Pitsford WeBS count.

Hello

Another mild and sunny day provided the backdrop for the Pitsford WeBS count - and as usual by February many of the winter wildfowl have already departed. It was very quiet south of the causeway with a single Little Egret being the only noteworthy bird and north of the causeway the choice birds were a Great White Egret, a Redshank, a Jack Snipe and at least sixty Common Snipe. Also present were two Kingfishers, a Grey Wagtail, a male Stonechat and a few Siskins.

The Bearded Tit remained on show at Stanwick Pits today and birds at Hollowell Reservoir included three Caspian Gulls, two Jack Snipe and five Common Snipe.

Three Smew and three Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir today and the female Ruddy Shelduck was at Winwick Pools near West Haddon.

A pair of established Peregrines at a site at Higham Ferrers now have a camera monitoring their behaviour and a live link can be established by clicking on:-

https://youtu.be/ix7EdikYE61

Regards

Neil M

Peregrine.

Stonechat courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Common Gull courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

That bird...the Stanwick Bearded Tit.

Hello

Favourable conditions and a particularly confiding bird brought photographers far and wide to Stanwick Pits today with the male Bearded Tit largely ignoring the shutter sounds of numerous cameras.

The female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup were visible from the causeway car park at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning and other birds present included a Great White Egret, three Little Egrets and a couple of Siskins. A Water Rail and two Common Snipe were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning where there were also three Grey Wagtails, a Redpoll and five Siskins.

Eight Golden Plovers were at Harrington Airfield late this morning, the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull was off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir and a Woodcock was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. 

A Woodcock and a pair of Stonechats were in fields between Walgrave village and Pitsford Reservoir and a Barn Owl was at Hanging Houghton with a pair of Ravens on the Kelmarsh Estate.

A Siberian Chiffchaff was still at Ecton SF/Billing Pits by Bridge 'K121' today, three Smew and a Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir and the Red-crested Pochard was still at Stanford Reservoir as were two Great White Egrets.

Regards

Neil M

Bearded Tit courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Bearded Tit courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Ringing at Kelmarsh Hall.

Hello

A period of bird ringing was completed at Kelmarsh Hall today with about one hundred and forty-five birds caught and processed, giving some indication of the numbers of birds coming to the feeders there. Eighty-eight of these birds were newly ringed, the remaining fifty-seven being birds caught and ringed on previous occasions. Blue Tits dominated with seventy-seven being processed and another thirteen species included Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. Kingfisher and Raven were present on-site too.

A Bearded Tit was seen again at Stanwick Pits today, providing photographic opportunities for some and other long-staying birds in the county included the female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Two Smew, including a drake, were at the west side of Blatherwycke Lake today. Two Goosanders were on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits.

A female Merlin was again hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and at Kislingbury Lakes/Upton Country Park there was a Great White Egret, two Oystercatchers, a Common Snipe and a Green Sandpiper. Seven Little Egrets were off Mill Lane, Greens Norton today, a regular wintering venue, and Ian had a female Blackcap visiting his Woodford Halse garden.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Great White Egret, a Pintail, seven Goosanders and two Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Treecreeper courtesy
of Chris Payne.

'Redhead' Smew.

Nuthatch courtesy of
John Tilly.

Ditchford WeBS count.

Hello

It was time for the WeBS count at Ditchford Pits today and it was interesting to see small numbers of Pochard on many of the pits, an increase in Tufted Ducks and a strong passage of gulls along the Nene Valley. Birds west of Ditchford Lane included two Peregrines, three Oystercatchers, an Egyptian Goose, a Great White Egret, a Grey Wagtail, just one Cetti's Warbler and two Lesser Redpolls. Birds east of Ditchford Lane included three Common Snipe, just two Cetti's Warblers, three Goosanders and a Siskin. Surprisingly I didn't encounter Kingfisher, Water Rail or Chiffchaff.

A procession of would-be observers visited Stanwick Pits in an effort to track down the Bearded Tits and most failed. However social media suggests that an individual was seen at some stage today. Vocal Cetti's Warblers and a Water Rail were present around the edges of the same pit.

