Turn on the lights!

Hello

The incredibly dull conditions of the last couple of days makes taking photographs of wildlife subjects very difficult so my apologies for my efforts below!

After making a start on bird feeding stations this morning I popped in to Market Harborough and spent about an hour walking along the River Welland hoping for an Otter. I had no joy but a successfully-fishing Kingfisher showed nicely in the rain and I saw a Grey Wagtail and a Mistle Thrush perched next to some mistletoe! I didn't see any Peregrines either so no doubt they were away hunting.

The two Corn Buntings were again with other birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, spending their time perched on a hedge and visiting bird food cover by 'shrike hedge'. Seven Grey Partridges were there too. Two or three Bramblings were in a Scaldwell garden and birds at Pitsford Reservoir included a drake Smew and six Great White Egrets in the back of the Holcot Bay.

The hardy Black Redstart was again at Borough Hill Country Park today on the eastern-side of the compound and Stewart's visit to Harrington Airfield yielded a female Merlin, twenty-one Golden Plovers and about fifty Bramblings. A Woodcock and a Goosander were seen at Stanford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Record shot of one of
the Corn Buntings in the 
Brampton Valley.

Common Buzzard.

Kingfisher.

Brambling.

Corn Buntings, Otter and other winter wildlife

Hello

Another cold day so I felt it necessary to pop back up to Harrington Airfield this morning to feed the hungry birds! About thirty or so Bramblings were there to meet me and soon came down to feed. Twenty Golden Plovers were present first thing and birds on the fields included about forty Skylarks.

Eleanor popped into Market Harborough this morning and saw one of the Otters on the River Welland near to Welland Park. A female Peregrine was on the church and other birds included a Grey Wagtail, a Chiffchaff and a Kingfisher.

This afternoon two Corn Buntings (one singing a little) were found amongst a flock of buntings and finches in the Brampton Valley all attracted to some bird feed cover at 'shrike hedge' below Hanging Houghton. Other birds there included a Brambling and three Grey Partridges with a Little Owl nearby and a Barn Owl was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Elsewhere and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits today and Ravensthorpe Reservoir hosted a Pink-footed Goose and a first year Caspian Gull. Nearby at Hollowell Reservoir there was a Jack Snipe and three Stonechats.

Thrapston Pits attracted a female Scaup on Town Lake and a 'redhead' Smew was reported there too. Other birds on the complex included two Great White Egrets, a Stonechat and a Raven. Seven Cattle Egrets and two Great White Egrets flew to roost at Kinewell Lakes, Ringstead Pits this afternoon (plus a Goosander) and birds on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve included three Cattle Egrets, a Great White Egret and a Kingfisher. The White-fronted Goose was again reported at Stanwick Pits today.

Thirty Siskins were located at Harlestone Heath today near the railway line and birds coming to the Summer Leys Feeding Station included about a dozen Bullfinches and a Brambling.

At Pitsford Reservoir today Tony located the two drake Smew in the Holcot Bay and the Wood Sandpiper and a Redshank were north of the causeway.

Two adult Caspian Gulls were reported at Rushton Landfill this afternoon and the Black Redstart was also reported again from the Borough Hill Country Park concrete blocks. Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included three Egyptian Geese, three Goosanders, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, two Cetti's Warblers and three Chiffchaffs.

Regards

Neil M

Corn Bunting courtesy
of Cathy Ryden.

Caspian Gull courtesy
of Jacob Spinks.

Otter.

A mixture of winter weather

Hello

Very wintry weather today with a frost, minus four temperatures at dawn then sleet, snow and rain! Perhaps as a result our garden had visits from singles of Brambling, Redwing and Fieldfare today, no doubt attracted to common birds feeding in the garden.

However first thing this morning the weather was beautiful with a couple of hours of lovely sunshine following a pinkish sunrise.

At Harrington Airfield this morning I only managed to encounter about twenty or so Bramblings which were attracted to the mixed seed in the ringing rides. Nearby a drake Mandarin Duck at Draughton Pool was probably the Pitsford individual.

At Pitsford Reservoir today sightings included at least six Great White Egrets, nine Pintail and a Green Sandpiper, with eight Great White Egrets counted in the Walgrave/Holcot Bays yesterday. Up to thirty Tree Sparrows are visiting the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station still.

There was a Birdguides report of two adult Caspian Gulls at Naseby Reservoir this morning and at Borough Hill Country Park the Black Redstart and a Stonechat are hanging on!

Birds at Stanwick Pits today included two Cattle Egrets, two Great White Egrets and a White-fronted Goose with Greylags, mostly around North Lake.

At Summer Leys LNR there were two Great White Egrets today, ten Snipe, two Bramblings and three Lesser Redpolls and nearby a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were at Earls Barton New Workings. Thrapston Pits attracted a leucistic Wigeon, three Great White Egrets, a Peregrine and a Stonechat.

A Barn Owl was at Blueberry Farm this morning with fifteen Bramblings near the top of Blueberry Hill. This afternoon there was a Barn Owl and eight Grey Partridges in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing.

Stonechat.

Greylag Geese.

Hen Harrier, Hawfinches and more

A lovely crisp frosty morning,  more in keeping with the time of year.  Whilst I sat drinking my coffee I pondered about the day ahead and realised that I had a free day without any commitments.  I have been promising myself a day in the " north" of the county so decided that today would be the day.     

 As I  didn't want to get caught up with the work/school traffic I went out for a run and it was a nice change to run around the crispy white fields rather than plough through the mud.  I bumped into a Barn Owl and Woodcock at Blueberry plus several Brambling below Hanging Houghton and at Draughton crossing. 

Time to head north and my first stop was Deene Lake which for its size attracts good numbers of common wildfowl. It is not always easy to see all of the lake but I managed to locate 4 Shelduck, a male Pintail and a pair of Stonechat.                                                          

My next planned stop was Blatherwycke Church but as I was driving near Bulwick en-route I noticed at least 30 Red Kites literally at eye level dropping into the field next to the road.  I slowed down and virtually came to a halt so that I could see what they were feeding on. I couldn't see anything obvious but assume that it was the wet soggy field making it easy to find food. Whilst I was having a nosey at the kites I picked up another raptor coming in from my left and soon realised that it was different,  it was in fact a superb male Hen Harrier who carried on his way and disappeared in the direction of Southwick/Oundle.  I  didn't really have time to pursue him and I know that there is some interesting habitats in the direction that he was heading.                                                            

When I eventually reached Blatherwycke Church there were quite a few birders around who had been watching one of the Hawfinches flitting about in a yew tree in the open area to the right of the church. This bird then moved into the church yard and eventually both Hawfinches were located in a yew tree and then a bare tree between the church and the lake. They looked stunning in the winter sunshine.  I'm always amazed by the number of birds which frequent this churchyard and today there were Redwings, Mistle Thrushes, tits, Green and Chaffinch to name but a few. Blatherwycke Lake also tends to attract a good variety and numbers of wildfowl. I counted 20 Mandarin Duck but no doubt missed quite a few hidden ones. Also present were 3 Egyptian Geese, a Black Swan, 3 Little Egrets, Water Rail and 30 Siskins.

Lunchtime was spent in the car park area of nearly Wakerley Wood. Previously the car park has been alive with birds but today it was eerily silent.  I spent over 2 hours walking around the wood and it was extremely quiet. Bizarrely the squirrels and deer were more vocal than the birds!!.  I bumped into Fallow Deer, Roe Deer and Muntjac and the bird total was an amazing 1 Crossbill, 2 Brambling,  20 Siskins and 3 Woodcock. 

I came home via the Welland Valley.  There was quite a flooded area near Harringworth which had attracted large numbers of  waders, Lapwings, 200 Golden Plovers, Redshank,2+ Dunlin and Common Gulls. The wet grassy fields near Gretton were covered with hundreds of Redwings and Fieldfares foraging and chatting away and a male Peregrine flew through causing a panic.      

A short visit to East Carlton CP proved to be extremely quiet which meant that I had time to stop off at Harrington Airfield at dusk.  It was a very productive stop and a good end to my day. As I walked along the rough area there were at least 50 Brambling in the bushes, I believe that 100 birds had been seen earlier.  I  stood around at the second bunker scanning and within 5minutes had viewed a Barn Owl hunting along the main track and a sight of a female Merlin hunting the Skylarks and Redwings feeding on the fields. 

Elsewhere and two Otters were watched on the River Welland in Market Harborough town centre today and the two Peregrines have been seen on the church there recently.

A ringing session took place at Kelmarsh Hall today resulting in 79 captures mostly of tits. Three were re-trapped Marsh Tits which show a very faithful site fidelity and two of them were first ringed there in autumn 2019. Other birds present included a pair of Ravens, a couple of Bramblings and a flock of about ten Siskins.

Other birds seen today include two drake Smew in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, the Black Redstart remained at Borough Hill Country Park, and Stanwick Pits hosted five Cattle Egrets and three Great White Egrets.

Regards

Eleanor

Hawfinch.

Marsh Tit.

Red Kite.

Wagtails on parade

Hello

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included the Wood Sandpiper and the Redshank still north of the causeway in the Scaldwell Bay despite the rising water levels and other birds included three Great White Egrets and at least one Pintail. A Reed Bunting at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station showed aberrant features with excessive amounts of white around the collar and head.

There was a Birdguides report of the two Hawfinches at Blatherwycke Church again today and the Black Redstart must be coping with cold temperatures at Borough Hill Country Park as it was seen there again today. A male Blackcap was in a garden at Spratton today and there were three Stonechats at Upton Country Park.

It was pretty quiet at Harrington Airfield this afternoon but there were perhaps thirty Bramblings scattered about the complex and about fifteen Golden Plovers briefly. Small numbers of Bramblings were at 'shrike hedge' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and there were still about ten on the top of Blueberry Hill with a Barn Owl showing well nearer Blueberry Lodge.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Wagtail.

Pied Wagtail.

White Wagtail.

Yellow Wagtail.

Images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Egrets at roost and plenty of Bramblings and Siskins.

Hello

The more typical winter temperatures seemed to come in to play this afternoon as we say good-bye to the unseasonably mild conditions.

A couple of Bramblings were still at Harrington Airfield this morning, the Black Redstart and a Stonechat were seen at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry and birds in Hanging Houghton village included three Bramblings and two Ravens.

News from Pitsford Reservoir today indicates that the Wood Sandpiper and at least five Pintail remain in the Scaldwell Bay and the birds at Eyebrook Reservoir still includes up to thirteen Smew, at least two Scaup, the Ring-necked Duck and three Avocets.

In the Nene Valley the Cattle Egret roost at Stanwick Pits amounted to five birds plus twelve Great White Egrets and at Ringstead Pits the roost there was seven Cattle Egrets and two Great White Egrets! Seven Goosanders were seen at Stortons Pits.

The three White-fronted Geese were seen in the grounds of Stanford Hall early this afternoon and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits. At Stanford Reservoir the best of the birds today included a Peregrine, two Ravens, two Cetti's Warblers, a Goosander, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, a Siskin and two Chiffchaffs.

At least sixty Siskins inundated Cottesbrooke village this morning with the main concentration centred around Beck Dairy. Six Bramblings were in the village too. Small numbers of Siskins and Bramblings were at Haselbech Grange and ten more Bramblings were on the summit of Blueberry Hill. A Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and a covey of eight Grey Partridges were near to 'shrike hedge'. A Woodcock was flushed at Rabbit Hill Spinney on the Kelmarsh Estate today and a female Blackcap was in a Maidwell village garden yesterday.

Regards

Neil M

Cattle Egret.

Great White Egret.

The influx of Bramblings
is still with us!

Black Redstart, Wood Sandpiper, Smew and a Merlin.

Hello

Residue birds from last year continue to dominate the local birding scene with the Black Redstart being tracked down at Borough Hill Country Park today and Pitsford Reservoir continuing to play host to three drake Smew north of the causeway, the Wood Sandpiper still and a Shag (seen near the causeway and off the Sailing Club later). Other birds included at least four Great White Egrets north of the causeway and the long-staying Barnacle Goose with other geese near the dam.

Stanwick Pits hosted six Cattle Egrets at North Lake and Stortons Pits attracted six Goosanders and seven Redpolls with three Goosanders at Hardingstone Pits. A Stonechat and fifty Pied Wagtails were at Upton Country Park and Blatherwycke Lake held thirty-five Mandarin Ducks and two Egyptian Geese.

Over thirty Bramblings were by the sunflower strip at Harrington Airfield and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Merlin, a Barn Owl and several Bramblings. Blueberry Farm was good for another Barn Owl, a Woodcock and ten Bramblings and two Ravens and a Siskin remain in Hanging Houghton village. A small flock of Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall.

Three White-fronted Geese were reported at Stanford Reservoir again this morning and another was reported at Ditchford Pits on the north-east side of Dragonfly Lake.

Just outside the county Eyebrook Reservoir continues to provide plenty of interesting birds including a Ring-necked Duck, numerous Smew, several Scaup, three Avocets and Whooper Swans all today.

Regards

Neil M

The Pitsford Mandarin
Duck courtesy of Robin
Gossage.

New Years Day Birding

Hello

The mild conditions continued into the New Year with showers and sunshine in equal amounts. Many of the long-staying birds from 2021 were still in situ for the start of 2022 and anyone interested in compiling a county year list would have had the potential of a great start!

The Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits today and other geese out there included the three White-fronted Geese which for a time were at Stanford Reservoir. Other birds noted at this latter site were two Egyptian Geese, two Water Rails, six Goosanders, four Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, four Ravens and a Chiffchaff.

Pitsford Reservoir was a popular venue today and Michael the on-site warden was busy checking permits! The three drake Smew had split up today with two of them spending much of the day in the Scaldwell Bay and the third bird mobile south of the causeway. The first ever wintering Wood Sandpiper for the county was seen in the Scaldwell Bay and also near the causeway with a Redshank - it appears this is the only Wood Sandpiper in the country currently with few records anywhere since early autumn. About half a dozen Great White Egrets were still present as were three Dunlin and at least one of the juvenile Shag(s) was seen at the water's edge by the causeway car park and later on the Sailing Club pontoon. The drake Mandarin Duck was also about and there were several Pintail too.

Elsewhere and two Hawfinches were at the occasional venue of Blatherwycke churchyard, there were about fifteen Bramblings at Harrington Airfield near Bunkers One and Two plus two Woodcock, a Barn Owl and three Ravens, and two Grey Wagtails and a Water Rail were near Brixworth. Two Ravens, a Siskin and a Brambling were in Hanging Houghton village.

An impressive thirteen Cattle Egrets were together at Stanwick Pits near to North Lake this morning and two Ruff  and a Red-crested Pochard were at Summer Leys LNR with a wintering Common Sandpiper at Earls Barton Pits new workings.

This morning there were c50 Bramblings along the road near Draughton on the Maidwell Road with a few along the Brampton Valley Way between Lamport and Draughton; eight Grey Partridges were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A Peregrine on Higham Ferrers church had seemingly deposited a dead Lapwing on the ground underneath, presumably half-eaten.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Smew from
Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Great Crested Grebe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Happy New Year!

Hello

I'm just back in from a Christmas tour of the Algarve in Portugal which was bird-filled but with mixed weather with plenty of rain in the first few days but the sunshine came out during the second half of the trip.

It sounds like it has been mild and wet here as I adjust back to the local birding scene!

The three stunning drake Smew were in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today and still showing well from the Goosander Hide.

Stanford Reservoir and the land nearby attracted a Pink-footed Goose and three White-fronted Geese today and other birds included a Red-crested Pochard, an Egyptian Goose and a Water Rail.

Cattle Egrets in the Nene Valley included seven at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits (plus a pair of Pintail) with three more Cattle Egrets in the meadow below Irthlingborough church (also a Great White Egret and two Snipe at this latter site). A Pink-footed Goose was at Stanwick Pits with Greylags by North Lake early this afternoon.

Other birds noted today included a Green Sandpiper at Upton Country Park, a female Brambling at Ian's Woodford Halse feeding station and a Jack Snipe and five Stonechats at Hollowell Reservoir. A Chiffchaff and two Bramblings were at Lamport Hall and scattered Bramblings and two Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. A Grey Wagtail and two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton today.

Happy New Year!

Neil M

The drake Smew at
Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Warm Winter Day !!

 A bit of a strange day.  When I got up this morning it was already 10'c/50'f  When I  opened the back door the abnormally warm air met me evoking memories of travelling on holiday to warmer countries and the feeling of meeting the warm air as we descended the plane and left the airport.                                                                                                              I started the day with a run and had to quickly dig out a T shirt rather than my usual fleecy top. I actually enjoy running early in the morning just as it is getting light when it is just me, my dogs and the natural world just waking up.  As I ran along I did wake up quite a lot of Redwings,  Fieldfares and Brambling from the hedgerows plus a couple of Woodcock. By the time dawn broke I was at the highest point at Blueberry where I took a brief rest to enjoy the beautiful colours of the morning sky and was taken by surprise with a very close encounter with a Barn Owl. 

The light was much better today and there was even a period of sunshine and even the birds thought that spring had come. The Great Tits were in full song and a  couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were very vocal,  chasing each other and then drumming.  I  managed a visit to Pitsford Reservoir and caught up with the 3 drake Smew in the Holcot bay but saw very little else of note. I couldn't find any waders apart from Lapwings which gave a great aerial display whilst  being chased by a male Peregrine. 

Harrington Airfield was quiet early afternoon and the weather had changed back to being dull and drizzly,  but by now it was a balmy 15'c/59'f and I was regretting wearing too many layers.  The only birds of note were 20 Brambling,  Woodcock and 4 Grey Partridge.    Nearby at Kelmarsh there were approx 40 Siskins.

A few other folk were out and about birding today,  no doubt making the most of the "brighter " day.  The Black Redstart was again at Borough Hill but can be elusive,   Red Crested Pochard,  Caspian Gull and Pink Footed Goose at Stanford Reservoir, and Greater Scaup at Stortons GP.                                                                                                                        But bird of the day goes to a female Ring Necked Duck which was found on the town lake at Thrapston GP keeping company with a few Tufted Ducks.  It is always worth spending time checking through the Tufted Ducks at this time of year because you never know what you might find!!

Regards Eleanor 

Post Christmas Birding

 Another dull dreary wet day when it just doesn't get daylight.  I  hate these days and I really had to force myself to go out birding.  I spent some time at Pitsford Reservoir making full use of the hides. There were a good number of wildfowl in the Walgrave bay including a "redhead" Smew and 8 Red Crested Pochard.  Whilst not as many wildfowl in the Scaldwell bay there was a raft of 22 Pintail, mainly males infront of the Bird club hide plus a rather colourful male Mandarin duck sitting on a tree stump. He brought a  welcome splash of colour to the mirky conditions.  Amazingly the Wood Sandpiper remains which is such an unusual record for the county.  There was also a Green Sandpiper and Redshank for company and useful for a comparison.                                       Other birds of note were a Water Rail, Stonechat, 10 + Great White Egrets, and Woodcock. I counted 38 Tree Sparrows at the feeding station which is the most that I have seen for a while and they all looked very smart.

Harrington Airfield still has a few Brambling,  Barn Owl and 100+ Golden Plovers and there is  still a scattering of Brambling in the hedgerows below Hanging Houghton, Blueberry and the Brampton Valley Way but certainly not the huge numbers of a few weeks ago. 

Eric visited Titchmarsh today and noted that the winter wildfowl numbers are low. His birds of note were 4 Great White Egrets,  12 Little Egrets,  Stonechat and 30+ Siskin. 

Hopefully if the weather improves so will the birding although looking ahead at the weather forecast we have more rain and balmy temperatures coming !! 

Regards Eleanor 

Images from the Algarve

Ola!

A few more images from The Algarve, Portugal...

Regards

Neil M

Bluethroat.

Crag Martin.

Red-crested Pochard.

Mediterranean Gull.

Slender-billed Gull.

Christmas Eve birding in Portugal

Happy Christmas!

Rain stopped play here in the Algarve so time to format a couple of images from yesterday's birding highlights in the Castro Verde area to the north...

Obrigado!

Neil M

Long-eared Owls.

Little Bustards.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

 A very dull and dreary day today when most of the daylight hours were shrouded in fog. I started my day with a run where I had to rely on my ears to tell me what was about. I  heard small numbers of Brambling below Hanging Houghton,  Blueberry,  Maidwell and Draughton . Plenty of Redwings and Fieldfare were flushed from the hedgerows as I ran past and 2 Grey Wagtail were flying around below Hanging Houghton.                                  There was a very brief clear sunny spell this afternoon and luckily I was at Harrington Airfield at the time. There were about 20 Brambling on the rough area waiting to fed. The fields were alive with Redwings,  Fieldfare, Skylarks,  Starlings and Pied Wagtails feeding on the wet fields and finding plenty of food. By the time I got home the fog had returned. Very little other bird news to report which no doubt was weather related or everyone making a last minute dash to the shops !!  The only birds of note today were a Siberian Chiffchaff and the long staying Wood Sandpiper at Pitsford Reservoir,  a Black Redstart at Borough Hill and a  Scaup at Stortons Gravel Pits. 

Regards Eleanor 

We would just like to wish you all a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and hope that you enjoy this time of year however you spend it xxxxx                        

Feliz Natal!

 Hello

A few images from the rainy Algarve today...

Regards

Neil M

Zitting Cisticola (or
Fan-tailed Warbler).

Little Bittern.

Red-knobbed Coot.

Purple Swamphen.

Glossy Ibis.

