Page 29 - Oundle Life April 2021

Glapthorn Cow Pasture supporting
small numbers of the now scarce Nightingale. This unobtrusive, largely brown bird with a rufous tail, has been described as producing one of the most beautiful sounds in nature, inspiring
songs, fairy tales, opera, books, and considerable poetry. It makes an epic journey from sub-Saharan Africa to
breed here each summer but there are now fewer than 7,000 nesting pairs remaining in England.
At these times, seasonal floodwater in the Nene Valley supports wildfowl, waders, gulls and egrets of two species
Our local wetlands and farmland are important in supporting an abundance of birds. From Barnwell Country Park, to the long disused Polebrook Airfield, birds abound - particularly in winter and early spring. At these
times, seasonal floodwater in the Nene Valley supports wildfowl, waders, gulls and egrets of two species. In particular, the area around Barnwell Lock has attracted Great and Little Egrets, migrating Garganeys, Ruffs, Redshanks, Greenshanks and Dunlins.
For anyone interested in learning more about local birds, the Oundle
Bookshop, housed in the fine-looking porticoed Georgian building at 13 Market Place, regularly stocks Northants Birds – an annually produced publication containing details of all species seen in Northamptonshire in any one year, as well as other interesting articles and information.
Mike Alibone
www.northantsbirds.com
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Photographs © Bob Bullock and Mike Alibone