Two first year Caspian Gulls were seen at Daventry Country Park this morning and birds at Sywell Country Park included a Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler, two Grey Wagtails, a pair of Stonechats and about twenty Siskins. A Barn Owl was again on show at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

The female Ring-necked Duck was reportedly again off the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning and three Scaup were still at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

The Ditchford Oystercatchers
today...and very noisy they were too!

Blue Tit courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Male Blackbird courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Mild February day

Hello

A much milder day with just a little rain first thing and plenty of birds singing and pairing up!

The male Bearded Tit showed well again at Stanwick Pits with a vocal Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail near to it too.

The female Ring-necked Duck and a female Scaup were at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and a first year Caspian Gull was on pools alongside the A5 by the DIRFT3 development site near Lilbourne.

An Oystercatcher was at Summer Leys LNR this morning and two Ravens were at Kelmarsh with a Grey Wagtail again at Hanging Houghton and a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley below the village this evening.

Regards

Neil M

North American Mink
at Stortons Pits today courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Aconites and Snowdrops
at Pitsford Reservoir today.

Chaffinch.

Goldfinch.

Red-crested Pochard

Hello

We seem to be going through a quiet patch in the county at the moment but there was some evidence of migration today with a trickle of wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Redwings moving north. The spring-like weather of the last few days may seem a little premature as I'm sure that there is still some wintery stuff to deal with but try telling the Song Thrushes that as they are hammering out their songs almost everywhere I go!

A drake Red-crested Pochard in all it's finery was in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today and the adult Yellow-legged Gull was again in the gull roost off the Sailing Club. A pair of Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield, a Grey Wagtail was at Hanging Houghton and a day-flying Barn Owl was seen at Lamport Hall.

The male Bearded Tit was again at Stanwick Pits this morning and delighting local photographers and four Smew and a Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Red-crested Pochard and 
Pochard at Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Red-crested Pochard at
Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

A foggy start to St Valentine's Day

Hello

A foggy and raw start to the day gave way to lovely winter sunshine by this afternoon. A couple of Ravens were in both Scaldwell and Hanging Houghton villages today.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning included singles of Grey Wagtail, Water Rail and Common Snipe. About fifty Yellowhammers were in the weedy field next to the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the reservoir roost off the dam this afternoon.

About seventy Lapwings were in fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon but it was otherwise quiet. The male Bearded Tit again showed at Stanwick Pits in phragmites off the causeway between flooded pits off the A45 layby.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir included the Red-crested Pochard still plus a Great White Egret and thirteen Goosanders. The female Ring-necked Duck was reportedly still present at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Other birds today included a Great White Egret at Pineham on the flood plain on the outskirts of Northampton plus five more on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits and a Little Owl near Ecton.

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Yellowhammer.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Ringing and local birding

Hello

Some recent ringing activity included a session at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on Sunday 5th February when a merry band of ringers tried their luck at a Milton Keynes Community Orchard. This provided an excellent eighty-six birds of sixteen species which included five Fieldfares, three Redwings, six Blackbirds, a male Blackcap, two feisty Jays, a Green Woodpecker, seven Long-tailed Tits, thirty-eight Blue Tits, fourteen Great Tits, a Dunnock, two Robins, a Woodpigeon, a Chaffinch, a Bullfinch, two Greenfinches and a Goldfinch.

On Friday 10th February the team at Stortons Pits caught over a hundred birds of nine species which included fifteen Long-tailed Tits, thirty Blue Tits, eighteen Great Tits, three Robins, four Dunnocks, a Blackbird, a Jay, twelve Goldfinches and an excellent twenty-four Reed Buntings.

Today (13th Feb) and a garden ringing session on the north-eastern outskirts of Northampton yielded thirty-one birds which were made up of seventeen Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, three Dunnocks, a Robin, two Blackbirds, two Blue Tits, a Great Tit, a Treecreeper and three Reed Buntings.

