Spring migrants pushing through

Hello

Yesterday (Monday) and Ditchford Pits remained a focal point for interesting birds with the Garganey still on Otter Lake, Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows with a Marsh Harrier flying east there and the female Ring-necked Duck was on the main pit (also known as Higham Pit). A Cattle Egret was a little further west by Ditchford Lane and the container yard.

On the Earls Barton complex the Scaup was still on Grendon Lakes and two Black-tailed Godwits and a Ringed Plover and two Goosanders were at Summer Leys. The four White-fronted Geese re-appeared at Thrapston Pits, some of the time on Big Meadow on the Titchmarsh LNR and the usual Marsh Harrier was seen at Stanwick Pits.

A Grey Wagtail and a Raven were north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir and Siskins included a single on a Moulton garden feeder, thirty in Nether Heyford, large numbers on Sharon's garden feeders at Creaton, four at Harlestone Lake and small numbers at both Scotland Wood and Kelmarsh Hall.

A Brambling was in Hanging Houghton village and two Green Sandpipers were in the Brampton Valley below the village. A Peregrine was eating prey at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell in the afternoon and became very vocal when two Common Buzzards thought they would muscle in but then backed off! Birds seen at Stanford Reservoir included a Water Rail, two Oystercatchers, three Goosanders and three Siskins.

Some garden ringing near Overstone provided fifty-two captures with finches dominating including two Greenfinches, nineteen Goldfinches and five Siskins.

Some nocturnal surveying in the Brampton Valley last night in very calm conditions yielded four species of owl and quite a number of calling migrants the best of which were an early Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit and at least one but probably a flock of Common Scoters. More typical fare included three fly-over Coots, two Moorhens, two Common Snipe, Lapwing, Teal, Grey Heron but interestingly no discernable passerines.

Today (Tuesday) and a wet morning with yet more rain but then milder temperatures.

A flock of sixteen Dark-bellied Brent Geese were seen at Clifford Hill Pits at 7am this morning but it seems they didn't linger. The 'redhead' Smew was still there this morning as was a Curlew and Oystercatchers.

At Summer Leys LNR a classic spring migrant turned up in the shape of a Sand Martin and other birds included two Cattle Egrets, a Marsh Harrier, four Great White Egrets, two Goosanders, fifteen Common Snipe, two Dunlin and three Black-tailed Godwits. A Green Sandpiper was at Quarry Walk. Stanwick Pits continues to attract it's own Marsh Harrier, ten Goosanders, eight Redshanks and three Ringed Plovers. A Goosander was at Stortons Pits today.

A Cattle Egret and two Kingfishers were present at Rushden Lakes, Ditchford Pits, two Green Sandpipers remained in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a/the Peregrine was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell again this afternoon. A Blackcap was singing at Hanging Houghton and a Raven was near Lamport.

 At Harrington Airfield today there were one hundred and twenty Golden Plovers, three Common Snipe, two pairs of Grey Partridges, about seven hundred Starlings feeding on the fields and a Barn Owl.

At least one Smew was hanging on at Eyebrook Reservoir and Ian's Woodford Halse garden hosted a Mealy (Common) Redpoll and a female Blackcap.

Regards

Neil M

Greenfinch courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Winter plumage Linnet.

Goosander courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Cormorant in it's
striking spring plumage.