DTNFC Ornithology Report For January 2021 – John Turner

January 2021 has been an unusual month for wildlife recording as for the majority of the month the whole nation has been in lockdown due to the Corona virus pandemic. This has meant that the Club’s recorders have been limited to the areas around their homes, allowing them to concentrate entirely on their local birds and other wildlife. It has also allowed wildlife to continue to flourish with reduced disturbance by humans following the prolonged lockdowns and restrictions during the last nine months of 2020.

January has seen the coldest weather for 10 years with heavy rainfall and regular snowy interludes that have restricted outside activity, leading to possibly lower numbers being recorded. 

The unusually high numbers of bird rarities recorded in 2020 seem to be continuing into this year. It remains to be seen whether the hard winter will adversely affect the new breeding arrivals from southern Europe such as Great white egrets, Western cattle egret, Glossy ibis, Purple heron, and the many small species that have been trying to colonise this country.

There is good news about the Common cranes that has been reintroduced in the South West and those that naturally recolonized their old breeding grounds in Norfolk. Both groups have recorded their highest numbers for 500 years. White tailed eagles that were introduced to the Isle of Wight have successfully bred and there are plans to introduce these huge Eagles to Norfolk, with the agreement of the local farmers (most of them!). The White storks that were reintroduced into West Sussex were also successful breeders last year. 

The details for birds recorded this month show some interesting differences between the mainly urban habitats of Darlington with its concentration of woodland birds and those of the more rural villages. The Blackwell meadow records show the effect of the river on the range of birds. It also shows the spread of the common garden birds eg Tits, Thrushes etc. So far we have not recorded Goldcrests in Barton, they seem to favour the warmer environment of urban life and have been recorded by all the contributors in Darlington. 

I would like to thank all who contributed records this month. There is always space for new recorders, even if you only have one or two sightings.

DETAILS

Key:  DB – Darlington Blackwell and Meadow;

DG – Darlington gardens and green spaces: BA Barton and surrounding area: 

CR –Croft and surrounding area; GA – Gainford and surrounding area: 

WE – Welbury and surrounding area

P – present; N – nest found; S – singing male;  F – flying over

 

SPECIES	DB	DG	BA	CR	GA	WE
Cormorant	p
Little egret			p
Great white egret
Grey heron	p		p
Mute swan	p
Greylag goose	p
Goosander	p
Mandarin duck		p
Sparrow hawk			p
Buzzard						f
Kestrel			p			p
Pheasant	p		p			p
Little grebe			p
Moorhen			p
Oyster catcher	p
Black headed gull		f	f
Herring gull			p
Common gull	f
Wood pigeon	p	p	p			p
Stock dove	p	p				p
Collard dove	p		p			p
Barn owl						p
Tawny owl	p					p
Kingfisher		p
Great spotted woodpecker	p	p	p			p
Grey wagtail		p	p
Pied wagtail		p	p
Wren	p	p	p			p
Dunnock (Hedge sparrow)		p	p			p
Robin	p	p	p			p
Blackbird	p	p	p			p
Fieldfare			p			p
Song thrush	p	p	p
Redwing		p	p			p
Mistle thrush						p
Blackcap		p
Goldcrest	p	p
Long tailed tit	p	p	p			p
Coal tit	p	p	p			p
Blue tit	p	p	p			p
Great tit	p	p	p			p
Nuthatch	p	p				p
Treecreeper		p
Jay	p
Magpie	p	p	p			p
Jackdaw	p	p	p			p
Rook			p			p
Carrion crow	p	p	p			p
Starling	p	p	p			p
House sparrow		p	p			p
Tree sparrow	p		p
Chaffinch	p	p	p			p
Greenfinch		p	p			p
Goldfinch		p	p			p
Siskin						p
Bullfinch		p				p
Yellow hammer
Reed bunting		p				p