Mid February lull

A weekend in mid February feels to me like the end of something.  For a start the Waxwings are moving so randomly the idea of sighting any before they return  across the see seems very unlikely.  Backed up too by the massing of flocks of Fieldfare and the virtual absence of Redwing.  This must be countered with the reports of Curlew heading north in flocks coming from the south coast, lapwing flocks on the farmland and on those sunny mornings when the biting cold wind drops there is lots of birdsong.

The changing faces at the bird feeders in the garden include more Greenfinches and, with some deep joy as I've been wishing them here all winter, Lesser Redpolls.

The raptors have been less visible except on one blustery day when a Merlin sat in the lee of the wind on the road side sign for Pollybell Farms.  My car drew level and it didn't budge an inch! At night the hooting from our burgeoning Tawny Owl population died down as territories were claimed.  And back at Gringley Carr the Short Eared Owls are back - four at our best count.  They will bring much need photo-opportunities next month. Still no record of Barn Owl from Gringley or Misterton Carr

My best day this month was with my 6 year old nephew who likes to count the birds in his garden at home and here in Misterton we can offer more for him to enjoy.

25 species was the challenge for the day - 33 were delivered, only 7 outdoors the rest from various windows in the house.  It also enabled me to get a few shots in sunshine of our more confiding visitors.

Pleasing to see the House Sparrows now very comfortably using the seed feeders - a maximum count of 8 included 3 males - there maybe more deep in the hedge.  Its a fantastically dense hedge now with ivy doubling the cover - also getting Wren, Dunnock and occasionally Song Thrush around that area.

At Gringley Carr the flooding is restricted to the west bank of the idle and there were good reports of wildfowl on there on days I couldn't make it.  But the drains are empty aside from moorhens and - lucky for me a kingfisher silhouetted against faded evening light. At Wroot a few Bewicks mixed with 60+ Whooper Swans on the set aside too.




My nephew was thrilled to see Short Eared Owls - even more so when one tussled with a Kestrel.  Its so good that he's interested now - he may well be a bird watching companion for a little while.

In techie news, the BTO Birdtrack app is now available for iPhone and is a smashing bit of kit for recording sightings on the hoof, and seeing what's about locally from other sightings - either by bird species or by site.  I'm sure its going to see their database entires swell.  I just need to get into the habit of using it!