April migrants

Hello

An early morning sortie to Harrington Airfield this morning was good for about half a dozen Bramblings, six singing Willow Warblers and two Wheatears. A little later Nick Parker witnessed a Marsh Harrier flying north over there. Nearby six Fieldfares were at Blueberry Farm paddocks but there was no sign of any Ring Ouzels. A Grey Wagtail was at Draughton Sewer Works.

Another singing Grey Wagtail was on buildings next to the River Welland in Market Harborough this morning and a Yellow Wagtail was seen in flight over Brackley where there were also some singing Willow Warblers. Two Yellow Wagtails and a Wheatear were at Ashton Sewer Works.

Late this afternoon and Jon located four Ring Ouzels (three males) at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby where earlier in the day there had been a Wheatear. The Ring Ouzels were in a sheep field, using neighbouring hedges as a safe retreat.

In the Nene Valley the Summer Leys LNR provided for four Garganey, two Greenshanks, two Ruff, two Little Ringed Plovers, five Common Terns, a White Wagtail and six Swallows. Two Black-tailed Godwits were at Hardwater Lake, Earls Barton Pits. A White Stork was seen over Summer Leys heading west at 2.28pm and was then seen flying high north over Blisworth at 2.55pm.

At Clifford Hill Pits there were four Little Gulls plus a Yellow Wagtail and Upton Country Park again hosted the spring Wood Sandpiper and the Green Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover. The Glossy Ibis was at Stanwick Pits early this morning and a Reed Warbler was noted too.

New migrants in at Hollowell Reservoir included a Yellow Wagtail, two House Martins and two Common Terns plus an arrival of Swallows. A male Common Redstart was at Daventry Country Park early this afternoon, along the track on the east side of the complex. At Stanford Reservoir a Whimbrel flew through this morning and there was also a Redshank present plus two Common Terns, a Wheatear, nine Yellow Wagtails, three Willow Warblers and thirty Sand Martins.

Confirmation was received today that the Barn Owl found dead yesterday at Hanging Houghton was originally a captive bird having escaped from an aviary about a week ago.

Regards

Neil M

Great Crested Grebe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Another Barn Owl box
up and affixed on the Kelmarsh
Estate. I felt relatively safe
sitting underneath it! Image
courtesy of Lynne Barnett.

A ringed Goldfinch courtesy
 of John Tilly.