Feeding the birds.

Hungry Rooks, Jackdaws
and Carrion Crow in a Sywell
garden, images courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

Hello

Another day of two halves with wind and snow early morning and then a calmer and dryer latter part of the day even with some pleasant sunshine! However the amount of water we have received over the last few days is already causing flooding issues, but the good news is that it is filling the newly-created pools and workings in the Brampton Valley below Lamport, Hanging Houghton and Brixworth (one of the reasons why they were created).

More feed station visits were required today and seven locations were replenished (including our own garden) to ensure that the birds that have grown used to being supplied supplementary food had something to eat in the cold conditions.

The Great Billing/Ecton area took centre stage today with a Siberian Chiffchaff being seen again by Bridge K121 and the drake Scaup being on the pits south of Station Road, Great Billing. Also a garden in Great Billing was graced with singles of Blackcap, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll coming to feeders.

In our garden there were at least five Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and still plenty of Pied Wagtails and even a Song Thrush was seemingly enjoying some of the food on offer.

A Kingfisher was at Kelmarsh Hall today and at a flooded Earls Barton Pits a drake Red-crested Pochard was on Mary's Lake with two Stonechats at Earls Barton Lock and five Great White Egrets and two Redshanks on the Summer Leys LNR.

The adult Yellow-legged Gull was again at Pitsford Reservoir today and probably the same bird that has been present all winter and possibly the same returning bird for the last five years when first noticed as an advanced first year bird.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll.

Siskin.

Blackcap.

All above images taken by
Paul Jones in his Great
Billing garden today.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull
at Pitsford Reservoir today.