Displaying and gathering wildfowl

Hello

A cooler day and the gritters were out this evening so the potential of frosty conditions before the cloud cover later in the night.

The male Bearded Tit showed again at Stanwick Pits today, in phragmites around the same pit as before, and a second bird was noted too.

The female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup were both at Ravensthorpe Reservoir again this morning, generally viewable from the closed off car park near the causeway. Birds at Stanford Reservoir included the Red-crested Pochard still, eleven Goosanders, a Great White Egret, six Meadow Pipits and a Barn Owl with the gull roost providing a count of 975 Common Gulls.

A female Peregrine and a pair of Grey Partridge were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, Ravens remained on the Kelmarsh Estate and two female Stonechats were fresh birds in at Pitsford Reservoir (near to the Maytrees Hide). Numerous parties of vocal and displaying Goldeneye at Pitsford Reservoir is an annual event and the beautiful trilling song of the Little Grebe echoed across the water there this evening.

I don't think that winter is quite over yet but the heralds of spring are very welcome!

Regards

Neil M

Drake Goldeneye courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Female Goldeneye courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Female Stonechat.

Little Grebe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.