Monday 28 March 2016

Easter Monday in the county

Hello

Well despite storm-driven birds being found elsewhere, my efforts at Pitsford Reservoir today failed to find any new birds of note. Regular birds included the Ruddy Shelduck and Green Sandpiper in the area of the dam, plus a couple of Oystercatchers, a Woodcock, a couple of Chiffchaffs, about twenty Sand Martins and three Swallows.

Eleanor was counting her Golden Plover flock in a field near Blueberry Farm this afternoon (reaching about a hundred) when they were ambushed by a low-flying adult female Peregrine. They barely managed to lift off before she took one with comparative ease.

Nick Parker was over at the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Gravel Pits today, noting two Egyptian Geese which flew north plus migrants in the shape of Chiffchaff, Swallow and House Martin.

Helen Franklin checked out the Ford complex at Daventry yesterday evening but it seems that the huge transitory roost of Starlings has already moved on with no birds seen.

John Hunt has kindly let us know about a pair of Egyptian Geese that are already minding a brood of eight goslings! They were spotted last Wednesday at Oundle Marina and hopefully have survived the rain and high winds!

Regards

Neil M



A Swallowtail butterfly
taken by Simon Hales at
Strumpshaw Fen last year.
Not long now before spring
and then summer explodes in
a riot of colour and rapid
 movement!

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