The cold snap continues

Hello

Yesterday (Thursday) and some cold weather birding produced a Blackcap and a Grey Wagtail in a Maidwell garden, a juvenile Peregrine was at Summer Leys LNR and Stanford Reservoir hosted a Mediterranean Gull, a Caspian Gull and a Red-crested Pochard. The drake Smew was still in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir. A Barn Owl was near Ravensthorpe village on Wednesday evening.

Today (Friday) and seven Smew (four drakes) were seen at Eyebrook Reservoir and birds at Hollowell Reservoir included an adult Caspian Gull, two Jack Snipes, up to six Common Snipe and four Stonechats with a Pink-footed Goose, a Green Sandpiper and four Common Snipe being present at neighbouring Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Two female Blackcaps and two Lesser Redpolls were noted in Hollowell village and two Ravens were at Kelmarsh.

At Stanford Reservoir today the Red-crested Pochard remained and a very high number of Great Black-backed Gulls were present in the gull roost. Two drake Red-crested Pochard were found at Kislingbury Pits today and a Cattle Egret spent some time at Summer Leys LNR where the Marsh Harrier and the showy Water Rail, a Great White Egret and a Redshank remained. A Ring-necked Parakeet visited a Maidwell garden and birds at Clifford Hill Pits included twelve Golden Plovers, a Great White Egret and two Stonechats. Nine Goosanders and a Shelduck were at Stanwick Pits.

Eighteen Golden Plovers and five Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield today, a Grey Wagtail was at Draughton Crossing and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon included a Golden Plover, two Little Owls and nine Grey Partridges. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Golden Plovers.

Little Owl.

Great Black-backed Gull.