All three 'sawbills' at Clifford Hill

Hello

Grey, dreary but essentially dry and mild today and periods when it was possible to see some birds at distance.

The two Wellingborough Glossy Ibis remained in wet fields adjacent to the carriageway of the Embankment, these must be the easiest Glossy Ibis ever to see in the county! A Great White Egret was in the same general area.

The juvenile Shag was seen again along the Grand Union Canal near the lock just north of junction 15A of the M1 motorway.

Stanford Reservoir today recorded the Glossy Ibis again plus a first winter Caspian Gull and two adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosting this afternoon. Other birds were six Great White Egrets, five Goosanders, two Water Rails and a Kingfisher.

Eyebrook Reservoir provided distant views of six Smew (four adult drakes) and three Greater Scaup.

A productive morning at Clifford Hill Pits provided a drake Red-breasted Merganser seen moving west along the River Nene, a mobile drake Smew, four Goosanders, two Great White Egrets, eight Golden Plovers and a Stonechat.

A Hawfinch was in Cottesbrooke village late this morning, mobile between the playing field and the church - this following a similar pattern in recent winters.

A Short-eared Owl was in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area this morning plus a pair of Stonechats, four Bramblings and this afternoon there was a Woodcock at Blueberry Farm and the big female Peregrine was still around - this time menacing the flock of Fieldfares and Starlings.

An adult Caspian Gull (a particularly stunning bird with a bright bill and perfect plumage) was at Naseby Reservoir where also a Grey Wagtail. Another Grey Wagtail was at Welford Reservoir and birds in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning included singles of Brambling, Siskin and Redpoll.

A Siberian Chiffchaff was identified at Daventry Country Park in the company of a couple of Chiffchaffs around the Grit Trap.  Also an adult Caspian Gull was present and an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen briefly.

Regards

Neil M

Mediterranean Gull.

Short-eared Owls (these birds
photographed during the
'invasion year' of 2011).

Long-tailed Tit.