The first day of 2021

Hello

In compliance with our new Tier 4 restrictions just two of us completed a short ringing session at Harrington Airfield this morning and were treated to three Fieldfares and eight Redwings plus a Song Thrush, a Blackbird and a couple of Starlings together with some common finches, three Yellowhammers, three Robins and of course some Blue Tits. About fifteen Golden Plovers were on-site and a first year Caspian Gull flew over relatively low in a north-easterly direction.

Abington Park (Northampton) hosted eight Goosanders (six drakes) and at least ten Ring-necked Parakeets today and Pitsford Reservoir continued to hang on to the Great Northern Diver and a Great White Egret.

Yesterday's mobile White-fronted Goose flock of twenty-six birds were located at Stanwick Pits today where there were still the original seven others plus five Cattle Egrets, two Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper, three Redshanks and two Pintail. Summer Leys LNR recorded a further three Great White Egrets and Ringstead Pits another two with two pairs of Pintail at the latter site.

At least ten Crossbills were around Wakerley Wood car park today with another seven behind the dam at Hollowell Reservoir; two Mediterranean Gulls roosted at Boddington Reservoir (adult and first year) and a flock of 108 Golden Plovers were located by the Banbury Lane near Potcote. 

Large numbers of passerines (including two Bramblings) were in The Hill field at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) this afternoon attracting the attention of the female Merlin which is currently hanging around the general area. Two Shelducks were on a private lake near there and there was a good mix of finches and buntings and Tree Sparrows on the nectar/bird crop in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghon which included at least four Bramblings. Two pairs of Stonechat were in the same general area and the two long-staying Bearded Tits remained on the Leicestershire bank at Stanford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Wigeon courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Song Thrush courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Drake Pintail.