New arrivals

Hello

A fresh suite of birds found today with the best bird being a drake Ring-necked Duck on Big Lake at Ditchford Pits as found by Matt Hazleton. This is the second old gravel pit found by walking east from Ditchford Lane (and the Wildlife Trust car park) or perhaps more easily from the Rushden Lakes shopping complex and walking west from the old Skew Bridge Ski Pit. A little bit of nostalgia as this was the same place I found one many, many moons ago! In some respects it was anticipated as there have been recent individuals in neighbouring Leicestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Nevertheless a great find and well done to Matt!

A flock of eighteen Bewick's Swans were briefly at Stanford Reservoir late morning before moving off north and seemingly they haven't been seen again.

Two Peregrines on St Mary's church at Higham Ferrers includes one with a colour ring and birds at Harrington Airfield this afternoon included a Short-eared Owl flushed from Bunker Three and flying around before returning from where flushed, at least four Bramblings including three stunning males and about two hundred and fifty Golden Plovers.

Jon's efforts at Hollowell Reservoir provided views of a Jack Snipe, four Snipe and three Stonechats.

At Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon there were four Stonechats and roost monitoring counts provided 395 Redwings, 390 Fieldfares and 49 Yellowhammers all courtesy of Jacob. Again the Little Owl was vocal between the reservoir and Scaldwell village.

The female Merlin was careering around the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and other birds included the usual Barn Owl and four Stonechats. Perhaps not the best timing, but I noticed some frog activity in our garden pond today!

Regards

Neil M

Drake Ring-necked Duck
(Image taken at WWT Slimbridge).

It isn't just the birds
that come for the free
food at Harrington Airfield!

Golden Plovers at
Harrington Airfield.

Short-eared Owl 
courtesy of Robin
Gossage.