Saturday 2 February 2019

Saturday's sightings

Hello

The Great Grey Shrike in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke proved particularly elusive today but showed to people who were very patient! The first year male Merlin also put in an appearance early on (the adult male seems to have moved on) as did a/the Barn Owl. A Great White Egret flew over there this afternoon heading west, and is the third egret species to be seen in this effectively dry area over the last few years!

At Pitsford Reservoir today the drake Ring-necked Duck was again reported from the Pintail Bay, Neil Hasdell saw the two Great Northern Divers and six Red-crested Pochard south of the causeway and the Redshank was north of the causeway where four Great White Egrets were reported.

At Thrapston Pits today the Bittern was seen again as were the three Pink-footed Geese and the adult White-fronted Goose materialised at dusk. Four Great White Egrets remain and seven Goosanders were present too.

Other birds reported today included a Great White Egret at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits, another at Thorpe Malsor Reservoir and six Mandarin Ducks were at Blatherwycke Lake. The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier showed up again at Neville's Lodge late this afternoon and Ravensthorpe Reservoir hosted a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper, good numbers of Gadwall, a Grey Wagtail and four Siskins. Two Ravens were at Staverton and two more presented at Borough Hill Country Park this afternoon. Small numbers of Bramblings persist in and around Hanging Houghton often visiting gardens.

Regards

Neil M


Yellowhammer.
Courtesy of John Tilly.

Fieldfare.
Courtesy of John Tilly.

Common Buzzard.
This bird was perched
on a road sign next to the
A508 pointing to the
Hanging Houghton turn!


Robin.
Scotland Wood,
Kelmarsh Estate.

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