More spring surveys

Hello

A very cold start today with air temperatures at -2C and with a frost at dawn but it became a very pleasant day with plenty of sunshine and low windspeeds.

A Breeding Bird Survey combined with a WeBS count at Lilbourne Water Meadows was the first task this morning and birds of interest included five Wheatears, four Yellow Wagtails, plenty of singing Sedge Warblers, two Common Snipe, ten Little Ringed Plovers, two Oystercatchers, two Redshanks, a Raven and a couple of Siskins.

A Common Sandpiper and an Oystercatcher were at Welford Reservoir where also a pair of Grey Wagtails were collecting food and four Yellow Wagtails and a couple of Siskins were present.

A Grey Wagtail was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth, two Ravens were over Hanging Houghton and a male Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

The Ring Ouzel was found again next to Summer Leys LNR and showed occasionally and the reserve held a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers and three Common Terns. Two Mediterranean Gulls were present this evening.

Clifford Hill Pits was the venue for the Whimbrel still, six Little Ringed Plovers, two Oystercatchers, three Common Sandpipers, three White Wagtails, plenty of Yellow Wagtails, two Wheatears and this evening two Avocets dropped in.

Five Wheatears were in the top fields at Harrington Airfield today and modest pickings at Stanford Reservoir included a Common Tern, an Oystercatcher and a Kingfisher.

Regards

Neil M

Roe Deer shedding their winter coats.

Robin.

Female Mallard and her ducklings.

Female Grey Wagtail.

Peacock butterfly.

Images all taken today.