WINTER WILDFOWL

 Yesterday was the shortest day of the year and the "first" day of winter , which seems appropriate when looking at the many species of winter wildfowl which were scattered throughout the county.  Somehow I managed to miss them all which was a shame as there was obviously a noticeable movement of Whooper Swans and Geese.   Whooper Swans were seen at Pitsford and Stanford Reservoirs, Clifford Hill Pits and over Denton Wood.  There were certainly quite a few geese moving around with a small flock of Whitefronted geese at Pitsford and Hollowell Reservoirs, a Pink Footed Goose at Thrapston,  Dark Bellied Brent Goose at Clifford Hill and a Barnacle Goose at Pitsford. Phew almost feels like Norfolk rather than Northamptonshire!!                                     Winter ducks included Smew at Hollowell and Thrapston,  Scaup at Stanford Reservoir,  Stortons and Kislingbury GP. and Red Crested Pochards at Stanford and Kislingbury. 

Today, new birds included 3 White Fronted Geese at Stanwick gp, Pink Footed Goose at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Black Redstart at Borough Hill. 

However I have somehow managed to avoid any of these birds due to other commitments which restricted my birding to Blueberry and Harrington.  I did manage a long run yesterday morning and bumped into 3 Barn Owls at Hanging Houghton,  Blueberry and Harrington Airfield  and at least 50 Bramblings at Harrington Airfield.  This morning I was out and about at first light and sunrise and subsequent skies were absolutely spectacular,  certainly a good time to be up and out.     A Barn Owl was hunting and calling in the moonlight at Blueberry which was quite ethereal and my young collie found it a scary experience!!    There are still about 30 Brambling around the Blueberry area plus several Woodcock and a pair of Stonechat which I bump into at times.                 A lunchtime visit to Harrington Airfield produced another Barn Owl,  2 Woodcock and 50+ Brambling. 

Regards Eleanor 

     

Birding on a grey winter's day

Hello

Today at least one of the Shags was still at the southern end of Pitsford Reservoir, either fishing mid-water or with Cormorants on one of the Sailing Club structures. The resident adult Yellow-legged Gull was on a buoy here too. At the other end of the reservoir the Wood Sandpiper was again on the lagoon between the Bird Club and James Fisher hides and two Whooper Swans in the Scaldwell Bay were fresh in. A few Redpolls were in small stands of trees south of the causeway.

The female Scaup was again seen at Stortons Pits, a 'redhead' Smew was still on Aldwincle Lake at Thrapston Pits with two Pintail on Town Lake. A pair of Red-crested Pochard and a pair of Stonechat were at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve at Ditchford Pits. A Ruff and a Great White Egret were at Summer Leys together with a flock of Golden Plovers. Three Cattle Egrets were in a sheep field just north of North Lake at Stanwick Pits this morning.

Up to sixty Siskins were at Harlestone Heath in alders by the railway line this morning and several Redpolls were at Martin Moore Wood in the Brampton Valley. At Harrington Airfield this afternoon there was a Barn Owl, c10 Bramblings and a couple of Golden Plovers. Four more Bramblings were at 'Shrike Hedge' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and there were ten more by the summit of Blueberry Hill with a Barn Owl and fourteen Grey Partridges on the Blueberry Farm complex.

Regards

Neil M

Whooper Swan.

Female Scaup.

Drake Pintail.

Ditchford WeBS count.

Hello

I suspect like most WeBS counters this morning I was a little disheartened when I saw the mist and drizzle knowing that it would reduce visibility for counting the birds associated with water bodies. Nevertheless I drove over to Ditchford Pits and counted my section of this very large complex. Birds west of Ditchford Lane included a Great White Egret or two, three Water Rails, four Cetti's Warblers, a Raven and a Redpoll. East of Ditchford Lane there were six Jack Snipe, twelve Snipe, a pair of Red-crested Pochard on Delta Lake, a Goosander, two Water Rails, a Grey Wagtail, a Kingfisher and a couple more Cetti's Warblers.

A Scaup was found on the west pit of Stortons Pits today and eight Goosanders were on the complex too. Three Stonechats were found on the land between the Lilbourne Meadows reserve and the M1 today and birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir included at least six Great White Egrets and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Two Ruff were still at Summer Leys LNR late this morning.

Eleanor went for a good walk around Harrington Airfield in the murk this afternoon, flushing a Short-eared Owl by the Shooting Wall and seeing a hunting Barn Owl at the end of the concrete track. Some forty Bramblings were on-site, the majority of them close to the stand of sunflowers near to the Shooting Wall. Four Grey Partridges and two or three Woodcock also put in an appearance.

Dave Francis committed to some garden bird ringing today where all the encounters were new birds and amounted to thirty Goldfinches, seventeen Blue Tits, two Reed Buntings, a Long-tailed Tit and three Nuthatches.

Regards

Neil M

Jack Snipe.

Barn Owl courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Cetti's Warbler courtesy
of Pete Gilbert.