With January coming to a close, we’ve almost two months of winter under our belts. Well over halfway through now and the earliest spring bulbs are already up. Here’s today’s summary of sightings from Old Moor…
As you can see, there’s another reason to mark the date. Today provided Old Moor’s first bittern sighting by a visitor. Mary Wilde spotted the bird and noted that it ‘flew by’ - or was ‘blown by’- the Reedbed Hide. Her remarkable luck continued with a sighting of two bearded tit similarly propelled by the wind. Thanks Mary.
I was less lucky on my amblings today, though I did see the green sandpiper feeding in front of the Family Hide.
A green sandpiper on the Mere today
Down at Wath Ings, the goldeneye seemed completely oblivious to the gales and showed well today along with teal, shoveler and sixty or so lapwing.
Bullfinch looking peachy in the Bird Garden today
Thankfully, things were busier at Adwick Washland where Nigel Smith recorded: ten grey heron, one little egret, four mute swan, 130 greylags, thirty or so mallard, sixty teal, thirty-five gadwall, 335+ wigeon, eleven shoveler and six shelduck.
There were also: 400 or so lapwing, one golden plover, twenty-six snipe, one red-legged partridge, twenty fieldfare, ten redwing and five song thrush. Thanks Nigel.
While I’m on with Adwick, there was late news from yesterday of the first ringed plover as well as two raven over, heading towards Wentworth.
Here’s a bit of armchair birding – how many species do you see?
And with a small reminder that there’s just one day left to take part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch, sadly, that’s about it for today.
Until next time.