February 2012

A zone of high pressure brought bitterly cold winds from Siberia, as the month commenced. At least 100mm of snow fell overnight on the 5th and the temperature hovered around zero for several, mainly overcast days, but there were a welcome few with clear skies and sunshine. Temperatures rose a little from the 13th, when some rain fell later in the day. Otherwise is was mainly dry, with high pressure dominating, occasional frosty mornings but above average diurnal temperatures, reaching 16°C on the 25th.

It was good to see the sunrise in an almost cloudless sky on the 1st, which was dry, sunny and bitterly cold, with the strength of the northeast wind and the cloud cover increasing during the three hour visit. Disappointingly few small passerines were noted in the total of just 33 species. Four Cormorants flew NE shortly after sunrise but I was too late to hear any owls. One Black-headed and a total of five Herring Gulls flew in a northerly direction and 150 or more Fieldfares flew towards the northerly edge of the Alpaca orchard but only about five Redwings were noted. At least five Siskins were seen, drinking from the stream below the marsh alders, and an increase to nine Tufted Duck was noted on the lake. Two Dunnocks were heard singing and it was interesting to that one of the reservoir osiers was coming into bud. Bob also saw a flock of 31 Lapwings flying S.

The sky was almost cloudless at dawn on the 2nd but the northeast wind was stronger and felt colder. Again, relatively few small passerines were noted but a Nuthatch and a Treecreeper were heard singing, as was the Spindlewood garden Chaffinch. Of particular interest was the concentration of thrushes in the Braeburn orchard, with an absolute minimum of 300 Fieldfares, but still relatively few Redwings.

Two single Kestrels, one of each sex, were seen and an immature male Sparrowhawk flew from the recently severely cut Peens Lane hedgerows into the poplar wood.

It was cloudy, with sunny periods and little wind on the 3rd, when both the reservoir and lake were largely frozen over. With many of the duck resting on the ice, it was possible to photograph and count 109 Mallard, but just one drake and two duck Tufted Duck remained, with the two Little Grebes, six Coot and at least 10 Moorhens.

There were still 300 or more Fieldfares in the Braeburn orchard, a lone Goldcrest was seen in the spruce copse, a Coal Tit called from the Atlas cedar and while Bob was walking round the reservoir a Common Snipe flew in from the NW, circled over and flew off NE, also a flock of 18 Lapwings and a Common Gull flew S. Later, another Common Snipe landed beside the reservoir and a third repeated the flight of the first. Just one BH Gull visited the reservoir briefly, a Grey Heron flew low W and five and two Herring Gulls flew S. Finally, an adult male Sparrowhawk flew low into the oaks near the pumping house.

The temperature barely reached 0°C during the visit on the 4th, when high overcast kept the sun at bay. The reservoir was about 40% frozen and the lake nearer 90%.

My circuit was relatively quiet, but worthwhile. Just before 7am a Tawny Owl hooted from the oaks at the top of the cattle pasture slope, there were still large numbers of mainly Fieldfares around the Braeburn orchard, five LT Tits flew from a lake alder, but the highlight was seeing the first Kingfisher of the year at the reservoir. While there, with Bob, a flock of 31 Skylarks circled overhead and disappeared SE, a male Kestrel flew N and a female Sparrowhawk flew over the reservoir into the poplar wood.

The temperature remained around 0°C on the 5th, but there had been a fall of over 100mm of snow during the night. However, a very worthwhile three-hour visit was possible mid-morning, when two more new species for the year were seen and photographed, though in rather poor light. A drake Wigeon was seen on the tiny patch of open water on the lake, with just 36 Mallard and the two Little Grebes; also two drake and four duck Teal were active at the reservoir, with 10 Mallard, the resident duck Tufted Duck, a lone Coot and the Kingfisher.

As I walked along the edge of the poplar wood, I disturbed a Woodcock, which flew low deeper into the wood. There were still good numbers of birds feeding in the Braeburn orchard, including probably 50 Starlings. Very few small passerines were noted but it was good to see a presumed pair of Treecreepers and a pair of LT Tits.

The 6th commenced foggy, but from about 9am the sun broke through, the fog and cloud cover slowly dispersed and though the temperature hovered just above freezing, the sun’s rays felt surprisingly warm and a thaw set in – the local roads were open. At the reservoir, I was pleasantly surprised to see two pairs of Greylag Geese on a stretch of open water, with a pair of Pintail on the ice – only the eighth record for the patch and two new species for the year, but they both flew off. As I reached Spindlewood, the first Grey Wagtail of the year (67) dropped into the newly dug roadside ditch to feed.

