Hello
Birds noted at Pitsford Reservoir today included 2 Great White Egrets, at least 16 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Redshank, a drake Pintail south of the causeway and a Woodcock.
Blueberry Farm continued to host 2 Stonechat, 2-3 Woodcock, 2 Ravens, a Barn Owl, 2 Red Kites, a female Peregrine and still large numbers of winter thrushes.
At least ten Bramblings were on the seed at Harrington Airfield, at the concrete track entrance off the Draughton Road. Small numbers of fidgety redpoll sp were present at all three sites.
Regards
Eleanor, Neil H and Neil M
Saturday 30 November 2013
Friday 29 November 2013
Dank afternoon!
Hello
A dull and dank afternoon failed to inspire, additional birds at Pitsford Res visible from the yacht club amounted to a Great White Egret, 4 Little Egrets and a Yellow-legged Gull. It was also rather samey at Blueberry Farm with a Barn Owl and the pair of Stonechat being the only birds of note. Hundreds of noisy 'chacking' Fieldfares there were in their element - plenty of berries and nice thick hedges to roost in.
Regards
N & E
A dull and dank afternoon failed to inspire, additional birds at Pitsford Res visible from the yacht club amounted to a Great White Egret, 4 Little Egrets and a Yellow-legged Gull. It was also rather samey at Blueberry Farm with a Barn Owl and the pair of Stonechat being the only birds of note. Hundreds of noisy 'chacking' Fieldfares there were in their element - plenty of berries and nice thick hedges to roost in.
Regards
N & E
Plenty of Goldeneye are
now present at Pitsford Res
including many fine drakes.
Egrets & Co
Hello
This morning I took a wander in to the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res. The bird highlights were 1-2 Great White Egret(s), 13 Red-crested Pochard (still including the leucistic drake), 13 Pintail, a drake Goosander, 3 Black Swans, several Little Egrets, a Dunlin, 2 Redshank and a few Golden Plover. At least one Marsh Tit is regularly at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station these days and today a Willow Tit was by the James Fisher Hide.
Eleanor flushed a Woodcock along the Brampton Valley Way, again by the Spratton crossing, and 2 Bramblings were also along the Way below Brixworth.
Good numbers of common birds were at the concrete track entrance of Harrington Airfield this morning, many of them bathing in the puddles there. Birds coming down for the seed at the same place included 8 Bramblings.
Regards
Neil M
This morning I took a wander in to the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res. The bird highlights were 1-2 Great White Egret(s), 13 Red-crested Pochard (still including the leucistic drake), 13 Pintail, a drake Goosander, 3 Black Swans, several Little Egrets, a Dunlin, 2 Redshank and a few Golden Plover. At least one Marsh Tit is regularly at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station these days and today a Willow Tit was by the James Fisher Hide.
Eleanor flushed a Woodcock along the Brampton Valley Way, again by the Spratton crossing, and 2 Bramblings were also along the Way below Brixworth.
Good numbers of common birds were at the concrete track entrance of Harrington Airfield this morning, many of them bathing in the puddles there. Birds coming down for the seed at the same place included 8 Bramblings.
Regards
Neil M
Wednesday 27 November 2013
Birds setting their stall out for winter.
Hello
This morning a scan at Ravensthorpe Reservoir provided views of the still present leucistic female Red-crested Pochard and a Raven proclaiming its territory.
A visit to Harrington Airfield this morning confirmed the presence of hundreds of Fieldfares stripping the berries off the hawthorns. Also present were two Red Kites, 4 Bramblings and a Chiffchaff. Fly-overs included 2+ redpoll sp and a Grey Wagtail.
A single Grey Wagtail was present in Hanging Houghton village. Single Woodcock were present at Kelmarsh Hall and Scotland Wood.
Birds noted at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon included a Barn Owl, 2 Woodcock, 2 Grey Partridges, a pair of Stonechat, 2-3 Red Kites and over-flying finches included 5 Bramblings and 2+ redpoll sp.
Scanning from the yacht club at Pitsford Res this afternoon provided views of two fishing Great White Egrets, four Little Egrets and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
This morning a scan at Ravensthorpe Reservoir provided views of the still present leucistic female Red-crested Pochard and a Raven proclaiming its territory.
A visit to Harrington Airfield this morning confirmed the presence of hundreds of Fieldfares stripping the berries off the hawthorns. Also present were two Red Kites, 4 Bramblings and a Chiffchaff. Fly-overs included 2+ redpoll sp and a Grey Wagtail.
