Friday 25 January 2019

Quality winter birding continues...!

Hello

Eric's birds at Thrapston Pits/Titchmarsh LNR today included up to five Great White Egrets, the first year Whooper Swan still, three Goosanders, three Water Rails, 200+ Pochard, a juvenile Peregrine and four calling Cetti's Warblers.

Helen Franklin and Chris Payne conducted some ringing at Woodford Halse today with 35 captures made up of two Blackbirds, five Dunnocks, twenty Blue Tits, six Great Tits and two Long-tailed Tits.

Stuart Munday spotted a Waxwing at Hardwick Road, East Hunsbury, Northampton today but it unfortunately flew off south and wasn't relocated. Jacob saw a Merlin zapping over buildings at Moulton College today, scattering Redwings in it's wake!

Today the Brampton Valley birds between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke included the Great Grey Shrike, a Barn Owl, two Corn Buntings and the rather hard to see Lapland Bunting still. About fifteen Bramblings are scattered and mobile between three sub sites - the bird feed crop, the seed by the large barn near to the brook next to the Brampton Valley Way and visiting gardens in the village at Hanging Houghton.

Due to the mud and potholes it is recommended that any visiting birders to the Brampton Valley to see these birds park cars on the hardcore apron next to the large barn or at the small parking area next to the Brampton Valley Way. It is then half a mile walk along the council-maintained track towards Cottesbrooke, a large traffic cone next to the track indicates a recommended initial viewing area.

Regards

Neil M


Water Rail courtesy
of John Tilly.

Corn Bunting.

Lapland Bunting - this image
taken on the Scillies in 2018.
The bird currently in the Brampton
Valley sadly doesn't show like this
bird did! Apart from listening to the
distinctive  'tickety -tic-tic' (much 'dryer' than
 Yellowhammer) and loud musical 'tiu' contact calls,
 watch for a large, 'long' and cold coloured bunting
 flying with the Skylarks with a flight action
and wing shape reminiscent of Snow
Bunting. As far as I know no one
has managed to see this bird perched up
or on the ground (it flies into cover each
time), so a flight view is likely to be the
only view possible in the short term.

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