Early March sightings

Hello

An interesting trio of ducks at Ditchford Pits today included the drake Garganey still at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows and a drake Scaup and a female Ring-necked Duck on the main lake of the complex.

A Hawfinch was reported in flight over Islip Working Men's Club at lunchtime today and at Stanwick Pits a Bittern was seen in flight over the lake at the western end of the site which then landed in reeds early afternoon.

Birds at Summer Leys LNR today included five Great White Egrets, at least eighteen Common Snipe, about three hundred Golden Plovers, eight Redshanks and four Oystercatchers. Three Oystercatchers were also at Hardwater Lake opposite Summer Leys.

A pair of Peregrines are in residence at Higham Ferrers church at this time and a live-link camera is now available to view.

This morning four Short-eared Owls and two Barn Owls were encountered in a field on Lamport Hall Estate with no public access, the field acting as a day-time roost site for the Short-eareds. Grey Partridges were heard calling at Blueberry Farm this morning and eight were located at Harrington Airfield this afternoon.

A Raven was over the Kelmarsh estate, at least one Siskin was at Kelmarsh Hall and at least two Siskins and a Woodcock were noted at Scotland Wood. At Pitsford Reservoir two female Bramblings were at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station  and a possible Jack Snipe and thirty to forty Common Snipe were present too.

The video below is a clip of the exodus of Starlings from the Stortons Pits roost at 6.20am this morning courtesy of Graham Bentley.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Female Brambling at 
Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.