Birds noted today at Stanford Reservoir included a first winter Mediterranean Gull and an adult Caspian Gull in the roost plus the long-staying Red-crested Pochard, two Shelducks, two Goosanders and two Great White Egrets. Three Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning and the female Scaup was again at Hollowell Reservoir as were three Caspian Gulls, nine Common Snipe and an Oystercatcher.

Birds visible along the River Welland at Market Harborough today included a Grey Wagtail, a Kingfisher, a Water Rail, a Little Egret and a Chiffchaff but it seems there haven't been any more reported Otter sightings recently.

A male Bearded Tit and occasionally a second bird were showing in phragmites for at least the second day at Stanwick Pits, sometimes requiring a patient wait until at least the male shows along the causeway between pits near to the A45 layby.

A Great White Egret was at Cransley Reservoir and three pairs of Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon. Nine Ravens were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and a Woodcock and a Barn Owl were seen at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

I've been fortunate to have spent over two weeks in Cambodia, helping out on a Naturetrek tour spent watching a variety of natural history subjects and enjoying historic and modern cultural highlights - a Tab or Page on this blog has been created (Cambodia Jan/Feb 2023) and has some images from the tour (with more to add).

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Black-backed Gull 
and Coots.

Kestrel.

Goosander.

Quiet Times !

 I'm scratching my head about what to write as it really has been another quiet week.  Harrington Airfield has been a birdless zone, the big side of Pitsford Reservoir a vast expanse of empty water and even the valley below Hanging Houghton has been silent.  A wander around Sywell Reservoir earlier in the week didn't produce anything remarkable but just nice views of 2 Cettis Warbler,  Chiffchaff,  Water Rail,  Stonechats,  Siskins and Redpolls plus a Peacock and Brimstone butterfly. The most interesting observation at Sywell was that of two foxes sitting literally a few feet away from a feeding flock of Canada Geese. The foxes looked absolutely stunning in the winter sunshine. The geese were not really bothered by the close proximity of these foxes until they changed their position from sitting to lying down.  But once the foxes settled down again the geese carried on feeding. 

It has been quiet throughout the county with very few new birds being reported.  At Ravensthorpe Reservoir both Scaup and Ring Necked Duck have been present on the small side.  A new Scaup (drake) was found today at Blatherwycke Lake.  Red Crested Pochard remain at Summer Leys and Stanford Reservoir,  at least one Siberian Chiffchaff still at Ecton and Caspian Gull and Jack Snipe at Hollowell Reservoir.  Other birds reported include a Ruddy Shelduck at Winwick Pools, 7 Goosanders at Kinewell Lake Ringstead and 2 Oystercatchers at Stanwick GP 

Have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor 

Mad Monday!!

 It has been a bit of a mad Monday, running errands, walking dogs, topping up feeding stations and a bit of birding thrown in.  It was a lovely frosty start and I was out early as the moon was going to bed and the sun waking up.  Such a magical time to be out when everything is waking up.  Initially the only birds I had for company were Blackbirds but these were soon joined by Red Kites and Common Buzzards and by the time I had finished my walk there was quite a chorus starting up.

The big side of Pitsford Reservoir was devoid of birds. It was literally just a vast expanse of empty water. Even the small side was pretty empty of birds, no where near the numbers of wildfowl that you would expect to find. The only birds of note being a drake Smew,  Shelduck,  2 Stonechat and 2 Great White Egrets.                                                             Next stop was the wilderness area at Kelmarsh Hall to top up the feeding station.  Here I nearly trod on a Woodcock and there were 6 Siskins flying around. 

It was on my afternoon walk where the fun began!! I was enjoying a peaceful amble around the fields with my dogs when I realised that the Pytchley/Woodland Hunt were heading my way.  As I didn't really want to get tangled up with them due to having all my dogs with me including Smeagol the spaniel with his motility issues.  For a while I ended up being stationary and simply scanning the area. It was whilst doing this that I picked up a Marsh Harrier near Blueberry heading east in a very purposeful manner.   The Hunt went towards the Brampton Valley Way and headed off along the BVW towards Brixworth causing chaos as they did so. This was my opportunity to leg it back to my car and even Smeagol broke into a trot when he heard the Foxhounds baying.  Once back to the safety of the car the dogs took a breather and had a play in the stream.  I  took the opportunity to have another scan around, mainly to see where the Hunt were, but they were soon forgotten when the female Merlin put in another appearance and chased the Skylarks again.  This time she was unsuccessful but still fabulous to watch. 

