Saturday 14 May 2016

Pitsford Reservoir Common Bird Census

Hello

Debbie and Eric Graham continued their local patchwork birding today with another stroll around the Titchmarsh reserve near Thrapston. With a sudden increase in green foliage it is now becoming more difficult to see our summer migrants, but again there were plenty of common warblers in song and a couple of hidden Nightingales too. Swifts and martins had increased in number and a Cuckoo was still present as were two Little Egrets.

I completed a Common Bird Census around the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir this morning. Five Black Terns were present first thing but had departed by mid-morning. Other wildlife interests included the pair of Oystercatcher, excellent numbers of very vocal Garden Warblers, two singing Lesser Whitethroats, a singing Spotted Flycatcher, three Marsh Tits, a singing Willow Tit and a singing Nuthatch. Two Grass Snakes were my first of the year and the regular Muntjac now have one or two resident Roe Deer to munch alongside.

A quick visit to Fermyn Wood Country Park this afternoon was sufficient to see singletons of Dingy Skipper butterfly and a submerged Great Crested Newt.

Regards

Neil M


Male Muntjac sporting
his 'fangs' and a cloven ear!

Pitsford Reservoir

Singing Song Thrush
at Pitsford Reservoir.
The relatively low numbers
of Song Thrush on the reserve
nevertheless appear to be stable.

Cormorant nesting tree
at Pitsford Reservoir. With
young in the nest since March,
the Walgrave Bay will be a noisy
place until the last individuals
fledge in September!

A Rook with impeccable
table manners at Fermyn
Country Park!

Image courtesy of Sarah Gibbs.

Great Crested Newt at
Fermyn Country Park

Courtesy of Sarah Gibbs.

Teasel at Fermyn CP.

Courtesy of Sarah Gibbs.

Dingy Skipper butterfly
at Fermyn Wood CP.

Courtesy of Sarah Gibbs.

Early Purple Orchid.

Grafton Park Wood..

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