North and west bound birds...

Hello

Eleanor's morning walk took her to Blueberry Farm today where a male Ring Ouzel was foraging on grass alongside one of the hedgerows and two Wheatears were on the hill. About forty Fieldfares and a Raven were nearby.

Sarah Gibbs was in Wicksteed Park, Kettering this morning and watched a Carrion Crow 'anting' itself. This is well documented behaviour whereby birds 'bathe' in ants, secreting the acid and chemicals from the ants to enhance the skin and feathers. Although well known it is not in my experience commonly seen in the UK...

Birds in and over the garden today were not remarkable but in the Brampton Valley below the village this afternoon there was a fine singing Whinchat and a male Greenland Wheatear.

Elsewhere and Stewart Short saw a singing male Ring Ouzel near Clopton and heard a Cuckoo nearby. A Cuckoo was also heard at Chase Park Farm, Yardley Chase this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Male Whinchat.

Male Ring Ouzel.