More wild goose chases

Hello

Clearly some parts of the country suffered at the hands of Storm Goretti but despite some amber weather warnings it seems that locally we were spared the worst of it.

Nick was on fire at Thrapston Pits today, finding a Tundra Bean Goose with fifteen European White-fronted Geese at Islip Meadows, two Greater Scaup and a Goosander on Town Lake and the drake American Wigeon on the north section of the Titchmarsh reserve where also a long-staying Marsh Harrier.

Adrian managed to find the Tundra Bean Goose at Stanwick Pits today with at least seven European White-fronted Geese. These birds were being disturbed but were generally in a field north of the black metal bridge and sometimes out of view.

The Slavonian Grebe wasn't reported at Pitsford Reservoir today (I looked too) but the Black-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were in the general vicinity of Pintail Bay with an adult Yellow-legged Gull on buoys further south on the reservoir. In excess of a hundred Great Crested Grebes were between the Gorse Bushes and the dam and in excess of twenty Redpolls were in birches at the adjacent Brixworth Country Park car park.

An adult Caspian Gull was seen flying over Hollowell village this morning heading towards the reservoir and two Blackcaps were in a garden there. Later at the reservoir the female Ruddy Shelduck was present plus a pair of Goosanders, a Jack Snipe, two Common Snipe and a Stonechat.

At least sixty European White-fronted Geese and six Goosanders were at Stanford Reservoir today.

A Blackcap was in a Sywell garden today and two Ring-necked Parakeets returned to a garden off Billing Lane, Northampton to enjoy bird food offerings.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Jack Snipe and two Common Snipe with two Ravens around the village.

Regards

Neil M

Ruddy Shelduck.

Video grab of the Tundra Bean Goose
at Thrapston Pits courtesy of Nick Parker.
 
The below video clip is of the same flock
of geese with Greylags, European White-fronted
Geese and the Tundra Bean Goose all depicted,
again courtesy of Nick.