January 2009

The month commenced under the influence of a zone of high pressure and the period of cold weather continued, with snow falling on the 5th. Freezing conditions were experienced until the 11th, before frontal systems reached the southeast, bringing rain and strong winds the next day. After which it was generally less cold but conditions varied, with periods of sunshine, heavy rain and occasional fog. However, there was further hard frosts on the 21st and 24th but it turned milder from the 26th.

It was mainly overcast, with a light but cold northerly wind on the 1st, when a five-and-a-half hour visit produced a creditable 48 species, including the four Waxwings, which spent some time preening in the alders adjacent to the Braeburn orchard. Two Tawny Owls hooted from the Deer Park before dawn, at least three Little Owls called - one was seen later, and the Barn Owl perched obligingly in the barn. A total of 21 BH Gulls flew mainly NW and five Herring Gulls also flew NW, with two S but no other gulls were seen. A glimpse of a Treecreeper was a welcome sight, as was a flock of seven Bullfinches and the appearance of five Tufted Duck on the lake. Other pleasing sights concerned a Pied Wagtail feeding by the cattle, a cock Reed Bunting in the Peens Lane hedgerow and at least five Yellowhammers that flew E over Peens Lane, following a total of at least 30 Chaffinches. A total of 50 species might have been exceeded had a Sparrowhawk, the previous day's Grey Herons, GBB or Common Gulls and the Siskin flock been seen, but there was no sign of them. To the southeast of the patch, a stretch of pasture attracted about 85 Lapwing and 33 Golden Plover.

It remained overcast early on the 2nd, when the reservoir was ice-free again attracting a Kingfisher. The four Waxwings were still present, a Grey Heron circled low over the Spindlewood garden pond and a lone Common Gull flew S. Bob also saw five Siskins near the lake and a small flock of six Golden Plover that flew N - a flock of about 30 was still present to the south of the patch.

Blessed with a cloudless sky and no wind, but a hard frost on the 3rd, it was a pleasure to see six Waxwings perched high in an alder and to share the viewing of them with visiting birders. A Sparrowhawk flew W, a flock of eight Canada Geese flew SE, two Common Gulls flew N, a Kingfisher visited the reservoir again and a Grey Wagtail was flushed from Peens Lane, as the visit concluded. The three new species increased the patch total to 56 for 2009.

Extremely cold temperatures caused the reservoir to freeze over on the 4th but the 40 or so Mallard and eight Coot kept a small patch of water open on the lake, from which Bob disturbed a Common Snipe - a species not recorded in 2008. The six Waxwings continued to provide rewarding views for visiting birders, a total of about 30 Lapwings flew SW, nine Siskins flew into the marsh alders and a flock of seven Meadow Pipits was present in the Deer Park.

A thin layer of snow blanketed the area on the 5th and the reservoir and lake were almost entirely frozen over. In a cold, moderate northerly wind further snow fell almost horizontally but there were also bright intervals during the visit, when presumably one Woodcock was disturbed twice. Four intermedius and one graellsii Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew N, it was possible to confirm that there were seven Waxwings present but very few small passerines were seen.

The 6th was again cloudless and bitterly cold, with a hard frost and both waters totally frozen and almost birdless.

The reservoir held three Moorhens and just two Coot and two Mallard, while there were no Mallard on the lake and just two Coot but 11 Moorhens. The Braeburn orchard was the centre of action, with good numbers of Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Redwings, at least 10 Robins, a few Chaffinches and at least four Waxwings were still feeding there. A lone Lapwing flew north but no raptors were seen.

Only a brief, early visit was possible on the 7th, when it was overcast, with a light fall of sleet. The main waters remained frozen, just one pair of Mallard was seen at the reservoir and no Coot were present. Flocks of 10 and 35 Canada Geese flew SW and NW respectively and some 60 Fieldfares were disturbed from the Braeburn orchard, where at least four Waxwings continued to feed. A flock of about 20 Chaffinches and three hen Pheasants were attracted to feed among cattle straw and a flock of about 100 Starlings flew E along the Greensand Ridge.

It was still and clear early on the 8th but at 9am a blanket of dense fog drifted off the Weald, enshrouding the Greensand Ridge about an hour later. Before the fog arrived the Braeburn orchard was again the centre of activity, though no Waxwings were seen. A flock of about 110 Starlings flew W from the old orchard and about 50 were still present feeding on the fallen Braeburn apples, which attracted an influx of maybe 50 Redwings, with probably more than 75 Fieldfares and 20 Blackbirds. The fearful scream of a Green Woodpecker almost deafened me as it flew close by, pursued by a hen Sparrowhawk and they disappeared rapidly into the fog, as it wafted over the Deer Park.

A blanket of fog over the Weald soon cleared early on the 9th, during a brief visit but settled over the Greensand Ridge later.

