Thursday 14 March 2019

Storm Gareth - day three!

Hello

More powerful gusts and some sudden showers interspersed with nice periods of sunshine today and it actually went calm for a time this evening!

Four Brown Hares in a field next to Pitsford Reservoir was good to see this morning, and a calling Little Owl was a very welcome sign as they have thinned out significantly in recent years. Good numbers of Tree Sparrows, Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers continue to visit the main feed station at the bottom of the Old Scaldwell Road although there is quite a range of birds refuelling on what is on offer there.

At the other end of the reservoir, the two young Great Northern Divers looked fabulous in the afternoon light as they sat on the water together, roll-preening and spending a great deal of time re-arranging feathers and wing flapping. And the strong winds don't suppress the activities of big birds such as gulls, Red Kites and Common Buzzards which were all busy carving their way through the strong westerlies. The first Osprey was back at Rutland Water today, another big bird that isn't easily daunted by gale force conditions!

Three Reed Buntings were feeding in our garden today, a pair of Grey Wagtail were on the dam at Welford Reservoir and the best sighting at Sunderland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) at lunchtime was a fine buck Roe Deer!

Regards

Neil M



Brown Hare
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Roe Deer.

Osprey
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Red Kite.

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