FOUR and twenty blackbirds…is the opening line of a famous nursery rhyme. It is also the highest count I had in my small village garden in January’s snow. Most of them were gorging on our Siberian crab apple tree and managed to completely strip it in less than ten days. They were joined by small numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings and I managed to photograph one of the latter through the kitchen window. Redwings are generally uncommon visitors to gardens but I received many reports of them in January. Other unusual garden bird records included a flock of Linnet, good numbers of Siskin and, for one lucky householder, a Woodcock.

The Woodcock is definitely a species to look out for over the next few weeks. These unusual birds have forsaken the typical wader habitat of marsh and estuary to nest in woodlands. The British breeding population has declined significantly but in winter they are joined by migrants from Scandinavia and Russia. At the time of writing the approaching cold weather has forced good numbers to cross the North Sea including a remarkable count of 193 on Flamborough Head. If you are very lucky you might see one on the ground but, thanks to the bird’s amazing eyesight, most people’s views are of a bird careering away agilely through the trees.

Not surprisingly given lockdown there have been fewer rare bird sightings over recent months but local birdwatchers still managed to turn up a few goodies on their local walks. The long-staying Lesser Yellowlegs at Nosterfield just made it into 2021 and this site also turned up Jack Snipe, Ruff and Grey Plover.

Another rare American wader, Long-billed Dowitcher was seen at Scorton whilst at the nearby Bolton-on-Swale reserve there were a remarkable series of egret records which included no less than 31 Little Egrets, two Cattle Egrets and a Great White Egret! Incredibly two more Great White Egrets were seen in January with birds noted near Middleham and near Hackforth. It’s hard to believe that this species was a major rarity only a handful of years ago.

Other sightings in the area included 21 Whooper Swans and Long-eared Owl at Morton-on-Swale, a Red Kite near Wath, six Crossbill near Maunby and more than 300 Pinkfooted Geese feeding in a field at Little Smeaton. The Pinkfoot is a species to watch out for in February as the early birds start to head north from their Humberside and East Anglian wintering grounds. A skein could be seen anywhere but the easiest way to locate them is by listening out for the flock’s far-carrying ‘wink-wink’ calls.

lAs always if you are lucky enough to find an unusual bird I would love to hear from you on nick.morgan1@virgin.net