Back from East Europe.

Hello 

I'm just back in from two tours in the Bieszczady Mountains and Park which is part of an area of continuous habitat in Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia. Mammals of this upland, partly forested area are pretty special and represent the animals that once used to roam commonly over the greater part of Europe. Whilst seeking these animals of course we came across a host of birds typical of the region and I will create a page or tab for images specific to these tours.

My first birding venue this morning was Harrington Airfield where I fed the dwindling number of Bramblings (about six) and other birds. A flock of about thirty-five Golden Plovers were in a field north of Bunker Three. A Redpoll was in our Hanging Houghton garden briefly this morning.

Yesterday (Saturday) and a garden ringing session on the outskirts of Northampton yielded six Lesser Redpolls, four Goldfinches, a Brambling and a Reed Bunting.

Earls Barton Pits today provided two Jack Snipe and a pair of Garganey on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR with two Ruff on the bund. Nine Cattle Egrets remain in the meadows at Woodford village, best viewed from the church area. Other birds in the Nene Valley included three Little Ringed Plovers at Upton Country Park with a Barnacle Goose at Kislingbury Pits.

The female Ring-necked Duck was still on Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits early this afternoon where there was also a Common Tern, a Willow Warbler and Blackcaps. A Common Tern was also on Town Lake, Thrapston Pits today and two Oystercatchers remain in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir.

An Osprey was seen at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon and a female Ring Ouzel was found by Jon at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby also this afternoon, on the western slope of the summit plateau at SP636767 before flying into a hedgerow ash field (just before 3pm). A small flock of Bramblings were seen at Sywell Country Park today and a Barn Owl was hunting around Scaldwell village this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Brambling courtesy of
John Tilly.

Barn Owl courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Jackdaw courtesy
of John Tilly.

Female Sparrowhawk
with Starling courtesy
of John Tilly.