Page 14 - Oundle Life January 2022

WINTER
BIRDS
Oundle’s feathered friends
Following an autumn of temperatures pleasantly above average, rather more inclement weather, much more in keeping with winter, finally caught up with us at the end
of November. Winter is the time when many
Among the more common species, such as Wigeon and Tufted Ducks, look out for Goosanders, the males of which are simply stunning, with their soft pink body plumage, glossy green heads and contrasting, long
birds head to the UK for the colder months to escape harsher conditions in the Arctic, north-east Europe and Russia. With the objective of finding lucrative feeding and roosting areas, many may ultimately be forced to undertake hard weather movements, when these freeze over.
These visitors from the north and
east form a diverse range of species,
from small finches at one end of the
scale, to wild geese at the other – and many more in between.
Goosanders like open bodies of water and can be found on suburban park lakes
red bills. The latter contain rows of sharp teeth in order to help catch and retain their main prey item, fish, and this adaptation has led to the name ‘sawbills’ being applied to describe the small number of species within this family. Goosanders like open bodies of water and can be found on suburban park lakes and in such settings they can be quite approachable.
The Oundle area is ideally placed to receive these birds, specifically wildfowl, as many make their way inland along the Nene Valley after having crossed the North Sea.
Continuing the wildfowl theme,
the meadows along the River Nene may also attract geese. Canada Geese and Greylag Geese, while breeding locally, will form large grazing flocks and may also be joined occasionally by small numbers of Russian White-fronted Geese or Pink-footed Geese. Take a closer look at
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