Pre-Christmas birding

Hello

A lovely bright winter's day and cool too.

The juvenile Shag was seen again along the Grand Union Canal not far from junction 15A of the M1 motorway and close to the original lock where first found.

The two Greater Scaup were again on Town Lake, Thrapston Pits and a remarkable nine Great Northern Divers were at Grafham Water (Cambs) today and with two at Draycote Water (Warks) with seemingly none for us in-between!

Eyebrook Reservoir was also showing off with seven Greater Scaup and five Smew. The wing-tagged Marsh Harrier was reported from Summer Leys LNR this morning.

The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning but didn't show this afternoon. Other birds included a pair of Stonechats and several Bramblings and a female Peregrine was disturbed from the remnants of it's Woodpigeon kill.

Caspian Gulls were located at Naseby Reservoir (an adult) and Hollowell Reservoir (third winter) and also at Hollowell there were a Water Rail, three hundred and seventeen Teal, a Water Rail and two Stonechats.

A male Blackcap was in a garden at Mears Ashby this morning, a few Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall and two Woodcocks were at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate. Two Redpolls were at Lamport Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Members of the Northants
Ringing Group were busy
again in the Nene Valley today,
successfully processing six
Water Rails and a Moorhen.

Images courtesy of
Chris Payne.