Black Redstart, Wood Sandpiper, Smew and a Merlin.

Hello

Residue birds from last year continue to dominate the local birding scene with the Black Redstart being tracked down at Borough Hill Country Park today and Pitsford Reservoir continuing to play host to three drake Smew north of the causeway, the Wood Sandpiper still and a Shag (seen near the causeway and off the Sailing Club later). Other birds included at least four Great White Egrets north of the causeway and the long-staying Barnacle Goose with other geese near the dam.

Stanwick Pits hosted six Cattle Egrets at North Lake and Stortons Pits attracted six Goosanders and seven Redpolls with three Goosanders at Hardingstone Pits. A Stonechat and fifty Pied Wagtails were at Upton Country Park and Blatherwycke Lake held thirty-five Mandarin Ducks and two Egyptian Geese.

Over thirty Bramblings were by the sunflower strip at Harrington Airfield and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Merlin, a Barn Owl and several Bramblings. Blueberry Farm was good for another Barn Owl, a Woodcock and ten Bramblings and two Ravens and a Siskin remain in Hanging Houghton village. A small flock of Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall.

Three White-fronted Geese were reported at Stanford Reservoir again this morning and another was reported at Ditchford Pits on the north-east side of Dragonfly Lake.

Just outside the county Eyebrook Reservoir continues to provide plenty of interesting birds including a Ring-necked Duck, numerous Smew, several Scaup, three Avocets and Whooper Swans all today.

Regards

Neil M

The Pitsford Mandarin
Duck courtesy of Robin
Gossage.