In the Deer Park it was interesting to see that the badger set was active – I photographed paw prints in the snow – and as I stood beside the lake, noting the presence of about 20 Mallard, a flock of about 40 flew in, with two drake Wigeon. Continuing my walk along the stream on the west side of the poplar wood, first one then a second Woodcock flew up. The first appeared to drop back down but the second flew further south, enabling Bob to get a view of it. The reservoir was much quieter, as I walked around it with Bob, but a female Sparrowhawk again flew towards the poplar wood and a lone Common Gull flew W.

The 7th saw another ‘senior moment’ when I forgot my camera and lens, which proved extremely frustrating, as the conditions were great for photography. It was still and cloudless with the temperature rising from 2°C below to 2°C above zero during the visit and both waters were virtually frozen over. A tiny open area by the south side of the reservoir island held 10 Mallard, four Moorhens, one Coot and the injured duck Tufted Duck. At the lake were 68 Mallard, about seven Moorhens, five Coot and the two Little Grebes. As I approached the Braeburn orchard, three noisy dog-walkers disturbed probably 500 Fieldfares – one digital image shows about 200. Nothing was seen actually flying over the area but there were two interesting surprises. The seeding shepherd's purse plants, poking above the snow in the apricot orchard, had attracted a flock of about 60 Linnets, an extremely rare sight in winter here. Also, in the Deer Park, there were six Lapwings and it is several years since this species actually alighted on the patch, and another Woodcock was disturbed, on this occasion from the marsh.

The 8th was overcast, a little light snow fell and the easterly breeze felt really cold in the dull conditions. Some parts of the reservoir ice had melted and it was interesting to see 11 Lapwings standing on the ice, later they flew N over the Deer Park, where just two were still present. Male Sparrowhawks were seen on two occasions, once flying towards the poplar wood again and once flying high W. Bob also saw a Common Buzzard flying N. Another Woodcock flew from the southern end of the poplar wood and the highlight for the visit was the sighting of the first LS Woodpecker for the year, in the marsh alders, where about seven Siskins were also feeding. A flock of about 35 Linnets, present initially in the Spindlewood orchard, flew towards the apricot saplings but couldn’t be found there later.  

I could only manage a ninety minute visit on the 9th, which was unfortunate, as there was no wind, the cloud cleared to produce bright and sunny conditions, though the temperature struggled to get above 0°C. It was quieter, compared to the recent excitements, the reservoir held just two pairs of Mallard, the duck Tufted Duck, one Coot and five Moorhens, and the lake was little better with just a dozen Mallard, 11 Moorhens, four Coot and two Little Grebes. Another Woodcock flew from the edge of the poplar wood but most interest was focused on a few finches. The flock of about 60 Linnets was seen again on the edge of the apricot orchard ridge and two Goldfinches, with at least six Siskins fed in the marsh alders.

Just an early hour-long visit was possible on the 10th, which was overcast, with a light easterly, the cloud breaking a little by 9am to become bright and sunny later. Much of the two open waters was still frozen, though the ground wasn’t.  A lone Lapwing flew from the Cherry Orchard slope and later 14 had alighted on the reservoir ice and the only other significant records were another Woodcock, this time flushed from hard rush by one of the Deer Park streams, and the demise of one of the lake Coot, seen lying on the ice.

At 6°C it was a cold start to the 11th, with a hard frost, a cloudless sky and still, though a light northwesterly breeze blew by the end of the visit.  Very little open water remained on the reservoir, for which the lone duck Tufted Duck was grateful, as she is still not able to fly. Just 12 Mallard, two Coot, at least seven Moorhens and two Little Grebes were present on the lake and a flock of 26 Mallard flew over twice. Two Lapwings were again seen in the Deer Park and it was good to note three raptors, a Kestrel by the reservoir, an adult male Sparrowhawk along Wierton Road and an adult Common Buzzard flying W over the poplar wood, harassed by two Carrion Crows, while over the patch. It was a change to hear two Coal Tits and to see a Treecreeper in this cold spell, but only a few finches were noted.

