Screaming Swift Tower

Hello

A further morning was spent at Kelmarsh Hall completing the installation of the Swift nesting tower, the product of our very own Chris Payne! All the research suggests we will have to be very patient before any anticipated take up but we have at least set it up and will be playing screaming Swifts sounds to encourage passing birds! A wander along the lake this time didn't produce any scarce migrants (Pied Flycatcher last Friday).

About twenty-five Fieldfares were hanging on at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today and birds at Harrington Airfield this afternoon included a female Wheatear and two wheezing male Bramblings hidden in the bushes. A period of ringing will be undertaken there tomorrow which will mean restricted access to the bunkers and old airstrips but the concrete track and official footpaths remain open.

A slower day of visible migration today, with most of the gulls, Meadow Pipits and 'alba' wagtails and winter thrushes and finches having passed through by now, but still Yellow Wagtails, warblers, Hobbies and terns and waders continuing to push on into the blocking northerlies.

Single Ospreys were seen passing over Sixfields and Far Cotton today and Stortons Pits attracted a Barn Owl, two Hobbies and a Cuckoo. Summer Leys LNR hosted a drake Garganey, three Ruff and a Dunlin first thing and later the Spotted Redshank and a Mediterranean Gull were found to also be present. There were three Hobbies there by early afternoon.

Clifford Hill Pits today provided sightings of an Arctic Tern, a Whimbrel, a possible Blue-headed Wagtail and two Common Sandpipers and Titchmarsh LNR fielded a Greenshank, two Great White Egrets and four Common Sandpipers.

There were four Great White Egrets north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today and Hollowell reservoir continued to be favoured by the three long-staying Whimbrel.

A Whinchat was near Lilbourne by the A5 layby next to the DIRFT3 pools plus a Whimbrel and a Green Sandpiper with a Hobby over Braunston.

Regards

Neil M

The Kelmarsh Hall Swift Tower.

Skylark courtesy of
Nathan Jones.

Mistle Thrush courtesy 
of Nathan Jones.

Lapwings courtesy
of Robin Gossage.