Spring sunshine, wind and rain

Hello

The morning sunshine today stimulated plenty of butterfly activity around the county which included Commas. With the wind strength increasing and rain setting in during the afternoon it was definitely a day of two halves!

Full marks to Adrian for finding a female Ring-necked Duck at Ringstead Pits today on Kinewell Lake, possibly a returning bird from last year. The female Ring-necked Duck further west was still present but had again abandoned Ravensthorpe for Hollowell Reservoir where it was positioned off the dam this morning.

A singing Willow Warbler was at Stanwick Pits first thing near Kingfisher Bridge and at Earls Barton Pits there were single Green Sandpipers at the quarry and briefly on the Summer Leys LNR where there were still Redshanks and a female Garganey was reported. The female Red-crested Pochard was still present. There is a Birdguides report of a Ruddy Shelduck being present this afternoon too. Three Ringed Plovers were also at Earls Barton quarry.

A Kingfisher and a pair of Oystercatchers were on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today and there was a Grey Wagtail and a Barn Owl at Stortons Pits with a Blackcap yesterday.

Our garden is home to feeding Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings and a singing Siskin this afternoon. A Grey Wagtail regularly loops over the garden a couple of times each day.

A Swallow was seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaffs courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Female Muntjac.