Spring at Kelmarsh

Hello

For me and a small posse of volunteers it was a busy day on the Kelmarsh Estate today as we prepared the Swift nesting tower for another season, put up a new Barn Owl box and prepared another to go up soon. The flowers alongside the main drive look stunning and the gardens and grounds open up for the new season on Sunday 17th April.

Birdwise there wasn't anything unusual seen on the estate today although we did find a Mistle Thrush nest containing one egg and songsters included Nuthatch, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

Fairly quiet in the county today but Summer Leys LNR attracted three Garganey, a Little Ringed Plover, two Ruff, a Common Tern, seven Swallows and a Blackcap and the Wood Sandpiper was again at Upton Country Park with a Green Sandpiper (plus a Willow Warbler at Upton Mill). Three or four Swallows were at Barnwell Country Park this evening.

Birds at Stanwick Pits today included the Glossy Ibis on the Main Lake this evening and two Cattle Egrets on the Roadside Pit early this morning.

Five Bramblings were seen at Harrington Airfield this afternoon and there were winter thrushes evident in some numbers at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby this afternoon but no sign of the recent Ring Ouzel.

Regards

Neil M

Flowers galore at Kelmarsh Hall
including Snakes Head Fritillaries,
Primroses, Wood Anemones,
Daffodils and more...

The class of 2022! New arrivals
in the Kelmarsh British White
Cattle herd.

Mistle Thrush nest containing
one egg courtesy of Chris
Payne.

New Barn Owl box
courtesy of Lynne Barnett.