Waxwings, Stonechats and Great Northern Diver.

Hello

A breezy but sunny day made it a good day to be out and about.

The current influx of Waxwings in to the UK is mostly in Scotland but also north and east England with some birds even making it to the Isles of Scilly. Intriguing then that there was a report of thirty-forty Waxwings seen in flight at Earls Barton village today - several would-be observers subsequently checked the most obvious places in the village but were unable to find any. Subsequently Ian saw twelve possibles flying west over Castle Ashby early this afternoon. Hopefully we will catch up with these thrilling 'trillers' locally soon!

A Great Northern Diver was an excellent find at Daventry Country Park today and was seen by several observers during the day...hopefully it will stay longer than the recent Pitsford bird!

A Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff were the best birds at Stanford Reservoir today and birds at Hollowell Reservoir amounted to an adult Caspian Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Green Sandpiper, two Goosanders and four Stonechats. Birds at Pitsford Reservoir included two drake Pintail in the Scaldwell Bay, a couple of Siskins and a pair of Stonechats were between the causeway and the Maytrees Hide. At least one hundred and twenty-five Cormorants roosted in the Walgrave Bay this afternoon.

Although proving more difficult to locate today the Glossy Ibis was still at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR today in trees overhanging Otter Lake early this afternoon. A Raven was recorded flying over there and another was over Brixworth village early this afternoon.

At least two hundred and fifty Golden Plovers were mobile around the DIRFT site near Lilbourne with two Stonechats and a Peregrine at Clifford Hill Pits all this morning. A male Merlin again visited the shrike hedge area of the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a pair of Stonechats were on the rough grass area next to the brook.

A Woodcock and a couple of Siskins were at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate and another Woodcock was seen at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Stonechats courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Goldeneye.

Cormorant.

Above two images courtesy
of Tony Stanford taken at
Pitsford Reservoir today.