A foggy start to St Valentine's Day

Hello

A foggy and raw start to the day gave way to lovely winter sunshine by this afternoon. A couple of Ravens were in both Scaldwell and Hanging Houghton villages today.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning included singles of Grey Wagtail, Water Rail and Common Snipe. About fifty Yellowhammers were in the weedy field next to the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the reservoir roost off the dam this afternoon.

About seventy Lapwings were in fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon but it was otherwise quiet. The male Bearded Tit again showed at Stanwick Pits in phragmites off the causeway between flooded pits off the A45 layby.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir included the Red-crested Pochard still plus a Great White Egret and thirteen Goosanders. The female Ring-necked Duck was reportedly still present at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Other birds today included a Great White Egret at Pineham on the flood plain on the outskirts of Northampton plus five more on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits and a Little Owl near Ecton.

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Yellowhammer.

Yellow-legged Gull.