WINTER WILDFOWL

 Yesterday was the shortest day of the year and the "first" day of winter , which seems appropriate when looking at the many species of winter wildfowl which were scattered throughout the county.  Somehow I managed to miss them all which was a shame as there was obviously a noticeable movement of Whooper Swans and Geese.   Whooper Swans were seen at Pitsford and Stanford Reservoirs, Clifford Hill Pits and over Denton Wood.  There were certainly quite a few geese moving around with a small flock of Whitefronted geese at Pitsford and Hollowell Reservoirs, a Pink Footed Goose at Thrapston,  Dark Bellied Brent Goose at Clifford Hill and a Barnacle Goose at Pitsford. Phew almost feels like Norfolk rather than Northamptonshire!!                                     Winter ducks included Smew at Hollowell and Thrapston,  Scaup at Stanford Reservoir,  Stortons and Kislingbury GP. and Red Crested Pochards at Stanford and Kislingbury. 

Today, new birds included 3 White Fronted Geese at Stanwick gp, Pink Footed Goose at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Black Redstart at Borough Hill. 

However I have somehow managed to avoid any of these birds due to other commitments which restricted my birding to Blueberry and Harrington.  I did manage a long run yesterday morning and bumped into 3 Barn Owls at Hanging Houghton,  Blueberry and Harrington Airfield  and at least 50 Bramblings at Harrington Airfield.  This morning I was out and about at first light and sunrise and subsequent skies were absolutely spectacular,  certainly a good time to be up and out.     A Barn Owl was hunting and calling in the moonlight at Blueberry which was quite ethereal and my young collie found it a scary experience!!    There are still about 30 Brambling around the Blueberry area plus several Woodcock and a pair of Stonechat which I bump into at times.                 A lunchtime visit to Harrington Airfield produced another Barn Owl,  2 Woodcock and 50+ Brambling. 

Regards Eleanor