All-day Pitsford

Hello,

After yesterdays three Drake Smew only one drake and a redhead could be seen today, with them was a Great White Egret and a Ruddy Shelduck was reported.

Regards,

Jacob

Teal

Pheasant

Lapwing

Smew

Hello,

This morning was spent at Pitsford Reservoir and from the Goosander Hide in the Holcot Bay I saw three Drake Smew however two were very mobile.

Regards,

Jacob

Boxing Day Pitsford

Hello,

I hope everyone had an amazing christmas and ate very well.

However today was spent down at Pitsford Reservoir and a Ruddy Shelduck was seen in fields south of the causeway but most time was spent though on the Northern side of the Reservoir, birds on this side included three Great White Egrets (one in Holcot and two Scaldwell Bay), a Drake Goosander, a Kingfisher and a Green Sandpiper.

Merry Christmas,

Jacob

Pitsford am

Hello,

At first light I was down at Pitsford Reservoir as it is due to rain this afternoon. As soon as I got to the site I heard a large flock of finches going over and then proceeded to land and drink from the waters edge along the causeway. These included at least seven Siskin, thirty Goldfinches and a Linnet. I carried along my walk into the Holcot Bay a further five Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll were in the Pines.

The Goosander hide in Holcot Bay is one of my favourite hides on the reserve. This is due to the birds coming incredibly close to the hide and letting taking photographs quite easy. The birds from this hide included a possible 3rd winter Caspian Gull which is a lifer, a pair of Smew (one drake), a Great White Egret with at least twelve Little Egrets in the same tree, two Goosanders (one drake), three Kingfishers and two Green Sandpipers.

Regards,

Jacob

Great White Egret

Lapwing

Mallard

New lens and ringing

Hello,

Yesterday I spent the morning in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford trying out my new lens and I saw a Great White Egret.

Today a ringing session took place at Sunderland Wood, Kelmarsh Estate and we caught around seventy birds. The majority being common tit species found inside the wood but highlights being five Goldcrest, four Treecreeper, four Redwing and a Nuthatch. We then visited Pitsford Reservoir at the dam and espied a Red-Necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and the colossal gull roost. The gull roost had nothing particular but it had around seven and half thousand birds.

Regards,

Jacob

Coot at Pitsford Dam

Mallard at Pitsford dam

Redwing at Sunderland Wood

Pitsford first thing

Hello,

As soon as the first glimmer of light was out, I was down at Pitsford Reservoir which is were I will be entering as my patch for Patchwork Challenge next year. Along the causeway at least a Siskin flew over and a Redshank was below the Fishing Lodge. I could see two Great White Egrets, one in the mouth of the Holcot Bay and the other further down the Holcot Bay just in view from the Goosander Hide. However the biggest treasure of all was a fine drake Smew which displayed brilliantly in front of the hide, I looked all last winter for a Smew in the same spot with no luck even with multiple sightings and on the first try this winter one pops up!

Regards,

Jacob

Afternoon Pitsford

Hello,

This afternoon I spent some time at Pitsford Reservoir and the first thing I realised was the large amount of Thrushes and Starlings lining the bushes however birds I noted were a Great White Egret, twenty one Common Snipe, eleven Golden Plover, a Redshank, a Willow Tit, two Marah Tit, two Redpoll and a Siskin.

Regards,

Jacob

Blueberry Farm

Hello,

This morning a Siskin flew over Scaldwell.

This afternoon however was spent at Blueberry Farm were it was obvious that the winds had pushed down hundreds of migrant thrushes which were preening the fields and bushes of there sweet treats, these included at least five hundred Fieldfare and one hundred Redwing. A Sparrowhawk took advantage but wasn't seen with a catch, other birds of prey included at least eight Red Kites, three Common Buzzards and a Kestrel.

The best bird was probably three fly over Pink Footed Geese at 13:15.

Regards,

Jacob