The flock of seven Waxwings flew onto the top of an alder and the Braeburn apples continued to attract hungry thrushes. An adult male Sparrowhawk was seen on two occasions and I had a frustrating glimpse of a possible Peregrine that had been disturbed by a dog walker. The presence of hoar frost created most attractive scenes but few small passerines were seen.

Viewing conditions were much improved on the 10th, though there were still patches of fog early on. With the freezing conditions continuing there was little change and just 30 species were noted, including two Lapwings NW, one Coal and four LT Tits, the usual mix of thrushes, Robins and Chaffinches in the Braeburn orchard but no sign of the Waxwings while I was there.

Thin, high cloud dispersed slowly during a morning visit on the 11th, which was windless, with the lake and reservoir still frozen. There were certainly seven Waxwings still present, though another observer said he'd seen eight and four in adjacent alders. Single Lapwings flew SE and NW and a few Black-headed, Common and Herring Gulls flew over.

A marked change was noticeable during an hour-long afternoon visit on the 11th, when a moderate south-southwest wind blew, the snow-covered fields were green again and it was possible to confirm that there were 12 Waxwings present, still attracted by the Braeburn apples.

Just twenty species were noted early on the 12th, when a moderate to strong southwest wind blew, light rain fell and both the reservoir and lake remained frozen. A female Sparrowhawk flew S along the Wierton Hill shaw, most of the Moorhens fed in the sheep pasture and no gulls or Waxwings were seen. It was dull, mild and overcast on the 13th, but the wind had dropped and it was dry during an early visit, when the 12 Waxwings were still present, feeding on the apples, with some 70 Fieldfares in the area; a total of 30 or more also flew SE over the Deer Park. The reservoir and lake remained frozen, although thawing a little around the edges not sufficient for waterfowl to return.

No visit was made on the 14th, as dense fog lingered all day but it had cleared in time for the six-hour census on the 15th, when it was overcast and dry, with a chilling, moderate, southeast wind. The reservoir was still frozen at dawn, though it was thawing quite rapidly by noon, and a small patch of open water had attracted 25 Mallard back to the lake, but no Coot had returned and species like Little Grebe and Tufted couldn't be expected. Other species, like Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, BH Gull, Goldcrest and Greenfinch also failed to appear and the total of 42 was four below the January mean. However, two additions for the year list, a GBB Gull flying SW with a Herring Gull and a flock of 65 Skylarks, were welcome sightings. One Tawny Owl hooted before dawn, just three Little Owls were heard and a Barn Owl was perched in the barn. Seven of the eleven Waxwings still present were seen and Keith Cutting also saw two Peregrines, which disturbed all the thrushes before circling overhead and flying off SW. A flock of at least 30 Siskins fed in the marsh alders and there were high totals of 284 Fieldfares, 166 Jackdaws, 122 Woodpigeons and 66 Chaffinches, which included a loose flock of about 50 moving W over Peen's Lane, many stopping in the hedgerows, where seven Yellowhammers, a cock and a hen Reed Bunting and two House Sparrows were also present. Most had been feeding immediately north of Bishop's Wood.

It was damp, mild and still early on the 16th, when my visit lasted barely ninety minutes. Both waters were still partially frozen but on the lake were about 45 Mallard and two Coot had returned. A Goldcrest that had been frequenting the rarity hedge was seen there again, a Pied Wagtail fed in the muddy cattle pasture but no gulls or raptors were seen. Groups of five and three Waxwings were noted, though it was only possible to spend a few minutes in that area, and about 40 Chaffinches and at least two Yellowhammers were present along Peens Lane.

Overnight rain ceased around 9am on the 17th and, apart from a brief shower, it was mainly sunny, with a moderate southwest wind and a few gulls were noted, including totals of seven Herring, six Black-headed and five adult GBB Gulls. The ice-free reservoir attracted three of the BH Gulls and though the lake wasn't free of ice some 40 Mallard remained and two drake Tufted Duck were present. There were comparatively few birds in the Braeburn orchard and no sign of any Waxwings but the mixed flock, still present close to Peens Lane, comprised probably 20 or more Yellowhammers, 30 plus Chaffinches and a cock Reed Bunting. It was also pleasing to see adult males of both Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, after several day's absence. During a later visit Barry Wright saw two Waxwings in the Braeburn orchard and at 2.45 a total of 54 Golden Plover, in several small groups, flew south.

It was stormy overnight, with a heavy rainfall but the wind eased to a light to moderate westerly and there were long sunny periods on the 18th. The lake was totally free of ice but only some 30 Mallard, 10 Moorhens and a Coot were present. Thrush numbers appeared to have declined but four Waxwings were seen well in the Braeburn orchard, where there were relatively few apples left on the trees.

