Monday 12 August 2013

Monday Musings

Despite a day of running errands and walking the dogs I managed to enjoy some good birding.
My first visit to Blueberry area produced 2 Whinchat and a Grasshopper Warbler, whereas this evening, along with a dramatic sunset it produced at least 6 Whinchats, Hobby, Barn Owl and I presume the same Osprey at 20.00hrs.
A visit to Pitsford Reservoir late morning provided some entertainment in the form of a family party of Common Buzzards who were very noisy and very funny to watch as they balanced precariously on the hay bales below the dam. They were clearly enjoying themselves whilst learning valuable life skills.
On the causeway there were 2 Common Sandpipers and sitting amongst the wildfowl in the Scaldwell arm was a Goldeneye and 2 female Red Crested Pochard.
On a brief visit to Sywell Reservoir there was a Common Sandpiper, Red Kite and Grey Wagtail.  I did note that the Great Crested Grebes appear to have done very well there, with several broods of at least 4 well grown young.
Of course I couldn't keep away from Harrington Airfield and late this afternoon I took the dogs for a long walk, covering as much of the area as I could. It was quite breezy and the sky grey and threatening, but this didn't deter the two "cream crown" Marsh Harriers who again frequented the area between the pond and the Brampton Valley way. I first saw them at 17.30hrs and watched them from the footpath which leads from Draughton Village and runs parallel with the main track and eventually joins the main track.   There was a Redstart in the field hedge near the pond, and at least 2 young Little Grebe on the pond.

Regards   Eleanor

Sunday 11 August 2013

Birds of the West Country

Hello

With Eleanor firmly ensconced in Northants, Neil H and I drove west, initially to the Symonds Yat viewpoint in Gloucestershire.  Here we were treated to seven species of raptor in less than three hours scanning.  Best of the bunch was an adult Honey Buzzard with an adult female Goshawk a close second!  Other raptors included Red Kite, Peregrine and Hobby.  Plenty of Ravens here too and small numbers of Crossbills were moving around all the time we were there.

We then drove further west in to Wales, eventually arriving at Marloes on the Pembrokeshire coast.  Patient waiting at Marloes Mere finally provided views of the long-staying Glossy Ibis plus 4 Green Sandpipers and a couple of juvenile Peregrines.

All being well, we hope to cross to Skokholm tomorrow and commit to some ringing and birding on an island which is new for the both of us.

Regards

Neil M



 
Honey Buzzard with
Common Buzzard


 
Honey Buzzard by
Neil Hasdell


 
 
 
Holly Blue
 
 

 
Glossy Ibis



This afternoon found me wandering around Blueberry area and as I sat on one of the seats at the top of the big field admiring one of the best views in Northamptonshire an Osprey, Hobby and Barn Owl flew through my field of view and I could hear a Grasshopper Warbler close by.

I walked the dogs late this evening in the area between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke. Against the backdrop of a stunning red sky and the combine harvesters working the fields I heard another Grasshopper Warbler and saw at least 4 Whinchats.

As I came back to the village I could hear the family of Little Owls hissing and generally making lots of noises. So I couldn't resist walking over to them and playing "peek a boo" as they looked out from behind the tree branches, they are just so comical.

Regards Eleanor

And then there were two !!!

What a better way to start Sunday morning than with a wander at Harrington Airfield with my 3 collie dogs in tow ! There were plenty of common birds to look at, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Reed Buntings, Whitethroats and Hirundines to name but a few. 

At 08.30hrs a "cream crown Marsh Harrier" flew over the track in front of me and disappeared from view. Then a Hobby came hurtling through the hirundines and disappeared in the same direction.

Two Whinchat were perched on some dead looking weed stems by the side of the track and a Redstart and Turtle Dove in the bushes at the end of the main track.

I decided to walk down to the pond and as I did so an adult Grey Partridge with 4 well grown young broke cover.  I noticed a raptor quartering the wheat and it was "the" Marsh Harrier, but as I watched I was aware that it had been joined by another raptor........another cream crown Marsh Harrier.!!  This was at 09.00. I watched them for about 10 mins and they were clearly enjoying the sun and breeze as they interacted with one another , before heading off across the fields towards the Brampton Valley Way. 

Regards Eleanor

Saturday 10 August 2013

Blueberry p.m.

Hello

This afternoon a walk around the Blueberry Farm complex near Maidwell was pleasant but generally quiet.  This warm weather is probably assisting passerine migrants to move through the country without the need to necessarily refuel, hence why many of the autumnal movements of warblers, chats etc has been very light so far.

A single Grey Partridge and an adult Osprey which flew towards Haselbech at 6.30pm were the only birds of note seen.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil



Osprey
Blueberry Farm




Harrington a.m.

Hello

A walk around the Harrington Airfield complex this morning was relatively quiet, albeit that there were reasonable numbers of Whitethroats and Willow Warblers present.  A single Crossbill flew SW at 8.40am and presumably a different bird did likewise at 10.15am.  Two Turtle Doves were present, one on wires by the chippings compound and another at the very end of the concrete track.

A single Red Kite flew over Hanging Houghton early this afternoon.

Regards

E & N

Friday 9 August 2013

Evening at Pitsford

Hello

A Red Kite was sauntering over Lamport Hall this evening and birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Res later on included an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Hobby, 2 Little Egrets and a Common Sandpiper.

Regards

Neil M

Neighbourhood Birding

Hello

A breezy but pleasant morning provided 3 Whinchats at the southern end of the Blueberry Farm complex near Maidwell plus two Hobbies (one of which appeared to be carrying a Swift).  Not too far away, there were two Grey Wagtails at Brixworth Sewer Works.

At about 11am this morning a Turnstone was flying around Pitsford Res in the vicinity of the yacht club, and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was present.

Regards

Neil M

Thursday 8 August 2013

Warm weather birds

This morning there were 2 Whinchats and a Grasshopper Warbler in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Barn Owl and a Hobby at Blueberry Farm.

At Harrington Airfield this afternoon a juvenile Marsh Harrier was present at 4.30pm - other birds included a Redstart, 2 Whinchats, a Hobby and a Turtle Dove.

At Pitsford Res this morning, Dave Francis completed another CES ringing session in the Scaldwell Bay, catching some 57 birds.  Typical birds included 8 Reed Warblers, 6 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Garden Warblers and 2 Whitethroats.  A very untypical catch in a mist net was a juvenile Grey Heron, and thankfully both bird and Dave remain unscathed!

This afternoon birds of note visible from the causeway at Pitsford were restricted to at least one Yellow-legged Gull and a female Pochard wearing a bill shield.

Regards

E & N

Wednesday 7 August 2013

NN6 Birding

Hello

Birds at Harrington Airfield this morning included a Hobby and 2 Crossbills flying over in a northerly-westerly direction.

Scanning from the causeway at Pitsford Res this morning provided views of an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Little Egret, a Kingfisher and a Wigeon.  A very late brood of Great Tits was discovered in a nest box by The Lodge.  Six Yellow-legged Gulls were in the gull roost off the dam this evening.

Birds near to Hanging Houghton this afternoon included the Little Owl family still plus an adult Grey Partridge with two young.

Blueberry Farm produced a Hobby, a Red Kite, a Barn Owl, a Grasshopper Warbler and at least four Whinchats.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Blueberry

Hello

A beautiful evening at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell with still conditions and golden autumnal sunshine was reward enough, but two hunting Barn Owls, a Grasshopper Warbler and a small 'fall' of Willow Warblers made it rather special this evening.

A few images below from the last few days locally...

Regards

Neil M



RAF Hercules over
Harrington Airfield

Redshank with yellow/orange
legs Pitsford Res causeway







Female Pochard at
Pitsford Res with bill
'shield'

Juvenile Lapwing
Pitsford Res

Hobby
Draughton

Ringing at Pitsford

Hello

Dave Francis completed a ringing session this morning at Pitsford Res, utilising the area around the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station.  He had a productive time with 65 birds caught which included 2 Sedge Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler, 15 juvenile Tree Sparrows, 11 Chaffinches, 4 Greenfinches and 3 Goldfinches.

Two Little Egrets and a Green Sandpiper were north of the causeway at Pitsford this afternoon, and this morning there were two Crossbills around the garden centre by the A428 entrance of Harlestone Heath.

Regards

E & N

Monday 5 August 2013

Red Sky at night...

Hello

This evening there was an amazing red/orange sky to the west which hopefully means that tomorrow will be a day of stunning weather after today's deluge.

The star bird today was a juvenile Marsh Harrier at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell at 5.15pm.  It was rigorously escorted out of the area by a pair of Hobby and left towards Haselbech.  A Red Kite also put in an appearance.

Regards

Eleanor

Sunday 4 August 2013

Ringing at Stortons GP

Hello

Ringing sessions at Stortons Gravel Pits this year have been consistently good for both numbers and variety of birds in this aquatic and marginal habitat.  This morning the ringers on-site managed to catch 107 birds prior to the late morning downpour which halted proceedings.  Perhaps one of the more interesting birds was a Sedge Warbler bearing a French ring -  hopefully we will receive news soon of its recorded movements (although there is frequently a delay in obtaining the information from foreign databases).

Subtle but positive habitat changes at Stortons GP over the years now ensure there is plenty of phragmites reed growing both in banks and scattered about, and scrub is regenerating around the edges.  Certainly there is now a very healthy Reed Warbler population both breeding and moving through these old gravel pits, with smaller numbers of Sedge Warbler and several pairs of Cetti's Warblers present too.  This small reed-bed habitat mirrors similar large projects around the country, providing stepping stones for avian wildlife.

Regards

Neil M                                                                                                                                                  

Pitsford

Hello

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Res this morning included a Yellow-legged Gull, 1-2 Little Egret, a Kingfisher and a family party of Spotted Flycatcher.  The Bar-headed Goose was just to the south of the causeway by the main car park. 

Two female Pochard sporting green bill shields which are a result of being trapped, ringed and marked abroad were also north of the causeway.  A previously-marked female had been seen in France and Spain as well as Pitsford and other sites in the UK.  These shields are fixed to provide an opportunity for such birds to be recognised and reported whilst on their travels.

Regards

Neil M

Saturday 3 August 2013

Rustic birding in the sunshine

Hello

A walk around the dam area at Pitsford Res this morning didn't provide much in the way of different birds.  An adult Yellow-legged Gull was still present and there was at least one Spotted Flycatcher by the entrance to the car park reached from Pitsford village.  Swifts remain in evidence, this species presumably also breeding later than in most years (often the majority of the birds have departed by the end of July).

A Redstart was present in a hedge between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, close to the southern outskirts of the Blueberry Farm complex.  Other birds within the associated loose flock included many Whitethroats and Spotted Flycatcher.  We couldn't see the Whinchat from yesterday evening.

Regards

Eleanor & Neil

Friday 2 August 2013

Whinchat

Hi

This evening was spent wandering the fields and tracks between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton in pleasant conditions.  A moulting adult Whinchat was the pick of the birds, spending its time in a wheat field adjacent to the most southerly field of the Blueberry Farm complex (and track that leads from Beck Dairy at Cottesbrooke to Hanging Houghton).  A distant Red Kite and the way it was behaving adds to the speculation that a pair may be breeding nearby this year.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Bird Free Zone!

Hello

Well it's been hard graft finding any birds of note locally the last couple of days!

On Wednesday 31st July there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull off the dam at Pitsford Res and a Red Kite was noted at Sedgebrook Hall.  A lengthy walk around Harlestone Heath in the evening failed to locate any birds of note.

Yesterday (1st August) there was a Grey Wagtail in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Little Egret was noted in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Res.

This morning (2nd August) and a walk around Harrington Airfield produced little more than the usual birds which included a pair of Grey Partridge.  An early afternoon scan from the causeway at Pitsford Res was enough to locate a Redshank and 2 Little Egrets.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Birding pm

Hello

The pleasant weather of this afternoon incited a few raptors over the garden, the best being a couple of Hobbies.  A couple of Nuthatches were the only other birds of note in the village.

A quick walk around Welford Res this evening was pleasant but quiet, although there was a family party of Spotted Flycatchers nearby.

Scanning from the dam at Pitsford Res this evening provided views of 4 Yellow-legged Gulls and 3 Common Sandpipers.

Regards

Neil M


Great Crested Grebe
Pitsford Res

Peering through the heat haze

Hello

A visit to the Summer Leys reserve at Earls Barton GP this morning provided views of a Wood Sandpiper, a Greenshank, a Dunlin, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Snipe and a Little Egret.

A scan from the Old Scaldwell Road at Pitsford Res early afternoon was difficult with a strong heat haze. Birds noted included an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Goldeneye and a Common Sandpiper.

Regards

Neil M