Spawn signals Spring.

On the 6th a Curlew flew down the valley, no doubt heading for Brascote. Other recent sightings have included Peregrine, Raven and Woodcock. By the 10th there was plenty of spawn in the pond and a pair of Mallard had moved in. The final Webs count was completed today(13th). The highest count was 74 Mallard and 31 Tufted duck. There were also 14 Cormorant, some being the sinensis sub species, from eastern and southern Europe ,which breeds in the Baltic. (See photo). The highlight were the 9 Sand Martins that were feeding low over the reservoir, a sure sign that migration has begun.

Hybrid Duck.

On the 27th February I noticed 3 juvenile Pochard near the outflow in the company of this male hybrid. I have recorded a similar hybrid at Thornton and I suspect that it is a male Tufted crossed with a female Pochard.

Lapwings.

Possibly my favourite bird the Lapwing and there have been up to 75 on the dam over the last few weeks. This one was close to the outflow so I was able to snap off a shot, being concealed by the dam wall. Secreted amongst them on the 11th was a single Oyster catcher. The 2 colour ringed Black headed gulls are also still about. On the 22nd a male Goosander flew over aswell as a Peregrine. On the 23rd the first frogs were in the pond. There have been up to 5 Common Buzzards over the village, no doubt pairing up for the breeding season.

Slow Progress!

Water Rail at Stanton inflow.

It has been quiet around the reservoir for the last four weeks, but my year list has now crept up to 75. Species added have included Peregrine, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose,Reed Bunting, Nuthatch, Kingfisher and a female Brambling. The pair of Little Owl are back calling on their territory and a Tawny is frequenting a nest site. Sparrowhawks have also been seen displaying. There are several species that I would have expected to have seen by now, but I suspect that the hard winter has forced some of them further west. This includes birds such as Pochard, Goldeneye, Snipe, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Marsh Tit. As the days lengthen lets hope that some of these species become more evident. Bring on the spring!

Raven before Rook!

With much of the reservoir frozen the wildfowl numbers have dwindled. I did eventually catch up with a Great crested grebe on the 5th. It was sitting on the ice and looked very unhappy. This species obviously is forced to move when lakes freeze over, but I have never seen one flying over open country. New species added to the list included Goosander(3),Lapwing(40),and Raven(4) all on the 8th, and Rook and Grey Heron on the 9th. All three Tossers have had Raven before Rook this year. My ringing highlight was trying out my new whoosh net and catching this Belgium ringed Black Headed Gull. ( See the Charnwood ringing group website for more details). Finally, a very interesting talk by David Lindo was enjoyed at the recent L.R.O.S. meeting. His local patch is around Wormwood Scrubs in west London. His mates who watch this site are known as Scrubbers, who I am certain would hit it off with us Tossers!

O.M.T.L.!

At 0915 on 2nd a quick glance out of my bathroom window and a Red Kite was added to my Toilet list. It flew off down the valley to the south west. Today 3 Waxwings were in the village, but very flighty, and not yet O.M.T.L!

T.O.S. Welcome 2011.

It was a rare event for all three members of TOS to welcome in 2011 with a New years day bird species count. Weather conditions were not ideal but we persevered and having gone our separate ways,(Tossers, as the name implies are solitary creatures), I eventually ended the day on 56, 4 down on last year. Highlights were 2 fly over Golden Plover, Water Rail, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Willow tit, 2 Woodcock and Little and Tawny Owl. The owls were both given away by the nearby presence of Carrion Crows.