Sunday 22 December 2013

Pitsford WeBs Count

Hello

Most of today was taken up completing the Wetland Bird Survey at Pitsford Res, dodging a heavy shower and a hail storm!  A Snow Bunting was flushed from the shoreline by The Holly Tree at 10.50am.  The bird towered up and flew strongly south and wasn't seen again.  Most of the other sightings were of birds that have been present for a little while and included the Great Northern Diver, 3 Great White Egrets (all north of the causeway), 9 Little Egrets and a female Peregrine.  South of the causeway 13 Red-crested Pochard plus a drake Red-crested Pochard x Mallard hybrid were in the Walgrave Bay.  One of the females was a leucistic bird and the female partnered with the hybrid lacked pale cheeks.

Other wildfowl included 6 Goosanders and 4 'redhead' Smew (Holcot Bay) and waders included a Green Sandpiper, a Dunlin, 3 Redshank and 50 Snipe.  Passerines included 2 Grey Wagtails, 10 Lesser Redpolls, 6 Siskins and 2 Ravens.  The gull roost provided good views of an adult Caspian Gull and 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls.

Away from Pitsford, the Hume's Leaf Warbler was still present at the private site this afternoon.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil



 
Great Northern Diver
Pitsford Res

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