Post Christmas Birding

Well that's Christmas over for another year and hope that it was an enjoyable time for everyone.  Now we are in that strange period of waiting for the New Year to arrive.  I always find this a frustrating period as so many people are still on holiday and it's always impossible to get anything done.                                                 So when all else fails,  there is always birding!!   Mind you this has been equally frustrating today due to the weather . Despite being out and about my only birds of note were 2 Green Sandpipers on the flooded fields below Hanging Houghton.   I don't know whether these birds are wintering in the area as this is about the third time that I have seen Green Sands in this area.      My birding was very limited on Christmas Day but I  managed to sneak out to Pitsford Reservoir yesterday where the Great Northern Diver and Scaup were near the dam and a pair of Stonechat and pair of Red Crested Pochard on the small side. I didn't stay long as it felt like the whole world was out at Pitsford,  it was heaving with people. 

A few birds were reported over the Christmas period.  The two Waxwings were showing well in Higham Ferrers and were still present today.  Yesterday at Nevilles Lodge there were 3 Short-eared Owls and 'ringtail' Hen Harrier,  and Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys.

Today in the Gull roost at Stanford Reservoir there were 2 adult Caspian Gulls and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.  The Great Northern Diver was still at Pitsford Reservoir and 2 Waxwings were seen in Northampton early morning. 

The weather forecast for the coming days is not very promising,  more rain and strong winds.  Not the most inspiring outlook,  but you just never know what you could bump into!!

Regards Eleanor 

Waxwings at Higham Ferrers
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.