Saturday 3 February 2018

Wildlife of a cold, wet day...

Hello

Pitsford Reservoir is now full, but with water rather than birds! As is usual in the latter part of the winter, many of the waterbirds are no longer present as the food available to them has in the main already been consumed. For dabbling ducks the increase in the water level and the fact that the water is now filtering in to the margins where there is food available as seed and vegetation becomes accessible. The minimal number of fish-eating birds suggests that fish stocks are now low and we seem to have lost the Great White Egrets and most of the Little Egrets too. Birds noted on-site today included the Slavonian Grebe still plus a Pintail, a Redshank and two Ravens. The gulls at roost showed well but nothing different could be picked out.

Two Ravens showed as usual at Staverton this morning but Daventry Country Park seemed very quiet. Eleanor dropped in to Ravensthorpe Reservoir this afternoon and enjoyed excellent views of two playful Otters from about 4.45pm onwards. They were viewed from the road causeway between Ravensthorpe and Coton looking on the 'small side' where there were also two Great White Egrets.

This afternoon I noticed at least seven Reed Buntings looking for seed in our back garden, an increase from the couple that have been around for the last couple of weeks, and reflective of the fact that natural seeds are now in very short supply. The 'hunger gap' period for many birds is now upon us...

Regards

Neil M


Otter!

Reed Bunting.

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