A single Grey Wagtail was present in Hanging Houghton village. Single Woodcock were present at Kelmarsh Hall and Scotland Wood.
Birds noted at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon included a Barn Owl, 2 Woodcock, 2 Grey Partridges, a pair of Stonechat, 2-3 Red Kites and over-flying finches included 5 Bramblings and 2+ redpoll sp.
Scanning from the yacht club at Pitsford Res this afternoon provided views of two fishing Great White Egrets, four Little Egrets and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Tuesday 26 November 2013
Brampton Valley and beyond...
Hello
Today Eleanor spent some time locally, starting with a run along Merry Tom Lane, along the Brampton Valley Way and around Cottesbrooke to Hanging Houghton. Birds en-route included about 6 Bramblings near to Brixworth, a Woodcock along the BVW towards the Spratton Crossing, 2-3 Crossbills between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton (Gamboro' Plantation) and 2 Ravens below HH.
A visit to Brixworth Country Park provided views of 16 Lesser Redpolls by the hide, at least 2 Bramblings and another Woodcock. A walk at Harrington Airfield confirmed the continuing presence of 4+ Bramblings by the shooting wall.
In the meantime Dave Francis was completing a ringing session at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir, the overall session providing 80 birds, with just over half of the birds being new. Ringing has helped us to confirm that this year at least 166 new Tree Sparrows have made use of the foodstuffs which is provided year-round.
New birds included a Moorhen, 3 Redwings, 6 Blackbirds, 4 Yellowhammers, 6 Tree Sparrows and 10 Greenfinches.
Egrets noted south of the causeway this afternoon included four Little and two Great Whites.
Regards
Neil M
Today Eleanor spent some time locally, starting with a run along Merry Tom Lane, along the Brampton Valley Way and around Cottesbrooke to Hanging Houghton. Birds en-route included about 6 Bramblings near to Brixworth, a Woodcock along the BVW towards the Spratton Crossing, 2-3 Crossbills between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton (Gamboro' Plantation) and 2 Ravens below HH.
A visit to Brixworth Country Park provided views of 16 Lesser Redpolls by the hide, at least 2 Bramblings and another Woodcock. A walk at Harrington Airfield confirmed the continuing presence of 4+ Bramblings by the shooting wall.
In the meantime Dave Francis was completing a ringing session at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir, the overall session providing 80 birds, with just over half of the birds being new. Ringing has helped us to confirm that this year at least 166 new Tree Sparrows have made use of the foodstuffs which is provided year-round.
New birds included a Moorhen, 3 Redwings, 6 Blackbirds, 4 Yellowhammers, 6 Tree Sparrows and 10 Greenfinches.
Egrets noted south of the causeway this afternoon included four Little and two Great Whites.
Regards
Neil M
Monday 25 November 2013
Pitsford WeBs Count
Hello
Today was taken up completing the monthly count of water-birds present at Pitsford Reservoir.
Three or four Great White Egrets were again present - it still has not been possible to see all suspected four birds at the same time! One showed particularly well just off the causeway this afternoon, causing a small gathering of curious on-lookers taking photos. Possibly as many as 15 Little Egrets were present.
Good numbers of waterfowl were present, the highlights being 11 Goosanders, a drake Smew (Holcot Bay), a Black-necked Grebe (near yacht club), 10 Pintail and 24 Red-crested Pochard (plus an extraordinary drake RC Pochard x Mallard hybrid)! Less authentic species included the Bar-headed Goose still and three Black Swans.
Waders were well-represented - a single Black-tailed Godwit, 4-5 Redshank, 40 Snipe, a Grey Plover and a Common Sandpiper.
Other birds included an adult female Peregrine, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, two Kingfishers, 12 redpoll sp, a couple of Siskins, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff. One of the adult Great Black-backed Gulls present has learnt to catch fish by diving in to the shallows in a similar manner to a Gannet - the Scaldwell Bay is its usual fishing haunt.
One of the many Little Grebes present suffered predation in the jaws of a large Pike in the Pintail Bay - probably a regular but rarely witnessed event. The Little Grebe clearly saw the underwater predator because it was sounding the alarm and tried to take evasive action but to no avail.
Regards
Eleanor & Neil
Today was taken up completing the monthly count of water-birds present at Pitsford Reservoir.
