Golden Plover and Lapwing survey

Hello

At least three Stonechats, a pair of Grey Partridge and a Weasel were the best sightings in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with a Raven patrolling the village itself.

The Great Northern Diver was located again at Pitsford Reservoir today, this time in the vicinity of Pintail Bay. An Otter was showing well half a mile south of the causeway off the Brixworth bank at 10.30am this morning, a Great White Egret was close to the Catwalk Bay and other birds included a Redshank and a pair of Stonechats in the Scaldwell Bay.

In the Nene Valley there were still at least twenty White-fronted Geese at Stanwick Pits (NE end) and a pair of Pintail at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits.

Ten Crossbills were at Hollowell Reservoir early this morning, flying south out of the Guilsborough Bay and the Golden Plover flock at Harrington Airfield on the top fields this afternoon was again in the region of about one hundred and twenty birds with a female Sparrowhawk keeping them on their toes.

Regular birds at Sywell Country Park this afternoon included two Water Rails, two Grey Wagtails, one Cetti's Warbler, a pair of Stonechats, twenty-five Siskins and six Redpolls.

Natural England, the Wildlife Trusts for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre are carrying out a survey to better understand the habitats used by wintering populations of Golden Plover and Lapwing, particularly in the Upper Nene Valley. The study area is focused on feeding and roosting locations around the Special Protection Area (SPA) gravel-pit sites.

Help is required to gather Golden Plover and Lapwing records within the SPA and within the 10km of the surrounding area to the SPA. Additional records within Northamptonshire would be useful too.

 

Due to Covid 19 there is currently no active surveying, but existing records are requested. There may be an opportunity for a co-ordinated survey next winter.

 

Please send Golden Plover or Lapwing records to the NBRC via their website https://northantsbrc.org.uk/record/submit-a-sighting or via email nbrc@northantsbrc.org.uk.

 

Records should include:

-              A count of each species (if possible)

-              Activity – feeding/roosting (if known)

-              Date and time

-              Location – grid reference 6 figure or above , map & description

-              Habitat type – grassland/arable (if arable also a crop type and stage if known)

-              Name of observer

-              A photograph may be useful but is not essential

 

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing courtesy
of Bethan Clyne.

Golden Plover courtesy
of Robin Gossage.