Preparing for the summer visitors

Hello

A dull grey day with a few light showers didn't stop the migrants with Meadow Pipits, Fieldfares, Redwings and Starling all on the move in a northerly direction during the day.

Six Redpolls were at Kelmarsh Hall this morning with a pair of Grey Wagtails and a Raven at Lamport Hall, a Grey Wagtail and a Raven at Hanging Houghton and nearby Harrington Airfield continued to host the long-staying Merlin, about two hundred and forty Golden Plovers and at least two Bramblings.

Ringing sessions are planned at Harrington Airfield on Saturday and Sunday when the bunkers and old airstrip will be a restricted area. Access along the concrete track and footpaths will be unaffected.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included the drake Scaup and hybrid female and sixty-eight Goldeneye at the south end of the reservoir. The frame of a Sand Martin bank was constructed in the Scaldwell Meadow today and we hope to have it up and running before the Sand Martins arrive in any numbers! A very significant task is rescuing two of the tern rafts which have run aground in the Scaldwell Bay and require refurbishment and anchoring with the remaining rafts in readiness for the returning Common Terns.

Thirteen Swift nest boxes are now at Lamport Hall with a view to hopefully all these going up before the screaming Swifts arrive. A big thank-you to Bill Draper and Chris Payne in the rapid production of these. We very much hope the Swifts respect the care and thought that has gone into the creation of their additional homes! There are also some grand plans, delayed a year because of Covid 19, for Swift boxes to be fitted at Kelmarsh Hall and an innovative (but currently untried) Swift tower to be erected in the gardens there. Fingers crossed that we can progress this initiative at the earliest opportunity!

Two Siskins visited Ian's garden feeders at Woodford Halse today.

Regards

Neil M

Male Chaffinch (typically
with diseased legs/feet).

Pitsford Cormorants
courtesy of Beth Clyne.

Pitsford Mallard courtesy
of Beth Clyne.

Kestrel courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Nuthatch courtesy of
Robin Gossage (nope it's
not a Rock Nuthatch)!