WILDFOWL provided much of the interest for local birdwatchers in January. This included good numbers of pinkfooted geese, with 110 seen at Nosterfield and 34 joining the resident greylag flock at Bolton on Swale.

This flock also attracted 13 barnacle geese and two Brent geese. The latter included one example of the pale-bellied form that normally winters in Ireland and Northumberland and one of the dark-bellied types whose winter stronghold is in East Anglia.

Other wildfowl records of note included a female scaup at Nosterfield and a flock of whooper swans near Kirkby Fleetham. This flock peaked at 15 birds and it is hoped they might winter here rather than being drawn to the obvious attractions of the nearest wildfowl trust sanctuary. Incidentally, these birds can be seen from the road which runs west out of the village towards the A1 (grid ref SE269943).

Waxwings continued to pop up in small numbers, though the expected large flocks still have not materialised, and the bulk of birds seemed to have moved south and west with surprisingly high numbers appearing in Wales and in the southern counties.

Locally, the largest flock in January was seen in Richmond with up to 20 birds near the Co-op and a smaller flock seen in the northern suburbs. Elsewhere small groups or singles were seen in East Cowton, Thornborough, Topcliffe, Leyburn and Bellerby.

Goshawks are usually birds of upland conifer forests so the sighting of a bird near Nosterfield early in the month was unusual. However, looking back over previous January's bird sightings, there has been a pattern of "out-of-place" goshawk sightings, including one over County Hall, Northallerton, last January, which may point to winter movements into the area.

The only other bird of prey of note was a red kite seen between Nosterfield and Well on the same day as the goshawk. Other sightings of interest include knot and bar-tailed godwit and an adult Iceland gull, all at Nosterfield.

At Bolton on Swale, 11 ruff and up to 500 curlew were seen. Two black grouse were seen feeding on birch trees near Catterick, a barn owl was watched hunting beside the A19 south of Thirsk, and another long-eared owl was found, near Romanby, in what has been an exceptional winter for the species.