited the reservoir. There was little change noted, though a Tawny Owl was briefly visible in its roost hole, the Little Grebe was again seen on the lake, where only one Gadwall was noted and just 11 Siskins fed in the marsh alders. It was still, overcast and dry during the visit on the 5th, when the sun eventually broke through during the afternoon.  Two Cormorants, as well as a lone Canada Goose flew E and two Coot were present on the reservoir. There were fewer duck on the lake and the Gadwall and Little Grebe kept out of sight. A huge flock of maybe 400 Woodpigeons flew up from Darnold’s Wood to the west and some 200 of them flew NE over the patch. The small flock of Siskins was still present and about five Chaffinches were heard singing. The first Common Buzzard for the year flew over mid-morning.

It was overcast and still on the 6th, while I did a TTV in 74N, but a cold northeast wind blew by mid-morning. I arrived at the patch just in time to see a lone Skylark flying NE, but too late to see a pair of Mute Swans – a scarce visitor nowadays and number 60 for the year – that flew from the reservoir after the first fishermen, Lee and Chris Osborne had arrived.

It was mild enough for an osier to be budding. The lake held a similar number of about 30 Mallard, the Gadwall was resting on the island, the Little Grebe had been seen from some distance and there were five pairs of Tufted Duck present.

A flock of about 200 Fieldfares, with a few Redwings, flew from the paddock into the Deer Park oaks, a flock of some 25 Redwings flew from the Spindlewood orchard and about 25 Chaffinches fed in the lee of the poplar wood.  It was overcast, dull and still during a brief visit on the 7th, when most interest was focused on the lake, where certainly three, possibly four Coot were actively chasing each other – a sign, almost, of spring.

The Gadwall, Little Grebe and at least eight Tufted Duck were also present. Good numbers of Fieldfares were seen, with 140 perched in the Greensand Way line of alders and a similar number, or more, actively flying around the Deer Park. Towards the end of the visit a Woodcock was flushed from the stream by the poplar wood. During a brief visit towards dusk 140 Jackdaws flew NE, from the field west of Peens Lane, and a similar number disappeared W.

The cold northeast wind persisted and hail fell during a short, early visit on the 8th, when two Little Grebes were present on the lake but only 15 species were noted in the grim conditions. A moderate strength, bitterly cold northeast wind brought light sleet showers and sunny periods on the 9th, when three handsome drake Teal on the lake were a welcome addition for the year. A few increases in numbers were also noted, including 11 Tufted Duck and confirmation that there were four Coot present. A female Sparrowhawk was harassed by a Carrion Crow, as she flew towards the poplar wood, a lone Cormorant flew W and it was good to note my first Treecreeper for the  month. Two Coal Tits were seen and heard to sing, a flock of at least 30 Siskins fed in the marsh alders, three Greenfinches were also heard singing and a total of at least 13 Goldfinches was noted.

The 10th featured very changeable conditions during an early visit, with an attractive dawn sky, followed by a snowstorm, with a bitterly cold northerly wind.

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Eight Cormorants flew from the reservoir and as a Sparrowhawk flew W towards Darnold’s Wood a large flock of corvids flew up, some 50 Jackdaws heading for the Deer Park and about 15 Rooks heading SE, south of the reservoir. Later, the waterfowl on the lake were difficult to count during the snowstorm and relatively few passerines were noted, though a Coal Tit sang again and a flock of 15 Goldfinches was seen in the top of an oak in the Deer Park.

Following a TTV, during which there was a snowstorm, the visit to the patch on the 11th was dry and bright, and there was a light covering of snow. The lake held 31 Mallard, at least nine Moorhens, five Tufted Duck, four Coot, two Little Grebes and one Gadwall.

A male Sparrowhawk circled over the cattle pasture and my first LBB Gull for the year flew SE shortly after. Some 80 Fieldfares flew from the Braeburn orchard, a total of about 25 Redwings was noted but very few small passerines were seen, though Bob saw the first Meadow Pipit for the year in the Deer Park.

