A cold day before the rain of tomorrow!

Hello

Seemed cold out there to me but only a light breeze and essentially dry.

At Ravensthorpe Reservoir the drake Smew was still present north of the causeway and a Firecrest was present briefly this morning. Other birds included a vocal Raven, a Woodcock, a Chiffchaff and a drake Mandarin Duck.

Stanford Reservoir retains the European White-fronted Goose flock with forty-five birds present and two Pink-footed Geese joined them briefly. An adult Caspian Gull was in the roost this afternoon and there were six Great White Egrets, four Goosanders, two Water Rails, thirty Siskins and a Cetti's Warbler.

At Pitsford Reservoir there was an adult Mediterranean Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Redpoll at the dam-end this afternoon.

Sixteen Crossbills were at Wakerley Wood, about two km along the main track from the car park. Three Red-crested Pochard were at Deene Lake. Barnwell Country Park provided two Water Rails, a pair of Egyptian Geese and Siskins and Redpolls.

The Glossy Ibis and an Oystercatcher were in flooded fields at the Embankment Wellingborough at lunchtime with two Egyptian Geese by the car park.

In the Nene Valley four Shelducks flew east at Stanwick Pits where also a Great White Egret, an Oystercatcher, a Redshank, ten Redpolls and two Blackcaps. A pair of Red-crested Pochard were at Clover Lake at Ecton Fisheries (Billing Pits) and a Green Sandpiper flew over. Sixty-five Golden Plovers and an adult Caspian Gull were seen at Summer Leys LNR.

A drake Smew and a Shelduck were at Clifford Hill Pits this morning.

A Brambling was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Ring-necked Parakeet was in a garden off Billing Lane at Northampton.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Smew at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today.

Crossbills at Wakerley Wood
today courtesy of Nick Parker.

Below is a garden video
of Long-tailed Tits courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.