Northamptonshire Birding: Pitsford WeBs Count

Hello

Today was the waterbird count at Pitsford Reservoir and the spring-like conditions were just wonderful. Plenty of bumblebees and smaller flying insects were on the wing and butterflies included Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral and Brimstone.

There was no sign of the Great Northern Diver today but these big birds can be elusive so we are not sure if it has actually gone. Birds seen between the causeway and dam included the Common Sandpiper on the dam, ten singing Chiffchaffs, two Sand Martins, in excess of fifty Siskins, eight Bramblings, two Grey Wagtails, two Ravens and a Kingfisher.

Birds to the north of the causeway included two Goosanders in the Walgrave Bay, about ten Siskins, a Redpoll, four Kingfishers, another ten singing Chiffchaffs, two more Ravens and twenty-nine Common Snipe. Redwing flocks were feeding on the ground in the woodland compartments and a couple of nomadic Fieldfare flocks flew in to do much the same thing. A grand total of seventy-two Goldeneye were counted at the reservoir today and the most obvious visible migration was associated with gulls, finches and Meadow Pipits. A pair of Long-tailed Tits were busy making their nest in the Scaldwell Bay.

With the first Osprey back at Rutland Water on Saturday, another was seen over Market Harborough this morning heading towards Eyebrook Reservoir and lo and behold an Osprey was watched fishing there this afternoon.

A daytime roosting Tawny Owl and a Chiffchaff were seen at Chase Park Farm, Yardley Chase today and a Green Sandpiper was at Earls Barton Spinney Quarry. About a dozen Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall this afternoon and a Curlew and two Redshanks were at Lower Barnwell Lock floods this morning.

A Black Redstart was a good find at Harrington Airfield this afternoon, initially on the main track by the straw bales and then it subsequently relocated to Bunker Two. However it wasn't seen later so may already have moved on. In recent years we don't seem to be able to attract the early Wheatears at this site. A good thirty-five Bramblings were there this afternoon, mostly mobile between the ringing rides and there was also over twenty Golden Plovers and two Grey Partridges.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Great White Egret, a Kingfisher, an Oystercatcher, two Goosanders, a Cetti's Warbler and four Chiffchaffs.

Just outside the county and a family of Otters have been showing well at Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough recently and two Otters have been showing regularly on the River Welland just outside Market Harborough (precise location not known) and were photographed again today.

Regards

Neil M