Winter's return

Hello

A return to rain, snow and cool winds reminds us that winter is still with us!

Pitsford Reservoir is well over 100% water capacity with excess water pushing up to the perimeter fence in places. The brown water doesn't seem attractive to many waterfowl, particularly the diving ducks, grebes and Cormorants. North of the causeway birds on show included a female Stonechat, a Raven and at least seven Common Snipe. A Weasel was on show too.

The Brampton Valley is also flooded and the sodden fields below Hanging Houghton contained hundreds of Starlings and Fieldfares plus the usual four Stonechats, the Barn Owl and the female Merlin still racing around all over the place. A dead plucked and half-eaten Starling was very fresh but the predator wasn't identified.

A Great White Egret was at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, a Grey Wagtail was at Kelmarsh Hall, a female Blackcap was in an Oundle garden and Harrington Airfield hosted up to one hundred and fifty Golden Plovers and a male Brambling. A Peregrine was sheltering from the weather on a Higham Ferrers church.

A first year male Greenfinch was caught and ringed at Bragborough Hall, Braunston on 11th October 2020 and caught again at Hanging Houghton on 26th January 2021, 107 days later with the bird having travelled 22km in a ENE direction.

Regards

Neil M

Female Merlin.

Male Greenfinch.

Starling courtesy of
John Tilly.