Another stormy night, with a heavy rainfall made it extremely wet underfoot on the 19th, when the reservoir was flowing over the overflow pipe. The wind slowly eased during a late morning visit and there were sunny periods in which to enjoy the eight Waxwings feeding on the apples.

A flock of up to 40 BH Gulls visited the reservoir for much of the morning and a female Sparrowhawk attracted a flock of about 75 Jackdaws and circled high over the Deer Park, where three Coot and a pair of Tufted Duck were on the lake. Precisely 50 Yellowhammers and a pair of Reed Buntings flew from the southern edge of the poplar wood towards the Peen’s Lane hedgerow. Only a brief, late morning visit was made on the 20th, when at least four Waxwings were still present, a Kingfisher and 11 BH Gulls were present at the reservoir and two Cormorants flew E.

A hard frost early on the 21st produced a partially frozen reservoir, as well as lake and cloud slowly drifted over from the southwest but cleared again by noon. During a brief visit at least nine Waxwings were seen, a Sparrowhawk produced fearful screams from a Green Woodpecker during a rapid chase and I was frustrated to only glimpse from the rear a probable Merlin carrying prey, as it flew W towards Darnold’s Wood. The mixed flock of Chaffinches and Yellowhammers was still present on the Peen’s Lane arable, and a Coal Tit and a Goldcrest fed in the pines by the lake.

Only a brief visit was again possible on the 22nd, when it was miserably cold, wet and windy, with a moderately strong southeast wind. A Grey Heron flew over the now ice-free reservoir and the open water of the lake had attracted five drake and three duck Tufted Duck, just a lone Waxwing was glimpsed but a flock of about 100 Starlings flew E along the Greensand Ridge and a count of some 70 Redwings that flew from the western edge of the poplar wood, where they had presumably been roosting, was the highest for the month.

After another stormy night, the wind had dropped during a brief visit on the 23rd, but it was miserably cold and wet again and 10 Waxwings looked equally forlorn, as they perched in the tallest alder by the orchard, which was devoid of winter thrushes. One Coot had returned to the reservoir and seven Tufted Duck were still present on the lake.

It was still with thin, high cloud cover early on the 24th, with another hard frost caused the reservoir and lake to partially freeze again. To the south the River Beult appeared to have flooded its banks extensively. Ten Waxwings were again present by the Braeburn orchard, a flock of at least 40 Siskins fed in the marsh alders and just 15 Mallard and the seven Tufted Duck were present on the lake.

During a late afternoon visit, flocks of 10 and 18 BH Gulls flew N and a male Sparrowhawk was also seen. After a stormy night, as another wet front moved through, rain continued to fall steadily on the 24th and just thirty minutes observations from my car proved of interest. While parked by Bishop’s Wood probably 100 or more Chaffinches and Yellowhammers fed on the plough, or flew into the wood or along the adjacent hedgerow. There may have been a 50/50 split but it was impossible to count them accurately. The cock Reed Bunting was still present and a cock Pheasant, with 10 hen birds fed unconcernedly barely twenty metres distant.

It was still, overcast and milder on the 26th, when eight Cormorants flew E and with no apples left on the trees there was no sign of the Waxwings. Three Song Thrushes sang lustily. A flock of about 75 Siskins circled over the lake and marsh alders, the mixed flock of Chaffinches and Yellowhammers was still present and two Treecreepers were seen chasing each other.

Fog came and went for two hours early on the 27th but it was still and sunny after 10am. A Kingfisher visited the reservoir, several species sang, including a Blackbird and a Chaffinch, and a total of four Goldcrests was noted. Eight Yellowhammers were present along the Greensand Way, with many more in the large mixed flock with Chaffinches, and just two Siskins were seen in the orchard alders. A pre-dawn start on the 29th produced calls from a Grey Heron, a lone Tawny Owl and four Little Owls. The Barn Owl continued to perch on the barn rafters and a Sparrowhawk flew over the Deer Park. A group of 13 hen Pheasants fed together south of the reservoir, a flock of six Common Gulls flew SW and there was also a monthly peak count of 11 Tufted Duck on the lake.

The cold weather returned on the 30th, with a hard frost but the waters remained open. A lone Cormorant and nine Herring Gulls flew over and the Chaffinch flock flew from the plough, as a Sparrowhawk flew by. It remained cold for the last visit of the month, particularly so in the biting easterly wind, though it felt less cold in the sun. A Coal Tit sang near Boughton Place and two Goldcrests were seen in the Spruce copse. A Cormorant flew S but few gulls were noted. Some 25 Siskins were still present, about 40 Chaffinches and 40 Yellowhammers still frequented the Peens Lane plough and among them a hen Reed Bunting was seen.

A total of 65 species represents a reasonable start to the year, equalling the twenty-five-year January mean.