Crossbills, Hen Harrier and Barnacle Geese.

Hello 

A very pleasant day out there today with a breeze and plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures.

Woodpigeons were very much on the move today with flocks sometimes in their hundreds streaming south noted at a variety of locations. Gatherings of raptors included fifteen Red Kites at Blueberry Farm and thirty Common Buzzards in one field between Haselbech and the A508 this afternoon, each gathering associated with earthworms being predated.

At Harrington Airfield this morning there was an immature male Peregrine, about one hundred Golden Plovers and three Ravens plus plenty of thrushes still. Neil Underwood later in the day estimated the Golden Plover flock to be nearer five hundred birds.

At Hanging Houghton there were two Ravens and a Grey Wagtail around the village and this afternoon an adult male Peregrine and a pair of Stonechat were in the Brampton Valley below the village.

Fineshade Wood attracted about a dozen mobile Crossbills this morning, plus a Woodcock, a Brambling, a few Siskins and a couple of Redpolls plus two Ravens. Wakerley Wood was busier with at least forty Crossbills around the car park in their favourite larches - smaller numbers scattered in the wood were probably part of the same group. A few Siskins were also present and a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was hunting over the rough area adjacent to the wood on the old mostly disused Harringworth Airfield.

Blatherwycke Lake hosted a pair of Egyptian Geese, twenty-eight Mandarin Ducks and a Great White Egret. The woodland and area around Fermyn Wood seemed quiet this afternoon.

An unprecedented flock of thirty-six Barnacle Geese were at the west end of the main pit at Clifford Hill Pits this morning - it would be interesting to know if this is a feral flock from the south or migrants from the north. Two Crossbills flew south over Scaldwell this morning and birds at Hollowell Reservoir included at least twelve Crossbills and a Chiffchaff.

Chris Payne heard a Bearded Tit calling at Stortons Pits this morning and has taken it upon himself to quickly create an additional grit tray which is now erected and available to the birds should they wish to utilise it! Chris Green saw a Great White Egret and a pair of Pintail at Ditchford Pits on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve section.

Regards

Neil M

Barnacle  Geese.

Rook.

Red Kite.