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A quiet month was dominated by some long-staying wildfowl of Nearctic origin, comprising a Lesser Scaup and Green-winged Teal in Gloucestershire and an American Wigeon and another Green-winged Teal in Leicestershire. A reasonable showing of seaduck included a brief Eider in Staffordshire and a Black-throated Diver was well received in the West Midlands. Notable passerines included two belated reports of Coues’s Arctic Redpolls, a few remaining Bearded Tits from last autumn’s influx and small numbers of Great Grey Shrikes while Waxwings remained conspicuous throughout the month.
Bewick’s Swan
Away from Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) where numbers peaked at 337, at least another 140 were noted across nine counties.
Whooper Swan
Around 50 were recorded with the most popular birds being five adults at Croxall (Staffs) from 12th and a single adult on the River Severn at Worcester all month.
Adult Whooper Swan at Worcester. Photo: Chris Cook
Eurasian White-fronted Goose
Numbers at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) peaked at 650, while around another 125 were recorded across the region, the largest flock being 50 at Cholsey (Oxon) on 2nd.
Tundra Bean Goose
One was at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) on 9th.
Brent Goose
A dark-bellied individual at Venus Pool NR (Shrops) on 16th was the only record.
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Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Venus Pool NR (Shropshire). Photo: Jim Almond
American Wigeon
The adult drake remained at Rutland Water throughout the month.
Green-winged Teal
The adult drake remained at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics) until 17th while another adult drake was noted at Slimbridge Wetland Centre on 16th and 20th.
Greater Scaup
Two first-winter drakes remained at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) all month while single females were noted at Cossington Meadows (Leics) on 1st, Cholsey Marsh (Oxon) on 5th, Earls Barton (Northants) on 9th, Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) on 14th and Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) from 19th. In addition, a first-winter drake was at Bittell Reservoirs (Worcs) from 15th to 18th while up to 16 were at Rutland Water.
Greater Scaups at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucestershire). Photos: Andrew Jordan
Lesser Scaup
The first-winter female remained at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) all month.
Lesser Scaup at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucestershire). Photo: Andrew Jordan
Eider
A female at Belvide Reservoir (Staffs) briefly on 1st was relocated at nearby Gailey Reservoirs the same day before flying off.
Long-tailed Duck
The long-staying immature drake remained at Rutland Water throughout the month.
Smew
Around 90 were recorded across the region with the largest counts being 15 at Rutland Water and up to 19 at Pitsford Reservoir (Northants).
Red-breasted Merganser
A female was at Cogenhoe (Northants) on 3rd, a female toured various sites around Northampton from 8th including Abington Park, Clifford Hill Pits and Hardingstone Pits, a female was at Long Eaton Pits (Derbys) on 11th, a female lingered at Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) from 21st and a drake was at Rutland Water on 28th.
Black-throated Diver
A juvenile was at Ryders Mere (W. Mids) from 28th to 31st.
Juvenile Black-throated Diver at Ryders Mere (West Midlands). Photo: Jim Almond
Great Northern Diver
Two juveniles remained at Carsington Water (Derbys) throughout the month and were joined by a third individual towards the end of the month.
Red-necked Grebe
Three individuals of this increasingly scarce winter visitor were noted: one at Rutland Water until at least the 23rd, one at Bartley Reservoir (W. Mids) on 3rd was last reported on 5th and one was at Stretton Sugwas Pits (Herefords) from 14th.
Slavonian Grebe
Three were present at Rutland Water for most of the month while one at Witney Lake (Oxon) from 14th often showed very well.
Slavonian Grebe at Witney (Oxfordshire). Photo: Stephen Burch
Bittern
Around 40 birds were recorded across the region with peak counts of up to three birds at Willington Pits (Derbys), Cotswold Water Park (Gloucs), Watermead Country Park (Leics) Attenborough NR (Notts) and Dosthill NR (Staffs) while one to two birds were noted at a further 22 sites.
Bittern at Tenbury Wells (Shropshire/Worcestershire). Photo: Chris Cook
Great White Egret
A long-staying individual at Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) was again joined by a second from 13th and was probably the bird noted at Clifford Hill Pits (Northants) on 9th and nearby Ditchford Pits on 10th. In the same county one was also seen at Cransley Reservoir on 30th and was presumably one of the birds from nearby Pitsford Reservoir. Elsewhere, one lingered in the Caythorpe/Hoveringham area (Notts) from 2nd to 31st and one was at Eyebrook Reservoir (Leics) on 9th.
