Rain on the way?

Hello

Heavy rain is predicted for the county during the next three days, possibly to the point that flooding may occur again, all courtesy of Storm Christoph.

The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton was busy with birds again today, nothing unusual but good numbers of a nice mix of species which included about four hundred Starlings, winter thrushes and plenty of finches and buntings. All four species of common birds of prey were there too.

Several Siskins were still at Kelmarsh today and birds at Pitsford Reservoir amounted to the Great Northern Diver (off the Gorse Bushes), a Great White Egret, three Pintail and a pair of Stonechats.

Seven Goosanders were at Ransome Road Pits (or Hardingstone Pits if you like) today, the male Bearded Tit was seen at Stortons Pits this morning and a Peregrine was on Kettering Parish church.

The single White-fronted Goose at Summer Leys LNR was identified by Mike as a Greenland, and is presumably the bird initially found by Nick Parker at Wicksteed Park earlier in the month. Other birds on-site included three or four Great White Egrets and a flock of between 160 - 200 Golden Plovers.

Regards

Neil M

Starling in winter plumage.

Male Bearded Tit.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker caught
and ringed at Hanging Houghton today
showed some features of the continental
race, exhibiting red crown feathers and 
sporting a long wing length (not
 the bird in the image above).