So, did my first patch jaunt in the -5 degrees yesterday and have begun already both to reminisce AND plan ahead. My thinking was to compare the current list with about this time last year and then draw up a hit list of pre-migrant species to focus on.
This time last year...
I did 6 trips in January, 15 in February and 2 in March before being locked out of my blog due to a software update. Imade my first 2022 trip on Jan 15th, 6 days earlier than this year, but the conditions it seems (a freeze) were not that dissimilar (see Plucked and seasoned...) and managed just 34 species, compared to yesterday's 61 (1). I moaned at the time about the lack of diversity at the Feeding Station...
" Just four species. FOUR! Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Nuthatch. No Greenfinch, No Goldfinch, No Siskin, No Redpoll, No Brambling, No House Sparrow, No Reed Bunting, No Long-tailed Tit, No Willow Tit, No Coal Tit... bugger all. I had to wait right until I was leaving to even get a single Great Spotted Woodpecker and that flew into a tree behind me and started calling along with a Jay and a couple of Bullfinch. I am shaking my head... Moore is NOT what it used to be :/"
and then comment...
"Now the work begins... still plenty to play for ahead of the migrants; Little Egret, Greylag Goose, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Merlin, Water Rail, Common Snipe, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare, Treecreeper, Rook, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Goosander... that's 24 species I need - time to get serious ;)"
Well, how are we so far in 2023 compared to this time last year? Here's the famous 139 list from 2010 with last years birds seen then but not now in YELLOW, this years birds (so far) in GREEN and the remainder of the 'possibles' in WHITE.
BNGrebe, L Grebe, GC Grebe, Cormorant, G Heron, L Egret, M Swan, Greylag, Canada, Shelduck,
Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Tufty, Ruddy, M Harrier, Buzzard, R Kite, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, G Partridge, Pheasant, W Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher,
Avocet, LR Plover, R Plover, Lapwing, G Sandpiper, Co
Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank,
Blackwit, Curlew, Whimbrel, Snipe, J Snipe, Woodcock, BH Gull, C Gull, H Gull,
LBB Gull, GBB Gull, Med Gull,
Glaucous, YL Gull, C Tern, Feral Pigeon, S Dove, C Dove, Woodpigeon, Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Little Owl, SEO, Swift,
Kingfisher, GS Woodpecker, LS Woodpecker, Skylark, S
Martin, H Martin, Swallow, M Pipit, P Wagtail, G
Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Wheatear, Stonechat, Whinchat, S Thrush, M Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbird, Garden
Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, L Whitethroat, Sedge, Reed, Gropper, Willow,
Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, G Tit, B Tit, C Tit, LT Tit, W Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, C Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Raven, Jay, Starling, H Sparrow, T Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Linnet, L
Redpoll, Goldfinch,
Greenfinch, Siskin, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting... Knot (121), Dunlin (122), Sanderling (123), Spotted
Flycatcher (124), Green Woodpecker (125),
Turnstone (126), Garganey (127), Common Redstart (128), Tree Pipit (129), Golden
Plover (130), Ruff (131), Pink-footed Goose (132), Cetti's Warbler (133), Goldeneye (134), Tawny Owl (135), Firecrest (136), Water Pipit (137),
Goosander (138), Iceland Gull (139)... I repeat, SO close, so VERY close to the magical
140!!!
So I bagged a few I didn't get my end of Jan last year
Greylag, Common Sand, Barn Owl... but have yet to get;
Mute Swan, Kestrel, G Partridge, W Rail, C Gull, Stonechat, Starling, Yellowhammer, Green Woodpecker, Golden Plover, Goldeneye and
Tawny Owl - that's 13 that should be around... PLUS
Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, R Plover, G Sandpiper, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, C Dove, Grey Wagtail, Rook, House Sparrow and Greenfinch... and maybe
Merlin and
Goosander (not on the list)... another 15 making a grand total of 28 more possibles before the migrants arrive. T'would be nice... and put me on
89!!! I'll be sure to keep you posted Dear Reader...
