FEBRUARY 2022 BIRD NOTES

HIGHLIGHTS: Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, Mediterranean Gull and Turnstone

On 26^TH WeBS count 27 species were recorded which helped towards an end of month total of 93 species being noted.

Water bird maxima were from the WeBS count on 26^th unless dated otherwise. 13 Mute Swan 23^rd, 170 Pink-footed Goose flew Northwest 10^th, 41 Greylag Goose 11^th, 133 Canada Goose, 45 Barnacle Goose 9^th, 2 Shelduck 3^rd, 50 Wigeon, 6 Pintail 6^th, 148 Gadwall 7^th, 157 Mallard, 205 Teal 7^th, 21 Pochard 7^th, 86 Tufted Duck 7^th, 16 Goldeneye 16^th, 2 Goosander 3^rd and 15^th, 1 Great Northern Diver present all month, 31 Little Grebe 7^th, 65 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-necked Grebes reported most days till month end, 20 Cormorant 7^th and 12^th, 2 Little Egret 6^th, 3 Grey Heron 21^st, 1 Water Rail 4^th, 7^th, 15^th and 26^th, 19 Moorhen 7^th, 714 Coot 7^th, 1 Kingfisher 7 dates within the month including on the WeBS count.

Raptor sightings included 10 Buzzards 7^th and 26^th, 5 Red Kite 3^rd and 26^th, 3 Sparrowhawk 8^th and 22^nd, 2 Kestrel 7^th, 1 Merlin 4^th and 6^th, 1 Peregrine reported 7 dates within the month.

Seven species of waders through this month with 12 Oystercatcher 23^rd,650 Lapwing 3^rd, 5 Dunlin 25^th and a single bird reported 16^th, 52 Common Snipe 11^th, 1 Turnstone 15^th, 38 Curlew 27^th, 5 Redshank reported on the Webs.

Maximum Gull numbers were 21 Herring Gulls 21^st, 1 Yellow-legged Gull 2^nd, 22^nd and 24^th, 300 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 21^st, 2 Great black-backed Gulls 8^th, 2000 Common Gulls 1^st, 1 Caspian Gull 6^th, 1 Kittiwake 23^rd, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull in summer plumage 21^st.

Among other species were 3 Woodcock 12^th, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker 27^th, 4 Tawny Owl 12^th, 12 Skylark 22^nd, 30 Meadow Pipit 11^th in Tail Bay below the dam wall, 4 Grey Wagtails 26^th, 6 Pied Wagtail 6^th, 370 Redwing 14^th, 10 Song Thrush, 6 Mistle Thrush 4 Goldcrest 21^st, 15 Long-tailed Tit 2^nd, 5 Willow Tit 15^th, 4 Coal Tit 5^th, 4 Treecreeper, 3 Jay 14^th, 70 Rook 1^st, 8 Raven 8^th, 200 Starling 23^rd,10 Tree Sparrow 10^th, 30 Goldfinch 5^th and 8^th, 5 Greenfinch 26^th, 107 Siskin 5^th, 3 Linnet 22^nd, 5 Lesser Redpoll 9^th, 5 Bullfinch 1^st, 10^th and 28^th.

A total 93 species for this month compared to 93 in 2020, 92 in 2019, 87 in 2018 (no Birdnotes for 2021).

In  line with the recent government announcements, all visitors to the Carsington Water Visitor Centre will be required to wear a face covering unless exempt, in accordance with the retail setting. This applies to all areas of the centre, including integrated café areas, where only seated visitors are not required to wear face coverings. All hides will be open in accordance with government Covid measures and we are requesting that in keeping with all other indoor settings that visitors wear a face covering.