Hello
The cold northerly winds we are experiencing seem to be blocking the passage of birds seeking to move north and east, today providing examples where these birds are amassing and awaiting a conducive air flow.
The Great Grey Shrike still present near Hanging Houghton today should be on its way any day now but is probably one such bird waiting for good weather before migrating back to the breeding grounds.
I conducted a Common Bird Census on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today beginning at 6am and finishing at 1pm. It was cold for the first couple of hours but the sunshine made it pleasant to be out and about.
A single Willow Tit was found in the Scaldwell Bay opposite the ringing hut and Marsh Tits were pretty widespread. Two Nuthatch territories were in the same places as last time and in excess of twenty Bramblings were feeding and singing in tall trees behind the Bird Club hide in the Scaldwell Bay and at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay. At least one Lesser Redpoll was attracted to the feeders in Christies Copse and the singing Cetti's Warbler remained on territory nearby. Blackcaps are aplenty now and a few Willow Warblers were singing at three spots. The pair of Oystercatchers were joined by three other birds today. The white Peacock first observed last year was in the Walgrave Bay, the occupied Cormorant nest count has now reached forty-five and various colonies of Ashy Mining Bees were active on the tracks around the reserve.
This afternoon a large Fieldfare flock in excess of the 745 birds counted were feeding on a bare earth rolled field next to the A508 just south of Hanging Houghton. I watched them for some time and despite the dry conditions they were successfully pulling lobworms from the manicured top soil. Plenty of other birds were finding bits to eat in the field and included about six Redwings and a female Brambling.
Birders working the lakes and vegetation at Earls Barton pits today saw an overflying Osprey, the drake Garganey still, fifty Fieldfares, a Great White Egret, a Dunlin, a Common Tern, an early singing Reed Warbler, a House Martin and a Yellow Wagtail.
Regards
Neil M
The cold northerly winds we are experiencing seem to be blocking the passage of birds seeking to move north and east, today providing examples where these birds are amassing and awaiting a conducive air flow.
The Great Grey Shrike still present near Hanging Houghton today should be on its way any day now but is probably one such bird waiting for good weather before migrating back to the breeding grounds.
I conducted a Common Bird Census on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today beginning at 6am and finishing at 1pm. It was cold for the first couple of hours but the sunshine made it pleasant to be out and about.
A single Willow Tit was found in the Scaldwell Bay opposite the ringing hut and Marsh Tits were pretty widespread. Two Nuthatch territories were in the same places as last time and in excess of twenty Bramblings were feeding and singing in tall trees behind the Bird Club hide in the Scaldwell Bay and at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay. At least one Lesser Redpoll was attracted to the feeders in Christies Copse and the singing Cetti's Warbler remained on territory nearby. Blackcaps are aplenty now and a few Willow Warblers were singing at three spots. The pair of Oystercatchers were joined by three other birds today. The white Peacock first observed last year was in the Walgrave Bay, the occupied Cormorant nest count has now reached forty-five and various colonies of Ashy Mining Bees were active on the tracks around the reserve.
This afternoon a large Fieldfare flock in excess of the 745 birds counted were feeding on a bare earth rolled field next to the A508 just south of Hanging Houghton. I watched them for some time and despite the dry conditions they were successfully pulling lobworms from the manicured top soil. Plenty of other birds were finding bits to eat in the field and included about six Redwings and a female Brambling.
Birders working the lakes and vegetation at Earls Barton pits today saw an overflying Osprey, the drake Garganey still, fifty Fieldfares, a Great White Egret, a Dunlin, a Common Tern, an early singing Reed Warbler, a House Martin and a Yellow Wagtail.
Regards
Neil M
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| It was sometimes rather noisy at Pitsford today! |
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| Muntjac Deer. |
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| Peacock! |
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