A walk at Pitsford this morning was just what was needed after the Christmas day feasting.
A scan of the Scaldwell and Walgrave bays, after topping up the feeders at the Saldwell road feed station, revealed a Great White Egret in each of the bays. From the causeway a possible third bird was noted near to the Lagoon hide. Also from the causeway a redhead Smew was in the mouth of the Holcot bay. My first drake of the year was just south of the causeway.
A walk south of the causeway down to the Pintail bay was rewarded with a calling Little Owl near to the three storey farm house by the narrows.
The goose flock was commuting between the fields and the reservoir in the vicinity of the Holly tree. The three White-fronted Geese were still included amongst them, but I failed to spot the Ruddy Shelduck or the Great Northern Diver.
Regards,
Neil H.
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Friday 26 December 2014
Wednesday 24 December 2014
Merry Christmas!
A very Merry Christmas to all our followers and visitors to this blog-site. Thank-you for your support, your interest and contributions over the last year. We will seek to ensure the blog remains as relevant as possible for people with an interest in wild birds and other wildlife in Northamptonshire and further afield.
Enjoy the Festive Period...
Neil M
Enjoy the Festive Period...
Neil M
Monday 22 December 2014
Barn Owls
Hello
Yesterday I neglected to document sightings of single Barn Owls which were noted in Maidwell village and also alongside the road between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell. This afternoon a Barn Owl was again noted hunting at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. With such an exceptional year for breeding Barn Owls, it is perhaps surprising that they are not being seen more regularly.
Regards
Neil M
Yesterday I neglected to document sightings of single Barn Owls which were noted in Maidwell village and also alongside the road between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell. This afternoon a Barn Owl was again noted hunting at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. With such an exceptional year for breeding Barn Owls, it is perhaps surprising that they are not being seen more regularly.
Regards
Neil M
Sunday 21 December 2014
Ringing Sunderland Wood
Hello
A ringing session took place at Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today which led to 75 captures, the majority being Great and Blue Tits with a high percentage of adults.
A Redwing, two Blackbirds, two Wrens, four Goldcrests, a Robin and a Chaffinch were additional species as were two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Marsh Tit and seven Coal Tits.
Other birds noted in this mid-Northants Ash woodland included a couple of Woodcock and at nearby Scotland Wood a Willow Tit was moving around with a mobile tit flock.
Regards
Neil M
A ringing session took place at Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today which led to 75 captures, the majority being Great and Blue Tits with a high percentage of adults.
A Redwing, two Blackbirds, two Wrens, four Goldcrests, a Robin and a Chaffinch were additional species as were two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Marsh Tit and seven Coal Tits.
Other birds noted in this mid-Northants Ash woodland included a couple of Woodcock and at nearby Scotland Wood a Willow Tit was moving around with a mobile tit flock.
Regards
Neil M
Saturday 20 December 2014
Peregrines on the horizon
Hello
A visit to Harrington Airfield this morning was necessary to feed the hordes of birds at the old airfield entrance! Birds of note included an adult male Peregrine, a covey of seven Grey Partridge and about two hundred Golden Plovers together with good numbers of Skylarks and winter thrushes. Nearby a Woodcock was flushed at Sunderland Wood.
This afternoon and birds noted at Pitsford Res included at least one Great White Egret, three Little Egrets and a hunting first year male Peregrine north of the causeway and three Shelduck near to the dam. Blueberry Farm hosted a hunting Barn Owl and a pair of Stonechat.
Regards
Neil M
A visit to Harrington Airfield this morning was necessary to feed the hordes of birds at the old airfield entrance! Birds of note included an adult male Peregrine, a covey of seven Grey Partridge and about two hundred Golden Plovers together with good numbers of Skylarks and winter thrushes. Nearby a Woodcock was flushed at Sunderland Wood.
This afternoon and birds noted at Pitsford Res included at least one Great White Egret, three Little Egrets and a hunting first year male Peregrine north of the causeway and three Shelduck near to the dam. Blueberry Farm hosted a hunting Barn Owl and a pair of Stonechat.
Regards
Neil M
Friday 19 December 2014
Pitsford WeBS count
Hello
Three of us completed a rather late WeBS count at Pitsford Reservoir today in super winter sunshine. Numbers of wildfowl are much less than previous months but there is still a good variety present. Highlights included three Great White Egrets (all north of the causeway), three Little Egrets, 2 Ruddy Shelducks, 96 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, the pair of wintering Stonechat still and a Chiffchaff. A flock of 120 Golden Plovers flew over.
Regards
Neil M
Three of us completed a rather late WeBS count at Pitsford Reservoir today in super winter sunshine. Numbers of wildfowl are much less than previous months but there is still a good variety present. Highlights included three Great White Egrets (all north of the causeway), three Little Egrets, 2 Ruddy Shelducks, 96 Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe, 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, the pair of wintering Stonechat still and a Chiffchaff. A flock of 120 Golden Plovers flew over.
Regards
Neil M
Redwing |
Robin in afternoon winter sunshine |
Thursday 18 December 2014
Mild, wet and windy!
Hello
The current bout of mild, windy and occasionally wet weather is not particularly conducive for good winter birding locally, but it does provide an opportunity to see other wildlife.
John Porter saw a flying Brimstone butterfly at Summer Leys yesterday and reported that the Golden Plovers gathered there looked superb in the winter sunshine.
Young Hedgehogs are still wandering around at a time when they should be hibernating. It seems that the offspring from the late breeding efforts often don't have time to bulk up for hibernation and as a result rarely survive the winter; the lack of adequate sustenance and fat reserves makes them liable to pneumonia and similar conditions. However in a mild winter these youngsters will continue to feed and with supplementary food and/or captive conditions can make it through the winter months. It may not be just the birds that are eating foodstuffs put out in the garden!
Eleanor has been visiting Harrington Airfield regularly and feeding the birds on the concrete track where it junctions the minor road to Draughton. Nothing of specific interest as yet but today there were good numbers of Chaffinches, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings and even Blackbirds and Blue Tits taking advantage of the food.
Today we received news of ringing effort returns, the more interesting as follows...
i. Pete Gilbert was working at Pitsford Reservoir today and on the reserve found a decomposed body of a Tawny Owl. It transpires that this bird was ringed as a nestling in one of the reserve owl boxes in April 2012. Clearly it didn't live very long and it seems didn't travel far;
ii. A young male Blackcap ringed at Pitsford on 13th Sept 2014 was caught again by ringers at Icklesham, Sussex on 25th Sept 2014;
iii. A Lesser Redpoll ringed at Stortons Gravel Pits on 7th Oct 2012 was caught again by ringers operating in South Lanarkshire, Scotland on 19th April 2014;
iv. A young female Cetti's Warbler ringed at Stortons GP on 31st Aug 2013 and was then caught by ringers working at Rutland Water on 16th May 2014;
v. A female Goldfinch ringed at Astcote (South Northants) on 4th Feb 2014 was found freshly dead at Crossrigg, Cumbria on 22nd Oct 2014;
vi. A juvenile Blue Tit ringed at Greens Norton on 7th Sept this year then took a 32km journey north to Stanford Reservoir where it was caught by ringers on 23rd October. I wonder what stimulated it to travel north to another area of the county (the British breeding stock of this species is normally pretty sedentary)?
Regards
Neil M
The current bout of mild, windy and occasionally wet weather is not particularly conducive for good winter birding locally, but it does provide an opportunity to see other wildlife.
John Porter saw a flying Brimstone butterfly at Summer Leys yesterday and reported that the Golden Plovers gathered there looked superb in the winter sunshine.
Young Hedgehogs are still wandering around at a time when they should be hibernating. It seems that the offspring from the late breeding efforts often don't have time to bulk up for hibernation and as a result rarely survive the winter; the lack of adequate sustenance and fat reserves makes them liable to pneumonia and similar conditions. However in a mild winter these youngsters will continue to feed and with supplementary food and/or captive conditions can make it through the winter months. It may not be just the birds that are eating foodstuffs put out in the garden!
