Winter weather birds.

Hello

Yesterday's (Tuesday) foray to Harrington Airfield yielded c200 Bramblings, c25 Golden Plovers, a Redpoll, a few Siskins and four Woodcock.

At Stanwick Pits two Cattle Egrets were seen in flight over the complex and c100 Pied Wagtails was a decent-sized roost or pre-roost around the Visitors Centre.

The Dark-bellied Brent Goose was again at Clifford Hill Pits plus two Goosanders, two Ravens and a Ring-necked Parakeet. The two Smew were still at Ringstead Pits.

Today (Wednesday) and the Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits but the Smew were not to be found at Ringstead Pits but there were five Cattle Egrets and a Great White Egret there. Twelve Goosanders at Sulby Reservoir today was a good early winter count. Again a Caspian Gull was seen for a short time at Hollowell Reservoir and the regular Barn Owl has continued to show the last few afternoons in the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton.

At Harrington Airfield today the Brambling flock seemed to be much-reduced to about seventy birds (six birds caught and ringed), and there were c50 Golden Plovers but the only visible migration seemed to be restricted to winter thrushes and Starlings.

Regards

Neil M

Pied Wagtail courtesy
of John Tilly.

Brambling today at Harrington
Airfield courtesy of Lewis Aaron.

Goosander.