Quiet Weekend

 It has certainly been a funny sort of weekend.  Weather wise abnormally warm, drizzle and fog, torrential rain and then this evening thunder, lightning and almost a mini hurricane!!!  Very little birding for me yesterday as out competing with the young collies who did well.  All I saw yesterday were a pair of Stonechat below Hanging Houghton.  However I suspect that they will be moving on as their favourite hedge has been seriously cut again as has the vegetated ditch they roosted in. !!                                                 After the very heavy rain of this morning I quickly visited the valley below Hanging Houghton where the two Stonechat were busy feeding.  The fields were alive with birds including 4 Common Snipe, Meadow Pipts, Skylarks and big numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares.  I  thought that a visit to Harrington Airfield was called for. I went full of anticipation and when I got out of the car noticed large numbers of winter thrushes  were flying over so expected to find something good.  However despite much searching and sitting around in the sunshine watching and waiting I didn't really find anything unexpected.  The 2 long staying Stonechat were around bunker one, 6 Bramblings including several stunning males, 4 Grey Partridge,  2 Common Snipe, Redpolls and Siskins were the only other birds of note. 

A few good birds dotted around the county. Yesterday only one Bearded Tit was seen at Stanwick GP,  along with Cattle Egret,  Caspian and Yellow Legged Gull.  At Hollowell Reservoir there was Whinchat, Jack Snipe, 2 Dunlin, Brambling and 6-7 Stonechat.  Over at Stanford Reservoir a Mediterranean Gull,  Ruddy Shelduck and 4 Red Crested Pochards.                                                                                                                                         Today there were 4 Stonechat at Borough Hill.      But it was Hollowell Reservoir which turned up the most interesting bird in the form of a Pipit.  Initially identified as a Water Pipit but after the photographs were studied the consensus is leaning towards a  Scandinavian Rock Pipit.  Whatever it is it is a good bird. It may be a case of watch this space!! 

The weather for the coming week is predicted to be changeable.  Fingers crossed that it brings a few new birds our way.  Have a good week. 

Regards Eleanor