Dank and Dismal

Dank and dismal certainly describes the last three days of thick fog and drizzle where it has struggled to get daylight. At least Christmas Day was a nice day then it all went downhill after that. Birding has certainly been very challenging with very few birds reported. 

Birds reported on Christmas Day were Glossy Ibis,  Whooper Swan and 3 Black Tailed Godwits at Summer Leys. I went for an early morning run and heard and saw a Hawfinch in Cottesbrooke Village.  The only new bird for Boxing Day was a Cattle Egret at Barnwell CP.                           Obviously a few more folk managed to get out yesterday (Friday). The Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys along with 30+ Golden Plovers, 3 Great White Egrets and Peregrine.  Nearby a Black Tailed Godwit at Clifford Hill GP and Jack Snipe at Barnes Meadow LNR.   Over at Daventry Reservoir there was a 2 Red Crested Pochards and a Goosander.  In the north of the county there were an amazing 8 Hawfinches in the churchyard at Blatherwycke and a 1st winter female Greater Scaup on the lake.    A short ringing session (Dave Francis) at the feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir produced 33 birds processed with Blue Tits,  Great Tits and Goldfinches predominating.  Interestingly a Yellowhammer and Blue Tit processed had both hatched in 2020.    Today I had at least 2 Hawfinches again in Cottesbrooke Village as I ran through.    The Glossy Ibis and a Black Tailed Godwit were at Summer Leys and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir there were 10 Pintail which is a good record for that site.

Despite the dreary weather I have been out and about,  mainly because the dogs need walking and they couldn't care less about the fog and drizzle.  I have struggled to find anything apart from the Hawfinches at Cottesbrooke.  I always find this period between Christmas and New Year a bit of a strange time. Half the world seems to have gone back to work and the other half are still on holiday, and no one seems to know what day of the week it is !! I  had to smile to myself as I ran through Cottesbrooke this morning as quite a few people didn't know which colour refuse bin to put out so had put them all out !!.      My run route took me back via Blueberry which I knew was going to be very muddy so left it until last.  As I approached Blueberry I could hear  a chainsaw being used but due to the fog I couldn't see exactly where it was until I was a few feet away. As I neared the sound I was dismayed to see large gaps in one of the old hedgerows where the hedge had been cut.  I came across a guy working so asked him what he was up to. He looked at me as if I'd got two heads when I challenged him but it may just have been shock of seeing a very muddy runner and equally muddy dogs appear out of the fog !! Anyway he explained that the hedge was being managed to provide a better habit and although it looked brutal and stark there would be new growth in the spring.  Let's hope so as I will be keeping a close eyes on things. I did breathe a sigh of relief when he assured me that the "Redstart" hedges were not being touched.   It will certainly be a case of watch this space. 

Don't get too excited but it is rumoured that the sun will be making an appearance tomorrow  and maybe Monday too. Fingers crossed as it will make such a huge difference to us all as well as encouraging the birds to show themselves.        Have a good day.

Regards Eleanor