Our garden has been busy again with birds now that the temperature has dropped.  Plenty of Blackbirds and even a Fieldfare returned today. We don't seem to be able to attract wintering Blackcaps which I know quite a few folk do throughout the county. We put plenty of apples out on the bushes which the Blue Tits love but very little else. 

A few birds reported in the county today. Ring Necked Duck and Scaup at Ravensthorpe Reservoir,  Red Crested Pochard at Stanford Reservoir,  Siberian Chiffchaff at Ecton and Jack Snipe at Hollowell Reservoir and below Brixworth in a reedbed area at Spratton Road.                                                                                                                                                           Again in the warm sunshine there are plenty of insects and both Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies on the wing.  Lots of new life in the gardens too with quite a few daffodils fully out in the sheltered areas.   Spring is on its way !

Regards Eleanor 

A male Blackcap visiting
an Abington garden, Northampton
 courtesy of John Gamble.

A quiet week!!

 

Well I am not quite sure where that week has gone to or even how January has slipped past. How did that happen?? It is scary how time flies. I feel as if I have been on the go all week but have very little to show for it.  I have made several visits to Harrington Airfield and Pitsford Reservoir but both places rather bleak and devoid of birds.  Even a walk around Sywell Reservoir produced nothing which is unusual as I normally see something of note there.                                                                                                                                             I have spent quite a bit of time around Blueberry and the area below Hanging Houghton,  but again it has been very quiet.   My best bird's being a large female Peregrine sitting on prey in the middle of a field and the following day I watched transfixed as a female Merlin chased the Skylarks . She relentlessly pursued a single bird and they went higher and higher in the sky to the point where they became dots. I was really willing the Skylark to get away but this was not the case. It was amazing to watch. 

It would seem that the county as a whole has been quiet.  Long staying birds include Ring Necked Duck and Mandarin at Ravensthorpe Reservoir,  Scaup at Hollowell Reservoir,  Mediterranean Gull at Boddington Reservoir, Caspian Gulls at Hollowell Reservoir,  Pink Footed Goose at Wicksteed Park,  Siberian Chiffchaff at Ecton and Red Crested Pochards at Summer Leys and both Daventry and Stanford Reservoir. 

It has certainly been an abnormally mild week for the time of year.  Plenty of small insects about and even a few butterflies.  I did a double take when a Peacock Butterfly whizzed past me whilst I was walking across the fields near Blueberry.   For those interested in the butterflies of the county have a look at David James blog where there is an excellent report . So far 27,460 records detailing the whereabouts of 80,000 adult butterflies!!!!, eye watering numbers. http://davidjameswildlifediary.com/

The mild weather has influenced the birds visiting our garden.  Prior to the mild weather we had plenty of Blackbirds,  Fieldfares and Redwings eagerly devouring the apples we had put out. Now they have all disappeared and returned to feeding in the fields and have been replaced by Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers.  Interestingly we have had a flock of 7 Pied Wagtails daily for several weeks.                                                                            It looks like we could be heading for another cold spell so no doubt it will be all change again in the garden and fingers crossed in the county.

Regards Eleanor 

 Another quiet weekend on the birding front.  The female Ring Necked Duck remains at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Scaup at nearby Hollowell Reservoir,  a drake Smew at Pitsford Reservoir and Red Crested Pochard at both Summer Leys and Stanford Reservoir.  An interesting sighting of a White Stork on a house roof in Moulton. 

I  started today with a long run and notched up all three species of Woodpeckers.  All were very vocal and by the end of my run had notched up double figures of Great Spots.  A very bleak Harrington Airfield produced no birds and a long amble around Blueberry was also a birdless zone with all the Lapwings and winter Thrushes seemingly gone !!        Hopefully things will pick up.

