Pitsford WeBS count.

Hello

The Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count was completed today, initially with plenty of sunshine this morning and turning cloudy at lunchtime. Numbers of birds were low and the impression was that there has been a significant move-out of wetland birds with very low numbers of Coot in particular. The Wood Sandpiper was still on the shoreline near Maytrees Hide and other birds of note included ten Common Snipe, probably just three Great White Egrets, seven Pintail, a Chiffchaff, over a hundred Siskins mostly south of the causeway and also in Brixworth Country Park, and a male Brambling at the Christies Copse Feeding Station.

The single Hawfinch was again at Blatherwycke this morning, still frequenting the trees between the church and the bridge over the inflow stream to the lake. At Thrapston Pits today there were three White-fronted Geese on Elinor lake with Greylags late morning and up to three Cattle Egrets were at the north-east end of Stanwick Pits this afternoon.

A Yellow-legged Gull, about one hundred and fifty Great Black-backed Gulls and five Goosanders were the best on offer at Stanford Reservoir today.

The Black Redstart was again reported at Borough Hill Country Park today and this afternoon a Corn Bunting could still be found at the wild bird crop in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Stortons Pits again attracted Goosanders this morning with eight present, and two Lesser Redpolls were there too. A female Blackbird feeding a fledged youngster in Higham Ferrers has to be the most interesting record for today!

Regards

Neil M

Siskin.

Blue Tit.

Yellow-legged Gull.