This is a monthly summary, so if you want more recent nature sightings, please click on the recent sightings tag on the RSPB Middleton Lakes web page.
The month started with blue skies and clouds, herons were active but the nights were cold. Then there were cloudy-sunny days with temperatures of 9C +. Following were cold nights and warm days (10-12C). Then cold days with a northern wind and ending with blue skies and warmish days (8C)
Herons: In the first week there were 8 active nests and 14 visible herons, some with nesting material. Some birds were feeding, others just standing by an old nest. Later there were 10+ nests and 18+ herons, with birds bringing nesting material or flying about. Then the cold nights came with icy pools and many of the herons moved to somewhere warmer. They were back though by mid-month with some 14 active nests and birds coming and going to the nests. Some birds had nest material. Some birds just wanted to squawk. Well, I guess they were bringing food for their mates.
Little egret were seen going to roost in the lower heronry area. There were redpoll on the feeders.
There were courting great crested grebes until the digger noises disturbed them.
There were up to 5 diggers, several landrovers and assorted crawler supply vehicles on the central grasslands as habitat modifications were increasing and deadlines approached. The pumps were in continuous action.
On sunny days, great spotted woodpeckers were moving around the woods. Dunnocks, robins, great and blue tits, chaffinches and song thrushes were singing. It was February the month of courtship. The resident birds have to have their territories and partners chosen before other birds move in.
Most days, blue tit and great tit, blackbird, robin were calling.
Our keen, all tough, clear-eyed winter volunteer WeBS surveyors counted, mid-month, (including RSPB Dosthill): bittern (1 at Dosthill), black-headed gull (248), Canada goose (53), coot (270), cormorant (14), gadwall (4), goldeneye (59 at Dosthill), goosander (2), great crested grebe (8), grey heron (4), lapwing (64), lesser black-backed gull (18), little egret (2), little grebe (2), mallard (82), moorhen (26), mute swan (12), pochard (34), shoveler (128), teal (100), tufted duck (200), wigeon (24).
Wetland trail also had buzzard, Cetti's warbler (by the river, Dosthill side), goldeneye, goosander, green sandpiper, greylag goose, lapwing (over a hundred in a flock) , oystercatcher, pintail, reed bunting, ringed plover, shelduck, shoveler, stonechat, water rail, wigeon, woodcock and yellowhammer. Long-tail duck (pair at Dosthill).
Meadow trail had skylark (seen looking towards Dosthill) and siskin (mixed flocks with redpoll) along the river.
Play meadow, car park, woodland edge trail (and canal) had all the usual finches and tits, Cetti's warbler (calling by the silt pool), water rail and coot around the feeders (but not together). Also buzzard and kestrel. Dunnock and robin. Song thrush calling. Woodpecker drumming (great spotted) or calling (green). Sparrowhawk.
Mammals: Munjac, rabbits, squirrels were seen, together with mole hill activity.
With a great thank you to everyone for your nature sightings – keep them coming in. You can use the car-park sightings board, phone or email. Contact details are on the maps – a copy of which can be downloaded from the RSPB Middleton Lakes internet page and also available in the car-park.