A Firecrest, the Merlin still and Siskins

Hello

A pleasant day's weather with some sunshine and blue sky, quite different to yesterday.

A Firecrest was an excellent find at Abington Park, Northampton, these smart birds are always looking for ivy and holly at this time of the year and are probably more common in the county than we think. A Great White Egret was seen flying over the park today.

A Red-breasted Merganser was seen again at Boddington Reservoir this afternoon before flying off with five Goosanders. A first year Yellow-legged Gull and at least six Chiffchaffs were present too.

The three Glossy Ibis were again in flooded fields near Little Irchester today.

An adult Caspian Gull was off the dam at Hollowell Reservoir this morning plus four Common Snipe, three hundred and seven Wigeon and five Stonechats.

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Pitsford Reservoir today, moving between the Pintail Bay and Yacht Bay and then swimming towards the dam and being unusually vocal. Other birds nearby were an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a 'redhead' Goosander, a Siskin, a Great White Egret and a Grey Wagtail, and a Crossbill and a Siskin were at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton again included the female Merlin (with prey), a pair of Stonechats and at least six Bramblings. A Blackcap and a Grey Wagtail visited our garden at Hanging Houghton today.

Twenty Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall and a single was at Scotland Wood with four or five at Sandy Lane Attenuation Pond, Duston where also a Water Rail. A single Redpoll and a few Siskins were noted at Barnwell Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Queen Hornet hibernating
in the ringing hut at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

The Firecrest found today at
Abington Park by Tyler Atkinson
and photographed by
 Martin Swannell.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull.