A sharp frost

Hello

A cold day with a sharp frost must have been something of a shock to young birds that have not experienced such a thing before!

Chris Payne and team continued their run of good ringing at Greens Norton this morning with twenty-three new Redwings caught and ringed plus singles of Lesser Redpoll and a variety of common birds. Two Kingfishers were also on-site.

A Marsh Harrier and a pair of Stonechats were still at Summer Leys LNR today and at Pitsford Reservoir the Wood Sandpiper was still present and the drake Smew was still in the Holcot Bay. A first year Yellow-legged Gull was in the small gull roost off the dam. A male Blackcap was in a East Hunsbury garden this morning.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included an adult Caspian Gull in the roost, a Red-crested Pochard, two Water Rails, one hundred and fifty-six Great Black-backed Gulls, a Cetti's Warbler, two Ravens and five Lesser Redpolls.

At Sywell Country Park a Black Redstart was located but unfortunately was then taken by a cat around the toilet block! Other birds there included three pairs of Stonechat, a Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff, two Grey Wagtails, a Water Rail, four Redpolls and about fifty Siskins.

Two Woodcocks and a Barn Owl were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon with four Roe Deer and both Tawny and Little Owls remaining between there and the Brampton Valley Way.

An extra page or tab has been added to the blog which relates to a recent Naturetrek tour to south France to see Wallcreepers and the birds of the Camargue.

Regards

Neil M

Roe Deer.

Male Blackbird.

Dunnock.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.