Eleanor has been visiting Harrington Airfield regularly and feeding the birds on the concrete track where it junctions the minor road to Draughton. Nothing of specific interest as yet but today there were good numbers of Chaffinches, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings and even Blackbirds and Blue Tits taking advantage of the food.
Today we received news of ringing effort returns, the more interesting as follows...
i. Pete Gilbert was working at Pitsford Reservoir today and on the reserve found a decomposed body of a Tawny Owl. It transpires that this bird was ringed as a nestling in one of the reserve owl boxes in April 2012. Clearly it didn't live very long and it seems didn't travel far;
ii. A young male Blackcap ringed at Pitsford on 13th Sept 2014 was caught again by ringers at Icklesham, Sussex on 25th Sept 2014;
iii. A Lesser Redpoll ringed at Stortons Gravel Pits on 7th Oct 2012 was caught again by ringers operating in South Lanarkshire, Scotland on 19th April 2014;
iv. A young female Cetti's Warbler ringed at Stortons GP on 31st Aug 2013 and was then caught by ringers working at Rutland Water on 16th May 2014;
v. A female Goldfinch ringed at Astcote (South Northants) on 4th Feb 2014 was found freshly dead at Crossrigg, Cumbria on 22nd Oct 2014;
vi. A juvenile Blue Tit ringed at Greens Norton on 7th Sept this year then took a 32km journey north to Stanford Reservoir where it was caught by ringers on 23rd October. I wonder what stimulated it to travel north to another area of the county (the British breeding stock of this species is normally pretty sedentary)?
Regards
Neil M
Wednesday 17 December 2014
Glyn Davies Wood
Hello
Despite a strong south-westerly breeze this morning, a ringing session took place at Glyn Davies Wood right over in the west of the county. This ancient fragment of woodland is managed and owned by the Banbury Ornithological Society and the warden Mike Lewis maintains an excellent feed station within the wood.
Some 72 birds were processed which included 2 Goldcrests, 19 Great Tits, 35 Blue Tits, 5 Marsh Tits, a Willow Tit, 3 Coal Tits, a Robin, 2 Wrens, a Blackbird and a Nuthatch.
Other birds on-site included typical woodland birds and a couple of Ravens.
One or two Raven(s) were present at Hanging Houghton this afternoon.
Regards
Neil M
Despite a strong south-westerly breeze this morning, a ringing session took place at Glyn Davies Wood right over in the west of the county. This ancient fragment of woodland is managed and owned by the Banbury Ornithological Society and the warden Mike Lewis maintains an excellent feed station within the wood.
Some 72 birds were processed which included 2 Goldcrests, 19 Great Tits, 35 Blue Tits, 5 Marsh Tits, a Willow Tit, 3 Coal Tits, a Robin, 2 Wrens, a Blackbird and a Nuthatch.
Other birds on-site included typical woodland birds and a couple of Ravens.
One or two Raven(s) were present at Hanging Houghton this afternoon.
Regards
Neil M
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Pitsford Ringing
Hello
A ringing session took place around the main feed station at Pitsford Reservoir this morning providing 70 captures as managed by Dave Francis. Re-trap birds included 8 Moorhens and a 6 year-old Blue Tit. New birds included a Fieldfare, a Song Thrush, 5 Blackbirds, a Starling, a Robin, 2 Dunnocks, 7 Tree Sparrows, 5 Chaffinches, 5 Greenfinches and 6 Yellowhammers.
Eleanor saw c100 Golden Plovers at Harrington Airfield at lunch-time but couldn't find anything else of note and visiting birder Garry Smith notched up a Barn Owl at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon.
Regards
Neil M
A ringing session took place around the main feed station at Pitsford Reservoir this morning providing 70 captures as managed by Dave Francis. Re-trap birds included 8 Moorhens and a 6 year-old Blue Tit. New birds included a Fieldfare, a Song Thrush, 5 Blackbirds, a Starling, a Robin, 2 Dunnocks, 7 Tree Sparrows, 5 Chaffinches, 5 Greenfinches and 6 Yellowhammers.
Eleanor saw c100 Golden Plovers at Harrington Airfield at lunch-time but couldn't find anything else of note and visiting birder Garry Smith notched up a Barn Owl at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon.
