Hail storms stop play

Hello

Lean times for new birds in the county today, the strong winds not helping. Some powerful weather out there with some brief but fierce hail storms and regular showers.

Birds located at Pitsford Reservoir at the south end today included the drake Mandarin Duck again, two Yellow-legged Gulls, the drake Scaup and hybrid female, twenty-six Golden Plovers flying over moving north, a singing Chiffchaff and a Siskin.

Two Siskins were in a Maidwell garden today, a Peregrine was successfully hunting Starlings at Summer Leys LNR this evening and a pair of Blackcap were again in Clive's garden in Woolaston. Over at Woodford Halse, Ian had a male Blackcap coming to a sunflower hearts feeder in his garden and a female Brambling was at a feeding station that he maintains.

Eric's efforts at Thrapston Pits provided sightings of six Great White Egrets, a pair of Oystercatchers and a Water Rail.

Adrian confirmed the continuing presence of the drake Ring-necked Duck on Big lake, Ditchford Pits today and a Great White Egret was on the Dragonfly Lakes section of the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve.

A pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Stanwick Pits this morning and a pair of Peregrines were on high at St Mary's Church, Higham Ferrers.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Mandarin Duck
at Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Beth Clyne.

Tree Sparrow courtesy
of Laurence Arnold.

Sparrowhawk courtesy
of Laurence Arnold.