Francis Hickenbottom’s Nature Notes.
15th January 2011 2009
During the years in which I have been keeping diaries, the first week of the year has often brought quite stormy weather. However, conditions this year have, so far, been particularly calm and mild and this has had an effect on wildlife. Birds have responded in the past two days by beginning to sing occasionally.
Yesterday, I listened to a mistle thrush which was singing from the top of a tree at Ackworth School and I heard one or two bluetits beginning to sing. The bluetits hadn’t quite got into the swing of it and were singing short snatches which they did not finish in the usual way.
In addition, at the Old Moor -
Many of our local lakes still have extensive ice cover, with only a few patches of open water. However, The larger lakes at the Old Moor are free from ice and birds have returned, after moving on during the cold spell.
An interesting sighting today at the Old Moor was of a solitary green sandpiper, which stood for a long time a short distance in front of a hide, allowing me to sketch it. Other waders seen were redshank, snipe and a single dunlin.
It was nice to see a number of goosander. The males often look white but take on
a very attractive creamy orange colour when the lighting is right -