Peregrines, ducks and geese

Hello

Little opportunity for birding from us today although I did see a Peregrine on the town centre church in Market Harborough. Checking some of the feathers below indicates that one of these regular birds had caught a duck, perhaps a drake Teal or Wigeon.

The Wood Sandpiper was still at Pitsford Reservoir today, again along the shoreline between the causeway and the Maytrees Hide and the drake Mandarin Duck was there too this afternoon. Birds at Clifford Hill Pits included three Goosanders, two Stonechats, a Chiffchaff and a Peregrine tucking into a duck. At Naseby Reservoir this morning Jon recorded two adult Caspian Gulls and three Great White Egrets and a high count of fifty-three Cormorants.

Sixteen Siskins and four Common Snipe were at the attenuation pond at Sandy Lane, Duston and a flock of Redpolls were in birches at Wicksteed Park, Kettering. The first year White-fronted Goose was seen at Sywell Country Park this afternoon. Three White-fronted Geese were in the Stanford Hall area early this afternoon and other birds noted at nearby Stanford Reservoir included a Woodcock, a Great White Egret, a Cetti's Warbler and impressive numbers of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls.

Eyebrook Reservoir continues to attract up to fourteen Smew, two Scaup, a Great White Egret, three Avocets and the return of the female Ring-necked Duck.

Two Corn Buntings were again visible in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon with a Raven in the village. Some sixty Bramblings and two Woodcock were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon - the venue for some ringing tomorrow when access to the bunkers and old airstrip will be restricted.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Mandarin Duck at
Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of Pete Gilbert.

Teal courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Mute Swan courtesy of
Robin Gossage.