Here’s a summary of highlights for February 2012, in reverse order of appearance:
25th February
Greater Scaup, Longham Lakes, 25 February 2012 (Alan Pearce)
Alan Pearce was there to witness the last appearance of the winter of the much appreciated Greater Scaup, and took this fetching photo of the bird now almost completely in breeding plumage.
23rd February
Chris Parnell had a good day for quality ducks, with the Scaup, 2 redhead Smew and 1 Goosander.
17th February
3 redhead Smew were still on Longham Reservoir South, and 1 Mediterranean Gull appeared (Chris Parnell).
14th February
The Scaup was still present, while on the passerine front, there were 3 Bullfinches (always scarce here) and the wintering Chiffchaff (Alan Pearce).
11th February
Still 3 Smew around, along with a couple of marshy specialities in the form of 4 Common Snipe and 1 Water Rail (Chris Parnell).
8th February
George Green had a drake Pintail flying in, plus the Scaup, 3 Smew and 1 Goosander.
5th February
The best Goosander count of the year, with three redheads and 1 drake (Chris Parnell).
3rd February
A good day for Derek and Kay, with a number of Fieldfares and Meadow Pipits around, Reed Buntings and a Stonechat by the lakeside, a Treecreeper in the woods, a wintering Chiffchaff and the first Snipe of the year.
1st February
Scaup, Smew and Goosander were around at the start of the month.