Scaup and friend

Hello

More wind and gusts and some sharp showers today too!

The drake Scaup remains off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir and an apparent hybrid female (Scaup x Tufted Duck) is with it too. The regular Yellow-legged Gull is also in the same place and showed itself to be an adept fisher by plucking a sizeable Roach (or similar silver fish) from just under the surface! Two Oystercatchers and the two Barnacle Geese remained north of the causeway.

Four Redshanks, a Dunlin and a Snipe were seen at Stanwick Pits today and birds visible at Hanging Houghton were a Barn Owl, two Ravens and two Peregrines playing in the wind at 1.30pm.

Eric's efforts at Thrapston Pits in strong winds provided views of five or six Great White Egrets, two Oystercatchers and a Ring-necked Parakeet. The best birds at Welford Reservoir this afternoon were a single Stonechat, a pair of Grey Wagtails and a flying flock of about forty Golden Plovers.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Scaup and attendant
female that appears to be a
Scaup x Tufted Duck hybrid
Pitsford Reservoir - images
courtesy of Beth Clyne.