Summary of the year to date
The Observation pages contain a synopsis of the more interesting sightings of birds at Rye Meads over the past year, plus a summary of last year.
Observations in January and February
Duck counts were generally pretty modest, although Teal peaked at 279 and Shelduck at 6. With no more than single Jack Snipe and Woodcock on a few dates, and up to three Green Sandpipers, waders too were not very exciting. There were however one or two Bitterns regularly, known to involve at least three birds, and intriguingly one was ringed. There was also a solitary record of a Little Egret.
Four species of raptor were recorded during the period: a single observation of Red Kite, and several occurrences of the usual Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Peregrine. How nice to be able to describe Buzzard and Peregrine as "usual"!
Wagtails and Pipits were also scarce, with no more than 14 Meadow Pipits and 5 of each of Grey and Pied Wagtail. We also contributed just a single Waxwing to the big Herts influx. A single Bearded Tit was caught and proved to be a control from Norfolk.
Cetti's Warblers seem to have survived the winter snows well, with up to six birds, and a single Goldcrest was present throughout. The usual Chiffchaffs were however absent until mid-February, then up to three were present to the end of the period.
A roost flight of 890 Jackdaws one evening was a new Rye Meads record. Siskins also hit a record, with 100 recorded on one date, and good sized flocks on several other dates. A flock of 22 Lesser Redpolls was also the best for some time.