Regards
Neil M
Monday 15 December 2014
Meagre Pickings
Hello
Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today courtesy of Eleanor and Neil H included a Great Northern Diver south of the causeway, two Great White Egrets north of the causeway and three 'redhead' Smew in the Holcot Bay.
The only birds of note at Blueberry Farm were the three pairs of Stonechat.
Regards
Neil M
Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today courtesy of Eleanor and Neil H included a Great Northern Diver south of the causeway, two Great White Egrets north of the causeway and three 'redhead' Smew in the Holcot Bay.
The only birds of note at Blueberry Farm were the three pairs of Stonechat.
Regards
Neil M
Sunday 14 December 2014
The day of the Coal Tit!
Hello
A ringing session took place at Scotland Wood as part of the on-going project to monitor woodland bird populations on the Kelmarsh Estate. Eighty small birds were captured and assessed, species totals being 5 Goldcrests, a Robin, a Blackbird, 21 Blue Tits, 10 Great Tits, 18 Coal Tits, 4 Marsh Tits, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 5 Chaffinches.
Birds noted at Harrington Airfield today again included the adult male Merlin, a Brambling on the seed, a couple each of flying Siskin and redpoll sp and about 150 Golden Plovers.
Late afternoon on the Blueberry Farm complex confirmed that all three pairs of wintering Stonechat remain and again two Barn Owls were seen out hunting.
Activation of the duck trap at Pitsford Res just before dusk succeeded in capturing and processing seven Moorhens, a Coot and a Starling in our continued efforts to better understand the status and dynamics of birds visiting this site.
Regards
Neil M
A ringing session took place at Scotland Wood as part of the on-going project to monitor woodland bird populations on the Kelmarsh Estate. Eighty small birds were captured and assessed, species totals being 5 Goldcrests, a Robin, a Blackbird, 21 Blue Tits, 10 Great Tits, 18 Coal Tits, 4 Marsh Tits, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 5 Chaffinches.
Birds noted at Harrington Airfield today again included the adult male Merlin, a Brambling on the seed, a couple each of flying Siskin and redpoll sp and about 150 Golden Plovers.
Late afternoon on the Blueberry Farm complex confirmed that all three pairs of wintering Stonechat remain and again two Barn Owls were seen out hunting.
Activation of the duck trap at Pitsford Res just before dusk succeeded in capturing and processing seven Moorhens, a Coot and a Starling in our continued efforts to better understand the status and dynamics of birds visiting this site.
Regards
Neil M
Saturday 13 December 2014
Birds of the frosty apple
Hello
An excellent ringing session at an orchard on the outskirts of Nether Heyford today provided over a hundred birds caught and ringed with thrushes taking centre stage. Some thirty-two Fieldfares caught and ringed were the star birds but well supported with over twenty Redwings, at least five Blackbirds and good numbers of Chaffinch, Robin and Blue Tit.
This afternoon a visit to Harrington Airfield provided views of an adult male Merlin and hundreds of winter thrushes gleaning the hawthorns.
Birds visible north of the causeway at Pitsford Res this afternoon included two Great White Egrets, two Little Egrets, a Redshank and a roost of over a hundred Cormorants.
Late afternoon at Blueberry Farm and the Pytchley Hunt were in full flow over the complex with hounds and horses everywhere in pursuit of their fox quarry. Nevertheless a few birds were available which included a close Barn Owl, a male Peregrine and a pair of Stonechat.
Regards
Neil M
An excellent ringing session at an orchard on the outskirts of Nether Heyford today provided over a hundred birds caught and ringed with thrushes taking centre stage. Some thirty-two Fieldfares caught and ringed were the star birds but well supported with over twenty Redwings, at least five Blackbirds and good numbers of Chaffinch, Robin and Blue Tit.
This afternoon a visit to Harrington Airfield provided views of an adult male Merlin and hundreds of winter thrushes gleaning the hawthorns.
Birds visible north of the causeway at Pitsford Res this afternoon included two Great White Egrets, two Little Egrets, a Redshank and a roost of over a hundred Cormorants.
