Birding the county valleys

Hello

A pleasant morning deteriorating into a drizzly, wet afternoon.

Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits was still the place to be today with the Red-necked Grebe and drake Ring-necked Duck still present, a Cattle Egret, two Goosanders and for a time the Tundra Bean Goose and twenty-three European White-fronted Geese before they moved down the Nene Valley just east of Denford for the remainder of the day.

Seven European White-fronted Geese were seen on the main lake at Stanwick Pits and Summer Leys LNR was good still for the Glossy Ibis and an adult Caspian Gull, with a Green Sandpiper, a Common Snipe and an Oystercatcher at Earls Barton New Workings (North). That man again Nick Parker watched a Common Crane fly north over Thrapston Pits (still a surprisingly rare sighting in the county despite many being in neighbouring Cambridgeshire), and the Pink-footed Goose was on Elinor Lake.

Crossbills were heard calling at Wakerley Wood car park this morning and one was still at Scotland Wood. Two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton, a Raven and at least two Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall and two Ravens were at the Brampton Valley Draughton Crossing.

At Pitsford Reservoir there were two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Grey Wagtail and in the Walgrave Bay two Ravens, a Brambling and a Siskin. At least five Tree Sparrows were at Rectory Farm, Old village.

Approximately seven Redpolls were visiting a Greens Norton garden today and quality birds at Hollowell Reservoir were the Red-throated Diver still, four Jack Snipe, six Common Snipe, two Caspian Gulls and a Stonechat. Two Grey Wagtails and several Siskins were at Beck Dairy, Cottesbrooke this morning.

The Harringworth floods in the Welland Valley today attracted a Curlew, five Dunlin and eight Pintail and twenty-nine European White-fronted Geese were again in a field at Stanford Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Blue Tit.

Goldfinch.

Dunnock.

Song Thrush.

Above images taken at Summer Leys LNR
today courtesy of John Tilly.

Below is a video of a Red Fox
helping itself to some bird food
in our back garden during the early
hours of this morning!