Sunday 17 February 2019

Weekend's birds!

Hello

Yesterday (Saturday) and some ringing at Glyn Davies Wood to the west of the county took place which resulted in some good numbers of tits and other common birds, and helps to indicate how many birds are attracted to the well maintained feeders there...

Over 120 birds were processed made up of 7 Long-tailed Tits, 63 Blue Tits, 4 Coal Tits, 45 Great Tits, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 2 Chaffinches. One of the woodpeckers was apparently a bird first ringed elsewhere so we will find out in due course where it has come from. Other birds noted on-site included Marsh Tit and Nuthatch and a couple of Woodcock. Sadly this seems to be another local site that has lost its Willow Tits during the last year or two.

Birds noted in the county also yesterday included the Hanging Houghton Great Grey Shrike, Merlin and Barn Owl plus plenty of Skylarks, Yellowhammers and some Tree Sparrows. Martin Swannell was driving between Overstone and Moulton and saw an unidentified ibis species fly south (presumably a Glossy Ibis). The Nene Valley Ring-necked Duck showed up at Summer Leys NR and was viewable on the main lake from Rotary Hide and eight mobile Crossbills continued to entertain at Irchester Country Park. Neville's Lodge near Finedon has proved consistent this winter and yesterday afternoon a Short-eared Owl and a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier again showed in the late afternoon.

Today (Sunday) and birders were active in the county with a Great Northern Diver being seen off the dam and sailing club at Pitsford Reservoir and the Great Grey Shrike was again mobile around the hedges between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke.

At least three Crossbills were about still at Irchester Country Park (courtesy of Adrian Borley) next to the compound/woodcutters yard at 11.20am, although these birds were vocal they were mobile and rather elusive. Adrian also notched up two Great White Egrets and three Red-crested Pochard at Summer Leys NR but couldn't find the Ring-necked Duck there today.

Eric's efforts at Thrapston Pits provided threes of Pink-footed Goose, Great White Egret and Goosander and a nice mixed flock of Siskin and Redpoll...

Regards

Neil M



Grey Heron.

Yellowhammer.
This is a critical time of year for
the Yellowhammer when natural food
resources are exhausted and they suffer
a 'hunger gap' with little in the way of grain
and other seeds to eat. The provision of broadcast
 mixed seed is enough for them to survive the winter
 and spring in Northamptonshire.

Shelduck.
Prospecting pairs will be gradually building
at a number of county sites...

Oystercatcher.
Another regular breeding
bird in small numbers in the county
(mostly the Nene Valley), the first few
are back already...

All images courtesy of Robin Gossage.



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