Winter Sunshine

 It really has been lovely to be out and about today enjoying the blue skies and sunshine even if it did feel a bit nippy.  Certainly a day for wearing plenty of layers. It has been the first day for a long while that I haven't had wet muddy dogs to wash down!!    The only birds of note for me were all seen on my morning walk.  There was a noticeable influx of passerines, Meadow Pipits and Yellowhammers in particular in the valley below Hanging Houghton .  It was here that a male Merlin whizzed through.  I had my suspicions of where the Green Sandpipers were likely to be and now that the water levels have receeded I was able check out the area.  I was not surprised to find the 2 Green Sandpipers on a small pool and they were still present late afternoon.    At Blueberry there were 2 Woodcocks and a large female Peregrine who was rather vocal. 

A scattering of Stonechats around,  a pair below Hanging Houghton,  Pitsford Reservoir,  Duston Mill and several birds at Summer Leys.    The 4 Waxwings remain at Corby,  still feeding on the berries and showing very well.  A group of 7 Whooper Swans were reported at Oundle,  2 Short Eared Owls at Nevilles Lodge, Merlin at Stanwick GP and over 100 Siskins at Bucknell Wood.                                               Yesterday there was a Siberian Chiffchaff and 6 Cattle Egrets at Stanwick GP, 3 Whooper Swans flying north over Titchmarsh LNR,  6 Goosanders at Hardingstone Lake, male and female Greater Scaup at Clifford Hill and pr Stonechat and 2 adult Caspian Gulls at Hollowell Reservoir. 

The weather forecast for the rest of the week looks good,  no rain, just winter sunshine and cold fresh air.  Hopefully this will give the saturated ground a chance to recover.  Already there are signs of Spring,  Great tits in full song, a female Blackbird has been found sitting on a nest, catkins and pussy willows breaking out and bulbs sending their green shoots skywards. 

Regards Eleanor