The winter birding gods finally delivered the 'perfect storm' for the inland patch-watcher, with the forecast snow duly arriving overnight and dumping a good 2-3" of snow around the patch, and with snow cover extending across the Midlands and further to the east/northeast into the 'wader rich' areas of E.Yorks,Lincs and Norfolk.
There was a 'classic' hard weather movement of waders over the patch involving mainly Lapwing, but also two flocks of superb Golden Plover including a flock of (9) that flew very low in the misty conditions right overhead. A hunting Peregrine was seen again, as well as (2) large Swan sp (Mute/Whooper) which flew high to the northeast, sadly just too high and distant to conclusively i.d one way or other. A Common Gull that flew through heading west was another cold weather refugee and a good patch year-tick, and wintering Skylark numbers increased, again no doubt due to the weather.
22 Golden Plover (9➝W) (13➝N/NW)
239 Lapwing ➝W (28 in) (largest flocks 70, 55)
1 Common Gull ➝W
1 Herring Gull
2 Swan sp ➝NE
1 Peregrine
222 Fieldfare (105 in)
11 Redwing
1 Song Thrush ➝W
16 Starling ➝W
1 Redpoll sp ➝S
5 Siskin ➝S
40 Chaffinch
10 Yellowhammer
91 Skylark
Golden Plover 5/2/12
Common Gull a quality patch year tick! 5/2/12
1 comment:
What an excellent day Craig. It really highlights the cold weather movements that were occuring
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