Big Garden Birdwatch

Male Bullfinch
courtesy of John Tilly.

Hello

Cold and grey today but not as cold as yesterday and no frost or snow...

A touch of 'urban birding' initially this morning with a visit to Abington Park in Northampton. Despite not being far from the town centre this relatively large open space has a mixture of habitat and a pretty good range of bird species. Nine Ring-necked Parakeets were in trees in the spinney between the two lakes, a favourite haunt. A Little Egret was on the brook running between the two main lakes and other birds noticed included a Grey Wagtail, Nuthatches and a small flock of Siskins.

At least three Bramblings were in our garden again today and a Woodcock flushed up in Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) this afternoon. A late afternoon visit to the Old Scaldwell Road at Pitsford Reservoir to replenish the bird feeders just gave me enough light to see the rather distant drake Ring-necked Duck in the Walgrave Bay and a couple of Great White Egrets.

Debbie and Eric had a quick stroll around at Thrapston Pits and saw the long-staying Whooper Swan and three Great White Egrets. Ian Moore saw the female Scaup at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows today (Ditchford Pits complex) on Dragonfly Lake.

Next week-end is the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and most years Ian Wrisdale and members of the Mid Nene RSPB group host an event to help promote the initiative. Tomorrow (Sunday) there will be guided walks at Stanwick Lakes at 10am and again at 11am with an emphasis on garden and woodland birds. In the cabin near to the visitors centre there will be leaflets, childrens craft activities and a nature table display. There will also be a bird ringing demonstration starting at about 8am and concluding at lunch-time. It is likely that all the activities will be centred around the visitors centre and car park area or very close by.

Regards

Neil M

Long-tailed Tits courtesy
of John Tilly.

House Sparrow courtesy
of Cathy Ryden. Despite being
a much scarcer bird these days
the House Sparrow has nevertheless
still featured as the most common
bird seen on the RSPB Big Garden
Birdwatch in recent years...