Here comes the rain!

Hello

With such a dry and cold spring, we welcome the rain if not the gusty winds!

The Wryneck at Borough Hill Country Park at Daventry continued to delight visitors today and it showed well at times. The two Dotterel, which appear to be a male and female, were still in a bean field south west of Piddington today, albeit that they had changed fields this afternoon. A Wheatear was there too and nine Fieldfares flew over.

Sadly yesterday's Black-necked Grebes at Ravensthorpe Reservoir had moved on overnight and although not the rarest birds seen in the county this spring for me they are probably my favourite. Swimming and diving at point blank range with one of the birds depicting stunning colours with the other two not far behind made them real show-stoppers.

A Common Sandpiper was on the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir and there was a Spotted Flycatcher at Kelmarsh Hall but it was down to the Nene Valley to produce something different today with a Sanderling at Clifford Hill Pits which also hosted six Whimbrel, five Common Sandpipers, seven Dunlin and four Ringed Plovers.

On the Summer Leys LNR a drake Garganey, seven Dunlin and a Ruff put in an appearance this morning and birds at Thrapston Pits included three Cuckoos, a Great White Egret, a Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher with seven Hobbies reported early morning.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Marigolds on the
lake at Kelmarsh Hall.

Whimbrel courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Common Snipe courtesy
of Dave Jackson.