Wildlife showcase

Hello

Neil Hasdell had another go at watching the Otters at Market Harborough today.  It seems that the animals weren't seen at all in the morning, but two finally appeared at about 1.30pm and were viewable on and off for the rest of the afternoon.  This time they were mostly downstream from the Sainsbury's car park and went a long way past the railway station.  A Kingfisher showed several times and a Grey Wagtail was also in residence.

At Blueberry Farm this morning there were four Red Kites, two Ravens, a Barn Owl, a pair of Grey Partridge and the pair of Stonechat still.  A few Siskins were noted at Hanging Houghton and half a dozen Bramblings were present at Harrington Airfield plus a couple of Red Kites and a mobile flock of a hundred or so Golden Plovers.

An hour or so looking for the Great Grey Shrike at Lowick this afternoon proved to be a failure despite pleasant viewing conditions.

The Bird Ringing Demonstration at Barnwell Country Park today was well attended and it was good to see many children and young people enjoying seeing wild birds close up.  This event was a joint effort between the Northants County Council Country Park Rangers, the RSPB and Northants Ringing Group volunteers aimed at inspiring people of all ages to appreciate wildlife and take part in wildlife recording initiatives.  Only four static nets were erected but it was sufficient to catch over two hundred small birds.  Perhaps not surprisingly, the Blue Tit was the most common bird with plenty of Great Tits and smaller numbers of Coal Tits and Long-tailed Tits plus a couple of Marsh Tits.  Chaffinches and Goldfinches were well-represented together with a single Siskin.  The Great Spotted Woodpecker and three Treecreepers were much admired and of course the common favourites of Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird and Reed Bunting look different again in the hand.

Other birds seen or heard included at least one Egyptian Goose heard calling from fields the other side of the river, a couple of Kingfishers, two singing Cetti's Warblers and a reasonable-sized flock of Siskins.

Regards

Neil and Eleanor