Warkworth Lane today was a hive of wildfowl activity, with 44 Whooper Swan incl. 8 juveniles, 1,500 Pink Feet and 93 Canada Geese all feeding in fields. 33 Teal on 2 small pools,with 3 Herons. A pair of Yellowhammers flew over and a Bullfinch seen in the bushes. Cresswell Pond held the usual large flocks of Wigeon and Lapwings and a drake and 2 duck Mergansers. (2 Water Rails seen by others). The feeders here attracted around 20 Tree Sparrows, 25 Goldfinches 9 Chaffinches several Great and Blue Tits. Druridge Pools held 9 Shoveler among the many Wigeon and Teal, with more Goldfinches at the feeders here.3 Stonechats noted in the dunes here. A single Yellowhammer at one of the nearby farms on Widdrinton Lane.
Up to Stobswood where the Ross’s Goose remained with the Pink Foot flock in fields at Middle Stobswood Farm. Several Skylarks sang here and a close Jay was seen. A good site for Little Owl,but not present today. The Widdrington Moor/West Chevington area held 6 Kestrels but no Buzzards seen. 135 Lapwings rested on the shore at Widdrington Moor Lake.More Skylarks singing here. Next down to West Hartford,but no sign of the Great Grey Shrike on my visit ( it had been seen in the morning). A pale Buzzard eyed the ground from it’s tree perch as 38 Meadow Pipits flew from the grass to bushes, a good winter number. 2 Jays were in trees to the East and a pair of Stonechats noted near the pond. A pair of Goldcrests were with a tit flock near the Fire Station.
A.S.Jack