Two Ring-necked Ducks!

Hello

Yesterday's female Ring-necked Duck was still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today where it showed well on occasions near to the causeway. Among many observers there we saw Nick Parker who took some great video footage. Unbelievably Nick went on to Thrapston Pits later in the day and found a female Ring-necked Duck there on the Titchmarsh reserve - sometimes the birds are just like buses! Other birds at Ravensthorpe Reservoir included a drake Mandarin Duck and a Chiffchaff.

Nearby at Hollowell Reservoir the female Scaup was still present with up to three Caspian Gulls and a Pink-footed Goose as well. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was again off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir.

Four hundred Lapwings, several Golden Plovers and hundreds of Fieldfares were on the wet fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon. A report of a White-tailed Eagle over Everdon Stubbs at midday being mobbed by Red Kites sounds intriguing!

Blackcaps continue to be seen in gardens at Moulton and Nassington during the last few days and a Siberian Chiffchaff was with many Chiffchaffs at Billing Pits/Ecton SF. There was a Grey Wagtail and a Cetti's Warbler there too.

A Merlin was seen flying over Greens Norton this morning and a Little Owl was on show at Delapre Park, Northampton. Two Caspian Gulls were in the roost at Stanford Reservoir this afternoon and other birds included a Red-crested Pochard, three Goosanders and three Pintail. At least five Smew were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Female Ring-necked Duck
at Ravensthorpe Reservoir
today courtesy of Jim Dunkley.