Marsh Harrier
In Nottinghamshire, single female/immatures flew over Clayworth Common on 4th and nearby Idle Valley NR on 23rd while an immature female lingered in the Frampton-on-Severn/Slimbridge Wetland Centre area (Gloucs) from 12th and a female/immature flew north at Littleton-on-Severn (Gloucs) on 30th.
Hen Harrier
A ringtail remained at Harrington disused airfield (Northants) all month with further ringtails being noted at Venus Pool NR (Shrops) on 2nd, Hawling (Gloucs) on 16th, Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) and the Long Mynd (Shrops) on 19th, Blockley (Gloucs) on 23rd and Sherborne (Gloucs) on 30th. Single males were seen Whixall Moss (Shrops) on 2nd and again from 23rd, Great Easton (Leics) on 10th and Rodington (Shrops) on 26th.
Grey Plover
One was at Farmoor Resevoir (Oxon) on 17th.
Little Stint
One was noted at Slimbridge Wetland Centre (Gloucs) 26th.
Ring-billed Gull
One was reported near Hereford on 17th.
Caspian Gull
Several adults were noted at Albert Village Lake (Leics) throughout the month which often roosted at Foremark Reservoir (Derbys) while further adults were also noted at Port Meadow (Oxon) on 2nd, Ditchford Pits (Northants), Farmoor Reservoir (Oxon) and Throckmorton (Worcs) on 3rd, Stubber’s Green (W. Mids) on 6th and 7th, Clifton Pits (Worcs) on 8th, Wollaton (Notts) on 10th, Bartley Reservoir (W. Mids) on 12th, Shawell (Leics) and Idle Valley NR (Notts) on 17th and Pitsford Reservoir (Northants) on 18th and 29th. Third-winter individuals were noted at Ditchford Pits (Northants) on 2nd, Throckmorton (Worcs) on 8th, Shawell (Leics) on 18th and Stubbers Green (W. Mids) on 28th, while second-winter individuals were noted at Shawell (Leics) on 17th and Wildmooor (Worcs) from 24th which was also noted at nearby Bartley Reservoir (W. Mids) on 26th and 30th and a first-winter was at Draycote Water (Warks) on 16th with two there on 20th.
Adult Caspian Gull at Throckmorton (Worcestershire). Photo: Ian Lavell
Iceland Gull
A fairly lean showing with the most popular bird being the third-winter in Staffordshire and the West Midlands, often being seen at Chasewater and Stubber’s Green but also venturing as far north as Blithfield Reservoir on 17th. Chasewater also attracted a juvenile on various dates from 8th while further juveniles were noted at Throckmorton (Worcs) on 2nd, Ditchford Pits (Northants) from 8th, Appleford and Radley (Oxon) from 8th, Albert Village Lake (Leics), Daneshill Lakes (Notts) on 11th and Stanwick Pits (Northants) on 16th and 24th. In addition an adult was noted at Draycote Water (Warks) on 14th.
Third-winter Iceland Gull at Stubbers Green (West Midlands). Photo: Jim Almond
Kumlien’s Gull
An adult was at the Cotswold Water Park (Gloucs) on 6th.
Glaucous Gull
A long-staying juvenile in Oxfordshire continued to be seen on a regular basis throughout the month being noted at Radley Pits and in the Appleford area while another juvenile was noted in the gull roost at Coton Lakes (Warks) from 1st to 4th and a juvenile was present in the Ditchford Pits/Sidegate landfill site area (Northants) from 8th, also visiting nearby Stanwick Pits on 13th. A third-winter individual continued to be well tracked around the centre of the region often roosting at Foremark Reservoir (Derbys) but also roosting at Coton Lakes (Warks) on 5th and 8th while it was noted during the day time at Albert Village Lake (Leics) on several dates. Further records comprised single adults at Ditchford Pits on 9th, Foremark Reservoir on 10th and Rutland Water on 20th, 23rd and 26th, while a juvenile was at Trench Pool (Shrops) from 22nd to 24th, a second-winter was at Fishers Mill (Warks) on 23rd and it or another second-winter was at Kingswood (Staffs) on 31st.
Juvenile Glaucous Gull at Trench Pool (Shropshire). Photo: Jim Almond
Kittiwake
The second-winter individual re-appeared in Derbyshire being noted at Pleasley Pit Country Park on 31st.
Long-eared Owl
One remained at Willington Pits (Derbys) until at least the 8th and up to four remained at the traditional site of Park Hall Country Park (Staffs) throughout the month.
