Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

A bit late but finally found the time to conduct the WeBS count at Ditchford Pits today. It was rather cool and grey initially but then the sun came out and it was lovely and warm.

Birds east of Ditchford Lane included a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, two Grey Wagtails, a Jack Snipe, sixteen Common Snipe, three Oystercatchers, plenty of Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, two Sand Martins and a singing Marsh Tit. There were thirty-one active Cormorant nests, some containing young already and at least twelve Grey Heron nests which also included nestlings. Little Egrets also looked maternal but they tend to nest later than the Grey Herons. A Blackcap was singing at Wharf Road, Higham Ferrers and one or two Otter(s) were on show. A drake Tufted Duck appeared to have some Ring-necked Duck genes included and a hybrid goose showed some White-fronted traits.

West of Ditchford Lane it was pretty quiet with up to three Great White Egrets, three Cetti's Warblers, two Oystercatchers, a Redshank, two Little Ringed Plovers, displaying Lapwings, a Grey Wagtail and two Sand Martins. Butterflies were Peacock, Brimstone and a male Orange-tip.

There are plans to hold a ringing session at Harrington Airfield on Wednesday when there will be restricted access around the bunkers between the Chipping Compound and main concrete track - this to meet the requirements of the site-owner's risk assessment. However if you would like to come along and potentially see some bird ringing on the day please forward me an email and I can provide more details. This afternoon there was a Barn Owl there which was disturbed from roost due to farming operations and a pair of Grey Partridge.

The Slavonian Grebe and a Yellow Wagtail were the highlights at Eyebrook Reservoir and Stanford Reservoir was the place for a Pink-footed Goose, three Great White Egrets, two Shelducks, two Egyptian Geese, two Goosanders, two Oystercatchers, two Common Snipe, six Golden Plovers flying over, a Water Rail, six Sand Martins and a Swallow.

Avocets were busy in the Nene Valley with one at Clifford Hill Pits, two at Stanwick Pits and two at the Whiston Wetlands. Seven White-fronted Geese were still below Whiston and the drake Scaup and two Dunlin were on Mary's Lake at Earls Barton Pits with the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis putting in an appearance too.

Other birds for Clifford Hill Pits which seems to be receiving good coverage this spring were a Wheatear, the Cattle Egret and a fly-over Mediterranean Gull.

A Marsh Harrier showed nicely below Whiston and other birds included four Oystercatchers, two Shelducks, a Grey Wagtail and Cetti's Warbler. Two Cattle Egrets were again at Stanwick Pits early this morning.

Away from the Nene Valley there was a Wheatear at Borough Hill, Daventry, the two White-fronted Geese still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, a Jack Snipe at Hollowell Reservoir and two Black-tailed Godwits briefly in a flooded field near Lower Barnwell Lock this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Common Redshank courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

The Clifford Hill Avocet
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Orange-tip butterfly.