The Chiffchaffs have arrived!

Hello

Cloudier today but with weak sunshine and southerly winds which produced an extensive arrival of singing Chiffchaffs throughout the county.

Stanford Reservoir hosted a Jack Snipe again today plus two Great White Egrets, two Goosanders, four Oystercatchers and three singing Chiffchaffs.

A Jack Snipe was also at Hollowell Reservoir where there were also two Common Snipe, a Water Rail and a singing Chiffchaff.

A singing Chiffchaff, a Siskin and a Woodcock were at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate this morning with a Siskin and two Grey Wagtails at Kelmarsh Hall.

Clifford Hill Pits today provided the drake Smew and Cattle Egret again and the Glossy Ibis and a Peregrine were at Summer Leys LNR. A Marsh Harrier and two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and a female Stonechat were in the Nene Valley below Whiston.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was on the Heronry Lake on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits this afternoon and other birds on the complex were a Marsh Harrier, at least four Egyptian Geese, ten Great White Egrets, a Water Rail, two Oystercatchers, a Barn Owl and several singing Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers.

Our small garden at Hanging Houghton is still busy with birds which this afternoon included twelve Stock Doves, three Yellowhammers, four Reed Buntings, two fly-through Common Buzzards with a singing Chiffchaff and two Ravens nearby.

Three displaying Lapwings in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth looked and sounded fabulous but I'm not certain they will stay to breed despite how good the wetlands there look currently. A Barn Owl was in the valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

A typical Summer Leys LNR
scene with a Great White Egret,
Oystercatcher and Wigeon courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Red Fox courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Snipe at Summer 
Leys LNR courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

The following video clip of
a pair of Tawny Owls is
courtesy of Chris Payne
and special thanks to
SW Monitoring.