Dartford Warbler!

Hello

Another mild day with breeze and sunshine made it a good day to be out and about!

Ken Prouse found the bird of the day (and possibly the month) when he came across a Dartford Warbler on rough ground at Duston Mill, Northampton (SP730594) this morning. With only a handful of previous county records this species remains a rare wintering bird locally. For a time this bird was in company with a pair of Stonechats, a relationship that is well documented in it's usual haunt further south in England. The bird showed throughout the day. Well done Ken!

A Green Sandpiper and three Stonechats were nearby at Upton Country Park.

The drake Smew and the Pink-footed Goose were again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and Mark located two Caspian Gulls at Hollowell Reservoir where there were also two Great White Egrets and four Stonechats.

The Great Northern Diver and a first year Shag were at Pitsford Reservoir this lunchtime, the diver near the mouth of Pintail Bay and the Shag in the main basin. Other birds included a Redshank on the causeway and on the reserve there was a drake Mandarin Duck, a Woodcock, a Water Rail, a Great White Egret. three Pintail and several Siskins.

Over fifty Bramblings were present at Harrington Airfield today plus over fifty Redwings and a pair of Grey Partridge. Further Caspian Gulls included two at Rushton Landfill and two off the A5 on pools near Lilbourne. The three White-fronted Geese were still at Stanford Hall today and the reservoir provided for a Goosander, three Ravens, a Kingfisher, a Chiffchaff and four Bramblings.

Regards

Neil M

Today's Dartford Warbler
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Male Lesser Redpoll
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Male Siskin courtesy
of Chris Payne.

 Two Siskins and the above Redpoll
 were caught and ringed at Greens
Norton today together with a small
number of common birds.

Another day finishing clearing
 out the owl boxes at Pitsford
Reservoir, image courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.