Late afternoon at Blueberry Farm and the Pytchley Hunt were in full flow over the complex with hounds and horses everywhere in pursuit of their fox quarry. Nevertheless a few birds were available which included a close Barn Owl, a male Peregrine and a pair of Stonechat.
Regards
Neil M
Friday 12 December 2014
White-fronted Geese
Hello
Neil Hasdell was out and about at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and located three White-fronted Geese south of the causeway near to the Airstrip/Holly Tree. For a time they were associating with the transient flocks of Canada and Greylag Geese which are currently congregating on the reservoir and adjacent fields at that point.
Regards
Neil M
Neil Hasdell was out and about at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and located three White-fronted Geese south of the causeway near to the Airstrip/Holly Tree. For a time they were associating with the transient flocks of Canada and Greylag Geese which are currently congregating on the reservoir and adjacent fields at that point.
Regards
Neil M
Ditchford Gravel Pits
Hello
The first task today was visiting some of the local wild bird feed stations, and whilst doing so I noticed a flock of ca 440 Golden Plovers on the top fields at Harrington Airfield and two Ravens flew over Maidwell village.
We seemed to spend most of our time concentrating at staying upright in the mud at Ditchford Gravel Pits today whilst completing the monthly WeBS count!
A Great White Egret was west of Ditchford Lane, at one stage flying around carrying a small Pike in its bill. Other birds included three Little Egrets, a flock of fourteen Egyptian Geese, a first year Caspian Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, approximately a thousand Herring Gulls, a Goosander, three Water Rails, ten Kingfishers, four Cetti's Warblers, eight Chiffchaffs, a pair of Stonechat and a couple of Grey Wagtails.
An Otter showed briefly on one of the old pits.
Regards
Neil M
The first task today was visiting some of the local wild bird feed stations, and whilst doing so I noticed a flock of ca 440 Golden Plovers on the top fields at Harrington Airfield and two Ravens flew over Maidwell village.
We seemed to spend most of our time concentrating at staying upright in the mud at Ditchford Gravel Pits today whilst completing the monthly WeBS count!
A Great White Egret was west of Ditchford Lane, at one stage flying around carrying a small Pike in its bill. Other birds included three Little Egrets, a flock of fourteen Egyptian Geese, a first year Caspian Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, approximately a thousand Herring Gulls, a Goosander, three Water Rails, ten Kingfishers, four Cetti's Warblers, eight Chiffchaffs, a pair of Stonechat and a couple of Grey Wagtails.
An Otter showed briefly on one of the old pits.
Regards
Neil M
Wednesday 10 December 2014
Blustery winter day!
Hello
It was a little cool and breezy at Harrington Airfield this morning, but at least it was bright and sunny. Small numbers of winter thrushes were present in the bushes along the rough strips and a covey of seven Grey Partridge were also present. A female Merlin was racing around the north side of the complex and the now regular Red Kites were showing well in the winter sun.
Scanning from the Old Scaldwell Road at Pitsford Reservoir at lunch-time produced 2-3 Great White Egrets and the wintering pair of Stonechat.
The last two hours of daylight were spent at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell but the only birds of note were 2-3 Barn Owls and a pair of Stonechat.
Regards
Neil M
It was a little cool and breezy at Harrington Airfield this morning, but at least it was bright and sunny. Small numbers of winter thrushes were present in the bushes along the rough strips and a covey of seven Grey Partridge were also present. A female Merlin was racing around the north side of the complex and the now regular Red Kites were showing well in the winter sun.
Scanning from the Old Scaldwell Road at Pitsford Reservoir at lunch-time produced 2-3 Great White Egrets and the wintering pair of Stonechat.
The last two hours of daylight were spent at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell but the only birds of note were 2-3 Barn Owls and a pair of Stonechat.
Regards
Neil M
Tuesday 9 December 2014
Birds of the park
Hello
John Gamble has kindly forwarded some images of birds noted yesterday at Abington Park, Northampton. A pack of twenty stunning Goosanders provided some opportunities to photograph these normally shy birds, which during the last few winters have regularly visited the lakes and to a point become used to people wandering around. In addition John found the pair of Ring-necked Parakeets which seem to have taken up residence in the park and again appears to be a repeat of previous winters.
