Pitsford update

Hello

Early this morning and a Barn Owl was very vocal around the houses at Hanging Houghton.

A subsequent visit to Pitsford Reservoir in the vicinity of the Sailing Club provided a few birds in the shape of a trilling Whimbrel flying south at 7.10am, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, at least four adult Yellow-legged Gulls, a Common Sandpiper, three Little Egrets and a Raven.

This afternoon a small band of 'willing volunteers' braved the very hot temperatures and added two more Tawny Owl boxes to the twenty or so already in situ on the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir. We lost two boxes (which rotted and eventually collapsed) which were well-used by Tawnies a couple of years ago and these replacement boxes are in much the same position.

This evening there were four drake Red-crested Pochards in the Scaldwell Bay, visible from the Bird Club Hide. At least one of these birds has lost all it's flight feathers as it progresses through a complete moult and so won't be going anywhere soon! A couple of Yellow-legged Gulls were loafing here too...

Regards

Neil M

Adult and juvenile
Rook, courtesy of John Tilly.

Shelduck duckling.
courtesy of John Tilly

Juvenile Blackbird.
Image courtesy of John Tilly.

Silver-washed Fritillary.
Image courtesy of John Tilly.

A potential new Tawny Owl
home, image courtesy of
Helen Franklin.