Ditchford WeBS count

Hello 

The forecast was for a cold, sunny day and it proved accurate! Much of the day was spent at the Ditchford Pits complex counting birds utilising this wetland habitat.

West of Ditchford Lane and the Marsh Harrier was again present and appears to be the same bird we have seen there the last three months. Other birds were three Great White Egrets, four Egyptian Geese, three Oystercatchers, two drake Pintail, a couple of Cetti's Warblers and a Grey Wagtail.

East of Ditchford Lane was a single Great White Egret, five Goosanders, a Chiffchaff, two Cetti's Warblers and two or three Grey Wagtails.

Further down the Nene Valley and quality birds at Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits were the drake Ring-necked Duck, a Tundra Bean Goose and twenty-three European White-fronted Geese.

Eight European White-fronted Geese were on the Elinor Trout Lake at Thrapston Pits this morning with four drake Pintail on Town Lake, and at Summer Leys LNR the long-staying Glossy Ibis was still present plus two Oystercatchers and a Redshank. A Marsh Harrier and two Stonechats were around the Whiston Lock area.

The Red-throated Diver was mobile around the water at Ravensthorpe Reservoir but showed well near the dam on occasions. An Oystercatcher was at Hollowell Reservoir plus four Stonechats and at least two Common Snipe.

A vocal Raven remained at Hanging Houghton, eight Crossbills were at Gamboro' Plantation this morning and a pair of Stonechats and a Barn Owl were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Cormorant.

Canada Geese.

Great White Egret courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Little Grebe courtesy
of Tony Stanford.