Wintersett Annual Round Up 2015

The weather this year has been extremely mixed. The mild winter was followed by a warm and dry April. May was wet, and the coldest since 1996. June was cold and windy, which led to a poor breeding season for many species. July was warm, but August was the coldest on record. September was settled but followed by a mild October and November. December has been the mildest on record, but also extremely wet and very windy, with several severe storms.

Spring Visible Migration was slow, but the Meadow Pipit record was broken on April 6^th when 461 flew north. Reduced number of observers, along with a poor breeding season, contributed to a very poor Autumn Visible Migration season.

The Wintersett Area recorded only 158 bird species for 2015, the lowest number for many years – hardly a surprise, due to the reduced number of observers.

The Top Ten birds seen here this year were: -

1. Lesser Scaup (with red nasal saddle) 4^th May

2. Hen Harrier 10^th May

3. Curlew Sandpiper 13^th September

4. Avocet 10^th May

5. Red-necked Grebe  21st April

6. Scaup 8^th May

7. Glaucous Gull    January, February, December

8. Iceland Gull      January February, December

9. Caspian Gull     January, February, November, December

10. Red Breasted Merganser 17^th - 20^th December

Other highlights:-

It's been an excellent year for Odonata, with records of Lesser Emperor, Red-Veined Darters, Banded Demoiselle and Black Darter.

Lepidoptera: There were 3 records of Brown Argus Butterfly.

Moth highlights were: The 2^nd area record of the migrant Small Mottled Willow on 9^th July, and the 2^nd and 3^rd area record of Beautiful Hooktip on 25^th and 29^th June 2015

Herptiles: Grass Snakes were recorded in Haw Park and on Walton Golf Course.

A good view of the partial Solar Eclipse on 20^th March was the celestial highlight.

And finally –

We wish everyone a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

and excellent birding in 2016