A total of 48 species were recorded in the Lye Valley and Warneford Meadow area in January and February 2020. Incessant westerly winds, with regular rain, resulted in very mild temperatures. So much so, that expected winter species, such as Fieldfare and Lesser Redpoll, have not been recorded at all this year. There a handful of Redwing in the valley, but far fewer than usual:
The wet winter has filled the ponds in the valley, which by the third week of February are full of frogspawn. This juvenile Grey Heron (adults have a black stripe above the eyes, joining at the back of the head) was investigating the ponds:
Most visits produce Green Woodpecker. This male (note the red moustache, females have all black moustaches!) was feeding in Warneford Meadow:
More unusual was my first Peregrine for the Lye Valley. Two birds were seen on 9th January, one carrying a white Feral Pigeon, flying over Churchill Meadow:
Other raptors seen regularly, included the over-wintering male Kestrel:
A pair of Buzzards were often recorded, this is the paler of the two birds:
Even though we may be in the depths of winter, there is increasing evidence of birds preparing for the breeding season. This Red Kite was seen carrying nesting material on 3rd February :
Whilst the landscape of the Lye Valley is only just beginning to show the first signs of spring growth, the soundscape changes much more quickly. Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks sing all year round, but the intensity and frequency of their song begins to develop as the days lengthen.
Song Thrushes joined them in song from mid-December (these are not my recordings, but examples of the birdsong you can hear in the Lye Valley):
The first Great Tit sang on 9th January:
Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming from 27th January:
On 3rd February, the first Chaffinches and Greenfinches began singing:
An early surprise was the first singing Blackcap on 12th February. A male in Boundary Brook valley was not in full song, but it won’t be long until the valley is full of singing Blackcaps:
Roll on spring! The full list of bird species recorded in the Lye Valley can be seen here.