The temperature ranged from -5°C to -1°C during the three-hour visit on the 12th under an overcast sky, with occasional snow showers. A flock of 24 Lapwings had chosen to rest on the ice again and the reservoir was at last totally frozen. There was no sign of the injured Tufted Duck and only one Moorhen was seen, but a lone LBB Gull flew N. Good numbers of thrushes continued to be attracted to the Braeburn apples, from which much of the snow had melted. A little more interest developed as I walked in the Deer Park, seeing a pair of LT Tits flying into the northern pines, followed by two Goldcrests working their way along the spruce copse and into the oaks to the east and first one then a second Woodcock rose from by the western lake feeder stream, when I caught sight of a Peregrine pursuing a Stock Dove, which it failed to catch after maybe twenty or more seconds of rapid twists and turns. Though only 18 Mallard, about five Moorhens, two Coot and two Little Grebes were present on the lake, they had been joined by a drake Gadwall again, bringing the February total to 60 and, with the Peregrine, 69 for the year.

A thick mist drifted over, during the visit on the 13th, enshrouding the whole area, as the temperature rose to above freezing. A Grey Heron was initially seen at the lake and later standing on the reservoir ice. A male Sparrowhawk flew E over the reservoir, two BH Gulls flew NW and three Herring Gulls S but, for the first time for a week, no waders were seen. On the Greensand Ridge it became mistier, a Skylark called but couldn’t be seen; however at least 400 Fieldfares flew from the Braeburn apples and another 100 or so flew between the Spindlewood orchard and fallen apples at Tanyard’s. At least four Dunnocks and six Chaffinches were heard singing, a Goldcrest was present in the spruce copse and as I drove away a Skylark flew W from the Peens Lane arable and a lone LT Tit was seen.

Only an hour-long visit was possible on the 14th, when it was less cold, with a cool northwesterly and the reservoir still totally frozen over, wildfowl had kept a small area of the lake open but most of the snow had melted. A Grey Heron was present by the lake again, where there were also 18 Mallard, at least five Moorhens, two Coot and two Little Grebes. A Woodcock flew from open ground – before I was aware of its presence – just southeast of the lake. Another Grey Heron flew S over the reservoir, where a Skylark flew E and totals of two Herring and two BH Gulls flew N. There was more interest in the marsh alders, where about 12 Siskins were feeding, along with a pair of LT Tits and a Treecreeper sang.

Following a successful survey at Great Cheveney Farm, where two Common Buzzards and a Woodcock were seen, only an hour-long late morning visit was possible on the 15th. The temperature had risen from about 6°C to nearly 10°C and there were sunny intervals, with showers, in a moderate strength northwest wind. About 40% of the ice had thawed on the reservoir, where a P.c.sinensis type Cormorant was fishing and a Grey Heron perched on remaining ice. About 400 Fieldfares suddenly rose from the reservoir orchard, with a thin scattering of Redwings, Starlings and Chaffinches, a Goldcrest fed in the rarity hedge and at the lake 34 Mallard were present on the increasing open water.

Without the wind, it felt warmer during my visit on the 16th, when the reservoir was 90% ice free and the lake maybe 50%, but it was mainly dull and cloudy. Only about 200 Fieldfares appeared to be present, with again maybe just 20 or so Redwings. The lake held about 40 Mallard, a lone duck Tufted Duck, at least 14 Moorhens, four Coot and just one of the Little Grebes was seen. A male LS Woodpecker called from the lake alders, flew across to the oak above the Peens Lane kissing gate and drummed, providing a feeling that spring was just around the corner. A Song Thrush sang again, along with a Mistle Thrush; several Dunnocks and Chaffinches also sang, and some 20 Siskins in the marsh alders were chattering away noisily. A Treecreeper sang, a Coal Tit called from the churchyard, a Goldcrest was again seen in the spruce copse and a pair of LT Tits flew into oaks from the lake alders – all useful species for the census to come. A message on my mobile, at around 10am, brought news of a juvenile White-tailed Eagle on Walland Marsh and within about ninety minutes Bob and I were enjoying the opportunity to watch this splendid bird perform.

