This is a news service only and the reports are unchecked. All records submitted via the "Submit record" page will be sent to the Bulletin Bird Notes Compiler and entered onto the DOS database even if they do not appear here. Please note that for obvious reasons we do not publish sightings of rare breeders such as Little Ringed Plover during the breeding season (unless obvious migrants)
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The new year started well with Great Northern Divers, Cattle Egrets, White-fronted Geese and Black-necked Grebe all remaining from December, albeit the latter only briefly. Add wintering Bittern, Great White Egrets and Long-tailed Duck and there was plenty for keen year listers to get started on.
We saw more Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese passing through the county and the list of gulls included at least one Iceland Gull. Waders included returning Oystercatchers and Curlews, the team at Carsington Water worked hard at putting visitors onto Jack Snipe but Golden Plover seemed much scarcer than usual.
Evidence of solid fieldwork came via some of the counts and there were noteworthy totals for Mandarin, Goosander, Water Rail, Common Snipe and Pied Wagtail amongst others. The number of Ring-necked Parakeet records also continues to grow, rather as anticipated.
Bryan Barnacle and Kate Barnacle