Monday 31 December 2012

Winter weight control!

Hi

John Woollett and team managed a ringing session at Stortons GP yesterday morning (Sunday 30th).  An interesting retrap was of a Water Rail that was first ringed on-site in February of this year.  On that occasion when the weather was cold and conditions harsh, this bird weighed 118 grams.  Yesterday this bird weighed 162 grams, an indication of the much milder and easier conditions and at a time when presumably this bird is able to feed avidly on earth worms and similar invertebrates.  Although we often think of small birds losing considerable weight and fat reserves during difficult periods, this is a reminder that it affects larger birds too.  

The Jackdaw with the distinctive 'neck braces' remains in and around the village at Hanging Houghton, and was seen again this morning.  The question as to whether it is a migrant 'Nordic Jackdaw' or simply a well-marked bird from a local population remains unanswered.  Two other birds in the same flock 'ghost' similar markings.

At least one Brambling remains attracted to garden feeders in the village at The Croft.  Again a couple of Ravens were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

A brief visit to Kelmarsh Hall this morning confirmed the presence of at least one Brambling, a Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll.      


Regards

E & N

Sunday 30 December 2012

Splitting forces!

Hi

Splitting forces is always dangerous in our household as Eleanor always sees more than me!

Today Eleanor stayed local and ran around the south side of Pitsford Res, seeing c20 redpoll sp as she did so.  There was subsequently a Brambling at the feeding station on the old Scaldwell Road.

There were 2 Ravens in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at 3.30pm 4 Waxwings were perched on the television aerial of our house at Hanging Houghton!  The Great White Egret and 4 Little Egrets were again on the floodwater near Holcot village as viewable from the Walgrave and Hannington roads at about 1pm, and at 3.40pm there were 6 Bramblings on the seed at Harrington Airfield.

In the meantime Neil Hasdell and myself decided to go north for a further change of scenery.  We started at East Carlton Country Park which hosted a pleasant walk but little in the way of birds.  The escaped South American teal sp was still present on the ponds there but otherwise it was just the usual resident woodland birds which included Nuthatch and Marsh Tit.

We then drove slowly north along the Welland Valley which not surprisingly was flooded along most of its course.  Pockets of Lapwings, common wildfowl and gulls were encountered plus a single Little Egret near Harringworth.

A walk then along a footpath that extends from the valley up on to the plateau of Harringworth Airfield.  There is some interesting habitat where the old airfield meets the back of Wakerley Wood and it was here where our best bird of the day was pushed out of a bush by Bazra (our Border Collie) in the shape of a Hawfinch.  This bird was probably initially on the ground beneath Blackthorn and Hawthorn bushes at about SP948975.  A Waxwing was heard calling here but not seen and other birds included a couple of Lesser Redpolls, 3 Siskins and a male Stonechat.

After a bite to eat in the car park at Wakerley Wood, we moved on to Fineshade which was busy with people.  A few Siskins and a Lesser Redpoll were noted and common birds were coming to the feeders in front of the wildlife hide.

Our last main venue for the day was Batherwycke Lake which contained plenty of wildfowl but surprisingly no evident Mandarin Ducks.  Birds of note included 2 Shelduck and 2 'redhead' Goosanders.

Scanning over Harrington Airfield just before dusk failed to locate the regular Merlin perhaps coming in to roost -  the only raptor noted was a Sparrowhawk or two!

Regards

Neil M



 
Common Buzzard-
moulting inner primaries

 
 



 
Sorry can't resist the
Red Kites!

 
Coal Tit
Fineshade

 
The villain
of bird feeders!

 
Marsh Tit at
Fineshade.  Note
the silver mark
on upper mandible
which is hard to
see in the field but
easier to appreciate
with digital photography
and helps distinguish
it from the Willow Tit
 

 
Bazra - the finder of our
best bird!


 
Herring and Great Black-
backed Gulls over
Blatherwycke Lake

Saturday 29 December 2012

Last few birds of 2012

Hi 

Birds around the garden today included a couple of flighty Bramblings but unfortunately no sign of yesterday's Waxwings.

At least one Brambling was a Kelmarsh Hall late morning.

This afternoon the Great White Egret was on the floodwater again near to Holcot village and viewable from the Hannington Road, but efforts to photograph it were thwarted as there was always vegetation in the way.  Just the one Little Egret was keeping it company.

The Pitsford Res gull roost contained two Mediterranean Gulls this evening (adult and 1st winter).

Regards

Neil M


 
Great White Egret

 
Tufted Duck Pitsford

 
Common Gull Brixworth

Friday 28 December 2012

Grey day birding

Hi

Limited opportunity for birding today on a very grey dank day in the county.

A single Brambling was on the scattered seed at Harrington Airfield this morning.  Neil Hasdell located the Slavonian Grebe at Pitsford Res this morning, present off the Brixworth bank next to The Gorses (about half way between the causeway and the dam).  A 'redhead' Smew was still present off The Pines and a Redshank was at the yacht club this afternoon.

At 3.05pm this afternoon a lock of 11 Waxwings were in a garden at The Croft, Hanging Houghton briefly, before flying towards Lamport Grange.  Two Bramblings and a redpoll sp were also flying around the gardens.

Finally this afternoon there was a male Stonechat in the most northerly field at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell plus a hunting Barn Owl.

