Northamptonshire Birding: Egrets at roost and plenty of Bramblings and Siskins.

Hello

The more typical winter temperatures seemed to come in to play this afternoon as we say good-bye to the unseasonably mild conditions.

A couple of Bramblings were still at Harrington Airfield this morning, the Black Redstart and a Stonechat were seen at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry and birds in Hanging Houghton village included three Bramblings and two Ravens.

News from Pitsford Reservoir today indicates that the Wood Sandpiper and at least five Pintail remain in the Scaldwell Bay and the birds at Eyebrook Reservoir still includes up to thirteen Smew, at least two Scaup, the Ring-necked Duck and three Avocets.

In the Nene Valley the Cattle Egret roost at Stanwick Pits amounted to five birds plus twelve Great White Egrets and at Ringstead Pits the roost there was seven Cattle Egrets and two Great White Egrets! Seven Goosanders were seen at Stortons Pits.

The three White-fronted Geese were seen in the grounds of Stanford Hall early this afternoon and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits. At Stanford Reservoir the best of the birds today included a Peregrine, two Ravens, two Cetti's Warblers, a Goosander, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, a Siskin and two Chiffchaffs.

At least sixty Siskins inundated Cottesbrooke village this morning with the main concentration centred around Beck Dairy. Six Bramblings were in the village too. Small numbers of Siskins and Bramblings were at Haselbech Grange and ten more Bramblings were on the summit of Blueberry Hill. A Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and a covey of eight Grey Partridges were near to 'shrike hedge'. A Woodcock was flushed at Rabbit Hill Spinney on the Kelmarsh Estate today and a female Blackcap was in a Maidwell village garden yesterday.

Regards

Neil M