Blustery spring day.

Hello

Strong, gusty winds and a few fast-moving showers were probably not conducive for significant spring migration in the county today.

Birds at Harrington Airfield amounted to eight Bramblings, a male Wheatear and a pair of Grey Partridges. Two more Bramblings were at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir this morning with three Swallows in the Scaldwell Bay. Nearby at Sywell Country Park there was a Common Sandpiper, a Swallow, at least two Sand Martins, a Cetti's Warbler, two Grey Wagtails, at least ten Siskins and two Bramblings.

In the Nene Valley at least four Garganey was on the Summer Leys scrape plus two Great White Egrets, two Snipe and a Ruff on Gull Island with two Oystercatchers, a Little Ringed Plover and a Yellow Wagtail on nearby Hardwater Lake. A few House Martins were noted at the Earls Barton new workings from Breedon Gate and Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins were in small numbers at Thrapston Pits. Four Cattle Egrets were in a field at Woodford across the river from the church.

At Upton Country Park the Wood Sandpiper was still reportedly present at lunchtime and again early afternoon west of Upton Lane and north of the river on pools by a construction site as viewed north from the cycle track.

Calmer weather tomorrow and some southerly winds at the weekend looks more promising!

Regards

Neil M

Aggression and a remarkable
pose from Great Crested Grebes
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

A tench-eating Great White
Egret courtesy of John Gamble.