Birds from one year into another

Hello

The last few days has seen quite an influx of winter thrushes with small flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares on the move, presumably being pushed around by more adverse weather elsewhere. This week-end sees a wintry spell enveloping the country and the likelihood of further movements with birds seeking food and shelter.

A productive day in Northamptonshire with county birders catching up with birds from 2024 into the New Year brought forth a flurry of reports. 

The Great Northern Diver was still at Pitsford Reservoir, seen by the dam overflow and later between the dam and Pintail Bay. Three Yellow-legged Gulls were in the gull roost this afternoon.

At Hollowell Reservoir there were two Caspian Gulls, two Great White Egrets, a Stonechat and a Common Snipe and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir there were two White-fronted Geese in a field south of the causeway on the west bank.

Stanford Reservoir hosted five Stonechats, two Kingfishers, ten Goosanders, eighty-four Great Black-backed Gulls in the roost, a Great White Egret, a Water Rail and a Redpoll.

A Scaup and four Smew were at Eyebrook Reservoir and Summer Leys LNR continued to host the Glossy Ibis and a Black-tailed Godwit.

A Merlin was again between Tiffield and Gayton where there were also about forty Golden Plovers; Harrington Airfield saw an Egyptian Goose flying over, a Raven and a Lesser Redpoll.

A Grey Wagtail was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and birds in the valley below Hanging Houghton saw an influx of passerines which included one or two Corn Bunting(s), four over-flying Bramblings and a hundred each of Linnet and Goldfinch - small wonder that a male Merlin whizzed through them all. Two Grey Wagtails were present too.

Hawfinches were on good form today with three or four at Blatherwycke Churchyard, one at Deene Churchyard and two in Cottesbrooke village. A female Scaup was at Blatherwycke Lake and eight Shelduck and a Green Sandpiper were at Deene Lake.

Regards

Neil M

Female Blackbird courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Robin courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Female Chaffinch
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Green Woodpecker courtesy
of John Tilly.