2024 Birdwatching - A Year in Review

 It is New Years Eve 2024, another year passes us by and I can take a moment to take stock of what kind of birding year it has been. I keep all of my records in some software called Bird Journal and also import that data into the BTOs Bird Track online system to ensure that my records are centrally recorded.

Ferruginous Duck spotted 27th January

Across the past 365 days I have recorded 70 species of bird out of a possible 607 species listed by the British Ornithologists Union, a somewhat measly 12%, however, given that I have not travelled outside the environs of Warwick in all this time I do not think that's too bad.

The year started incredibly well with two lifers. Species I never expected to see. First was a Ferruginous Duck found on the reservoir in Jubilee Wood. The single drake pottered around the reservoir for about a week or so. 

The second lifer was just a day later on my Saxon Mill patch and was a Cattle Egret. This species was almost missed. Little Egrets have become increasingly common on the Avon and by the Saxon Mill. On this occasion amongst the Little Egrets one white wader was not behaving like the others. It was keeping to itself and sticking close to the horses, on closer examination it was possible, even at distance to see the subtle differences.

Cattle Egret spotted 28th January

Graph showing the increase in Little Egret abundance 

As expected most of my birdwatching was done at the Saxon Mill where I racked up 53 species, slightly fewer than previous years but still higher than average. Throughout 2024 I visited the mill to record an official list 48 times recording over a total of 55 hours. The most commonly recorded species was the Woodpigeon and the joint rarest the Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Treecreeper, Pheasant and Mistle Thrush.

Seriously declining species are Bullfinch, Pheasant and Starling but on the positive side this year saw the return of Little Grebes to the patch for the first time in 4 years.

Aside from the Saxon Mill I started to visit St Nicholas Park and Warwick Racecourse more often. I got some nice views of Stonechat at the Racecourse and it is increasingly easier to spot Snipe in the wet flushes. I say easier every single time I have gone to find them I end up flushing them. Even though they are always in the same ditch line they are so cryptic that I never see them before they see me, my goal this year is to get a photograph.

The year ended on a high at St Nicholas Park with two remarkable sightings. Just before Christmas I got some excellent intimate views of a Water Rail by Kingfisher Pool and after Christmas on a rare bright sunny day I finally managed to get several excellent shots of a Red Kite which flew directly over me.

Red Kite over St Nicholas Park 30th December

So what for the new year. Well who know? I would like to get another couple of lifers but I would also like to see some improvement to the species in the area, I want to see more Bullfinch and Marsh Tit. I also want to track down the Tawny Owl on my patch, photograph the Snipe and find a local Barn Owl.

So lots to do - Here is to a great 2025.