Mild January birds

Hello

Birds visible at Pitsford Reservoir today included a drake Smew still in the Holcot Bay and two adult Caspian Gulls briefly this afternoon, a male Goosander and a Grey Wagtail. At least one Siskin was present at Kelmarsh Hall and about thirty were at Harlestone Heath near to the railway line.

About twenty Waxwings were seen flying near Cosgrove in South Northants this morning but sadly were not relocated. The female Red-crested Pochard remained on Delapre Lake/Hardingstone Pits and the two Yellow-browed Warblers were still present at Mary's Lake at Earls Barton Pits - one showing well on occasions when the assembled photographers gave it space - and the other much more elusive and calling in adjacent hedgerows. A Cetti's Warbler also showed well in the same place and a Raven was seen flying over.

An adult Kittiwake was seen on the dam at Daventry Country Park this morning but couldn't be found in a brief search later. Two Green Sandpipers, a Stonechat and at least five Chiffchaffs was good birding in the Nene Valley at Ecton SF. Three Blackcaps are currently regular visitors to David Arden's garden at Spratton.

Eight Smew and two Scaup were reported from Eyebrook Reservoir today and birds at Stanford Reservoir amounted to an adult Caspian Gull, a Great White Egret, a Red-crested Pochard, three Goosanders and thirty-five Goldeneye.

Regards

Neil M

Goldeneye.

Kestrel.

Redshank.

Tufted Duck.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.