Rain fell, and a blustery, cool wind blew for this afternoons walk. I was out for 2 hours, from 2pm, the same length of time as yesterdays walk, and the same track was undertaken. However only 25 species were recorded, compared to the 40 of yesterday, the birds were obviously keeping out of the weather!

Checking the February stats, they show an average of 59 species has been recorded for this month, and that seems to be reachable for this February, I can think of 18 species that I have a good chance of finding in the next 26 days.

So it was with those 18 species in mind that I set off this afternoon, the wet woods was scoured, but I only found (heard) GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, MOORHENS and GREAT TITS the latter calling incessantly, as they do at this time of year. Walking to the Lake along the wooded footpath I hoped for Goldcrest, Nuthatch, or a glimpse of the Marsh Tit, but in the wet conditions none were forthcomming. The lake itself had at least thawed out, but there were no surprises for me there today, only the usual half a dozen MALLARD and a couple of Moorhens. I kept my eye on the sky for the first sparrowhawk of the month, but that didn't show either, the only bird out of the 18 targeted today that did show was the PHEASANT (41), at least I got something from the visit. :-). I checked the Little Owl roost, along the edge of the wet woods, but it wasn't there today, so the 4kg of mud I collected on each boot in doing so made it even more frustrating! The soggy walk back home didn't provide anything in the way extending the months list, despite much skyscanning, and a quick half hour looking at the garden feeders once home, didn't come up with the hoped for Brambling.

More rain forecast for tomorrow, but i'll be out for another session!

....................Winter Is On Its way Out....................

A new month, and a new list, the best February bird list was that of last year, when 67 species were recorded, i'll do well to get near that one! Looking at the combined February total for the past 8 years, it does give me some hope though, it stands at 78. (same as January)

I was asked in an e-mail what the birds in the coloured fonts meant, well i'll explain my system to all...... If I see a species new to my patch it is highlighted in PURPLE with the new patch total next to it in brackets. If I find a species new to the current year it will be highlighted in RED with the new year total next to it in brackets, and lastly if I find a new species for the current month it will be highlighted in ORANGE with the new monthly total next to it in brackets.

A small change will start this year, if I find a new patch species I will enter all the totals in brackets after it, patch, year and monthly ones. EG: GOLDEN EAGLE (128, 66, 41), A new species for the year will have the years total and monthly total after it. Zimples!!

This afternoons walk got me off to a flying start, in a little under two hours I recorded 40 species, I visited the Small Holding, Wet Woods, and Lake area, and walked the long way back home across the Tree Nursery. Virtually all the very commmon birds were seen, 4 finch species, 4 Tit species, 5 thrush species, and 5 crow species, also both GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER showed up, ( I wont highlight and number the new months species on the first day of the month, obviously they are all new!). WREN, ROBIN, and DUNNOCK, all gave a bit of song, and a PIED WAGTAIL flew over calling. 3 species of GULL were seen BLACKHEADED, HERRING and the more elusive COMMON GULL. Other good species for the list were KESTREL, YELLOWHAMMER, SISKIN, TREECREEPER, GREY HERON and 4 LAPWING that flew over the tree nursery, where I also watched the first of the LINNETS coming into roost.

MALLARD and MOORHEN were seen on the frozen lake edge, and STARLING, HOUSE SPARROW, COLLARED DOVE, and WOODPIGEON made up the 40 species, I think that's it!