Variety birds of April

Hello

A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker this morning in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Brixworth was the second time this bird has been in this locality recently.

A 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler which was also seen briefly was an excellent early record at Ecton Sewer Farm this morning. On the negative side, a Barn Owl picked up dead alongside the A508 at Hanging Houghton was the third such casualty in a month along this stretch of busy road.

The local pair of Ravens at Hanging Houghton croaked their displeasure at three other Ravens flying over this morning and this afternoon an Osprey with a fish was showing particularly well in a tree just off the road between Brixworth and Pitsford Reservoir causeway, until someone approached too closely and caused it to fly.

Upton Country Park recorded a Marsh Harrier this morning plus two Little Ringed Plovers, the Wood Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper. Thrapston Pits entertained a pair of Garganey, a singing Willow Warbler and a Common Whitethroat on the Titchmarsh reserve with a Common Tern on Town Lake. Four Garganey (three drakes) were still present on the Summer Leys LNR scrape this morning and a Marsh Harrier was there at about midday.

Eight Cattle Egrets were visible from the church at Woodford village this afternoon. Stuart recorded a female Blackcap still feeding from his garden feeders in Duston, Northampton and birds at Stanford Reservoir today amounted to an Egyptian Goose, eight Blackcaps and four Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Goldfinch courtesy of
John Tilly.

Lapwing courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Cormorant with Perch
courtesy of Robin Gossage.