The overcast sky, early on the 12th, soon broke to produce some welcome sunshine and as the wind had dropped it felt less cold. The reservoir was a lively spot as I arrived, with 28 Cormorants diving for fish and a few Black-headed and Herring Gulls hoping for spoils. There was little change at the lake, though it was partially frozen, and few passerines were noted, apart from a mixed flock of about 30 Chaffinches and Yellowhammers, that flew from the lee of the poplar wood.

The 13th, chosen for the monthly census, was mainly overcast, though there were a few sunny periods and the northeast wind felt bitterly cold. I was probably just a little late at 6.30am and didn’t hear any owls calling, though three different Little Owls did call later in the morning. The flock of 28 Cormorants flew E low over the reservoir and two singles and a trio also flew over. Seeing four gull species, is always a bonus during a census; totals of 21 Herring and 13 Black-headed flew mainly N, an intermedius Lesser Black-backed flew N, with a flock of 14 of the Herring Gulls, and one Common Gull also flew N. Flocks of 40 and 55 Woodpigeons, that flew from the Spindlewood orchard, helped to produce the highest species total of 135, followed closely by 130 Fieldfares, which included a flock of 63 feeding in the sheep pasture. There were good counts of 42 Blue and 26 Great Tits but still no sign of a LT Tit, or a Goldcrest, this month. At the end of the visit, having just photographed a fox, five duck flew N, three of which were Wigeon – a welcome addition. The absence of both Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, Treecreeper, Siskin and Bullfinch – though Bob had Bullfinch and a Woodcock – kept the total to a five below average 42, but the bird total of 845 was close to a 100 above the mean.

After an attractive dawn sky, it was still, with a hard frost on the 14th, then overcast, with a mist over the Weald. Both the reservoir and the lake were partially frozen, with thin layers of ice. Three species not seen during the census were noted: the first Grey Heron of the year flew W from the lake, a Sparrowhawk disturbed some 90 Jackdaws that were resting in a Deer Park oak and two Siskins flew into a lake alder. Over 200 corvids, maybe 50% each of Rooks and Jackdaws, again fed on the arable west of Peens Lane, and when disturbed some circled over the patch, before returning. Otherwise, there was little change and only five single BH Gulls flew N.

Just a brief visit was made on the 16th, when it was overcast, milder, with a light southwest wind and rain. Surprisingly both the reservoir and lake still had patches of thin ice. At least 10 Moorhens ran across the cattle pasture to the lake, where there were three pairs of Tufted Duck, and the sheep pasture had attracted a mixed flock of at least 100 Fieldfares and Redwings.

There was a virtually cloudless sky, no wind and a hard frost early on the 17th, when patches of the lake and reservoir were still frozen. As I parked at the Peen’s Lane bend, a LS Woodpecker drummed right overhead and then flew into the Deer Park. It was also good to discover a second first for the month – a small flock of LT Tits, feeding in the clump of alders at the head of the marsh, as anticipated, accompanied by a Treecreeper. There was an increase to nine Tufted Duck on the lake and several passerines were in song, including at least three Song Thrushes and three Dunnocks; at least three Goldfinches and seven Siskins also fed in the marsh alders. A Little Owl was seen – a scarce sighting at present – a Tawny Owl was also seen briefly, before it disappeared into its roost hole, and a lone Canada Goose flew E.

The visit on the 18th was under an overcast sky, in dull, still, misty conditions, with light showers. Though the reservoir was almost completely frozen over, five Mallard dropped in, a Grey Heron flew from the northern bank, two BH Gulls stood on the ice, one Coot was also present and seven Herring Gulls flew NW. A flock of 55 Fieldfares perched in a Deer Park oak and a total of some 25 Redwings was also noted, but few small passerines were seen, other than a flock of 32 Yellowhammers, that rose into the line of alders from the Greensand Way stubble. 

A cold, west-northwest wind blew early on the 19th and sleet was falling, as I walked east along the north bank of the reservoir, when I almost couldn’t believe my eyes – a Bittern flew up from the dead vegetation and, chased by a Carrion Crow, disappeared SSE into the trees towards Hermitage Lane – number 194 for the patch; a truly exciting, unanticipated bonus. A Grey Heron had also flown from beside the reservoir, which was ice-free again. There was only time for a short visit, but it certainly pays to do so daily if possible!  Just 17 Mallard were seen at the lake, where there were 11 Tufted Duck, including seven drakes. During a later visit, the first Grey Wagtail of the year was seen feeding in a lake feeder stream, six Lapwings flew N and two Skylarks sang high over the reservoir.

