Repeats - but quality repeats!

Hello

It seemed to be a bit of a re-run of yesterday today with many birds still in situ -  like the weather!

Harrington Airfield was popular with birders this morning and birds included at least one male Ring Ouzel, two or three Common Redstarts, a brief Short-eared Owl, three Wheatears, about thirty-five Golden Plovers, still an unknown number of Bramblings (certainly double figures) and a Redpoll. A ringing session is planned for this site on Monday when access to the private land of the old airstrip and bunkers will be restricted - the concrete track and other footpaths will be open as usual.

Nearby the Draughton Crossing Ring Ouzel was looked for on three occasions with no sightings - a Redwing and a Grey Wagtail lingered there.

Another Redpoll was at Scotland Wood today and a flock of forty-five Golden Plovers were the only noteworthy birds after a walk around Desborough Airfield.

The birds at Pitsford Reservoir included the Great Northern Diver in Pintail Bay, the pair of Common Scoters in The Narrows, a Yellow-legged Gull, the drake Scaup off the dam and a pair of Garganey were flushed from the bank near Moulton Grange Bay and flew towards the causeway. About nine Yellow Wagtails were also present.

At Summer Leys LNR two pairs of Garganey were present and a Blue-headed Wagtail was in with the Yellows again and the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve at Ditchford Pits attracted a Cattle Egret, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank all courtesy of Tony. Stanwick served up the Glossy Ibis in flight again plus a high-flying Osprey and a Curlew. A dozen Yellow Wagtails were at nearby Raunds Water Treatment Works.

Down at Hinton Airfield, quality passerines included a male Common Redstart, a female Wheatear and more Yellow Wagtails, a Wheatear was on the dam at Hollowell Reservoir this morning and Ian saw a male Common Redstart at Fawsley Park, again at the top of the track past the Fawsley Granary. A pair of Peregrine were at a potential breeding site in the west of the county.

Regards

Neil M

Garganey at Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of John Gamble.

Common Snipe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Common Buzzard courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Great Crested Grebe courtesy
of David Arden.