Pitsford update.

Hello

I have been away for over three weeks tour-leading in Scotland and am on catch-up mode now! Here in the county it has been busy for those monitoring nests and breeding birds, the initial results suggesting that the tits have suffered some real hardship during the protracted cold spring. Some mixed results though with some pairs doing well and producing healthy fledged broods.

The tern rafts at Pitsford Reservoir are having a good year with ever-increasing numbers of Black-headed Gulls taking advantage of the floating nest platforms and nesting ahead of the Common Terns. Dave Francis has been carefully monitoring activity and at this stage it seems that as many as 52 pairs of gull have nested producing at least 82 chicks and 63 pairs of Common Terns have nests and eggs - it's a bit crowded out there!

The Grey Herons have effectively moved out of their traditional nesting trees at Pitsford Reservoir and have taken to waterside willows alongside the Cormorants. One rather late nest was just at water level and the three youngsters were ringed today.

Anyone wondering why the usually mowed paths around the reserve had become so long? Well despite the provision of nearly two hundred tit boxes, a pair of Blue Tits decided to nest in the working parts of the Pitsford mower and Mischa has had to wait until such time as this small brood successfully fledged!

On the scarcity front, three Knot found at Stanwick Pits today was a good summer record and the Quail first discovered in the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton some days ago is still there and calling today.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Herons courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Black-headed Gull chicks
courtesy of Chris Payne.