Observations

Winter Thrush Wonderland
A review of the birds of January-February 2026

The cold easterlies from the tail end of 2025 abated only to be replaced by cold north-westerlies giving frozen conditions to the first nine days of the year, but bringing little other than an increase in Redwings and Fieldfares. Frozen conditions did not increase wildfowl numbers – in fact just the opposite. Most of the Chiffchaffs left and apparently the Stonechats too. Mild, wet and windy conditions returned from 11th January, and the rest of the month’s weather reverted to dull and wet, becoming colder to the end. Elsewhere in the UK and Europe flooding and cold spells influenced bird movements. February continued here wet but not cold, often just breezy enough to thwart the ringing effort.

Duck numbers continued to be on the low side, the exception being 240 Gadwalls on the January duck count, and 78 Teal in early January. Other peak duck counts included 15 Pochard, 60 Tufted Ducks, seven Red-crested Pochards and four Shelducks. Coot numbers were very low, top count being 80, well below our breeding strength. A Bittern appeared (a ‘cold mover’) in January and remained (though rarely seen) until the end of the period.

The first Oystercatcher of the year showed on a couple of dates in January. The cold spell in early January temporarily moved the large Lapwing flock out, but they were back a week later and peaked at 539 in February. The sudden arrival of 35 Snipe in late January, growing to 63 a week or so later, is a head scratcher. Our previous best this winter was 12. Flooding to the west of us (and we’re talking Somerset!) and a severe weather warning that day for icy roads to the east (so presumably there was a slight frost) don’t offer any real clues and leaves us pondering on that one too – our work is never done. It remained a poor winter for Jack Snipe though, a peak of only eight in January. Better news on Woodcock – three different individuals were seen in January (two collecting rings on the way!) in a period when big influxes were noted on the NE coast (e.g. 300 at Flamborough!!). Green Sandpipers mustered only one to two on several dates.

Most notable raptor was a Marsh Harrier on three dates (and likely the same bird as in December). It is a curious individual; its small size and pale-based under primaries suggesting a young male, the large areas of cream on head and forewing and a paler rusty tail indicate a female which leaves us scratching our chins in puzzlement – the appearance of a ‘mate’ would surely clarify things!

Some corvid traffic to report this time in the form of a pair of Ravens on two dates and singles on three other dates; a veritable Rook extravaganza with three singles and groups of 11, seven and two, all heading south as usual – what is going on? Moving Jackdaws were also evident – southerly roost flightlines this time, of 110 on two dates. Magpies roost on site, 43 being the only count made.

The cold start to the year led to an apparent clear out of Chiffchaffs leaving only a handful by mid-January. There were up to five Blackcaps until early February, after which they abruptly left.

But the story of this winter really is the winter thrushes. After a slight increase in Redwing numbers to 80 during the cold start to January, the bountiful berry crop attracted refugees presumably fleeing the snow ‘up north’ or hard conditions on the near continent, with impressive totals of 285 Redwings and 43 Fieldfares at peak. Counts of over say 100 Redwings at Rye Meads nearly always concern birds moving overhead as part of an autumn arrival or a cold weather-related movement, so this was a bit different; to have 240-280 on site for a prolonged period was rather spectacular and exciting. Frustratingly, opportunities to ring some were few, but a Belgium ringed control is good reward; we await details of its origin, which may be informative about the influx. Numbers declined rapidly during February as the temperature warmed up.

After a cold induced gap in sightings a male Stonechat and a ringed female were in the meadows leaving us wondering if they really ever left.  The Meadow Pipit roost contained 30 birds in January but only 12 in February, sadly there was no sign of the Water Pipit last seen in December 2025.

The first decent flock of Siskins for a good while was of 20, but there was only a single Redpoll. Goldfinches were present in single figures daily, a count of 40 at the old Social Club dropping down into Laurels to roost on 14th February was a surprise. The Yellowhammer roost got a bit scattered and counts were difficult, but there were still 40 in mid February.