Northamptonshire Birding: SP55 Short Day Count

Hello

Today it was the turn of SP55 to be subject of a BOS Short Day Count, this time in duller and slightly milder and cloudy conditions. We spent half of the time at and close to Fawsley Park which traditionally provides a good range of species. We enjoyed views of a Barn Owl as our first bird and subsequent encounters included two Little Owls, a Great White Egret, 187 Siskins (digitally photographed and counted!), a male Brambling, a couple of Ravens, three Water Rails and a Grey Wagtail. Elsewhere and Catesby hosted a pair of Stonechats and a couple of Ravens. A Little Egret was seen in flight near Byfield Pool and an adult male Peregrine was seen near Preston Capes. Mammals noted included Muntjac, Roe and Fallow Deer.

Nearby two first year Shags and three Jack Snipes were at Daventry Country Park, one Corn Bunting was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton again, four Lesser Redpolls were at Stortons Pits, two male Blackcaps were in a Wellingborough garden and the Pink-footed Goose was still in fields between Ravensthorpe Reservoir causeway and Ravensthorpe village. Fourteen Ring-necked Parakeets were counted in Abington Park, Northampton squabbling over potential nest-holes.

A Great White Egret was at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve with four Cattle Egrets nearby in the Nene Valley below Irthlingborough church. A Glossy Ibis was seen at Summer Leys LNR just after 9am this morning but seemingly had flown by 9.45am and wasn't subsequently reported. The Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits today and the three White-fronted Geese were again seen at Stanford Reservoir as was a roost of one hundred and forty-eight Great Black-backed Gulls, three Goosanders, a Water Rail and a Chiffchaff. A Barn Owl was out hunting this afternoon along Mill Lane, Scaldwell village and a female Merlin and at least twenty Bramblings were at Harrington Airfield also this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M