Pitsford Reservoir CBC

Hello

The beginning of the breeding season brings with it more surveys and today was the first Common Bird Census of the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir. Robins, Wrens and Blue and Great Tits were in large numbers and there are already many 'on-territory' Chiffchaffs. Four singing Blackcaps were fresh-in and there were still small numbers of Siskin, Redwing and Fieldfare on-site. Three Kingfishers were logged and a pair of Ravens were on territory too. A calling Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was a surprise, this species is at a very low ebb in the county with very few records in recent years. Cormorants, Grey Herons and Rooks are all very busy on the reserve and there are already begging young Cormorants in some of the nests. The sunshine brough forth three Peacock butterflies and five Brimstones.

Two Green Sandpipers and two Grey Wagtails were again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, a couple of Siskins were at Scotland Wood and the Pink-footed Goose was still at Stanford Reservoir with a Raven there too.

Three Common Scoters were found by Mark at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and despite plenty of fishing boats the sea-ducks pretty much ignored them and stayed all day.

The drake Common Scoter was still on Higham Lake at Ditchford Pits today and there were two Great White Egrets there too.

At Earls Barton Pits today the new workings attracted six Green Sandpipers, three Shelducks, a White Wagtail and three Grey Wagtails with Summer Leys LNR pulling in a Cattle Egret, two Black-tailed Godwits, three Little Ringed Plovers, a fly-through Merlin, a Shelduck, five Redshanks, two Oystercatchers, a Lesser Redpoll and five Siskins.

A Crossbill was heard calling at Bucknell Wood where there were also several Siskins and at least one Mealy Redpoll was still with Lesser Redpolls at the Sandy Lane attenuation pond on the outskirts of Duston, Northampton.

Quite a number of butterflies are on the wing during periods of sunshine including good numbers of Commas, 'whites' and even Speckled Woods and Orange-tips.

Regards

Neil M

Redshank courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Early morning Pheasant.

Peacock butterfly courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Comma butterfly courtesy
of Tony Stanford.