Windy and wet Sunday

Hello

A rather blustery and wet day didn't make it perfect conditions for finding wildlife and my efforts today came to very little that was different!

Forty Bramblings were noted at Harrington Airfield this morning and Ravens were seen at Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke. Grey Wagtails were at Kelmarsh and Brixworth and at Pitsford Reservoir the Common Sandpiper remained on the dam and the adult Yellow-legged Gull was just off the Sailing Club.

Four Goosanders were on the River Nene at Clifford Hill Pits this afternoon and a Ruff was still at the Summer Leys LNR this morning. The three White-fronted Geese were again reported from Stanford Hall today and birds noted at nearby Stanford Reservoir included a Great White Egret, five Goosanders, two Kingfishers and a Chiffchaff.

An Otter was well-photographed at Becketts Park, Northampton yesterday morning.

An adult male Bullfinch was ringed at Greens Norton on 2nd September 2021 but unfortunately some 156 days later, on or about the 5th of this month, this bird was taken by a cat in the same village.

John Woollett's garden ringing has provided 170 Goldfinches in recent weeks which provides some indication of how important winter feed stations are to some species. Like many finches, Goldfinches remain very mobile outside the breeding season and will liberally travel to find the necessary food. Over the years our local ringing recoveries indicate that many Scottish and North England breeding Goldfinches pass through and winter in Northamptonshire. It also seems that some of our breeding birds move east into France.

Regards

Neil M

Goldfinch.

Bullfinch courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Raven.