Birds seen at Moor Green Lakes during FEBRUARY 2008

A relatively benign and dry February, so the lake levels have dropped a bit.

A maximum of seven Great-crested Grebe around this month, which is low by historic standards. Little Egret scarce after mid-month; but definite signs of Grey Heron nesting in the area – they normally start to lay by the end of February. Geese are dispersing (except for the 27 Barnacle Geese) with regular Greylags hanging around – will this be the year that they start to breed on site?

Good peak numbers of ducks in February, particularly: 265 Tufted Ducks, 46 Goosander in the early part of the month and 185 Shoveler - a new site record. A pair of Goldeneye remain on Grove Lake. The only rarity was report of a male Red-crested Pochard on 21st.

The regular pair of Kestrels are showing an interest in the top section of the owl box; Buzzard in the area and once seen perched on the owl box. Barn Owl seen hunting from the 7th – but the report of Barn Owl like feathers on Lower Sandhurst Road on the 21st is ominous and I am not aware of any sighting after that date. Little Owls were seen regularly in the trees on the new workings, and Tawny Owls heard around the site at dawn. All this implies that there is a good population of small mammals.

No big flocks of Lapwing this month for some reason, just 50 or so. 20+ Snipe present with a showy individual on Colebrook scrape at times. Water Rails seen on Colebrook and Grove Lakes and two Green Sandpipers present all month but elusive.

Gatherings of up to 80 Black-headed Gulls displaying on Tern Island – getting ready to breed again; otherwise few Gulls recently.

A Red-legged Partridge was seen on the workings on the 10th while we were clearing out the nest boxes. Skylarks were singing on the 23rd and a couple of Treecreepers inspecting a traditional nesting tree on 24th.

A wintering Blackcap was seen near Colebrook hide on the 7th. Plenty of Reed Buntings on the feeding station recently and a Brambling on the 23rd. Only a few Siskins and Redpolls in the area this month and only one sighting of Linnets.

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Report compiled by Bruce Archer

February 2007 sightings  >>>