Counting the birds

Hello

Today was the International Waterbird Census which coincided with the regular monthly WeBS count so this saw us driving east to complete a count at Ditchford Pits. The floods may have subsided but the valley fields are saturated still but it was possible to move around and complete the count, which at times was in pleasant sunshine again. A female Merlin west of Ditchford Lane was the best of the birds which also included a Great White Egret, a Goosander, a Pintail, four Common Snipe, two Water Rails, two pairs of Stonechats, an excellent dozen Cetti's Warblers, two or three Chiffchaffs, two Grey Wagtails, two Kingfishers, in excess of twenty-five Siskins and six Lesser Redpolls. The long-lived almost totally white Carrion Crow was again at Ditchford Lane.

Birds at Lilbourne Water Meadows this morning included a Peregrine, a Shelduck, a Great White Egret, three hundred and fifty Golden Plovers and over a hundred Lapwings in flight, a Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe.

A first winter drake Scaup was today at Hollowell Reservoir and presumably the same bird that was at Ravensthorpe yesterday and probably the December bird from Pitsford.

The Great Northern Diver was off the dam and the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir today, a 'redhead' Smew was at Clifford Hill Pits and local Waxwings included the four at Priors Hall, Corby, three in a garden at Stanion village, Corby and five at Rugby at Constable Road opposite Bonnington Close.

A Cattle Egret was seen in flight at Stanwick Pits where there was also two Ruff, six Redshanks and about fifteen Redpolls and the Nene Valley below Ecton provided a Green Sandpiper, four Chiffchaffs, Ring-necked Parakeets, three Stonechats and two Ravens. A Marsh Harrier was at Quarry Walk, Earls Barton Pits today.

A Short-eared Owl flying over the road near Whilton Locks this morning was a good record, with three hundred Golden Plovers also there in flight. A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was a late afternoon sighting at Harrington Airfield with the bird moving off towards the Brampton Valley and fifty plus Golden Plovers were seen in flight.

Regards

Neil M

The wonderful Brown Hare
courtesy of Robin Gossage.