We had a few new additions to our list this week including chiffchaff, woodcock and lesser redpoll - birds we would expect each year. However, some birds that in many places are an every day sighting, really get the pulses racing here in Warwick...
Tufted duck
Spotted by Rick, this little beauty is the first tuftie to be recorded in St Nicholas Park for 6 years!
Apparently, it is the UK's most common diving duck and there's even more of them in the UK in Winter as they travel here from Iceland and Northern Europe. They just seem to choose not to come to the centre of Warwick!
It isn't just us, though. It does make me feel a little better to know that a tufted duck seen on Bardsey Island in May 2019 was only the 35th record since records began back in the 1950s! (George Dunbar, Birdguides)
Red Kite
This was spotted by Chris over Warwick on the 6th Feb, with another sighting (probably the same bird) by James in Leamington, on the 11th.
Following the first reintroduction of red kites in the Chilterns in 1989, and further introductions in other areas, they have spread far and wide...but not quite reached Warwick yet. There is a pair in the village of Barford, just down the road, and it may be one of these that we see popping into town on the odd occasion (although Warwick Castle does have a red kite display as part of their falconry show, so I suppose it could have been one of theirs).
Hopefully we'll start to see the real deal more regularly as the numbers of this majestic bird continue to rise and disperse further.
Egyptian goose
A first for me in Warwick, this pair were canoodling on a temporary flash at the Saxon Mill fields this morning. An invasive species, it is illegal to keep, breed or release them, but they are common in Norfolk and around Greater London and, while it was an absolute BOOOM moment for me, they are considered a real pest in some places. I remember talking to someone at Rutland Water in early Spring some years ago. He didn't love them at all, saying that it was a real race for the Rutland ospreys to return quickly before the Egyptian geese started to nest on their platforms!
So, our list now stands at 75 so far for the year. Only 25 more species to go to reach our target and, with Spring on the way, we have every chance of hitting it 😊. Whether that will be through spotting everyday species, ones that are scarce for us or maybe...just maybe...a real rarity, is yet to be discovered!
Lizzy
Lovely summary
ReplyDeleteThank you :-)
DeleteThe essence of local patch watching, it is always a thrill to see new birds for your chosen place, no matter what species. This is a brilliant blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks, love hearing about your birding adventures too :-)
DeleteStill waiting for Egyptian Goose at Morton Bagot. Enjoying the blog. Your enthusiasm shines through.
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard, Yup Egyptian Goose is a good one for our area. We have only had them once before and that was a flyover last year. Hope you get one on your patch soon.
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