Following a farm survey at Great Cheveney early on the 20th, under a cloudless sky, with no wind and a hard frost, I arrived to find the reservoir completely frozen over again and, while walking along the northern bank, I flushed the Bittern again, managing to take a few flight shots as it flew away and dropped down towards the stream by the alder coppice.

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Later, when Bob arrived, I flushed it again and it flew into the trees opposite Hermitage Lane, from where it was disturbed by two horse riders. A Coot skated on the ice, three Skylarks flew over, one returning to sing high overhead again. At the lake, a total of 37 Mallard had returned, along with the duck Gadwall, just seven Tufted Duck, 14 Moorhens, four Coot and two Little Grebes. A hen Grey Wagtail - my first for the year - fed in the marsh, from where a Common Snipe flew, a first for the month. Just a Grey Heron flew from the reservoir on the 21st, as I made an early circuit, before completing a TTV, by the end of which it was raining steadily and a later visit wasn’t practical.

It rained for much of the 22nd and only a brief visit was made on the 23rd, which was overcast, dry and less cold, and the River Beult had flooded the surrounding fields. A Grey Heron again flew from the reservoir bank and a Cormorant alighted on the water, as I left. It was surprising to see almost as many wildfowl on the reservoir as on the lake, where just three Mallard, three Tufted Duck and the Gadwall were present. A pair of Tufted Duck and three Mallard were also seen on the reservoir. At least 200 Fieldfares were feeding on the cattle pasture and three Siskins fed in the adjacent alders. Bob had a little more success during his longer visit, seeing the flock of 28 Cormorants flying E again, four species of gull, including two Common and two LBB Gulls flying N and most significantly the first Peregrine of the year, flying E over the Greensand Way.

It was mild, still, overcast and showery, during the visit on the 24th, when three Canada Geese visited the reservoir and duck numbers on the lake had increased to 26 Mallard and seven Tufted Duck. A flock of at least seven LT Tits worked its way along the edge of the poplar wood and a Yellowhammer sang from the Greensand Way territory, joining several other songsters, including at least five Song Thrushes and Robins, Dunnock, Chaffinch and Mistle Thrush.

Following a last winter TTV in 74S on the 25th, just ninety-minutes was spent on the patch, under an overcast sky, with a light southerly wind – there had been sunny periods and showers earlier. A Grey Heron flew from and a Cormorant circled over the reservoir but the most significant sighting was and increase to 21 Tufted Duck on the lake, including 12 drakes. The duck Gadwall was present, a Little Grebe was close to sporting its attractive breeding plumage and a lone LBB Gull flew SW.

It was overcast and dull as the visit commenced on the 26th, with a moderate strength west-southwest wind, but it became bright and sunny by the end of the morning. There were welcome sounds to appreciate, including a few bursts of song from a Blackbird and the mumuration of some 75 Starlings, from the tops of trees close to the cattle pasture, in which at least 200 Fieldfares and 25 or more Redwings were also present, until a male Sparrowhawk alighted nearby. A small northwesterly movement of gulls included three Black-headed and totals of 14 Herring and five LBB Gulls, at least one of which was of the British race L.f.graellsii.

It was windy and mainly cloudy early on the 27th, when two Cormorants flew from the reservoir and a flock of six flew high SW.  The lake held some 25 Mallard, 16 Tufted Duck, including ten drakes, 12 Moorhens, two Coot, two Little Grebes and the duck Gadwall. In the tops of nearby oaks, a communal chattering of song emanated from a flock of at least 20 Siskins, with some 12 Goldfinches also feeding there. It rained virtually all day on the 28th and no visit was made.

By the end of the month just 55 species had been recorded, the lowest ever February total and 11 below the mean. The annual total just reached 66, four below the end of February mean.