Wet Bank Holiday Monday!

Hello

Excursions out today ensured we were always going to become somewhat wet, and birding is always a little more challenging in very wet conditions.

This morning Eleanor wandered around the complex at Harrington Airfield and connected with the Redstart by the first bunker, the 'cream-crown' Marsh Harrier and two Turtle Doves. Nearby there were three Grey Wagtails at Brixworth Sewer works.

At Pitsford Res, at least three Red-crested Pochard and a Goldeneye and a Common Sandpiper were in the Scaldwell Bay. Two Redstarts were in a field hedge between the village of Old and the reservoir boundary fence. In the late afternoon, birds visible near to the dam included a couple of Little Egrets, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a juvenile Ruff and a juvenile Arctic Tern.

Regards

Neil M

Ruff
Pitsford Res

This Great Tit was captured at Pitsford
reservoir yesterday.  This species seems to
be regularly afflicted with growths, sometimes
to the head and often along the flanks and
breast.  On this occasion the growths are
affecting it's left eye to the point where it may
eventually lose sight, and the right eye also exhibited a
very small growth. Local ringers have reported similar
issues with both Dunnock and Bullfinch in recent
days, each time the head and eye being affected.
Another Great Tit seen yesterday exhibited large
bulbous growths on it's flanks. For the most part these
birds seem to live a normal if somewhat shortened life
to the point whereby it is unusual to see such afflicted birds
by the following spring.