Pitsford WeBS count

Recent images from
David Arden of the Otters
at Ravensthorpe Reservoir

Hello

Chris Payne continues to monitor the turnover of Goldfinches at his ringing sites in South Northants and on Saturday he caught and ringed twenty more birds at Greens Norton and today ten more at Bradden, together with ten Chaffinches, a Goldcrest and other common birds.

Today a small band of us completed the Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count and although there were no surprises there was a good haul of interesting species. We could only be sure of four Great White Egrets (there could have been five) and counted 16 Little Egrets, four Scaup north of the causeway, a drake Goosander, 24 Pintail, two drake Red-crested Pochard and a pair of Red-crested Pochard x Mallard hybrids (male and female). Waders were made up of a Redshank, two Green Sandpipers and 27 Snipe.

An adult male Peregrine was also present plus the regular adult Yellow-legged Gull, two Ravens, four Kingfishers and at least one Stonechat. Other birds included three Grey Wagtails, two Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap.

Cathy Ryden again located an Otter at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this afternoon and again the Great White Egret and a Kingfisher were also present.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret

Lapwings

Pochard