January 2002 Bird Notes

January highlights were Great Northern Diver, Green-Winged Teal, Red-crested Pochard, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Glaucous Gull and reservoir record counts of Ruddy Duck.

The Great Northern Diver continued its stay into the New Year and was last recorded on the 19th.
A Pink-footed Goose was observed on the reservoir on 15th and 16th, whilst 120 flew north-east at 16:25hrs on 17th c300 flew west at 11:00hrs on 27th, between six and 15 Barnacle Geese were noted regularly from the 16th.

A drake Red-crested Pochard was regularly recorded throughout the month often near the spit. A Green-winged Teal was reported on the 27th at 12:00hrs, however this bird couldn’t be relocated, mainly due to deteriorating weather conditions and the following day near gale force winds.

Wildfowl counts were 20 Little Grebe on 1st, ten Great Crested Grebe on 1st, ten plus Cormorant on 26th, 20 Mute Swan most dates, single Shelduck on 10th and 11th, c200 Wigeon all month, eight Gadwall on 11th with one to six on several other dates, 80 Teal on 14th, 73 Pochard on 1st with 45 counted on 14th, 60 Tufted Duck on 1st with smaller counts on other dates, up to five Goldeneye were regularly recorded during the month, five Goosander on 11th with one to four on several other dates. Coot numbers remain high with c1200 on 1st, 30 Moorhen were counted on 27th. One to three Heron were regularly seen during the month.
A reservoir record count of 135 Ruddy Duck on 16th with 121 on 23rd, the previous record count was 118 on 28th January 2001.

Four species of waders were recorded, three Golded Plover on 1st with 12 noted flying north- east on 12th, single Dunlin on 1st and 2nd, 17 Snipe on 23rd with one to six regularly present mostly on Horseshoe Island. 570 Lapwing on 1st with 200-300 throughout the month. The wintering Common Sandpiper was last recorded on the 1st.

The Gull roost produced an adult winter Mediterranean Gull on 11th, a 1st winter on 13th, two 1st winter plus an adult winter on 14th, a 2nd winter plus an adult winter on 16th, two 1st winter plus a 2nd winter on 17th and a adult winter on 20th. A 1st winter Glaucous Gull was seen on the ice close to Millfields Car Park on 1st. Several Yellow-legged Gulls were noted during the month, 80 Common Gulls were counted on 27th, 30 plus Great Black-backed Gulls were noted on 4th.

Other species recorded were four Buzzard on 29th with singles on 16th and 22nd, Little Owl on 19th, two Kingfisher on 19th with singles on several other dates, two Skylark flew over on 11th, nine Meadow Pipit on 31st with one on the 1st, (two scarce species at Carsington) single Grey Wagtail regularly recorded throughout the month with two on 29th, four Fieldfare on 1st with 12 on 11th, 20 plus Redwing on 1st and 11th, eight Lesser Redpoll on 4th and 17th with one to four on several other dates, a single Reed Bunting on 31st, up to twelve Tree Sparrows were regularly present at the Wildlife Centre feeders.

Despite very poor weather conditions that included several days of fog, heavy rain and near gale force winds 75 species were recorded compared with 73 in January 2001, 80 in 2000 and 74 in 1999.