Boxing Day birds

Hello

A much milder day weather-wise but seemingly with powerful gusts overnight courtesy of yet another storm!

Visits to the Kelmarsh Estate today didn't provide any sightings of interest and a succession of would-be observers to Pitsford Reservoir left disappointed as the Bewick's Swans of yesterday had seemingly departed and the Smew weren't located either. The Great Northern Diver was proving difficult to see but eventually it was seen this afternoon off the dam. It could well be the Hollowell bird as there was negative news from there today. Four Stonechats were still on show in the Scaldwell Bay.

A new bird in at Hollowell Reservoir was a Siberian Chiffchaff found by Mark Piper in the bay near to the Sailing Club. Other birds included a nominate Chiffchaff, a single Great White Egret, the female Ruddy Shelduck still and two Jack Snipe. Nearby and there were five Great White Egrets together at Ravensthorpe Reservoir which probably included the Pitsford birds as there were none reported today.

Stanford Reservoir again provided the right habitat for the four Black-necked Grebes and in the flooded Nene Valley the Bittern was seen again at Summer Leys LNR. A male Blackcap was in a East Hunsbury garden today.

Regards

Neil M

Siberian Chiffchaff.

Great White Egret.