A ringing session at Stortons GP this morning successfully caught many of the usual species including a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff. The ringers on-site believe there are two pairs of Bearded Tits present in the Phragmites beds.
Nick Wood was checking nest-boxes out at Chase Park Farm (near Yardley Chase) today and came across a roosting Little Owl (please see below).
Eleanor was out and about locally and saw a Grey Wagtail at Beck Dairy, Cottesbrooke and at least c100 Golden Plovers in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. A visit to Harrington Airfield yielded 2 Bramblings, a Tree Sparrow and 4 Red Kites. Pitsford continues to host the Great Northern Diver and the pair of Oystercatcher.
In the meantime I was over at Ditchford Gravel Pits completing the monthly WeBs count. The pits west of Ditchford Lane attracted two Great White Egrets, five Little Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, the drake Scaup, three Oystercatchers, three Kingfishers, a Water Rail, two Peregrines, a Grey Wagtail and two Chiffchaffs. I spent some time watching the wintering Water Pipit, this bird now advancing in to summer plumage.
Birds on the older pits east of Ditchford Lane included three Goosanders, a Little Egret, a Water Rail, three Kingfishers, three Cetti's Warblers and eight Chiffchaffs.
And of course with the warm sunshine today, there were good numbers of butterflies on the wing which were made up of Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma and Brimstone.
Regards
Neil M
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| Male Great Spotted Woodpecker, happily drilling a series of small holes in to the fingers and knuckles of a Trainee Ringer! Courtesy of Chris Payne. |
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| Little Owl Chase Park Farm Courtesy of Nick Wood |
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| Male Brimstone Ditchford GP |
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| A very worn Peacock nectaring on Blackthorn blossom. Ditchford GP. |
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