A long-staying White-fronted Goose - the first to land at the Wetlands for five years - enlivened what was, as usual, a pretty dull month. February also saw the more expected Skylark, Buzzard, Wigeon and an early Curlew added to the year list while the Scaup and Firecrests continued their stays. Across February, 80 species were seen with the five additions taking the year list to 86 which, in a remarkable show of consistency, is one more than last year but one behind 2024.
The Barnacle Goose flock began to prepare for the breeding season with at least one pair showing interest again in the No 5 islands. It had looked as if the Wetlands was going to miss out on the big influx of Russian White-fronted Geese into the UK this winter. The omission was put right when a 1W bird was found early on the 11th feeding on the grassy banks of Lockwood with Canada Geese and Greylags. It continued to be seen regularly but only early mornings always in the same area for the rest of the month,
The first Wigeon of the year was picked out by FSJ flying over No 4/5 on the 20th. The 1W female Scaup remained all month at the south end of West Warwick. The highest daily count of Goldeneye crept up to four although more than four different birds were seen across the month. Just like January, there was only one record of Goosander although this time it was a female briefly over Lockwood on the 2nd.
Single Red Kites were seen on three days with the first and only Buzzard of the year so far on the 2nd. Four species of wader were recorded - one more than last year - but only the Curlew which came off Lockwood early on the 24th was at all unexpected. A single Lapwing were seen on the 1st with perhaos the same five on the 13th & 15th. Two Common Sandpipers remained lall month largely on High Maynard. while as many as six Common Snipe continued to roost inside the East Warwick island where the cutting down of vegetation has made viewing much easier than in the past.
Curlew disappearing south over Lockwood pic @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social
The East Warwick Snipe were not often as showy pic @MLP The Wetland's breeding gulls were already back on territory by the end of the month with Lesser black-backed and Herring Gulls pairing up on the islands and dozens of Black-heads noisily staking claims on the Lockwood rafts. They again helped attract scarcer species with a Yellow-legged Gull on the 16th and a 1W Caspian Gull on the 23rd,.
Our celebrity Kingfishers are already showing signs of breeding as well with plenty of courtship chasing. There is no sign, however, of Ravens nesting in the immediate surroundings although a pair were seen on pylons just outside the Wetlands on several days but only early in the month. The odd Jackdaw was also seen passing over.
Skylarks bookended the month with the first of the year on the 1st and a second on the 28th. They are among the first signs that Spring migration is underway as is an increase in the number of Stonechats. The first passage birds away from West Warwick were seen on the 25th - a week later than the last two years - with at least five scattered around the site and six on the 27th.
The wintering pair of Firecrests continued to be seen occasionally on West Warwick with what may have been a separate bird by the Engine House on the 21st. There was no pick up in the small number of wintering thrushes with just the odd Redwing and Fieldfare. A Redpoll on the 26th and 28th in silver birch around the main carpark.
DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social
