A New Year begins on the local patch at Goxhill & East Halton and to be fair, it was a pretty good month with a total of 99 species recorded in 6 visits, with some proper winter weather.
Friday 2nd
It all began on Friday 2nd of January, with me covering East Halton, which included Marsh Lane, Winter's Pond, Skitter Road and East Halton Skitter & Marshes. A decent count of 72 species entered the notes, with the best of the species including a single Ruff, a cracking flyby from a Bittern at Winter's Pond, a lovely Little Owl along the old railway, Barn Owl hunting along Marsh Lane and a smashing adult Peregrine along Skitter Road.
Some decent numbers of common birds feeding along Skitter Road in a wet stubble/set aside included 265 Linnet, 18 Yellowhammer, 32 Chaffinches and 50 Goldfinch.
A solid start to the new birding year.
Saturday 3rd
A trip up to Goxhill this morning, saw me seeing a decent 56 species, with me visiting the usual areas of Dawson City, Goxhill Tilery Ponds, Neat Gangs Lane and Goxhill Haven itself.
The best birds went to 6 gorgeous Whooper Swans as they flew south west over Dawson City, a single Knot which flew north at Goxhill Haven, a lovely Treecreeper and male Great-spotted Woodpecker which both gave some nice views in Dawson City and a calling Tawny Owl and 2 Jays around the Goxhill Tilery Ponds area.
Today saw the first proper snow we have seen locally for a few years.
Saturday 10th
A good 9.5 mile walk around, mainly the Goxhill part of the patch saw some more year ticks being added to the ever growing local patch list. The best sightings went to a Mistle Thrush and an unseasonal Chiffchaff along West Marsh Lane, 3 Siskins along Ruard's Lane and 2 Water Pipit in the brackish marsh between Dawson City and East Halton Skitter and 2 Kingfisher, 1 along East Halton Beck and another later in the day near Goxhill Tilery Ponds. At Goxhill Haven, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew out east along the Humber.
A good count of 50 Blackbirds were recorded during the day and a lovely Barn Owl was seen hunting along Skitter Road. Later in the day a good count of at least 375 Goldeneye were on the Humber between New Holland and Goxhill Haven.
Saturday 24th
Another visit to the East Halton area today, saw no real surprises, but again as on my last visit here, some good counts of commoner species were logged.
The best of the counts today, went to a huge flock of at least 400 Stock Doves in one whopping flock feeding in fields at the side of East Halton Marshes, this is the largest flock i have ever seen and made for an impressive sight.
East Halton Marshes was also alive with birds on today's visit and this included 505 Teal, 350 Wigeon and 363 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits. The latter is the largest count i have had here in winter.
Other good counts during the day included 750 Linnet in 2 flocks, 22 Greenfinch and 118 Chaffinch.
Sunday 25th
A switch to Goxhill today in some rubbish, cold, rainy weather, saw some good birds being seen despite the conditions.
The best birds were seen in the form of 3 Scaup, a Drake and 2 females off Goxhill Haven in amongst the wintering Goldeneye flock, a scarce bird these days. And a good scan through a good sized flock of 2500 Pink-footed Geese feeding on fields along Goxhill Marsh, saw me picking out 3 adult Russian White-fronted Geese and a single Barnacle Goose in amongst the throng. This is the first time for a good month or so I've been able to get a proper look at the Geese wintering in the area.
Saturday 31st
A cracking visit today to the East Halton area, saw me adding another 7 year ticks to the local patch year list and logging 72 species.
The year additions included a female Blackcap in East Halton village, an unexpected surprise, Coot, Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler at Winter's Pond along with a stunning Red Kite which ranged between Winter's and East Halton Marshes before flying off west, a flock of 8 Pintail which flew south along the Humber and a calling male Grey Partridge along Skitter Road.
The Red Kite, actually landed in the wood alongside the marshes and is the only one i have seen perched on my local patch to date, all the other birds have been fly overs.
Other nice sightings included a flock of 10 Ruff near East Halton Skitter, a Drake Pochard at Winter's Pond, 3 Water Pipit at East Halton Skitter, a huge count of 650 Icelandic Black-tails between Winter's and the Skitter and a smart male Peregrine near East Halton Skitter.
While stood at East Halton Skitter, several flocks of Pink-footed Geese were flying away from Goxhill Marsh after being shot at and in amongst them 4 Russian White-fronted Geese and a flock of 11 Barnacle Geese were seen, making for a lovely sight and sound.
A big count of 34 Roe Deer between East Halton village and Ruins Pond was impressive and other mammal sightings included 5 Brown Hare and a lovely Fox.
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| Badger Footpath, Where They Had Been Dragging Reeds For Bedding |
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| Watery Sun, Dawson City, 3rd. |
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| Snow Storm, Goxhill Haven, 3rd. |
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| Goxhill Haven, 3rd. |
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| Some Lovely Light, Goxhill Marsh, 3rd. |
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| West Marsh Lane, Goxhill, 3rd. |
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| Passing Storm, East Halton, 24th. |
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| Sunrise At Winter's Pond, 31st. |
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| Female Kestrel Taken With The New Phone/Scope Combo, Winter's Pond, 31st. |
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| East Halton Marshes, 31st. |