Three or four Great White Egrets were again present - it still has not been possible to see all suspected four birds at the same time! One showed particularly well just off the causeway this afternoon, causing a small gathering of curious on-lookers taking photos. Possibly as many as 15 Little Egrets were present.
Good numbers of waterfowl were present, the highlights being 11 Goosanders, a drake Smew (Holcot Bay), a Black-necked Grebe (near yacht club), 10 Pintail and 24 Red-crested Pochard (plus an extraordinary drake RC Pochard x Mallard hybrid)! Less authentic species included the Bar-headed Goose still and three Black Swans.
Waders were well-represented - a single Black-tailed Godwit, 4-5 Redshank, 40 Snipe, a Grey Plover and a Common Sandpiper.
Other birds included an adult female Peregrine, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, two Kingfishers, 12 redpoll sp, a couple of Siskins, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff. One of the adult Great Black-backed Gulls present has learnt to catch fish by diving in to the shallows in a similar manner to a Gannet - the Scaldwell Bay is its usual fishing haunt.
One of the many Little Grebes present suffered predation in the jaws of a large Pike in the Pintail Bay - probably a regular but rarely witnessed event. The Little Grebe clearly saw the underwater predator because it was sounding the alarm and tried to take evasive action but to no avail.
Regards
Eleanor & Neil
Red Fox and escort!
First year Great Crested Grebe
Lapwing
Drake Teal
Bar-headed Goose
Cormorant
Drake Smew
Great White Egret
Little Egret
Little and Large!
Vanity is a terrible thing -
he/she clearly admires the reflection!
Sunday 24 November 2013
Ditchford GP
Hello
Today was spent wandering around Ditchford Gravel Pits completing a rather late WeBs count.
Birds west of Ditchford Lane included an adult drake Scaup, 3 Egyptian Geese, a first year Yellow-legged Gull, a first year Caspian Gull, 2 Little Egrets, a Woodcock, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
Birds east of Ditchford Lane included hundreds of Gadwall, 2 Woodcock, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Little Egret, a Water Rail, 5 Kingfishers, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Today was spent wandering around Ditchford Gravel Pits completing a rather late WeBs count.
Birds west of Ditchford Lane included an adult drake Scaup, 3 Egyptian Geese, a first year Yellow-legged Gull, a first year Caspian Gull, 2 Little Egrets, a Woodcock, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
Birds east of Ditchford Lane included hundreds of Gadwall, 2 Woodcock, 2 Green Sandpipers, a Little Egret, a Water Rail, 5 Kingfishers, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Chiffchaffs and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Distant image of the
drake Scaup (centre
bird below the Coot).
Saturday 23 November 2013
Long-tailed Duck!
Hello
Thanks to Neil Hasdell's careful scanning, a Long-tailed Duck was located at Pitsford Res this afternoon, frequenting the Walgrave Bay. This is a species which has become a very rare visitor to the county in recent years, no doubt linked to a world-wide reduction in numbers. The bird was still present at dusk, still in the Walgrave Bay albeit it was seen in flight briefly. Please see Neil's images below...
Other birds noted north of the causeway this afternoon included a Black-tailed Godwit and a drake Goosander, and 7 Little Egrets and 2 Great White Egrets were seen flying to roost.
A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall today was very busy with 126 birds being caught of 12 species. Confirming a good breeding year locally, 49 of 50 Blue Tits were birds fledged this year. Great Tits and Goldfinches were similarly caught in good numbers and again with high numbers of youngsters from this year. The overall catch included two Marsh Tits, four Coal Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and ten Blackbirds.
Other birds noted included two Ravens, 1-2 Siskin(s), a Brambling, plenty of Nuthatches and a Kingfisher.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil M
Thanks to Neil Hasdell's careful scanning, a Long-tailed Duck was located at Pitsford Res this afternoon, frequenting the Walgrave Bay. This is a species which has become a very rare visitor to the county in recent years, no doubt linked to a world-wide reduction in numbers. The bird was still present at dusk, still in the Walgrave Bay albeit it was seen in flight briefly. Please see Neil's images below...
Other birds noted north of the causeway this afternoon included a Black-tailed Godwit and a drake Goosander, and 7 Little Egrets and 2 Great White Egrets were seen flying to roost.