We thought we would add an image of a pink male Lesser Redpoll caught yesterday to brighten the day up (please see below)!

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Thursday 27 December 2012

Squelch squelch!

Hi

A good traipse around the Blueberry Farm complex today confirmed that few birds of interest remain on-site, with just 2 Woodcock being of note.

A squelchy walk around Stanford Res was a pleasant change of scenery, the only birds of interest were 5 Goosanders, ca20 Lesser Redpolls on weeds, a Cetti's Warbler and ca50 Tree Sparrows.

Small numbers of finches at Kelmarsh Hall this afternoon included a couple each of Brambling, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin.

It seems that the current mild and wet conditions are failing to produce many new birds in the county.

Regards

Eleanor & Neil

Wednesday 26 December 2012

Boxing Day Bramblings

Hi

Birds visible from the feed station at Pitsford Res this morning included a 'redhead' Goosander, a Brambling and a Lesser Redpoll.

Four Bramblings and a Lesser Redpoll were caught and ringed at Kelmarsh Hall today with several others of each and up to 10 Siskins present too.

About 8 Bramblings were back on the seed at Harrington Airfield this afternoon.

Finally a couple of Ravens were visible in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

E and N

Tuesday 25 December 2012

Crested Angels from the north

Hi

Eleanor has just come in from her Christmas Day morning run with the dog, and she has just seen 4 Waxwings along the Brampton Valley Way below Brixworth in bushes close to the Creaton Road access point.  This would have been about 10.20am...

Also 2 Ravens at Blueberry Farm this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Angels of the flood

Hi

On this Christmas morning the Great White Angel and three Little Angels were again on the floodwater near Holcot at 10am this morning, best viewed from the Hannington Road (for angel read egret).  Although they are slowly becoming more used to cars and traffic generally, it is best to stay in your vehicle and watch from a distance to avoid disturbance.

A quick recce and top-up of the feeders on the Kelmarsh Estate this morning, and before the rain sets in, didn't come up with anything particularly unusual but there were three smart male Bramblings at Kelmarsh Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Monday 24 December 2012

Merry Christmas!

Hi

A first winter Mediterranean Gull and a first year Yellow-legged Gull were in the gull roost at Pitsford Res this afternoon.  In addition there were a pair of Smew off The Pines and a Kingfisher off the yacht club.

Merry Christmas and fingers crossed for a bird-filled 2013!

E & N

Soggy birding!

Hi

Rain, rain and more rain!

This morning the Jackdaw sporting the broad silver neck braces was again present at Hanging Houghton.  Two other birds showed similar but much duller markings.

At 11am this morning the Great White Egret was showing well on the floodwater at the back of the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Res, just outside Holcot village and viewable from both the Walgrave and Hannington roads.  Two Little Egrets were also present.  At least one Brambling was present at the main feeding station at Pitsford Res this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Sunday 23 December 2012

Egrets and stuff

Hi

A visit to Harrington Airfield this morning only produced a single female Brambling amongst the feeding birds on the seed by the concrete track entrance off the Draughton Road.

Birds in and around the garden here at Hanging Houghton included a Brambling, plus a Jackdaw with plumage traits sometimes associated with north-eastern populations known as 'Nordic Jackdaw'.  An image is below - see what you think!

The Great White Egret was quite mobile at Pitsford Res late morning and seen in both the Holcot and Walgrave bays.  Five Little Egrets were near floodwater at the back of the Holcot Bay as seen from the Hannington Road.

At 3.30pm this afternoon, five Waxwings were on television aerials in Holcot village at the crossroads in the middle of the village.

Blueberry Farm seemed quiet this afternoon, three redpoll sp and a Snipe being the most notable birds.

Regards

E & N


 
Stock Dove Hanging Houghton

 
Jackdaw at Hanging Houghton
(with a sheep in the way!)


 
Little Egrets Pitsford


 
Great White Egret
Pitsford - distant
flight shots

 
Goldeneye Pitsford

 
Tufted Duck Pitsford

Saturday 22 December 2012

Pitsford birds

Hi

This afternoon birds visible from and around the yacht club at Pitsford Res included 4-5 Smew (2-3 drakes), a Kingfisher, a Barn Owl hunting at 3pm (during a short spell when it wasn't actually raining!), a first year Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult and first winter).

Regards

Neil M

Rain birds!

Hi

In very soggy conditions this morning it was time to replenish the food at the wild bird feeding stations.  Not much to report in the constant rain but there were a couple of vocal Bramblings at Kelmarsh Hall and at 10.40am the Great White Egret was in flooded fields just outside Holcot village next to Pitsford Res and best viewed from the Hanninton Road.  While I was there it was spending time standing around in the brown stubble field away from the stream.  Plenty of Grey Herons there too and 2 Little Egrets were in a grass field on the opposite side of the Hannington road.

Regards

Neil M

Friday 21 December 2012

GWE again...

Hi

Today the only birds of note seen was the Great White Egret together with 4 Little Egrets on floodwater at the back of the Holcot Bay, Pitsford Reservoir (at 12 noon).

Regards

Eleanor

Thursday 20 December 2012

Great White Egret

Hi

At about 11.30am this morning the Great White Egret was on show on the ever increasing floodwater at the back of the Holcot Bay, Pitsford Res, best viewed from the Hannington Road out of Holcot village.

Regards

Eleanor