November birdwatching round up

Nosterfield NR November 2022 Bird Review

 ‘“The unexamined life is not worth living.”      Socrates

A good part of November was beset by mist and when it wasn’t misty, it was out and out foggy.  It was also mild, as evidenced by butterfly sightings continuing - for example a Brimstone on 7th. In this gloom several of the recording team still fumbled through to record some interesting stuff.

An Oystercatcher continued to linger on in the area and was noted on 1st.  This species generally leaves the area from October onwards until around the Christmas period, when numbers start to build up again. Two Raven moved north on 2nd and the following day, the first of several Chiffchaff records throughout the month.  Last year there was only one record of Chiffchaff in October and November, this year there have been 13 bird days, with up to three birds.  As I write this on a sub-zero early December day, I wonder if that is them finished for the year?

On 5th, yet another Great White Egret record and the/another unseasonal Avocet sighting and the Cetti’s Warbler still shouting from the reedbed.  The Avocet was still around the next day when more colour was added to the autumnal greyness by a male Mandarin Duck on Langwith Lake.

Possibly our latest ever House Martin was sighted over North Lake on 8th, with a supporting cast of Whooper Swan and Goosander.

Goosander Photo: Tim Jones One of the sparse population of Jays in the area

A decent ‘vis mig’ on 9th was dominated by 4156 Fieldfare south, with 131 Goldfinch south also being notable for this site.  The next day 1610 Golden Plover were counted on Flasks Lake, four Pintail were on Lingham Lake and both Crossbill and Merlin flew south.

Golden Plover Photo: Gareth Jones

Visible migration was evident again on 12th, with 2002 birds comprising 21 species through.  Good birds were dotted about the lakes, with a Stonechat at Langwith most notable and 282 Herring Gull there also of interest. The next few days were relatively quiet, with Brambling on 13th and Ringed Plover on 15th the main birds of note.

Herring Gulls were on the move throughout the month

Following a sighting last month, a tristis Chiffchaff was reported along the causeway on 20th.  It was very wet on 25th, but 19 Tree Sparrows and 1046 Teal were noted and represent good counts of both species.  Generally, the end of the month had what could be called a soft landing, with no avian fireworks….and so to December.

One of our regular Green Woodpeckers Photo: Tim Jones

Andrew Hanby on behalf of the Nosterfield Naturalists,

8th December 2022