Waders and Terns

 It would seem that the Nene Valley has been the place to be over the past few days with a good variety of Waders and Terns lingering or flying through on passage. Traditionally this area far surpasses the woodlands and reservoirs and this year has been no exception. 

On Monday there were Turnstones, Dunlin Ruff and Bar Tailed Godwits at Clifford Hill,  Dunlin, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper at Titchmarsh .                                                       Yesterday sounded like an amazing day in the Nene Valley with Bar Tailed Godwits,  Ruff, Dunlin and 3 rather splendid Spotted Redshank at Summer Leys/Hardwater crossing.  Ringed Plovers,  Dunlin and Common Sandpipers at Clifford Hill and 3 Turnstone at Stanwick.                                                                                                                                             But the Terns stole the show yesterday  with Little Tern at Ditchford, Sandwich Terns at Stanwick, Arctic Terns at Summer Leys,  Clifford Hill,  Ringstead and Stanwick. Outside the Nene Valley there were a few Black Terns at Boddington Reservoir.                         Today there has been Wood Sandpiper at Summer Leys and Lilbourne Meadows,  Sanderling at DIRFT3 and Black Tailed Godwits at Pitsford Reservoir,  Hardwater Crossing and Ditchford.

The long standing Glossy Ibis remains at Stanwick along with  Cattle and Great White Egrets,  Garganey at Summer Leys and Titchmarsh,  Mediterranean Gulls at Summer Leys and Female Ring Ouzel at Honey Hill.  Quite a few Northern Wheatear recorded around the county.  I bumped into 2 males at Harrington Airfield this morning but otherwise it was very quiet there.  A few Whinchat have been moving through at Hollowell,  Corby and Elkington,  always a very smart looking bird.

Tonight the Northamptonshire Bird Club will be meeting at the fishing lodge, Pitsford Reservoir.  This will be our first indoor meeting since 2020 !!!. We will be meeting at 7.30pm where club member Jeff Blincow will be presenting a talk on "The Wildlife of Finmark", the most northerly and easterly part of Norway. Jeff is an excellent speaker and photographer so I think that we will be in for a treat.  Tea/coffee/ biscuits available.  We look forward to welcoming back our members and any visitors.  Everyone is very welcome to come along. 

Regards Eleanor