Last PWC Visits for January

Friday (29th January) afternoon I headed off down to Longham Lakes after work for my last visit for January to see if i could add any more species to the list. The weather was not great being very dull and grey with strong winds whipping up the lake and making it a bit chilly on the western side of South Lake.
I managed to add five new birds to the list despite the weather, but one bird did allude me and that was a Snipe  that was on the small island spotted by Dominic, though after a good bit of searching I could not find the bird most likely hunkered down in the long grass on the centre of the island by the time I got round to the island.
One thing I did notice was that the number of Pochard on the small North lake have decreased considerable from 40 to about 10 since my last visit, though numbers of Gadwall seem to be increasing.
I have added the complete list for January below with the latest additions in bold.

Starling

Cormorant

Tufted Duck

Magpie

Coot

Pochard

Great Crested Grebe

Black-headed Gull

Gadwall

Wigeon

Teal

Mallard

Little Grebe

Rook

Mute Swan

Robin

Herring Gull

Blackbird

Woodpigeon

Jackdaw

Little Egret

Lapwing

Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Redwing

Song Thrush

Blue Tit

Grey Heron

Canada Goose

Greylag Goose

Green Woodpecker

Greenfinch

Moorhen

Grey Wagtail

Dunnock

Great Black-backed Gull

Long-tailed Tit

Kingfisher

Chaffinch

Common Gull

Stonechat

Shoveler

Chiffchaff

Meadow Pipit

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Kestrel

Saturday 30th January 2016 
Late morning I went off down to my other patch at Lytchett fields with the hope of catching up with a Hen Harrier, but this was not to be as I arrived to late and reports of one already in the early morning so I missed my chance. Though it was still nice to be out looking and counting the birds for the BirdTrack records so far I have only managed 57 species from a 120 records and 4 complete list this month giving me a total of 64 points for the Patch Work Challenge.
It as taken me 30 days though to get Rook, Herring Gull but it was nice to finish off with a lovely Bullfinch.

Little bridge leading to the view points

There was not much out on the flooded fields though there was a good number of gulls mostly Black-headed I was hoping for an interesting gull due to the rough weather with have had lately but that was not the case after scanning them all I am beginning to find gulls a fascinating and complex species to get my head round.
I had a quick look out in to the bay from the yellow boat viewing spot, and the only highlight was a Goldeneye and a wildflower potting about in is boat with is dog sat at the front.

The Yellow Boat viewing spot

 

It will be interesting to see what February brings in the way of new species for these to sites I am looking forward to the coming months and recording the birds. I'am sure I have got more out of my birding this month while doing this challenge.
This is the list so far for Lytchett Fields PWC  with the latest addition in bold.

Woodpigeon

Robin

Song Thrush

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Magpie

Blackbird

Goldfinch

Redwing

Curlew

Redshank

Water Pipit

Shelduck

Goldeneye

Great Crested Grebe

Little Grebe

Grey Heron

Oystercatcher

Avocet

Little Egret

Teal

Wigeon

Lapwing

Dunlin

Peregrine

Marsh Harrier

Mute Swan

Spoonbill

Great Black-backed Gull

Goldcrest

House Sparrow

Spotted Redshank

Moorhen

Kestrel

Pheasant

Meadow Pipit

Carrion Crow

Pied Wagtail

Starling

Chiffchaff

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Chaffinch

Black-tailed Godwit

Wren

Dunnock

Greenfinch

Snipe

Black-headed Gull

Cormorant

Jackdaw

Green Sandpiper

Long-tailed Tit

Mistle Thrush

Rook

Stonechat

Herring Gull

Bullfinch

After I finished at Lytchett I shot over to Durlston CP with the hope of catching up with the Guillimots and Gannets but the Guillimots were not on there ledge so I expect they were far out at sea fishing in the rought seas. Also not signs of the Gannets so thet must of been out there also brave birds, I did mangage to find two Fulmar just loafing about on the wind with ease and just skimming the large waves and gliding along on thermals next to the cliff face. While watching these come close to the cliff I noticed a Peregrine sat out on a ledge of the cliff face waiting for an oppertunaty to grab on of the many feral pigeons that use the cliffs.

Phone scoped record shot of a Peregrine Flacon