February 2002 Bird Notes

February highlights were Slavonian Grebe, Shag, Red-crested Pochard, Kittiwake, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Stonechat.

Two Slavonian Grebes were reported on 22nd in Shiningford Creek by four visiting West Midlands birders, a Shag was present on flat island accompanying Cormorants on 10th February the first record since April 1994, a single male Red-crested Pochard on 2nd and 3rd, single Shelduck on 6th, eight Pintail on 15th and 16th with two to seven recorded most dates until 28th.

Wildfowl counts were 12 Little Grebe on 11th, six Great Crested Grebe on 11th with several pairs displaying during the month, 15 Cormorant on 16th with smaller counts on other dates, single Heron also on several dates, 20 Mute Swan all month, a Greylag Goose on 2nd, c200 Wigeon on 14th, 25 Teal on 3rd, 14 Pochard on 1st, 11 Tufted Duck on 11th, three to six Goldeneye all month, up to five Goosander were present on several dates, Ruddy Duck numbers remained high with 133 counted on 2nd. Coot numbers declined during the month with 50 plus recorded on 11th.
Barnacle Geese continued to visit Carsington with between five and 15 regularly present including a hybrid.

Seven species of waders were recorded, two Oystercatchers on 8th, three on 9th increasing to eight on 27th, 26 Lapwing on 11th, four Dunlin on 18th with one on 26th and 28th, 17 Snipe on 28th with one to eight regularly recorded, single Woodcock on 8th, two Curlew on 14th with 18 on 28th and smaller counts on other dates, single Redshank on 10th, 14th, 22nd and 28th, two were present on 24th and 26th.

Single adult Kittiwake on 3rd, with three [two adults and one 1st winter] on 24th and 25th, 100 plus Common Gulls were present on 2nd and 3rd with smaller number present throughout the month, four Buzzard on 14th, a Little Owl was seen on 14th and 18th, two Kingfishers were observed on 3rd with a single on 27th, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on 21st.

Other species recorded were 16 Meadow Pipits on 8th, two Grey Wagtails on 1st, a female Stonechat on 28th, seven Redwing on 24th, single Willow Tit on several dates, single Nuthatch on 8th and 24th, single Raven on 22nd, 10 Goldfinch on 27th with smaller counts on other dates. Up to eight Siskin were regularly recorded, two to three Lesser Redpoll were noted on several dates with two Mealy Redpoll reported on 21st.
The Tree Sparrows continued to visit the Wildlife Centre feeders with c15 regularly counted, several Bullfinch were reported along the path to Paul Stanley Hide, three Reed Buntings were recorded on 24th.

78 species were recorded compared with 74 in February 2000, 77 in 1999 and 86 in 1998.
No monthly counts are available for February 2001 due to the Foot and Mouth closures.