A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall today was very busy with 126 birds being caught of 12 species. Confirming a good breeding year locally, 49 of 50 Blue Tits were birds fledged this year. Great Tits and Goldfinches were similarly caught in good numbers and again with high numbers of youngsters from this year. The overall catch included two Marsh Tits, four Coal Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and ten Blackbirds.
Other birds noted included two Ravens, 1-2 Siskin(s), a Brambling, plenty of Nuthatches and a Kingfisher.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil M
Friday 22 November 2013
Quick look!
Hello
A quick look at Pitsford Res this morning confirmed the continued presence of at least 2 Great White Egrets north of the causeway plus 3 Little Egrets and at least 8 Red-crested Pochard in the Scaldwell Bay. A Dunlin was heard calling.
A female Peregrine was perched in a tree on the west side of Hanging Houghton this morning, there were 2 Ravens nearby and 2 Red Kites and at least 2 Bramblings near to Beck Dairy, Cottesbrooke. Harrington Airfield seemed quiet.
Regards
Neil & Eleanor M
A quick look at Pitsford Res this morning confirmed the continued presence of at least 2 Great White Egrets north of the causeway plus 3 Little Egrets and at least 8 Red-crested Pochard in the Scaldwell Bay. A Dunlin was heard calling.
A female Peregrine was perched in a tree on the west side of Hanging Houghton this morning, there were 2 Ravens nearby and 2 Red Kites and at least 2 Bramblings near to Beck Dairy, Cottesbrooke. Harrington Airfield seemed quiet.
Regards
Neil & Eleanor M
Common Buzzard
in afternoon sunshine
Blueberry Farm
Wednesday 20 November 2013
Wet, Windy Wednesday
A quick walk at Harrington this morning produced 4 Bramblings, again sitting very quietly in the bushes near the shooting wall. A flock of about 100 Golden Plover were very restless and vocal. Heavy rain soon put a stop to my birding.
As soon as it stopped I went for a run. This means that I have to rely on my ears and I heard the familiar "cronk, cronk" of the Ravens as two went overhead near Lamport. The Red Kites were equally as vocal, and there were 3 together near Draughton.
Late afternoon found me and Baz walking around Blueberry, again dodging the showers. The female Merlin was again present at dusk, as well as a Barn Owl and pair of Stonechat.
Neil visited Ravensthorpe Reservoir and noted a leucistic female Red-crested Pochard, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail. At Pitsford Res there were 2 Great White Egrets, one either side of the causeway.
A Woodcock was flushed at Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate.
Regards
Eleanor + Neil
As soon as it stopped I went for a run. This means that I have to rely on my ears and I heard the familiar "cronk, cronk" of the Ravens as two went overhead near Lamport. The Red Kites were equally as vocal, and there were 3 together near Draughton.
Late afternoon found me and Baz walking around Blueberry, again dodging the showers. The female Merlin was again present at dusk, as well as a Barn Owl and pair of Stonechat.
Neil visited Ravensthorpe Reservoir and noted a leucistic female Red-crested Pochard, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail. At Pitsford Res there were 2 Great White Egrets, one either side of the causeway.
A Woodcock was flushed at Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate.
Regards
Eleanor + Neil
Tuesday 19 November 2013
Northern Autumn Glory
It was a spur of the moment decision this morning to 'head north'! Following a hasty breakfast I literally bundled the dogs into the car and off we went for the day.
First stop was East Carlton Country Park where the ground was white with frost and the air crisp and clear. Initially it seemed very quiet but then I came across a flurry of activity as a rather vocal mixed tit flock moved through the bushes. As I watched them I realised that there was a number of additional birds quietly feeding on the floor, and counted 10+ Brambling.
Other birds included a male Blackcap, 30+ Siskin, 8+ Redpolls, Marsh Tit, Nuthatches and of course Red Kite.
I then drove the short distance to a large area of rough grass outside East Carlton [Wire Road], where the first bird I saw was a Short-eared Owl. I walked a quick circuit and bumped into a pair of Stonechat, 4 Lesser Redpoll and numerous Red Kites.
Coffee time found me at Wakerley Wood, and suitably refreshed I walked around for just over 2 hours and actually found places in the wood which I had never visited before.
The autumn colours were simply stunning, a beautiful mixture of yellows, gold, orange and brown bathed in the sunlight. The change in temperature meant that the trees were now shedding their leaves rapidly and it reminded me of confetti. I wish that I had taken my camera as I would have had a fantastic picture of Bazra, my collie boy, standing amongst the larch trees in the dappled sun with the fine larch needles gently falling over him. He looked fantastic against this backdrop.
