Early signs of spring

Hello

A wander around Harrington Airfield this morning provided some migrants in the shape of Linnets, Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits plus seventy Redwings. A smart leucistic Woodpigeon was the only other bird of note.

A drake Smew was at Clifford Hill Pits today and another drake Smew and the first winter drake Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir.

To the south of the county the Richard's Pipit was still near Newport Pagnell.

At Summer Leys LNR the Glossy Ibis again put in an appearance near the feeding station and other birds included two Great White Egrets, three Oystercatchers, about a hundred Golden Plovers, five Common Snipe and a Yellow-legged Gull.

At Pitsford Reservoir a second calendar year Yellow-legged Gull was in the gull roost, five Siskins were at Salcey Forest, a Raven was near Hanging Houghton, two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and a Woodcock was in the valley below Lamport.

The rapidly rising temperature has already provided a bloom of water fleas in our main garden pond plus six frogs and a couple of Common Newts.

Regards

Neil M

Common Frog.

Common Newt.

Grey Wagtail.

Woodcock.