Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

Today it was the turn of a section of Ditchford Pits to be visited and the wetland birds counted.  Initially the weather was dull but later the sunshine came through and provided an opportunity to enjoy late season insects which included Migrant Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies and butterflies made up of Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Large White and Comma.

The pits west of Ditchford Lane hosted four Egyptian Geese, a Water Rail, a Green Sandpiper, two Kingfishers, a Grey Wagtail, six Cetti's Warblers, a male Stonechat and a couple of Siskins. Birds east of Ditchford Lane provided viewings of a Snipe, a Jack Snipe, a Water Rail, six Kingfishers, seven Cetti's Warblers, five Chiffchaffs, three Grey Wagtails, a few Siskins and a Redpoll.

A Clouded Yellow and Red Admiral butterflies were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon and the Pitsford Reservoir gull roost included four Yellow-legged Gulls.

Regards

Neil M

Autumn sunshine
at Ditchford Pits.

Little Grebe courtesy
of John Tilly.

The horses on land west
of Ditchford Lane are pretty
feral and left to their own
devices for much of the time.
Their matted manes and tails
 are caused by burdock seed heads
 and they resemble braids.