Short-eared Owl
Long-staying birds that remained throughout the month comprised singles at Willington Pits (Derbys), Whixall Moss (Shrops) and Brandon Marsh NR (Warks), two at Berry Hill Fields (Staffs) and up to four at Aust Warth (Gloucs). Elsewhere, at least seven were at Bury Down (Oxon) on 7th and singles were at Ryall Pits (Worcs) on 12th and Thurmaston (Leics) on 27th.
Water Pipit
A very poor winter and apart from singles at Aqualate Mere (Staffs) on 3rd and Doxey Marshes NR (Staffs) on 16th, all records occurred along the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire with one at Severn Beach on 6th, two at Oldbury-on-Severn from 19th to 24th and Littleton-on-Severn on 30th.
Woodlark
One was noted at Barton-in-Fabis (Notts) on 2nd.
Waxwing
Although there was a decline in the number of individual reports as the month progressed, large numbers remained across the region with by far the largest single count to be reported being the 500 in Northampton on 11th.
Waxwing at Stourbridge (West Midlands). Photo: Chris Cook
Dipper
Out-of-range birds comprised the bird first discovered in September 2010 that continued to linger on the River Windrush at Witney (Oxon) and another was on the River Maun in Mansfield (Notts) from 2nd.
Black Redstart
Four were noted during the month with singles at Hereford city centre on 1st and 13th, Severn Beach (Gloucs) from 6th, Tutshill (Gloucs) from 18th and Sharpness (Gloucs) from 20th.
Firecrest
One at Attenborough NR (Notts) on 7th was the only record.
Bearded Tit
Following the late autumn influx only a few birds remained: up to five at Cossington Meadows (Leics) to 3rd, two at Stanwick Pits (Northants) on 3rd and two were still at Storton’s Pits (Northants) on 4th with a male remaining until at least 30th.
Great Grey Shrike
One remained at Budby Common (Notts) until 17th and another long-staying bird remained on Cannock Chase (Staffs) all month but was often very elusive. Further singles were at Edmonthorpe (Leics) on 3rd, in the Beeley Moor/Harewood Moor area (Derbys) from 13th to 31st, near Wirksworth (Derbys) on 14th and Bredon’s Hardwick (Worcs) briefly on 31st.
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Great Grey Shrike at Bredon's Hardwick (Worcestershire). Photo: Ian Lavell
Brambling
By far the largest umbers were noted in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds with 300 at Cleeve Hill and 400 at Withington.
Mealy Redpoll
A reasonable showing across the region with numbers slowly rising as the month progressed. Singles were noted at Cromford (Derbys), Charlton Kings (Gloucs), Lydbrook (Gloucs), Brandon Marsh NR (Warks), Ladywalk NR (Warks) and Bewdley (Worcs), while two were at Budby Common (Notts), two at Stourport-on-Severn (Worcs), three at Pleasley Colliery (Derbys), three at Bestwood Country Park (Notts), three at Idle Valley NR (Notts), four at Ogston Reservoir (Derbys), four at Rutland Water, six at Carr Vale NR (Derbys), eight at Holme Pierrepont (Notts) and 15 at Staunton Harold Reservoir (Derbys).
Mealy Redpoll at the Forest of Dean (Gloucestershire). Photo: Lewis Thomson
Coues’s Arctic Redpoll
Following a small influx to eastern and north-eastern England, singles were reported at Carr Vale NR (Derbys) on 28th and Kirby Lakes (Leics) on 30th.
Common Crossbill
Four at Cannock Chase (Staffs) on 2nd and four at Hanchurch Woods (Staffs) on 9th were the only reports away from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.
Hawfinch
A reasonable showing comprised singles at Burrough Hill Country Park (Leics) on 1st, Stonesfield Common (Oxon) from 1st to at least 10th, two at Cassey Compton (Gloucs) on 9th, Ludlow (Shrops) on 18th, Blenheim Palace (Oxon) on 24th and an impressive 17 flew over Awre (Gloucs) on 24th. Regular sightings were also made at many traditional sites throughout the month with up to six at Cromford (Derbys), many in the New Fancy View and Speech House area (Gloucs), up to 15 at Clumber Park (Notts), up to five at Rufford Country Park (Notts) and up to five in the Wyre Forest (Worcs).
Hawfinch at the Wyre Forest (Worcestershire). Photo: John Robinson
Snow Bunting
A female was near Leash Fen (Derbys) on 30th.
Copyright: Birding Today (Copyright of photos remain with the credited photographers).
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