Sunday 3rd March - Exotic ?

.. No way  - I haven't been anywhere exotic.

My lack of posting in February has just been a factor of too busy -  work, organising at home in preparation for some building works to start at Easter and a limited amount of birding excursions and even less in the way of any photos .

This Winter has been odd in many respects and somewhat lacking in both species and bird numbers, particularly locally. The same time last year at home and in the local area I was watching lots of Crossbill, Firecrest, countless Siskin, Redpolls and a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. This year the woods seem devoid. I've been on probably 4 walks locally and only seen a few Siskin of those listed.  The more interesting species being limited to 2 Ravens on three occasions and twice over the garden, 3 Mandarins on the Furnace Pond. I flushed 2 Woodcock today and for the first time this Spring  saw a Goshawk twice today (briefly and distant), I saw a pair of Buzzards and 2 male Sparrowhawk today, but the Buzzards seem less numerous than a year ago. A Chaffinch flock which numbers about 40 birds in one of the large stubble fields has attracted a small number of Meadow Pipit which are certainly less common here, and I had my first flyover Lapwing in the area at the beginning of the month. The female Reed Bunting seen before Christmas was present in early Feb in the same spot. A Long-tailed Tit has re-commence the antics first seen this time last year of repeatedly trying to get into the kitchen window on a daily basis, and our 8 domestic ducks have acquired the company of 2 Mallards.

I've made 3 visits to the coast in February. The most interesting of which coincided with a large movement of Auks, nearly all were Razorbill, but one Puffin was seen, my first off the south coast and 5 Sandwich Terns flew boldly East on the 17 Feb, indicating they might be an early Spring arrival rather than ones that have wintered in the area. Other more familiar species included Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebes, Kittiwake, Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Scoters. I also saw another Barn Owl when driving past Singleton.