Another wet night

Hello

A very wet night continued with rain post dawn but then the rest of the day was mild, dull and dry.

My efforts continue to slowly re-establish the dedicated bird winter feeding stations coupled with habitat management, cutting back net rides and keeping the all-year feeding stations going too. I see and hear a few birds during my efforts and at this time of the year I'm out most of the day to ensure there is some sort of progress! Cleaning suspended feeders and buying and collecting foodstuffs is a way of life for me at this time of the year as we prepare for the colder months and the spring hunger gaps when birds perish if there is insufficient food. Because I am away a great deal then I am very appreciative of the small band of volunteers who carry on in my absence. With a bumper berry crop, relative mild conditions, still active insects and the lack of severe frosts my efforts at the dedicated winter feed stations are a little later this year. We still have at least five Hedgehogs coming to our garden every night as the conditions are not yet suitable for hibernation so this at least helps the smaller of the animals put on some weight prior to their winter sleep. They seem to ignore the hedgehog food and prefer peanuts, sunflower hearts, dried calci-worms and suet insect pellets!

Bird sightings at Stanford Reservoir today included two Cattle Egrets flying SW, an adult Caspian Gull in the roost, two Great White Egrets, fifty-five Great Black-backed Gulls roosting, four Water Rails, two Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler and three Siskins.

Two Ravens were near Kelmarsh and the combination of soggy fields (with easy access to worms) and masses of hawthorn berries means the county is brim full of Redwings and Fieldfares almost everywhere you go. 

At Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon there was an adult Caspian Gull off the dam that seemingly did not stay to roost and it was otherwise quiet with just a Grey Wagtail, a Siskin and a Redpoll around the dam area.

Over at the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits there was a Pink-footed Goose and the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows Glossy Ibis remains. The long-staying Red-throated Diver is still at Eyebrook Reservoir and a Short-eared Owl showed briefly in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Sparrowhawk.

Stonechat.

All images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.