Monday 17 December 2018

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

It took six hours and four observers to complete the Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count today, the day of the month when we attempt to count all birds utilising the waterbody. We managed to find all the known scarcer birds with the exception of the Ruddy Shelduck (if still present).

The drake Ring-necked Duck was with other diving ducks and quite mobile between The Point (between the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays) and towards the Lagoon Hide. Although closer to the eastern shore, the best place to watch it is from the Maytrees Hide area. A female Scaup was in the Walgrave Bay and the eleven Whooper Swans and the adult Bewick's Swan were mobile between the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays. Six of the Red-crested Pochard were in the Walgrave Bay with ten more off the Sailing Club near the dam. Most of the Pintail seemed to have left us with just three birds found today.

A Great Northern Diver was seen in the Pintail Bay and an individual was by the dam - both birds were not seen simultaneously but there is probably still two birds! Four Great White Egrets were present north of the causeway but there appeared to be only one or two Little Egrets.

Waders included a Redshank, a Ruff, two Green Sandpipers and fifty-seven Snipe. Ninety Little Grebes was noteworthy and two Grey Wagtails and a pair of Stonechat were present too.

Elsewhere birds at Thrapston Pits consisted of two Great White Egrets, the juvenile Whooper Swan, a pair of Red-crested Pochard, a Peregrine, a Little Owl and a Stonechat. A Great White Egret remained at Summer Leys Nature Reserve.

The male Hen Harrier was seen again north east of Stanwick Pits this morning, hunting over fields and rough ground between Mallows Cotton derelict farm buildings and Stanwick Quarry.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Tit.
Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh Estate.

Little Grebe. Ninety birds
were present at Pitsford today.

Ruddy Shelduck...may still be
present but we didn't see her today!





No comments: