Wow sunshine!

Hello 

A lovely day's weather which was mild, dry and even with some winter sunshine! It seems the whole nation has been suffering from very wet weather, low cloud and stormy conditions for much of the winter but for us there was something of a reprieve today. Mild temperatures provided opportunities for insects to emerge which included day-flying moths and even a rather soggy bumblebee!

The new bird of the day was a find this afternoon by Jon our county recorder of a Red-throated Diver at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, not a common bird in the county.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were forty-two Eurasian White-fronted Geese located in fields but with no apparent sign of any Pink-footed or Bean Geese. Other birds were three Great White Egrets and a Goosander.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Black-necked Grebe was swimming around quite a bit south of the causeway and there were two Ravens and two Yellow-legged Gulls at the dam end. Another Raven and two Woodcock were in the Walgrave Bay and two pairs of Stonechats were in the Scaldwell Bay.

Seven European White-fronted Geese were seen at Cransley Reservoir this afternoon.

A Raven was vocal at Hanging Houghton and a pair of Stonechats and four Bramblings were in the Brampton Valley below the village with two Woodcock at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. There was no sign of Crossbills at Gamboro' Plantation today.

The drake Smew was still at Clifford Hill Pits today plus a Great White Egret and three Pintails with a Blackcap singing nearby at Abington Meadows.

The Glossy Ibis was reported at Summer Leys LNR today and two Marsh Harriers were also present (one wing-tagged).

Regards

Neil M

Great Spotted Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Marsh Tit.

Pied Wagtail courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

Little Egret.