Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

It might have been very cold out there today but it was time for the WeBS count at Pitsford Reservoir. About thirty percent of the water north of the causeway was ice but south of the causeway it was mostly free. Of the four Great White Egrets present, three of them were south of the causeway and waders present included a Green Sandpiper, a Redshank, two Jack Snipe and five Common Snipe plus a handful of Lapwings. Eight Pintail were north of the causeway and the Teal were huddled on the ice in their hundreds. A Crossbill and eight Redpolls were in the Catwalk Bay with a couple of Siskins in Moulton Grange Bay and other birds included two Grey Wagtails and a Raven.

Bigger birds such as Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, gulls, Mallard, Moorhens and pigeons had taken over the Old Scaldwell Feeding station they were so hungry!

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth included a Cetti's Warbler, two Water Rails and at least three Grey Wagtails and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir the Pink-footed Goose was still present together with a drake Mandarin Duck and a Green Sandpiper. Four Goosanders were at Hollowell Reservoir this morning. A Marsh Harrier drifted SW over Stanwick Pits mid afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Female Blackbird.

Fieldfare.

Cock Pheasant.

Birds foraging in our current winter scene.