Today (Tuesday) and I was driving out near Fotheringhay at about 12 noon when I noticed a goose flock next to the road and River Nene in some grass meadows. Close to the assembly of Greylag and Canada Geese and Mute Swans were four Pink-footed Geese - map reference TL059928.
Regards
Neil M
John Gamble has kindly forwarded some images of birds noted yesterday at Abington Park, Northampton. A pack of twenty stunning Goosanders provided some opportunities to photograph these normally shy birds, which during the last few winters have regularly visited the lakes and to a point become used to people wandering around. In addition John found the pair of Ring-necked Parakeets which seem to have taken up residence in the park and again appears to be a repeat of previous winters.
Today (Tuesday) and I was driving out near Fotheringhay at about 12 noon when I noticed a goose flock next to the road and River Nene in some grass meadows. Close to the assembly of Greylag and Canada Geese and Mute Swans were four Pink-footed Geese - map reference TL059928.
Regards
Neil M
Goosanders |
Ring-necked Parakeet |
Monday 8 December 2014
Winter feed stations
Hello
Quite cold in the strong breeze today making it feel like a proper winter day. Several of the local farmers were using the conditions to slash field hedges today during pitiful examples of hedge management, but there were still plenty of winter thrushes along the Brampton Valley Way taking advantage of the berry-laden hawthorns that were not subject to such wanton habitat destruction.
I spent much of the morning visiting the winter wild bird feeding stations that we maintain, replenishing suspended feeders and broadcasting mixed seed. The Kelmarsh sites have plenty of tits and other woodland birds coming to them now, including Nuthatches, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and possibly Jays. We are again putting down mixed seed on the concrete track at Harrington Airfield, at the entrance to the complex off the minor road to Draughton. We are always grateful for visiting birders/photographers to broadcast safe seed at this location should they visit. So far it has been mostly common birds coming down such as Chaffinch and Yellowhammer, but as the season progresses more species are anticipated to join them.
Three feed stations are maintained at Pitsford Reservoir, including one at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay. Diane Freeman commits to most of the work at this location, visiting every couple of days to ensure the feeders still dispense the foodstuffs. Although a broad range of species utilise this feed station in a woodland setting, priority and targeted species such as Willow and Marsh Tit regularly visit to supplement their winter feeding. In due course it is hoped to construct a simple bench and wooden blind to provide permit holders the opportunity of watching birds at this feed station without causing any disturbance.
A Woodcock flushed up at Sunderland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) this morning, but I didn't see anything else of note on my travels...
Regards
Neil M
Quite cold in the strong breeze today making it feel like a proper winter day. Several of the local farmers were using the conditions to slash field hedges today during pitiful examples of hedge management, but there were still plenty of winter thrushes along the Brampton Valley Way taking advantage of the berry-laden hawthorns that were not subject to such wanton habitat destruction.
I spent much of the morning visiting the winter wild bird feeding stations that we maintain, replenishing suspended feeders and broadcasting mixed seed. The Kelmarsh sites have plenty of tits and other woodland birds coming to them now, including Nuthatches, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and possibly Jays. We are again putting down mixed seed on the concrete track at Harrington Airfield, at the entrance to the complex off the minor road to Draughton. We are always grateful for visiting birders/photographers to broadcast safe seed at this location should they visit. So far it has been mostly common birds coming down such as Chaffinch and Yellowhammer, but as the season progresses more species are anticipated to join them.
Three feed stations are maintained at Pitsford Reservoir, including one at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay. Diane Freeman commits to most of the work at this location, visiting every couple of days to ensure the feeders still dispense the foodstuffs. Although a broad range of species utilise this feed station in a woodland setting, priority and targeted species such as Willow and Marsh Tit regularly visit to supplement their winter feeding. In due course it is hoped to construct a simple bench and wooden blind to provide permit holders the opportunity of watching birds at this feed station without causing any disturbance.
A Woodcock flushed up at Sunderland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) this morning, but I didn't see anything else of note on my travels...
Regards
Neil M
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