NATURE TABLE EXPLORER

Actually it was the jetty at the reservoir called Pitsford Water close to Northampton.

The Cormorants were lined up along the jetty with regular fliers coming in to land. Several were in wings stretched drying mode. On the water there were plenty of cormorants diving. It was cormorant paradise.

I would love a long lens to capture these types of images it will have to be on a list to save for.

On the way back from my walk around the reservoir I tried to photograph the cormorants from the jetty .Not very successful but as you can see there is plenty of sailing at Pitsford.

Pitsford Water is a large reservoir with a causeway across the top end . There is a good path to walk or cycle the 7 miles around it.

It is a designated SSSI for wintering birds and there were certainly plenty of birds there yesterday with flocks if terns and ducks flying in and swimming together in large flotillas.

A list from their website of the birds commonly seen –

You can expect to find:

• Black-headed gulls
• Little egrets
• Common Turn
• Great northern divers (common loons)
• Great crested grebes
• Slavonian grebes (horned grebes)
• Song Thrush
• Swallows
• Goldeneye
• Willow Warbler
• Lapwings
• Chiffchaff

There is a mixture of habitats to explore throughout the year. The coppiced hazel stands were in full catkin.

The water itself is beautiful for a walk.

Fantastic large dead tree against the skyline , dramatic even on this grey morning.

I tried to creep through the trees to photograph a huge flock of terns but their super senses sent most of them away !

Pitsford is a good walk with lots to see , I will be returning through the year .