Pitsford WeBS count

 Hello

The Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count was completed today, most of it completed before it became too hot. Birding highlights included three Ospreys trying to fish but attracting a great deal of attention from the still-breeding Common Terns, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, seven Great White Egrets, the drake Red-crested Pochard still and the juvenile Whinchat near to the Bird Club hide. A couple of Kingfishers and three Common Sandpipers were on-site and odonata on the wing included Banded Demoiselle and Emerald Damselfly. Most of the wildfowl were north of the causeway and the Great Crested Grebes have plenty of young this year, in contrast to the Mute Swans which on the reserve have only one cygnet from the six pairs or so breeding!

Fifteen Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Redstart were showing nicely at Lamport Hall this evening and two vocal Common Redstarts remain at Woodford Halse LNR.

Both the Pectoral Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs were reported as being present at Lilbourne Meadows reserve today, with occasional telescope views across a field and via two gates and with restricted viewing of the floodwater due to hedges both sides and no potential elevation. Three Green Sandpipers were also present.

The easterly airflow may have been responsible for six Black Terns at Eyebrook Reservoir and three at Hollowell Reservoir and six that flew through Stanford Reservoir early this morning.

Stanford Reservoir also hosted it's daily Osprey, the Ruddy Shelduck and a Common Sandpiper with one hundred and fifteen new birds ringed there today.

An Osprey was over the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today and the Summer Leys  reserve attracted a Marsh Harrier, a Garganey, a Common Sandpiper and two Greenshanks.

Twelve Ravens were at Woodford Halse village early this morning and Harrington Airfield was still home to a Whinchat and a Common Redstart.

Regards

Neil M

Black-tailed Godwits (and Avocet).

Moon birds (Knot) courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Ruff.

Red Admiral on bramble.

Common Darter.