Hi again, as another month ends and spring is just around the corner, the last month of winter proper, was a pretty decent one, with the local patch list now standing at 105 species.
The following are the sightings on my visits during the month.
Sunday 1st
A visit today to Goxhill in some pretty cold conditions, saw me walking up to Goxhill Tilery from the Haven and look at the Goldeneye flock between there and New Holland.
It was great to see the Scaup were still around, in amongst the Goldeneye, with 9 birds present which included 3 adult drakes, a 1st winter drake and 4 females. There were also at least 145 Goldeneye, but birds were distant and continually feeding so difficult to count.
As i walked back towards the Haven, the fantastic sight of a hunting male Hen Harrier over the fields, certainly made it worth the while to be out in the freezing cold wind. These birds are so special and it is a real privilege to see them.
Sunday 8th
A visit to East Halton today proved pretty fruitful to be fair, with some great sightings during the day, despite disturbance along the marshes from a group of morons on trials bikes.
This area was the main focus of the visit today, with highlights consisting of 26 Russian White-fronted Geese, 22 Barnacle Geese, 400 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 190 Curlew, 1100 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits and 7 Knot making for a very impressive sight.
On Winter's it was fairly quiet, with the best of the sightings going to 5 Coot, 3 Water Rail, 46 Canada Geese and a pair each of Pochard and Goldeneye.
The only other highlight was a Green Woodpecker in East Halton village, providing me with my first record of the year of this scarce visitor to the local patch.
Saturday 14th
A good walk around most of the patch today after parking at Goxhill Haven saw 64 species being recorded. The main highlights went to a few nice sightings and year ticks in the form of 2 Oystercatcher at Goxhill Haven, a Woodcock at East Halton Skitter, a Barn Owl at Goxhill Haven, a pair of Stonechat along East Halton Beck and another Green Woodpecker, this time at Goxhill.
Saturday 21st
Visits to both Goxhill and East Halton today, saw some nice sightings being seen, with 3 species of Owl recorded. The first were 2 Tawny Owls calling at dawn, with 3 Barn Owls being logged followed by a single Short-eared Owl great to see and hear.
The East Halton Marshes area was again full of birds, with counts including 465 Lapwing, 1650 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, 310 Curlew, 600 Teal, 500 Wigeon and 13 Gadwall.
At Goxhill Haven, the best sightings went to a lovely Red Kite as it drifted west, the second record of the year, a Peregrine, 481 Curlew and 46 Turnstone.
A decent month, roll on spring now and some migrants.
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| Russian White-fronted Geese, East Halton Marshes, 8th. |
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| East Halton, 8th. |
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| Some Stunning Skies At Goxhill Haven/Marsh On The 14th. |
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