2013 Weather:
It was cold and wet until the end of May. June was dry and warm. July and August were glorious. The Autumn,
particularly October, has been the best for years as far as quality birds are
concerned. So far, it has been a very
mild winter.
The Wintersett Area record was equalled on the 11th
November, with 179 species
recorded. Despite extensive searches,
nothing new turned up in the last six weeks of the year! Glaring omissions for the year were Red-legged
Partridge, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Sanderling and Garganey.
The Top Ten birds seen here this year were: -
1. Great Skua (1st and 2nd record)
2. Yellow-browed Warbler
(2nd record)
3. Red-necked Phalarope (3rd record)
4. Lesser Scaup (2nd record)
5. Great White Egret (3rd record)
6. Kumlien’s Gull (2nd record)
7. Arctic Skua
8. Gannet
(5th and 6th record)
9. Ring Ouzel
10. Honey Buzzard.
Other major highlights were:-
The brief visit of Sir David Attenborough,
and the first OTTER to be recorded here for 61 years! It was seen by a few local fishermen and one
very, very lucky local birder.
And finally - We wish
everyone excellent birding in
2014.
and a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR