More Ring Ouzels.

Hello

Stunning weather from the word go today was a good impetus to get up and out! My first venue was Honey Hill near Cold Ashby and from the vantage point it was a great place to scan over the countryside below and watch a variety of mammals including Muntjacs and Brown Hares. A familiar call had me looking around and a female Ruddy Shelduck flew into view, circled around and flew off towards Welford, no doubt the regular bird that has been in the county for a few years now. Migrants included Meadow Pipits, a Redpoll and a Golden Plover. On my walk back three Fieldfares came into view and a male Brambling flew in with Chaffinches. The best was last though when a male Ring Ouzel hopped into view and a short time later a second bird did likewise. Thankfully they remained for much of the day and at least three Wheatears were subsequently seen there too.

An Oystercatcher was a surprise bird at Welford Reservoir and a Grey Wagtail was present too. A dead Common Buzzard on the Kelmarsh Estate looked as if it had been attacked and killed by one of it's own kind.

Two more Ring Ouzels were found in horse paddocks on the high ground between Blueberry Farm and Haselbech, with a Wheatear on Blueberry Hill and a hundred Fieldfares still at Blueberry Farm paddocks. Small numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares were roadside birds along the gated road between Haselbech and Cottesbrooke and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was both audible and visual in Cottesbrooke village.

A pair of Garganey were in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning plus a Great White Egret and three Curlews were seen flying over.

Stanwick Pits also attracted a drake Garganey and a Cattle Egret and a Grasshopper Warbler was at Quarry Walk, Earls Barton with a Garden Warbler singing along the railway line near to Summer Leys. The drake Ring-necked Duck and a Great White Egret were at Clifford Hill Pits and Thrapston Pits hosted a Greenshank and a singing Curlew.

A first year Shag and a first year Caspian Gull were noted at Daventry Country Park today.

A few Bramblings were still at Harrington Airfield today but there was seemingly no sign of any Redstarts or Ring Ouzels. A ringing session is planned for this site tomorrow when access to the bunkers and old airstrips will be restricted.

Maps for Kentle Wood and the Catesby area have been added to the Birdwatching Site Maps tab courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Regards

Neil M

Mistle Thrush courtesy
of Nathan Jones.

Barn Owl courtesy
of Nathan Jones.

Male Ring Ouzel.