Saturday 30 May 2015

New migrants arrive

Hello

This morning I completed a six hour Common Bird Census around the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir. The conditions were very pleasant and the bird song excellent. Nothing rare was located but two singing Spotted Flycatchers were singing at each other in the Walgrave Bay and a flock of Crossbills were heard but not seen near to the Fishing Lodge. 

Today three singing Sedge Warblers were on-site but the numbers of Reed Warblers present remains very low. Garden Warblers, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers were singing well and Chiffchaffs less so. Marsh Tits were found in a couple of areas and three nests of Great Spotted Woodpecker were located. Breeding Common Terns, the pair of Oystercatcher, two drake Pochard and several loafing Gadwall were all in the Scaldwell Bay.

In the meantime the southerly airflow was clearly influencing new arrivals in the county. Eleanor located a Black Redstart at Harrington Airfield (in the small ploughed area at the very end of the concrete track) and a pair of Grey Partridge, and a singing Quail was audible from the Brampton Valley Way just south of the Kelmarsh tunnels.

This afternoon an adult Peregrine flew over Hanging Houghton carrying prey and a Siskin flew west.

This evening at Blueberry Farm, a Quail was calling very loudly from Big Lichfields and more routine birds included a singing Grasshopper Warbler, a Hobby and two hunting Barn Owls.

Regards

Neil M






Great Crested Grebes
Pitsford Reservoir

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