Monday 8 April 2019

Little Gulls and other birds!

Hello

I've just returned back from an eight day trip to SE Poland where a group of us explored the forests and meadows of Bieszczady, some of it up close to the Ukraine border. Mammals were the tour focus and we managed views of Wolf, Pine Marten, Wildcat and Bison but only found the tracks of Eurasian Lynx and not the beast itself! The birds are always good there and included both storks, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Goshawk, woodpeckers, Ural Owl and early summer migrants.

At Hanging Houghton today a Yellow Wagtail flew over calling and two Ravens were embarking on some high altitude synchronised flying (without calling) suggesting they are perhaps intent on making this area their territory. The Great Grey Shrike was on show in the Brampton Valley during the day, generally close to the barn on the west side of the Brampton Valley Way. One male Brambling was on the feed by the barn and a Wheatear was present nearby too.

Little Gulls were the migrant theme today with birds at Stanford Reservoir, Hollowell Reservoir, Clifford Hill GP and Earls Barton GP. A Black Tern was with them at Clifford Hill GP and other birds at Hollowell Reservoir included two Grey Plovers, a Dunlin and a Raven. Steve Fisher saw a second summer Mediterranean Gull at Stanwick Pits and there were three Goosanders there too.

Pitsford Reservoir seemed to miss out on most of the action today but David Arden saw a perched Osprey in the Scaldwell Bay and a singing Brambling at the back of the bay and still the drake Red-crested Pochard. Eleanor saw a Great Northern Diver near the Holly Tree, a Common Tern and Yellow Wagtails. All three hirundine species were feeding over the reservoir, the pair of Oystercatcher and the Little Owl were still present as was the second calendar year Yellow-legged Gull. The afternoon storm brought in over a hundred gulls, mostly Common Gulls, but nothing else of note.

Eric's endeavours at Thrapston Pits provided sightings of two Pink-footed Geese, three Great White Egrets, a pair of Oystercatchers, six Common Terns and warblers included Sedge, Willow, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Small numbers of Swallows were moving through.

Regards

Neil M


Brambling.

Osprey.

Images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.



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