Birds of mid February

Hello

Still cold and windy but an imminent change in the weather it seems!

The Short-eared Owl re-appeared at Harrington Airfield this morning where there were also two Ravens, a Woodcock and at least three Bramblings. Two Ravens and a singing Blackcap were in Hanging Houghton village and the Brampton Valley below the village was good for a hunting Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl and two Stonechats. Another Barn Owl was hunting at nearby Blueberry Farm and six Siskins were near Haselbech.

Birds at Sywell Country Park today included a small flock of Redpolls, a Water Rail, a Grey Wagtail and a pair of Stonechats.

In the Nene Valley two Green Sandpipers and just seven Chiffchaffs were in the vicinity of Ecton Sewage Farm and at Ditchford Pits there was a drake Smew on the Skew Bridge Lake and a Great White Egret on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve.

Stanwick Pits continues to be the place for the wintering White-fronted Goose flock with thirty-three individuals today plus a Pink-footed Goose, four Dunlin and three Pintail. A female Scaup was found off the south-east shore at Hollowell Reservoir today and five Redpolls continue to visit garden feeders in Greens Norton village.

A ringing encounter with an adult female Blue Tit at Hanging Houghton was pretty special as she was first ringed as a nestling on 31st May 2013 - which means she is over seven years old!

Regards

Neil M

Snowy scene on the
Kelmarsh Estate

Lapwing.

Wren.

Robin.