January - Pilot

WELCOME TO FEBRUARY - NO RAIN SO FAR!

 Like any other Fanatic or Addict, for surely that is what we are, we Wildlifers have to get our fix, but then it’s true to say “the more you see the more you want to”! Additionally, and it is doubtful I’m alone in this, there are those moment when no matter how much you have recorded there is often that little moan which occasionally manifests itself through these pages.

As we arrived at the final day of the first month of 2021 it seemed little had happened until we took time to sit down and flick through the Log showing just a few of the Best thus far.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE 

 is no longer a fore-gone in this area between the Hampshire Avon and the Dorset Moors Rivers once 'the' Hot Spot for such a bird but seemingly no more? With 73 species in total throughout the month we have excelled, as during the years since records began here (2013) we have got nowhere near that number which is also well past the 'half way mark' of last years combined total. Sticking with the Waterfowl

TEAL
are well behind Mallard in abundance during these early weeks while

COOT
is certainly hit or miss and even more so

POCHARD
on the Main Pond of all places is a new one on us! Also something of a surprise

TUFTED DUCK
could fall under the heading of numerous as often daily so far theis year with a max of c7 together.

GREEN SANDPIPER
is a usual but sometime sporadic winter visitor, which always finds its way onto the January list but this year as only a 'fluke' heard on the video footage of an aircraft in flight.

KINGFISHER
is always hit or miss but always finds its way onto the early list, in fact we recorded a second, or revisit, on Saturday.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
only nest here with them being absent throughout the other months. However, not hard and fast as when the restrictions were moderated slightly, early month, our only visit inside the Airport turned one up which was only the second ever for a January.

If ever there were a 'right time, right place species the
TREE SPARROW 

is it as was proven on the 16th of the month.

CETTI'S WARBLER
appears to be totally dependant on water levels here, so with little or no rain in the early days of the month they were among the early risers and part of the 'dawn chorus'.

RAVEN
on the otherhand has been far less noticable but occasionally present while

WOODLARK
remain consigned to just the c9 individuals reported here a few days ago!

Add to that

WINTER MOTH

DECEMBER MOTH

EARLY MOTH
'first for the Recording Area' and

CHESTNUT
We promise NO complaints until tomorrow!
ATTENTION NOW TURNS TO THE USUALLY 'LESS PRODUCTIVE' FEBRUARY!