Worlaby/Bonby Carrs.

Stephen Routledge · **Posted:** Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:45 pm

A full day on the patch produced the following:

4 Barn Owl
3 Whooper Swan(adults)
40 Curlew
15 Common Buzzard
165 Mallard
70 Fieldfare
2 Green Sandpiper
247 Goldfinch
821 Pink-footed Geese(North)
265 Linnet
7 Little Grebe
15 Redshank
8 Kestrel
50 Stock Dove
23 Reed Bunting
9 Grey Heron
2 Merlin
1 Kingfisher
108 Yellowhammer
1 pair Stonechat

Regards

Steve,with Dave Wright.

Chris Grimshaw · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:52 am

Some impressive numbers there Steve but what has happened to the Short Eared Owls?

Stephen Routledge · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:31 am

There doesn't seem to be many anywhere in the county and i have only seen 2 birds in the autumn/winter period up to now,1 on the carrs and 1 at Thoresby bridge near North Cotes.I think it may be that they just havn't come in from the continent or moved away from their breeding grounds with it being so mild or possibly they just have had a poor breeding season?There certainly isn't a lack of food at Worlaby,as Barn Owls seem to be in good numbers with at least 7 birds being seen on occasion and they are catching voles on a regular basis,we will just have to see how the winter period pans out and if there is any immigration or local movements.

Regards

Steve

Graham Catley · **Joined:** Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:20 pm **Posts:** 1667

the species is of course nomadic and widespread in the breeding season in Scandinavia but it was very notable when we were at Varanger and in N Finland last June that there were no breeding Rough-legged Buzzards and very few SEO's to be seen due to a lack of lemmings -- if the situation was perpetuated across the tundra that could be why there are few birds arriving; the wider problem of the lack of lemmings in the typicla 4 year cycle has been highlighted in a lot of papers --in short it seems to be due to global warming with warm spells in mid winter allowing the snow to melt under the surface layers and this floods the ground under the snow where the lemming usually breed and drowns them- we found many lemming carcasses on the tundra all of which appeared to be in wet spots --

Roger Hebb · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2009 5:28 pm

Amazingly Graham and Steve,there is a poll on the news today that reveals nearly 1 in 2 people do not believe global warming is man made!!!,the green party states their is a lot to be done to get into the mindset of so many people,they state because the government is not doing enough this gives the impression it cant be that serious.1 in nearly two...unbelievable!!!.........
Rog,
ps,good to be back on the forum ,ive had a hell of a cold,laid low for 10 days!.

Terence Whalin · **Posted:** Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:26 pm

sounds more like man flu rog
terry whalin :wink:

Roger Hebb · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:19 am

I was in the berkeley hotel tonight and that exact statement was offered to me,i said perplexed"yeah-man flu"-what is this? man flu thing?ill google as i dont get it/?

Roger Hebb · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:31 am

Ive now googled it,silly load of rubbish,gives the immpression that women never get a cold,and when men do they over state it!1,to stop me birding for 10 days,to miss a cup match in the telegraph quiz league last monday,they just won without me!!,to miss the excellent quiz on wed night at w/end club on wed night,to not have a beer in 8 days,-from that you can summise or people who know me can i was ill!!!ill,ill ill ill,
to get back to my main point,global warming is man made,thats why there is less owls at worlaby!!

Chris Atkin · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:09 am

Also very few Hen Harriers around at the minute though this of course could change as we progress through winter. How times change, I remember when you saw more Hen Harriers down the coast in autumn/winter than Peregrines, now the opposite applies. I've yet to see a Hen Harrier along the coast so far this autumn/winter.

Chris

Stephen Routledge · **Posted:** Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:07 pm

Likewise,i have only had 1 Hen Harrier sighting on the carrs this autumn/winter period to date,compared to 2 wintering birds in the same period last year.It is interesting to note that i have had more Merlin sightings up to now,with 2 birds being seen on a couple of occasions.

Steve

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Worlaby/Bonby Carrs.

Who is online