The weather was mainly dull and mild during the census on the 17th, when cloud slowly drifted east producing an occasional bright period. The reservoir was ice free but the lake was about 75% open. A lone Tawny Owl hooted from the edge of the poplar wood at 6am and only two Little Owls were heard before dawn. One of the highlights was the discovery of six Meadow Pipits along Peens Lane and a flock of 19 in the paddock south of the reservoir. A female Sparrowhawk flew into the poplar wood and a female Kestrel was also present. A total of 327 Fieldfares was noted, 55 Redwings was the highest total this year, as was a count of 19 Greenfinches. There was considerably more song and consequently some higher bird totals: of the 32 Robins 26 were heard singing; with nine of both the 15 Song Thrushes and 13 Wrens; eight of the 11 Dunnocks and 14 of the high total of 65 Chaffinches.

A pair of Canada Geese that flew W brought the annual total up to 70 species and there were high totals of 15 Green Woodpeckers and 10 GS Woodpeckers. A LS Woodpecker drummed for a fair time from the favoured oak, above the Peens Lane kissing gate, and two were seen chasing each other A total of 51 Blue Tits was the second highest on record and 26 Great Tits was also high. A flock of about 40 Siskins was suddenly spooked and flew from the marsh alders, two Treecreepers were seen but it wasn’t until 12.45 before I located a Goldcrest, in the southern hedgerow and the one species I failed to find was Bullfinch. The total of 47 equalled the 27 year mean and the bird total of 1,099 was over 300 higher.  I learned later that Bob had seen a Peregrine flying rapidly S over the reservoir, as if chasing prey.

It was still mild and mainly overcast on the 18th, with a light to moderate southwest wind, which produced a few more gulls, than the still conditions on the 16th, including a LBB Gull NW which wasn’t seen during the census. A lone Canada Goose flew SW and a few Siskins were present in the marsh alders, including one in song, but otherwise it was a fairly quiet two-hour visit.

Only a brief visit was possible on the 19th, when it was cloudless, with a light frost and a cool northwesterly breeze. A pair of Canada Geese flew NE, four Meadow Pipits were present in the reservoir paddock again and a LS Woodpecker was heard drumming. Paul Cox, from Surrey, returned for a second day, to confirm that there was a pair of LS Woodpeckers present, showing me splendid photos, using his iphone and telescope, of both birds (see above).

A hard frost, no wind and little cloud produced an interesting and enjoyable three-hour visit on the 20th. The reservoir was about 30% frozen and the lake nearer 50%. A BH Gull was initially standing on the ice and a Coot had returned to the reservoir, while the lake had attracted six drake and five duck Tufted Duck, five Coot and two Little Grebes were also present. Walking round the Deer Park produced at least three single Coal Tits and LS Woodpecker calls, initially from the vicinity of the spruce copse and later from the marsh alder area, but the bird, or birds weren’t seen. An obvious bunting on the Peens Lane hedgerow encouraged me to walk nearer, across the arable field, from which some 15 Skylarks flew, the bunting was a Yellowhammer - only the second for the year, which sang well and there were also a hen and two cock Reed Buntings present. Walking around the reservoir again produced the first cock Bullfinch for nearly a week.

The high cloud eventually broke towards the end of my visit, on the 21st, and it became sunny. In the mild conditions both waters were completely open again, with one pair of Tufted Duck on the reservoir and four pairs on the lake.  At least 20 Rooks flew around and called loudly from the rookery and, as though in competition, eight Carrion Crows also called loudly, from the opposite side of the field. A Cormorant flew high S, one Common and a total of eight Herring Gulls N and three BH Gulls S. A lone Skylark flew S from the apricot orchard and another sang over the reservoir paddock, where three Meadow Pipits were again seen and the cock Yellowhammer was still present along Peens Lane.

The 22nd commenced with high, broken cloud cover, with a light to moderate and cool southwest wind. A 1st winter male Kestrel called and joined two more as they flew over. A total of seven gulls flew S, comprising single Herring and Common and five BH Gulls. A Goldcrest fed in the rarity hedge, one pair of LT Tits was seen, a Skylark flew from the Peens Lane arable to the west, a Yellowhammer sang from one of the oaks, a pair flew into another and a couple of House Sparrows called from the hedgerow.

Light rain fell overnight and the temperature rose from 10°C to 13°C during my early visit on the 23rd, when the cloud cover slowly broke from the west. The rest of the day was sunny and ridiculously warm for late February. In the Deer Park central oaks, I heard a Treecreeper singing and saw another close by, with a third in song near the lake. A Goldcrest was present in the spruce copse and a dozen Siskins fed in the marsh alders. On the lake were six pairs of Tufted Duck, but only some 15 Mallard. It was interesting to hear at least four Greenfinches singing and later a Yellowhammer again sang from the Peens Lane hedgerow. Towards the end of my circuit a female Sparrowhawk flew towards the poplar wood and, as she disappeared, a Kestrel dived in after her. Within a few minutes I heard another Kestrel calling, looked towards the power lines, where a pair was mating, a short way from the nest box in the lower barn.

