Pitsford between the showers

Hello

Some pretty hefty showers out there today but still mild and bright between the periods of rain.

Time spent at Pitsford Res today failed to find much different amongst the high numbers of water-birds. Three Great White Egrets remain (two in the Scaldwell Bay and a single in the Walgrave Bay), the Red-crested Pochard flock increased to thirty (Scaldwell Bay), and there were fifteen Pintail and several Goldeneye. At least five Little Egrets fished the Scaldwell Bay.

The usual adult Yellow-legged Gull lingered in the Scaldwell Bay and other birds there included a Grey Wagtail and a pair of Stonechat still. The gull roost by the dam included an adult Yellow-legged Gull with another Grey Wagtail by the yacht club and two Woodcock were flushed from field hedges between the reservoir and Walgrave village.

A Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff were noted at Brixworth Sewer Works.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egrets may be standard
fare these days at Pitsford but they
are interesting to watch as they
adopt a range of different fishing
strategies. This bird was 'foot-trembling'
in the shallows, flushing out mobile
prey in the silt but probably also attracting
nearby fish themselves looking for
food in the substrate.