Abbotsbury Swannery Bird News - January 2017

Highlights...

Dorset Rarities this month were represented by a Whooper Swan, three Cattle Egrets and the two over-wintering Richard's Pipits. Other highlights included the twelve Scaups and the three Long-tailed Ducks.

The three Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury, January 2017 © Steve Groves

More details on the above birds and the rest of this month's sightings follow below...

Black Swan...

Two were present throughout.

Mute Swan...
Present throughout with 710 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th. 

Whooper Swan...
An adult was present on the 23rd/24th...

Above two images the Whooper Swan, 

Abbotsbury Swannery, January 2017 © Steve Groves

Canada Goose...
Present throughout with 22 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th..

Brent Goose...
Six 'Dark-bellied Brent Geese' flew southeast on the 3rd. 

Shelduck... 
Seen regularly with twelve counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Wigeon...
Present throughout with 200 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Gadwall...

Seen regularly with a peak of five on the 3rd.

Teal...

Present throughout with 500 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th...

Drake Teal, Abbotsbury Swannery, January 2017
© Charlie Wheeler wheeler-photography 

Mallard...
Present throughout with 300 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Pintail...

Present throughout with a peak of 30 on the 31st.

Shoveler...
Present throughout with 40 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Pochard... 

Present throughout with a peak of 400 on the 31st.

Tufted Duck... 

Present throughout with a peak of 400 on the 31st.

Scaup... 

Seen regularly with a peak of twelve on several dates.

Long-tailed Duck...
Three were seen regularly...

The two 1st winter drakes & 1st winter duck Long-tailed Ducks, 

Abbotsbury Swannery, January 2017 © Steve Groves

Goldeneye...
One on the 12th and two on the 16th.

Red-breasted Merganser...
Present throughout with twelve counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Pheasant...
Present throughout.

Cormorant...
Present throughout with seven counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Cattle Egret... 
Three were seen in The Swannery meadows briefly on the 22nd, 0ne then reappeared on the 24th, while all three were back again on the 31st. They were also seen at various other sites in and around Abbotsbury between the 22nd and 31st...

Above three images Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury, January 2017

© Charlie Wheeler wheeler-photography 

Little Egret... 
Single figures were seen regularly.

Grey Heron... 
Single figures were seen regularly.

Little Grebe...
Present throughout with 15 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Great Crested Grebe... 

Present throughout but only two were counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Black-necked Grebe... 

Singles were present on the 12th and 28th.

Marsh Harrier... 

At least three individuals, including an adult male, were seen regularly...

Female Marsh Harrier, Abbotsbury, January 2017

© Charlie Wheeler wheeler-photography 

Buzzard... 
Seen regularly. 

Water Rail... 
Single figures were seen or at least heard regularly.

Moorhen...
Present throughout with 30 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th. 

Coot...
Present throughout with 780 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Oystercatcher...
Up to three were seen regularly from the 10th.

Lapwing...
Present throughout with a peak of 300 on the 31st.

Black-tailed Godwit...
Two were seen on the 10th.

Redshank...

Present throughout with a peak of four on the 8th.

Snipe...
Present throughout with eight counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Black-headed Gull...

Present throughout with a peak of only 100 on the 25th.

Mediterranean Gull...
Regular with a peak of 30 on the 16th.

Common Gull...
Present throughout with a peak of only 120 on the 16th.

Lesser Black-backed Gull...
Single figures were seen regularly.

Herring Gull...

Present throughout with 40 counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Great Black-backed Gull...
Present throughout with four counted during the Wetland Bird Survey on the 16th.

Feral/Domestic Pigeon...

Seen regularly.

Wood Pigeon...

Present throughout. 

Collared Dove...

Seen regularly.

Barn Owl...

One was seen on the 16th.

Tawny Owl...
Heard regularly.

Kingfisher...
Singles were seen regularly.

Green Woodpecker...

Seen regularly.

Great Spotted Woodpecker...

Seen regularly.

Kestrel...

Seen regularly.

Peregrine Falcon...

Singles were seen regularly.

Magpie...

Present throughout.

Jay...

One on the 25th. 

Jackdaw...
Present throughout.

Rook...

Present throughout.

Carrion Crow...

Present throughout.

Raven...

Seen regularly.

Goldcrest...

Present throughout.

Blue Tit...

Present throughout...

 Blue Tit, Abbotsbury Swannery, January 2017

© Charlie Wheeler wheeler-photography 

Great Tit...
Present throughout.

Coal Tit...

Present throughout.

Skylark...

Seen regularly.

Cetti's Warbler...

Present throughout.

Long-tailed Tit...

Present throughout.

Chiffchaff...

Seen regularly with at least three present on the 21st.

Treecreeper...
Present throughout.

Wren...

Present throughout.

Starling...

Seen regularly with a peak of 30 on the 25th.

Blackbird...

Present throughout.

Fieldfare...

One on the 20th...

Fieldfare, Abbotsbury Swannery, January 2017 © Steve Groves

Song Thrush...
Seen regularly.

Redwing...

Seen regularly with a peak of five on the 5th...

Redwing, Abbotsbury Swannery, January 2017 © Steve Groves

Mistle Thrush...
Up to four were seen regularly.

Robin...

Present throughout.

Stonechat...

One or two were seen regularly.

Dunnock...
Present throughout.

House Sparrow...

Present throughout.

Grey Wagtail...
At least one was seen regularly.

Pied Wagtail...

Present throughout.

Richard's Pipit...

The two that arrived in December 2016 were seen regularly through the month, albeit rather elusive for much of the time.

Meadow Pipit...

Present throughout with a peak of 50 on the 1st at least.

Rock Pipit...

At least one was seen regularly.

Chaffinch...
Present throughout.

Bullfinch...
One on the 18th.

Greenfinch...

Still very scarce this winter with one on the 14th but at least three on the 24th/25th!  

Linnet...

Seen regularly.

Goldfinch...

Present throughout.

Reed Bunting...

Present throughout. 

...And that's it for this month except to say thanks to Alan Barrett, Dave Callaby, Steve Hales, Mike Morse, Nick Urch and Charlie Wheeler for additional sightings, tip offs and where applicable for the use of their images. 

February's sightings to follow shortly.