Hungry birds in the cold

Hello

Another cold day but without sunshine and little in the way of wind, the morning frost remained for a long time and the birds were hungry!

In this weather I tend to use far more bird food at the ten feeding stations we maintain including our own garden. Interestingly a field near Maidwell was being ploughed today and this pulled in gulls, Red Kites, Fieldfares, Starlings and Pied Wagtails all looking for this unseasonal bounty.

The Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys LNR, the Ruddy Shelduck was at Winwick Pools, the Great Northern Diver was at Pitsford Reservoir and perhaps most surprisingly, a Common Guillemot was reported at Eyebrook Reservoir this afternoon. The two White-fronted Geese were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today.

Three Kingfishers were looking for food at Upton Country Park, two Tree Sparrows were at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir and birds at Ecton Sewage Farm and Billing Pits included two Green Sandpipers, a Great White Egret, Ring-necked Parakeets and in excess of fifteen Chiffchaffs.

Wintering Blackcaps were in gardens at Brixworth, Creaton, Hartwell and Duston, Northampton.

Two Short-eared Owls were still on private land near to Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a female Peregrine was nearby. In the Brampton Valley there were two Grey Wagtails near Draughton Crossing and a Barn Owl, a Green Sandpiper and two Little Egrets were below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Early morning at Fawsley Park (yesterday).

Kingfishers.

Pied Wagtails.

Meadow Pipit.

Above five images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.