Thursday 21st February 2013

Biting easterly wind with the odd snow flake keeping the punters off the nature reserve despite it being half term week. Three flocks of Barnacle Geese, calling evocatively as they went south overhead & just offshore, totalled 373 birds which i suspect this is a record count for here. The only other goose mixed in with them was a single Canada. Also on the move 90 Cormorants, 2 Red-throated Divers & a Ringed Plover north plus 2 Shelduck south. The only other record of note was a Rock Pipit along the river bank. As none have wintered here i suspect this is a spring migrant making it's way back to Scandinavia for the breeding season. Difficult to think of spring in these cold conditions but a lot of migration is triggered by day length, not just temperature.