Wednesday 24 October 2018

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

I spent some of the day completing part of the monthly WeBS count at Ditchford Pits today. Although it was quite a blustery westerly wind, the sun came out and it was very pleasant out and about, so much so that large insects such as Hornets, butterflies and Common Darter dragonflies were on the wing in reasonable numbers.

A strong passage of Woodpigeons was evident moving down the Nene Valley pushing into the westerly airstream and the various sized flocks numbered just less than a thousand individuals. Much smaller numbers of Stock Doves were moving at the same time. A calling Grey Plover also moved through west at 9.18am followed by a low-flying and calling Rock Pipit also going the same way at 9.50am. Other birds of interest included an adult Peregrine, nine Little Egrets, just two Kingfishers, two Redpolls, five Siskins, a Stonechat, three Grey Wagtails, six Cetti's Warblers and just two Chiffchaffs.

A quick visit to Pitsford Reservoir early this afternoon to fill up the feeders at the Old Scaldwell Road was sufficient to note three Great White Egrets and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the Scaldwell Bay.

Finches on the move in the Brampton Valley this morning included small numbers of Redpoll, Siskin and Brambling and there was a covey of twelve Grey Partridges at Harrington Airfield this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M


Carrion Crow.

Long-tailed Tit.


Adult Peregrine at
Ditchford today. From
the size of it's crop I
think it had just eaten!

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