The short bird days of November

Hello

Sadly the Great Northern Diver from yesterday at Pitsford Reservoir wasn't seen today but two Red-breasted Mergansers were a good find. At dusk this evening a Red-necked Grebe produced itself north of the dam, keeping company with Great Crested Grebes but seemingly not visible despite plenty of scanning beforehand. It was regularly flapping its wings and looking fidgety so I hope it stays for tomorrow! Other birds included three Yellow-legged Gulls (two adults and a juvenile), a Grey Wagtail and a Redpoll.

Birds at Harrington Airfield today included a Woodcock with plenty of winter thrushes in the bushes and in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton there were about half a dozen Bramblings - some by the large barn near the brook and some at 'shrike hedge'. A pair of Stonechats were also at 'shrike hedge' this afternoon and a large juvenile female Peregrine was terrorising the Fieldfares.

John saw a female Merlin at Hinton Airfield today where there was also a Brambling, about fifty Golden Plovers and four Grey Partridges. His efforts at the gull roost at Boddington Reservoir yielded an adult Mediterranean Gull, three Caspian Gulls and at least four Yellow-legged Gulls.

Stanwick Pits was productive today with a Bittern, six Cattle Egrets and a fly-over Glossy Ibis with a/the Ring-necked Duck at Thrapston Pits being seen on Town lake this morning. Elsewhere and a Short-eared Owl was seen just south of Naseby village and a Grey Wagtail was in our Hanging Houghton garden.

Over two hundred Golden Plovers were at Summer Leys LNR this morning and birds logged at Hollowell Reservoir were an adult Caspian Gull, a Dunlin and six Stonechats. The Red-throated Diver remains at Eyebrook Reservoir plus two Cattle Egrets and a Pink-footed Goose.

Regards

Neil M

Kestrel.

Meadow Pipit.

Stonechat.

Above images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

The Pitsford Red-breasted Mergansers
today courtesy of Neil Hasdell.