Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

I spent much of the day completing the wetland and waterbird count at Ditchford Pits, the first hour or so in sunshine and the remainder mostly cloudy with some showers.

West of Ditchford Lane and the choice birds were three Greenshanks, two Common Sandpipers, a Common Snipe, a Hobby, a Great White Egret, two Egyptian Geese, three Kingfishers, two Cetti's Warblers and a Goldeneye.

East of Ditchford Lane provided another two Kingfishers, six Common Swifts, a Grey Wagtail, a Pintail and four Cetti's Warblers. 

I visited Summer Leys LNR afterwards and was fortunate to see the Glossy Ibis outside the Paul Britten hide plus a couple of Otters, two Great White Egrets, a Ruff, a Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper. A Bittern was seen twice during the day and other observations included a Marsh Harrier and a Hobby, two Common Swifts, an additional Green Sandpiper and two Greenshank.

Also in the Nene Valley, an Osprey was at Elinor Lake, Thrapston Pits this afternoon, there were two Yellow-legged Gulls on Town Lake and with two Little Ringed Plovers on the Titchmarsh reserve.

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this morning included a Black Tern, four Black-tailed Godwits, five or six Greenshanks and at least eight Green Sandpipers.

Naseby Reservoir continued to attract the adult Caspian Gull, a Greenshank, two Green Sandpipers, five Common Sandpipers and all the way from Australasia, two Wandering Whistling-ducks! Hollowell Reservoir was good for two Greenshanks which flew north and a Common Sandpiper.

Away from water and six Ravens flew north-east over Mawsley and migrants in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Grasshopper Warbler, a Common Redstart, a Wheatear and two Whinchats around the shrike hedge area. A Common Redstart and four Spotted Flycatchers were at Gamboro' Plantation and Blueberry Farm at Maidwell hosted a Common Redstart, three Whinchats and a Wheatear.

Harrington Airfield this afternoon provided sightings of a Marsh Harrier, a Wheatear, a Whinchat and a Common Redstart.

A first year Caspian Gull was at Daventry Country Park this morning and a Red-backed Shrike was on the east side of Eyebrook Reservoir this morning but apparently couldn't be found later.

Four Common Sandpipers were at Stanford Reservoir today plus a Peregrine, five Spotted Flycatchers and a Cetti's Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Chicken of the Woods.

Grey Heron.

Pied Wagtail.

Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys LNR today.