Pitsford WeBS Count

The numbers of Coot
wintering at Pitsford
Reservoir have been falling
for a number of years now.
Image courtesy of John Tilly.

Hello

Today was the Pitsford Reservoir waterbird and wetland count and March is traditionally a low count month. The very high water levels (above capacity and keeping the spillway busy) ensured that the margins were flooded which in itself provides fresh feeding areas for surface feeding ducks. Despite the cold temperatures and early snow flurries there was a significant hatch of small chironomid flies which kept ducks, gulls and small insectivorous birds busy in consuming this seasonal bounty.

The strong winds and sunny conditions made it ideal for raptors to display overhead and at this time of the year there is always a strong northward movement of gulls with flocks of Common and Black-headed Gulls arriving, lingering and then moving on, with a few bigger gulls tagging along. Pike were active in the shallows as their spawning season is now due, with plenty of splashing as the males try to stay close to the bigger females.

Four Chiffchaffs (two singing) south of the causeway were further signs of spring and other small birds between the causeway and dam included two Grey Wagtails, four Redpolls, six Siskins and two male Stonechats. With the first Osprey back at Rutland Water today eyes skywards failed to find one at Pitsford but birds north of the causeway included a Jack Snipe, about eighty Common Snipe, another male Stonechat, five Pintail, a Siskin and plenty of displaying Goldeneye.

The Grey Heron colony that has existed at this site for many years has during the last few years become a split unit with small colonies and individual nests in the Walgrave and Scaldwell Bays. This year a small colony is now in the Holcot Bay, the first time they have used this bay.

In the Nene Valley Stanwick Pits hosted a Curlew, nine Redshank, eleven Goosanders, three Great White Egrets and an adult Caspian Gull. At Summer Leys LNR a Curlew was there first thing and later there were three Avocets for a short time before flying off west with three Redshanks, a Common Snipe, two Dunlin, two Oystercatchers and a Great White Egret also present. Another Curlew was found at Clifford Hill Pits this afternoon and a Barn Owl was hunting in fields between Wollaston Lock and Wollaston Weirs.

Two Sand Martins flew north at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning, a male Brambling and a pair of Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon and a Barn Owl was hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Pike in the shallows.

Linnet courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Goldfinch courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Robin Gossage.