February forecast

 Hi,

Unfortunately the American duck double act didn’t turn up at Saltholme as predicted in January, however the water rails and bitterns didn’t let me down, with frequent sightings of these two reedbed specialists throughout the month. 

So, how about February?  My three predictions are ...

• Avocets.  If the generally warm trend to this winter continues, an early return of Avocets to the area could occur.
• Glaucous or Iceland gulls.  It’s worth checking any bathing gull flocks for these two species which breed in higher latitude countries like Greenland.
• Pink-footed geese.  February can see northern movements of these geese, most likely heading to Scottish staging grounds where they will stop and refuel before making the final flight to their breeding grounds in Greenland, Iceland or Spitsbergen.  Look out for skeins of them flying over or even stopping for a rest at Saltholme if we’re lucky.

What wildlife are you hoping to see at Saltholme this February?

Mark took this photograph of an Avocet at Saltholme last year.

Cheers,

Adam