Spring movers

Hello

Limited birding opportunities for me today although I did flush up a Woodcock in Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate. Large numbers of Black-headed and Common Gulls invaded the county today, many of them moving on in a north and east direction.

Bethan and Jacob's efforts at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway provided sightings of a Great White Egret, at least four Oystercatchers. eighteen Snipe, a Kingfisher, an adult male Peregrine and two Siskins.

Eight Crossbills were at Hollowell Reservoir this morning and birds visible/audible from the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this afternoon included a Raven, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff.

The adult Mediterranean Gull was seen on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits this morning and birds at Cifford Hill Pits included a drake Red-crested Pochard, four Goosanders, three Oystercatchers, two Redshanks and a Dunlin. At Stanwick Pits there was an adult Mediterranean Gull on the Layby Pit with nine Redshanks, a Dunlin and a Pintail all on Main Lake.

A Little Owl was on show at Delapre Park today, Clive had two Blackcaps in his Wollaston garden today and a Peregrine was again showing on the National Grid communications tower at Northampton.

A Starling murmuration of some thousands is an evening spectacle in the Linden Avenue/St Mary's Road area of Kettering with attendant raptors in the shape of Sparrowhawks and Peregrine.

Some garden ringing today completed by Dave Francis on the outskirts of Northampton provided nine Reed Buntings, a Siskin, three Goldcrests and other common birds including a six year old Blue Tit.

The rural South Northants birding site map of Edgcote has been added to the Birdwatching Site Maps tab.

Regards

Neil M

Black-headed Gull.

Common Gull.

Male Reed Bunting. This species
moves around a great deal in the
early spring as they seek out feeding
opportunities prior to settling down 
for breeding. They exploit gardens
looking for seed and tend to prefer
millet (particularly red millet) and 
other small seeds, but will occasionally
peck at fat products and other feedstuffs
too.