The Northants Bird Club will be meeting on Wednesday 1st February at 7.30pm at the Lodge, Pitsford Water.  The meeting will be the annual Photographic Competition.  Everyone is very welcome to come along and enjoy an evening of Bird, wildlife and habitat pictures. 

Regards Eleanor 

Two Ring-necked Ducks!

Hello

Yesterday's female Ring-necked Duck was still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today where it showed well on occasions near to the causeway. Among many observers there we saw Nick Parker who took some great video footage. Unbelievably Nick went on to Thrapston Pits later in the day and found a female Ring-necked Duck there on the Titchmarsh reserve - sometimes the birds are just like buses! Other birds at Ravensthorpe Reservoir included a drake Mandarin Duck and a Chiffchaff.

Nearby at Hollowell Reservoir the female Scaup was still present with up to three Caspian Gulls and a Pink-footed Goose as well. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was again off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir.

Four hundred Lapwings, several Golden Plovers and hundreds of Fieldfares were on the wet fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon. A report of a White-tailed Eagle over Everdon Stubbs at midday being mobbed by Red Kites sounds intriguing!

Blackcaps continue to be seen in gardens at Moulton and Nassington during the last few days and a Siberian Chiffchaff was with many Chiffchaffs at Billing Pits/Ecton SF. There was a Grey Wagtail and a Cetti's Warbler there too.

A Merlin was seen flying over Greens Norton this morning and a Little Owl was on show at Delapre Park, Northampton. Two Caspian Gulls were in the roost at Stanford Reservoir this afternoon and other birds included a Red-crested Pochard, three Goosanders and three Pintail. At least five Smew were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Female Ring-necked Duck
at Ravensthorpe Reservoir
today courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

More owl stuff!

Hello

On-going efforts to improve the lot of local owls continues and today a small team of us managed to erect another Barn Owl box at Kelmarsh which had been expertly refurbished by Lynne Barnett. The last of the local Tawny Owl boxes were cleared out today in time for the potential early breeding efforts of this species and another individual was found roosting in one of them.

A garden ringing session at Maidwell provided a nice catch of regular garden birds but also included a Grey Wagtail. A Blackcap, a Pied Wagtail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen but not captured.

The find of the day in the county was undoubtedly a female Ring-necked Duck located at Ravensthorpe Reservoir by patch worker Mark Piper who has methodically birded here and Hollowell Reservoirs for many years. The bird was off the eastern bank and diving regularly off the phragmites reed bed and later towards the causeway. The female Scaup was still at neighbouring Hollowell Reservoir.

A Pintail was on the Summer Leys LNR today and two Siberian Chiffchaffs, a Green Sandpiper, a Cetti's Warbler and ten Ring-necked Parakeets were near Bridge K121 below Cogenhoe at Billing Pits/Ecton SF and a Caspian Gull roosted at Stanford Reservoir. Eleven Smew (eight drakes) were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

One or two Barn Owl(s) and four Golden Plovers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with a Water Rail and a Grey Wagtail in the valley below Brixworth.

Regards

Neil M

Tawny Owl.

A Barn Owl box goes up!
Image courtesy of Lynne
Barnett.

The honeycomb of a bee
nest found in an owl box
earlier in the week. Image
courtesy of Jane Neill.

Grey Wagtail at Maidwell
courtesy of Lynne Barnett.

Mistle Thrush courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

January birds of the mist and murk

Hello

Yesterday there were Blackcaps in gardens at Duston and Moulton and this morning a Barn Owl was in flight between the villages of Scaldwell and Old.

A Brambling was at Harrington Airfield this morning and Golden Plovers could be heard calling in the mist there but were unseen. A Woodcock was flushed at Lamport Hall and fifteen Golden Plovers and forty Lapwings were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Redpoll, Siskin and Cetti's Warbler were all reported from Summer Leys LNR today and six Smew were at Eyebrook Reservoir including five drakes. Stanford Reservoir recorded two Caspian Gulls, ten Goosanders and seventeen Lesser Redpolls.

