Northamptonshire Reservoirs

Grey Heron - Pitsford

Black Headed & Common Gulls - Pitsford

Reed Bunting - Hollowell

Perimeter Track - Ravensthorpe

Reed Bunting - Hollowell

Coot - Ravensthorpe

(More [boring and poor quality]Images on Website - see link opposite)

I decided to visit a trio of Northamptonshire Reservoirs, namely Pitsford, Hollowell and Ravensthorpe. A very mild and pleasant day but very quiet on the birding front. I did not meet a single birder all day - perhaps they realised there was little about.

I really must decide if I am going to watch birds or photograph them. I am struggling at the moment to maintain enthusiasm for carrying my camera when everything seems so distant. Coupled with a heavy scope, days are becoming quite knackering!

My day started at Pitsford at 0745 and rather than walking the 7 mile perimeter, I decided to walk the Scaldwell Arm. This reservoir arm actually held vast numbers of the expected wildfowl and gulls, the best being Pintail (9); Goldeneye (4); Kingfisher (1); Little Egret (1) and Red Crested Pochard (2). The feeding station by the sunken road provided Tree Sparrow (7).

Leaving Pitsford, I arrived at Hollowell at 1100, with the light against me. As I walked towards the point two Snipe were flushed from the sheep field. Again the reservoir held the usual wildfowl but few wading birds even though the water levels were very low. A single Yellow Legged Gull was spotted within the resting gulls and the reeds held a very flighty pair of Stonechat.

My final stop was at Ravensthorpe, arriving at 1230. Very little to report other than two Jay's over, a Grey Wagtail on the dam, and a Red Admiral butterfly. A Buzzard was mobbed over the "private" side of the reservoir.

Todays sightings:

Pitsford - Carrion Crow; Wood Pigeon; Lapwing; Mallard; Mute Swan; BH Gull; LBB Gull;Canada Goose; Gt Cr Grebe; Tufted Duck; Coot; Gadwall; Moorhen; Wigeon; Wren; Shoveler; Teal; Grey Lag Goose; Pochard; Goldeneye; Dabchick; Cormorant; Grey Heron; Robin; Great Tit; Blackbird; Blue Tit; Redwing; Green Woodpecker; Rook; Starling; Jackdaw; Red Crested Pochard; Little Egret; Pheasant; Skylark; Magpie; Chaffinch; Long Tailed Tit; Marsh Tit; Pintail; Common Gull; Gt Sp Woodpecker; Kingfisher; Reed Bunting; Bullfinch; Greenfinch; Tree Sparrow; Dunnock; Meadow Pipit; Pied Wagtail.

Hollowell - BH Gull; Carrion Crow; Rook; Wood Pigeon; Robin; Jackdaw; Magpie; Teal; Grey Heron; Mute Swan; Wigeon; Pied Wagtail; Gadwall; Meadow Pipit; Mallard; Skylark; Gt Cr Grebe; Pheasant; Snipe; Canada Goose; Coot; LBB Gull;Collared Dove; Moorhen; Cormorant; Lapwing; Tufted Duck; Herring Gull; Common Gull; Green Woodpecker; Yellow Legged Gull; Dunnock; Stonechat; Starling; Reed Bunting; Wren; Great Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Blackbird; Blue Tit; Chaffinch.

Ravensthorpe - Jay; Magpie; Carrion Crow; Wood Pigeon; Mute Swan; Mallard; BH Gull; Coot; Moorhen; Gt Cr Grebe; Tufted Duck; Cormorant; LT Tit; Blackbird; Blue Tit; Chaffinch; Pheasant; Robin; Grey Wagtail; Pied Wagtail; Green Woodpecker; Starling; Canada Goose; Grey Lag Goose; Common Gull; Buzzard; Eigeon; Grey Heron; Gadwall; Pochard; Shoveler; Red Admiral Butterfly.