It was mainly overcast and mild, with high cloud drifting slowly east on the 24th, when a male Sparrowhawk flew E from the poplar wood. Two Grey Herons flew N, six Cormorants S, two Coot were seen on the reservoir, at least 250 Fieldfares were disturbed from the Braeburn apple orchard and a dozen Siskins fed in the lake alders. The pair of Kestrels was again present, the male visiting the nest box, the female alighting on the barn roof and three Skylarks flew from the Peens Lane arable, one singing overhead.

It was again overcast for much of my visit on the 25th, but became sunny and warm later. LS Woodpeckers proved more than a challenge, with drumming emanating from at least five different localities but only one brief sighting, though Paul Cox, who spent time in the area south of the lake, did get good views of a male. Seeing a drake Mallard perched in vegetation on the reservoir island was a little unusual and there were three Coot there and still four on the lake. A high total of at least seven Collared Doves was noted from the four peripheral areas. However, the Peens Lane arable was most productive, with a feeding flock of some 90 Jackdaws, at least three Skylarks, including one in song, but more significant was the presence, at last, of a mixed bunting flock of maybe as many as 50 birds and the split marginally in favour of maybe 30 Yellowhammers and 20 Reed Buntings, though an accurate count was impossible with such an active number.

The temperature rose 9° from 0°C at 6.15am, during my four-hour visit on the 26th, when it was frosty, still and cloudless. Cloud cover soon drifted over from the west but as a light breeze rose and veered N it became sunny. A pair of Canada Geese flew E, as I arrived and they, or another pair flew W later. Four Little Owls uttered their mournful, rising 'kiew' display call from the Deer Park and, as I arrived at the reservoir, a female Sparrowhawk flew towards the poplar wood, from which a male bird flew E later. Two pairs of Greylag Geese flew from the reservoir, which only held five Moorhens and a pair of Mallard, two single Grey Herons flew N and the local pair of Kestrels was present. Another Kestrel was seen in the Deer Park and a monthly peak of 13 Tufted Duck was noted on the lake. One Goldcrest was seen in the Cypress trees near the lower barn, two chased each other in the spruce coppice and it was interesting to see three LT Tits exploring the reservoir bramble, where three have raised a brood in the last two years. In contrast to the previous day, just one Yellowhammer sang and one pair of Reed Buntings was seen along Peens Lane.

Just an early half-hour visit was made on the 27th, before visiting Dover Harbour to see the Kumlien’s Gull well, though the weather was dull with an overcast sky. Tufted Duck numbers had changed, yet again, with three drake and two duck on the lake and a pair on the reservoir, to which one Coot had returned.

It remained overcast and  still during the visit on the 28th, when the temperature rose from 9° to 12°C. For various interesting reasons it felt like an early spring visit: a pair of LT Tits had begun to build a nest in the usual reservoir bramble, primroses were blooming, a pair of Kestrels were seen to mate on two occasions, a flock of 20 Goldfinches was present in the Deer Park and much activity from the pair of LS Woodpeckers was witnessed, though they failed to provide good views, while drumming, calling and chasing each other, within the vicinity of the lake. A hen Reed Bunting was present by the reservoir, two pairs of Goldcrests were seen and both Treecreeper and Yellowhammer were heard singing.

It was again dull, overcast and still, during my visit on the 29th – an extra February day, which again had elements of spring. A Reed Bunting sang from the reservoir island, the pair of LT Tits continued to build their nest in the bramble and a second pair, on the Peens Lane bend, was building their nest in the hedgerow, more advanced and more exposed. The pair of LS Woodpeckers was active in the same area, drumming, calling and chasing each other, a Common Buzzard was present in the Deer Park for a while, a flock of about 20 Redwings uttered a constant chattering, part of their song, and a Pied Wagtail – my first this month – flew from the sheep pasture. 

By the end of the month a good total of 68 species had been identified, two above the February mean, including ten new for the year, bringing the annual total to equal the end of February mean of 70 species.