Great autumn birding

Hello

Another still and grey day was still good for migration with thrushes and finches moving for much of the day.

Plenty of birds at Stanford Reservoir included a rare visitor to the site in the shape of a Knot which flew around and off this morning, a Mediterranean Gull, a Caspian Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, six Red-crested Pochards, two Goosanders, a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, an estimated thousand Redwings, six Golden Plovers, two Cetti's Warblers and a Brambling.

At Earls Barton Pits, the 'ringtail' Hen Harrier again showed at the new workings section of the complex and the Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys LNR plus a hundred Golden Plovers and a female Stonechat. At Stanwick Pits, eight Cattle Egrets flew over the Main Lake this morning and a Pink-footed Goose was with a goose flock which flew over north-east.

Hawfinches were seen again today with two at Cottesbrooke visible from Station Road/playing field area and two were seen briefly at Blatherwycke churchyard but with a single seen again later. A Crossbill was seen flying over Cottesbrooke and other finches at Blatherwycke were three Bramblings and a Redpoll with a drake Red-crested Pochard on the lake. A Crossbill was over Hollowell village this afternoon and a Brambling was at Hanging Houghton.

With a Booted Eagle being seen in counties to the south over successive days, keep looking up!

Regards

Neil M

Yellow-legged Gull.

Blackbird.

Red Kite.