A couple of days ago whilst out driving close to Northampton
I decided to have a quick look at Pitsford Reservoir. I stopped in one of the
lay byes on top of the causeway where
you get a good view over the water and almost immediately a group of 5 juvenile
Ruff flew in and landed at the water's edge, about 200yds. from where I was
standing, and proceeded to have a wash and brush up. With the ablutions' over they began to move towards me, busily probing
the mud as they moved along for about 50yds. or so before flying back to their
starting place and working their way back along the water's edge once again. They
repeated this over and over again for the whole of the thirty to forty minutes
that I spent there.
A very interesting chance encounter.
Other birds noted :-
large groups of
Lapwing, Coot and Mallard
patrolling Common
Tern,
Dunlin (1),
Half a dozen or so GC Grebe,
B H Gulls,
Herring Gull (3),
L B B Gull (1),
a few Gadwall,
and across the road, chattering away in the top of a tree, a
large charm of Goldfinch.
Not a bad count for standing in one place for just over half
an hour.
