Wading birds at the helm

Hello

Plenty more classic September birding in the county today, and with low water levels at many of our reservoirs etc an opportunity to enjoy the wading birds.

Quality birding at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway today included the Glossy Ibis still, fifteen Greenshanks (one nearly became Peregrine prey), four Ruff, three Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank, six Green Sandpipers, two Pintail, two Ospreys and the hunting Peregrine.

Fresh in at Daventry Country Park were two Curlew Sandpipers discovered by Gary Pullan and a Green Sandpiper was present too. These birds are at the southern end of the water, best viewed by a screen on the east bank.

The Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys LNR and with multiple flocks of these birds countrywide it seems likely we will have some more arrivals before long! The biggest flocks are in the south-west, Wales and also the south coast of Ireland.

A Common Sandpiper was at Sixfields Lake, an Otter was on view at Stortons Pits, a Greenshank was heard calling at the Earls Barton New Workings/Whiston Wetlands with a Whinchat at Whiston Lock. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was at Priors Hall Quarry Lake, Corby and Grey Partridges maintained a presence at Harrington Airfield. The four Whinchats were still in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton but the Hen Harrier wasn't reported today.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included an Osprey, a fly-through Ringed Plover, a Great White Egret, the Ruddy Shelduck still, eight Common Sandpipers, a fly-through Curlew and two Hobbies. A flock of twelve Grey Herons flew in and there was also an increase in numbers of Grey Herons at Pitsford today - suggesting migrants coming in from elsewhere.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of John Tilly.

Cormorant at Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of John Tilly.

Otter at Stortons Pits today
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Common Toad courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

A Pitsford Reservoir rainbow!

Jaeger and Rouzel have been competing at agility
the last three days and were successful!