February 2018

Nottinghamshire

1st-winter male Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)

The first-winter male Long-tailed Duck continued its stay at Holme Pierrepont all month, usually staying near the buildings at the finish line.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)

It was joined for a few weeks by a Spotted Sandpiper, a rare visitor from the Americas, that spent its time foraging on the grassy banks of the white water canoe slalom course.

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Several Grey Wagtails were also feeding along the banks of the slalom course and were occasionally very confiding.

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

non-breeding Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

Back at Attenborough waterfowl were the main source of photographic subjects as usual at this time of year.

non-breeding Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

male Goosander (Mergus merganser)

female Goosander (Mergus merganser)

Egyptian Goose (Alpochen aegyptiacus)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Little Egrets are uncommon visitors to Attenborough but, in common with the ever expanding national population, they appear to be becoming increasingly regular.

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

It had been a very mild winter, with the ponds mostly staying unfrozen, but that changed towards the end of the month when the temperatures plumeted when the weather system dubbed "Beast from the East" rolled in.

Common Teal (Anas crecca) skating on a frozen pond

Snow is pretty rare in Nottingham, especially this late in the season, but the four days spanning the end of February and the beginning of March saw the largest snowfall for at least 10 years. Still not a huge amount, with only about 15cm (6inches) accumulating by the beginning of March, but still the deepest snow I've seen since I moved here.

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

male Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)

male Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)

male Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)

female Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

January 2018 2018 Index March 2018