Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

The WeBS count took place at Pitsford Reservoir today, one of the few days when there is a fairly good coverage of this odd-shaped reservoir.

Birds south of the causeway included an Osprey, three Little Egrets, two Green Sandpipers, two Ravens, a pair of Stonechats, two Crossbills, a Common Redstart, forty-five Siskins, eighteen Chiffchaffs and three Grey Wagtails.

North of the causeway was busy too with tree work in the Walgrave Bay ensuring many birds were crammed in the Scaldwell Bay making counting interesting! An Osprey appeared on this side too plus waders included three Green Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers, two Ruff, a Dunlin, a juvenile Little Stint and four Ringed Plovers. Pintails had increased to eight, a couple of Redpolls flew over (the first of the autumn for me), about ten Siskins and a few Yellow Wagtails went over and the Glossy Ibis was busy feeding on the far shore of the Scaldwell Bay. Three Stonechats were noted plus at least six Great White Egrets which were very mobile plus an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Kingfisher.

Butterflies were impressive in the sunshine with two Clouded Yellows, a Painted Lady, plus rather more Red Admirals, Small Coppers, a Comma, Speckled Woods and whites. Muntjacs were as active as usual but there was no repetition of the Otters which were near the causeway early on Saturday morning.

Elsewhere and a mighty White-tailed Eagle powered over Byfield village this afternoon and satellite tracking confirms this as a released bird from the Isle of Wight scheme, thought to be heading back south after roaming the North York moors during the summer.

At Stanford Reservoir the three Glossy Ibis put in an appearance again early morning and other birds were a Marsh Harrier, an impressive seventeen Little Egrets, a Curlew through at dawn, a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby, three Spotted Flycatchers and nine Redpolls.

Hollowell Reservoir attracted a Ringed Plover, a Little Ringed Plover, a first winter Caspian Gull and two Stonechats with a Green Sandpiper and a Siskin at Naseby Reservoir.

The Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys LNR today and other birds included a Water Rail, a Great White Egret, three Egyptian Geese and one hundred and ten Gadwall. A Stonechat and a Barnacle Goose were at Clifford Hill Pits and two Stonechats were at Upton Country Park.

Three Stonechats were noted in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today with two more near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. A Raven was seen at Billing Road cemetry, Northampton.

A Manx Shearwater was picked up on an undefined date at Blisworth and was taken into care at Animals in Need at Irchester. The big push of westerlies from the last week has driven many young shearwaters into off-shore waters and with some stranded inland away from water. Many of these birds are likely to be from Pembrokeshire breeding colonies.

Regards

Neil M

Green Sandpiper.

Cormorant.

Moorhen.

Kingfisher.

Images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.