Local Patching Update......January/February 2023.

 Due to several factors,one of which was of being ill with covid and a few trips away,the following will be a summary of visits to the local patch.

January

Sunday January 15th

Highlights on the 15th included 26 Russian White-fronted Geese still being around the Winter's Pond area,with a good count of 3250 Pink-footed Geese between East Halton Skitter and Goxhill Haven.

A decent year tick was found at the Skitter,when i managed to find a Jack snipe on the saltmarsh,with 4 Barn Owls in the area and 2 Water Pipit.

Sunday 29th January

A good visit today with 70 species logged,highlights included 25 Russian White-fronts still,2250 Pinks,a pair of Pintail on the marshes which were new for the year,and a good flock of 6 Pochard at Winter's.

Some decent numbers of waders on the mitigation area included 1600 Lapwing,26 Redshank and 81 Curlew.

2 Bearded Tit,a single Water Pipit and 5 Stonechat were also seen.

February

Saturday February 4th

A jump in numbers of our Russian White-fronted Goose flock to 41,was a welcome sight,along with the 2 Barnacles still,309 Wigeon on the marshes,2 Grey Partridge,40 Avocet,Barn and Little Owls were also seen.

1 NFY species was logged,just as i was about to leave for home,in the form of a Green Sandpiper on the marshes,a welcome sighting.

Sunday February 12th

A surprise addition to the year list regarding the time of year,saw a single Brambling calling as it flew west over the car park at Winter's,a nice sighting and not a species i usually see locally in winter.

Also seen today,were 34 White-fronts still,1450 Pinks,2 Barn Owl and a single Water Pipit.

Sunday 26th February

A drop in the numbers of White-fronts for me today,saw myself only seeing 18,but a good sized flock of Pink-footed Geese were logged and included 3251 birds,the largest count of the winter.

Some decent numbers of Wildfowl were also seen at Winter's/East Halton marshes and included 335 Wigeon,216 Teal,29 Shoveler,71 Mallard and 4 Pochard.

Other bits included a single Barn Owl,Kingfisher,Water Pipit and 2 Ruff.

Reporting will be back to normal now going forward.

Winter's Pond.

Goxhill Marsh.

Sunrise Over The Humber.

Muntjac Prints From Along East Halton Beck.

A Freshly Dead Wood Mouse At East Halton Skitter,Perhaps Dropped By An Owl Or Kestrel.

Sunrise Over The Humber.

Early Morning At Winter's Pond.