Anyway, back to birding ......it was quiet, just a smattering of Siskin, Nuthatches, Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Common Buzzard and Red Kite.
A Roe Deer stepped out onto the track in front of us and realised it's mistake and in slow motion it walked back into the trees and melted from view. The dogs took one look at it and thought "too big for us"!
There were some really sheltered areas in the wood and I saw at least 2 Red Admiral Butterfly, amazing for the time of year.
I usually visit the café at Fineshade Top Lodge for their delicious home made soup and today was no exception. I only walked a short circuit here and it seemed quiet. I did come across 2 Brambling which were feeding on the ground. My personal observations of the Bramblings this autumn is that there are quite a few about, but that they are not very vocal. They seem to be either sitting around or feeding quietly, just getting on with things rather than shouting about it.
Time to start making my way home, but I still had two further venues to visit. Firstly Blatherwycke Lake, which I always find a strange place, yet there is often something good there. I had to do a double take this afternoon as the first bird I saw was a Great White Egret standing on the grass towering over it's companions, 2 Little Egrets. This place certainly attracts the geese and there were 100's of Greylag Geese and a careful look through them provided singles of Egyptian and Barnacle Goose. Other birds present were 4 Mandarin Duck, 2 Kingfisher, 12 Siskins and umpteen Red Kite and Common Buzzard.
As I was driving near Bulwick myself and the car coming towards me had to almost do an emergency stop as 2 Red Kites decided to swoop down into the road after a fresh road kill. The kites appeared totally oblivious to the potential danger they were in and played about like two children vying for the best bit of the meat. I wonder if they were youngsters who still have a lot to learn?
Final destination was Fermyn, somewhere I haven't visited for a while. The bushes in the country park itself were alive with Redwings and Fieldfares. I walked through the country park and headed to the Lady's/Souther Wood complex, but I stopped at the obvious open area of farmland where I could look back towards Fermyn and forwards towards Lyveden New Bield. The fields towards Lyveden were alive with birds - Black-headed Gulls, 50 Golden Plover, Lapwings, Starlings and corvids . I also counted 18 Red Kite in the air together, an amazing sight, and the sound of their evocative calls simply spine tingling.
A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was quartering the fields near to Lyveden and a Merlin, on size suggesting a female, caused chaos for a few minutes as she zapped through.
It was difficult to draw myself away, but I had to as I was quite a way from the car with 2 tired dogs and it was dark when we reached the car park, all rather tired and muddy.
I think that the next few days are going to be quiet in comparison to today.
Regards
Eleanor
First stop was East Carlton Country Park where the ground was white with frost and the air crisp and clear. Initially it seemed very quiet but then I came across a flurry of activity as a rather vocal mixed tit flock moved through the bushes. As I watched them I realised that there was a number of additional birds quietly feeding on the floor, and counted 10+ Brambling.
Other birds included a male Blackcap, 30+ Siskin, 8+ Redpolls, Marsh Tit, Nuthatches and of course Red Kite.
I then drove the short distance to a large area of rough grass outside East Carlton [Wire Road], where the first bird I saw was a Short-eared Owl. I walked a quick circuit and bumped into a pair of Stonechat, 4 Lesser Redpoll and numerous Red Kites.
Coffee time found me at Wakerley Wood, and suitably refreshed I walked around for just over 2 hours and actually found places in the wood which I had never visited before.
The autumn colours were simply stunning, a beautiful mixture of yellows, gold, orange and brown bathed in the sunlight. The change in temperature meant that the trees were now shedding their leaves rapidly and it reminded me of confetti. I wish that I had taken my camera as I would have had a fantastic picture of Bazra, my collie boy, standing amongst the larch trees in the dappled sun with the fine larch needles gently falling over him. He looked fantastic against this backdrop.
Anyway, back to birding ......it was quiet, just a smattering of Siskin, Nuthatches, Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Common Buzzard and Red Kite.
A Roe Deer stepped out onto the track in front of us and realised it's mistake and in slow motion it walked back into the trees and melted from view. The dogs took one look at it and thought "too big for us"!
There were some really sheltered areas in the wood and I saw at least 2 Red Admiral Butterfly, amazing for the time of year.
