After a busy weekend of competing, myself and the dogs have enjoyed a couple of days relaxing and spending as much time as possible walking across the fields. They love simply mooching around and sitting down watching the world go by. The weather has been amazing and has a real Autumn feel to it. A couple of visits to Harrington Airfield and Lamport Hall produced absolutely nothing, they were both "birdless zones". However the area around shrike hedge, Gamboro plantation and Blueberry were busy with birds, with Whinchats, Stonechats, Northern Wheatears, Common Redstart, Yellow Wagtails, Crossbills, Siskins, Marsh Harrier and Golden Plovers. On scanning around there was no shortage of raptors either enjoying the sunshine and light winds or hunting. The female Hen Harrier was seen yesterday and today in the area. I think that she is covering quite a large area and that shrike hedge/ Gamboro is part of her circuit. Unfortunately today shrike hedge has been severely flailed and may not be so attractive to the "Chats". I'm always saddened to see the hedgerows murdered in such a way especially when they are so full of seeds and berries which would help to sustain the birds and wildlife throughout the winter.
There is a good selection of other birds around in the county at the moment. The Glossy Ibis remains at Pitsford Reservoir along with 2 Ospreys, Peregrine, Black Tailed Godwits, Greenshanks, Ruff , Green Sandpipers, Pintail and Marsh Harrier. There is another Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys . At Boddington Reservoir there was Osprey, Ringed Plovers, Golden Plovers, Greenshanks, Peregrine and Hobby. Caspian Gulls were seen at Ravensthorpe and Naseby Reservoirs. A Whimbrel was seen at Lilbourne Meadows and there was an interesting record of a Merlin flying over Abington Park in Northampton. The weather is expected to become more unsettled as the week progresses which might mean a few new birds.
Regards Eleanor
No comments:
Post a Comment