Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) and birds around the new wetland site in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth included a number of Wigeon, a Woodcock flushed from a hedge and a hunting Barn Owl.

Today (Wednesday) it was the turn of Ditchford Pits to receive a waterbird and wetland bird count and despite plenty of water in the valley it was generally okay to navigate around. Birds west of Ditchford Lane included a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, a female Stonechat, four Oystercatchers, three Egyptian Geese, two Water Rails, two Grey Wagtails, a Chiffchaff, five Cetti's Warblers and a Redpoll. Birds east of Ditchford Pits included a Jack Snipe, nine Common Snipe, two Oystercatchers, three Little Egrets, two Goosanders, at least one Grey Wagtail, a Cetti's Warbler and two Chiffchaffs.

Cormorants and Grey Herons are occupying their nests and are currently visible - at least one Cormorant nest contained begging young.

Further east along the Nene Valley the male Bearded Tit put in an appearance at Stanwick Pits again - on the 'green causeway' by a bench - what3words location 'seemingly.crystal.trying' (courtesy of Jon Andrews).

At Summer Leys LNR today birds included a female Red-crested Pochard, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Oystercatchers, ten Common Snipe, five Redshanks, a flock of Siskins and a Water Rail. Further west and there were two Sand Martins at Kislingbury Pits with two Stonechats and two Oystercatchers at Upton Country Park and a Barn Owl and a Grey Wagtail at Stortons Pits. Also in the Nene Valley birds at Clifford Hill Pits included a Peregrine, two Oystercatchers and two Stonechats.

Birds in Market Harborough town centre included a Water Rail, a Little Egret and two Peregrines and a Caspian Gull was seen at Daventry Country Park with the female Ruddy Shelduck still at Winwick Pools.

Just across the border in Bedfordshire, a compelling duo of adult Waxwings feeding on a fruiting tree at Cranfield remain distracting and a good number of Northants birders/photographers have found their way there and enjoyed these fabulous birds!

Regards

Neil M

Muntjac.

Oystercatchers.

Moorhen.

Heiland Coo!

All above images from
 Ditchford Pits today.

Common Buzzard at Upton
Country Park today courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Waxwings courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.