At Hollowell Reservoir today the female Scaup was still present as was the Ruddy Shelduck and fifteen Common Snipe and a Caspian Gull was noted on the ice at Daventry Country Park this morning.

Two Siberian Chiffchaffs were again seen by bridge K121 at Billing Pits/Ecton SF this afternoon and there was a report of a Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail at Frosty Hollow Park, East Hunsbury, Northampton. Five Stonechats were at Upton Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

The Otters at Market Harborough
have been proving hard to see in 
recent days but at least two Kingfishers
show well along the River Welland there.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

All images courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

Tawny Owls

Hello

We finished off checking and clearing out the owl boxes on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, finding two singleton Tawny Owls in boxes. On both occasions the owl was with a large prey item, one a Blackbird and the other a Brown Rat. Both prey items were half eaten and it seems the boxes provided the perfect place to store and guard their respective prey. A bee nest from last year was found in one nest box and there was even combs of honey!

The ice at Pitsford on the reserve side was extensive and much of the wildfowl was absent. Birds noted on the reserve included a Woodcock, at least one Kingfisher, three Common Snipe and several Siskins.

Birds on the fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today included six Golden Plovers, one hundred and fifty Lapwings and two Common Snipe with a Brambling in the same area this morning. A pair of Grey Partridge were the only notable birds seen at Harrington Airfield this morning and the cold weather still kept the Fieldfares and ridiculous numbers of Blackbirds in our garden wolfing down the apples.

Some garden ringing on the north-east edge of Northampton provided some nice captures which included fourteen Goldfinches, a Siskin, nine Blue Tits, one Great Tit, a Long-tailed Tit, six Blackbirds, a Fieldfare, a Nuthatch, a Robin, a Starling, a Woodpigeon and a particularly feisty female Sparrowhawk!

At least five Smew were at Eyebrook Reservoir today and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a Caspian Gull in the roost, a Red-crested Pochard and ten Goosanders.

Regards

Neil M

Sunset and Lapwings
at Pitsford Reservoir
this afternoon.

Tawny Owl.

Images courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Displaced waterfowl, warblers and owl boxes.

Hello

Efforts were made today to visit the Pitsford Reservoir reserve owl boxes with a view to clearing them of debris and making them appropriate for breeding owl occupants. The usual detritus included squirrel drays, long dead Stock Doves and remnants of wasp and hornet nests! We visited about two thirds of them with the remainder to finish another day. Only one Tawny Owl was found in a box but as yet there is no evidence of breeding for the 2023 season. Plenty of ice on the reserve has displaced the usual wildfowl.

Birds noted around the reserve during our meanderings included a Great White Egret, a Woodcock, three Chiffchaffs, half a dozen Siskins and a Redpoll.

At Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning two Pink-footed Geese flew over calling and other sightings included a Barn Owl, two Woodcocks, four Golden Plovers and nine Grey Partridges.

At Hollowell Reservoir a female Scaup was still present plus a Ruddy Shelduck, a Jack Snipe, five Common Snipe and a count of 159 Gadwall - and an adult Caspian Gull was at nearby Ravensthorpe Reservoir. The WeBS count at Clifford Hill Pits included 272 Gadwall, 370 Wigeon, 504 Tufted Ducks, 86 Pochard and 1335 Mallard and also a Caspian Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, seventeen Golden Plovers, twelve Common Snipe and a Stonechat.

A male Blackcap was in a Nether Heyford garden again today and birds at Ecton SF/Billing Pits today included at least one Siberian Chiffchaff, many Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler, several Grey Wagtails, several Green Sandpipers and a Water Rail.

Nine Smew and a drake Common Scoter were at Eyebrook Reservoir today and Stanford Reservoir hosted the Red-crested Pochard again, an adult Caspian Gull, twelve Goosanders and sixty-five Pochard.

Large numbers of birds on the fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon during a temporary thaw included a hundred Lapwings, twenty-five Golden Plovers, a couple of hundred Fieldfares and eighty Skylarks.

Regards

Neil M

Views at Pitsford Reservoir
in stunning weather today courtesy
of Jane Neill.