Hawfinches!

Hello

A day of finch passage today accentuated by Hawfinches being seen in the county as part of a nationwide invasion of this species which is still gaining momentum. It made sense to visit the sites where Hawfinches were found following the last invasion, often where there are stands of yew trees. Jon did just that and found two Hawfinches in Cottesbrooke village this morning with still one there this afternoon (plus three Crossbills feeding in conifers in the nearby churchyard). John Friendship-Taylor did much the same thing and checked out Thenford churchyard where three birds were seen. I struck lucky with five vocal birds overflying me at Harrington Airfield late this morning. At least four of these birds came down in the trees next to the concrete track but then flew on again.

Chaffinches were also very much on the move today with a single Brambling noted with them at Hanging Houghton and with two Bramblings at Harrington Airfield. Fifteen mobile Golden Plovers were also noted at Harrington Airfield.

At Pitsford Reservoir today an adult Yellow-legged Gull, thirty Common Snipe, a male Stonechat, a Great White Egret, two drake Red-crested Pochard and a Pintail were noted in the Scaldwell Bay. An adult Caspian Gull was seen in the Walgrave Bay and this evening four Whooper Swans flew over heading north towards the same bay.

At Summer Leys LNR the Glossy Ibis was seen in wader bay at about 9am and other birds included a high count of eight Great White Egrets, two Pintail, two hundred and fifty Lapwings and eighteen Golden Plovers. Eight Cattle Egrets were on the main lake at Stanwick Pits this morning.

An adult male Hen Harrier sweeping across the fields between Brixworth and Cottesbrooke this afternoon must have been a fine sight, the bird disappearing off towards Creaton.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a first winter Mediterranean Gull, an adult Caspian Gull, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, six Red-crested Pochards, two Stonechats, four Redpolls caught and ringed, a Great White Egret and over three hundred Fieldfares.

Regards

Neil M

Hawfinch Forest of Dean
in 2015.

Hawfinch at Cottesbrooke
on 1st January 2018 during
the last invasion winter.