Iceland - 4th - 8th March 2022

Friday, 3 July 2020

Bits and bobs at Pitsford

Hello

The planned ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir was cancelled due to the high winds but there was still an opportunity for some birding there today. 

A summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit (injured leg) was on the shoreline between the Maytrees and Bird Club hide this morning but appeared to fly off and an eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard was visible from the Bird Club hide. A female Tufted Duck showed off her just-hatched brood of nine ducklings!

This afternoon at the southern end of the reservoir an Osprey flew in and began patrolling the water and after several aborted dives and three immersions he finally picked up his trout prize and flew off. The usual third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull was there, escorting the Osprey for a while, a Whimbrel flew south at 4.30pm and a Hobby and a Common Sandpiper were present too.

At Hollowell Reservoir Jonathan notched up the Ruddy Shelduck and Great White Egret again and Richard located the Common Redstart at Harrington Airfield this morning in the usual place.

Stanwick Pits was an eventful place again today with a Bittern seen in flight, two adult Cattle Egrets, three Mediterranean Gulls, a Black-tailed Godwit and singles of Green and Common Sandpiper. Two juvenile Cattle Egrets were still at Kinewell  Lake, Ringstead Pits and the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits hosted a Hobby and a Green Sandpiper.

This evening there was a Dunlin and a Black-tailed Godwit with a damaged leg (presumably the Pitsford bird) at Summer Leys LNR.

Barn Owls have been active the last few days at Hanging Houghton, Lamport and near Hellidon.

Regards

Neil M



Birds are not the only things
attracted to the seed distributed
at the Pitsford feeding stations.
The female Muntjac has an unusually
shaped left ear which should aid
 identification to the future!


Common Terns.
It's a long wing to preen!

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