An interesting winter ahead?

Hello

Light rain during the night and today, warmer in the morning and cooler this afternoon.

At Daventry Country Park a Scaup was present and a flock of five White-fronted Geese flew south-east this morning.

Four White-fronted Geese were at Stanford Reservoir where also a Pintail, twenty-one Great White Egrets, twenty-nine Little Egrets, five Goosanders and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

An adult Caspian Gull was found at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today plus a female Red-crested Pochard, a pair of Goosanders and four Green Sandpipers.

A drake Red-crested Pochard was in the Pintail Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today with three Great White Egrets and two Yellow-legged Gulls.

At Thrapston Pits there was a first year White-fronted Goose on Islip Water Meadows and a female Scaup was on Town Lake.

A Peregrine was at St Peter's church Oundle and birds seen at Clifford Hill Pits were two Black-tailed Godwits flying over, eleven Golden Plovers, three Common Snipe and two Stonechats.

The Snow Bunting wasn't seen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today but the female Merlin was there this morning and again this afternoon, still chasing Skylarks. A Peregrine and a Stonechat were also present and a Short-eared Owl was between there and Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was seen again in the valley, this far-ranging individual was seen flying towards Lamport Station on this occasion. Two Bramblings were with Chaffinches at Lamport Hall.

The forthcoming winter sounds like an interesting one with the apparent beginnings of a Waxwing invasion with flocks in Scotland, an early arrival of grey geese from the continent and the potential of Rough-legged Buzzards and maybe more Nutcrackers arriving on our shores.

Regards

Neil M

Kestrel courtesy of Robin Gossage.

A 'lovely' example of Dog Vomit
Slime Mold recently in the
Brampton Valley.

White-fronted Goose courtesy
of Tyler Atkinson.

Jack Snipe courtesy of
Tyler Atkinson.