Sub zero temperatures and winter sunshine

Hello

Another cold and sunny day provided at least one good bird sighting in the county today.

A Yellow-browed Warbler (or something very similar) was seen flitting around the island on Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits with Chiffchaffs this afternoon, an excellent December find for Adrian!

Two Great White Egrets, four Green Sandpipers, two Water Rails and several Common Snipe were at Ecton Sewage Farm and at Thrapston Pits a Marsh Harrier and a Black-tailed Godwit were good winter records for the Titchmarsh LNR.

A Blackcap was in a Wellingborough garden this afternoon and two Blackcaps have been on apples in Sywell village the last couple of days. Nearby at Sywell Country Park there was a Great White Egret, two Water Rails, four Stonechats and two Cetti's Warblers.

At Ravensthorpe Reservoir there was a Pink-footed Goose, a Pintail, six Goosanders and a Redshank and at Hollowell Reservoir the birds included an adult Caspian Gull, two Goosanders, a Redshank and a Brambling. 

Sadly a Cattle Egret was found dead at Thorpe Malsor Reservoir today and five Smew (three drakes) were at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Nine Grey Partridges were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Woodcock was active near Lamport Hall at dusk.

Regards

Neil M

Sparrowhawk with Starling prey.

Female Blackcaps at Sywell.

Images courtesy of Jim Dunkley.