I usually visit the café at Fineshade Top Lodge for their delicious home made soup and today was no exception. I only walked a short circuit here and it seemed quiet. I did come across 2 Brambling which were feeding on the ground. My personal observations of the Bramblings this autumn is that there are quite a few about, but that they are not very vocal. They seem to be either sitting around or feeding quietly, just getting on with things rather than shouting about it.
Time to start making my way home, but I still had two further venues to visit. Firstly Blatherwycke Lake, which I always find a strange place, yet there is often something good there. I had to do a double take this afternoon as the first bird I saw was a Great White Egret standing on the grass towering over it's companions, 2 Little Egrets. This place certainly attracts the geese and there were 100's of Greylag Geese and a careful look through them provided singles of Egyptian and Barnacle Goose. Other birds present were 4 Mandarin Duck, 2 Kingfisher, 12 Siskins and umpteen Red Kite and Common Buzzard.
As I was driving near Bulwick myself and the car coming towards me had to almost do an emergency stop as 2 Red Kites decided to swoop down into the road after a fresh road kill. The kites appeared totally oblivious to the potential danger they were in and played about like two children vying for the best bit of the meat. I wonder if they were youngsters who still have a lot to learn?
Final destination was Fermyn, somewhere I haven't visited for a while. The bushes in the country park itself were alive with Redwings and Fieldfares. I walked through the country park and headed to the Lady's/Souther Wood complex, but I stopped at the obvious open area of farmland where I could look back towards Fermyn and forwards towards Lyveden New Bield. The fields towards Lyveden were alive with birds - Black-headed Gulls, 50 Golden Plover, Lapwings, Starlings and corvids . I also counted 18 Red Kite in the air together, an amazing sight, and the sound of their evocative calls simply spine tingling.
A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was quartering the fields near to Lyveden and a Merlin, on size suggesting a female, caused chaos for a few minutes as she zapped through.
It was difficult to draw myself away, but I had to as I was quite a way from the car with 2 tired dogs and it was dark when we reached the car park, all rather tired and muddy.
I think that the next few days are going to be quiet in comparison to today.
Regards
Eleanor
Monday 18 November 2013
Grey day birds again...
Hello
Spending time at Pitsford Res today indicated that there were at least three Great White Egrets present but possibly four birds. Two spent a long period south of the causeway with singles in the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays at much the same time, however logistics ensured that it wasn't possible to see all the birds at the same time! About ten Little Egrets also remain.
Other birds include one or two adult Yellow-legged Gull(s), 2 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and at least 2 Grey Wagtails. Three Redwings and three Meadow Pipits were caught and ringed at the reservoir today. A Chiffchaff and a redpoll sp were present in the adjacent Brixworth Country Park.
Birds at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon included a female Merlin, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Red Kites and the pair of Stonechat.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Spending time at Pitsford Res today indicated that there were at least three Great White Egrets present but possibly four birds. Two spent a long period south of the causeway with singles in the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays at much the same time, however logistics ensured that it wasn't possible to see all the birds at the same time! About ten Little Egrets also remain.
Other birds include one or two adult Yellow-legged Gull(s), 2 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and at least 2 Grey Wagtails. Three Redwings and three Meadow Pipits were caught and ringed at the reservoir today. A Chiffchaff and a redpoll sp were present in the adjacent Brixworth Country Park.
Birds at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon included a female Merlin, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Red Kites and the pair of Stonechat.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Sunday 17 November 2013
Birds of a grey day...
Hello
A little ringing at Kelmarsh Hall this morning resulted in 36 birds being captured in a single net, the highlights being a Goldcrest, a Marsh Tit and 12 Goldfinches. However John Woollett and his team at Stortons GP enjoyed the exciting capture of a pair of Bearded Tits this morning!
Other birds seen at Kelmarsh this morning included two Ravens, a redpoll sp and 1-2 Siskin.
At Pitsford Res today, the three Great White Egrets were still present (two north of the causeway and one south), the 12 Red-crested Pochard were still in the Walgrave Bay and waders included a Black-tailed Godwit, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and four Redshank. A Chiffchaff, a Grey Wagtail and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were south of the causeway. A flock of about a hundred Golden Plover was the only sighting of note at Harrington Airfield this afternoon.
Regards
Eleanor, Neil H and Neil M
A little ringing at Kelmarsh Hall this morning resulted in 36 birds being captured in a single net, the highlights being a Goldcrest, a Marsh Tit and 12 Goldfinches. However John Woollett and his team at Stortons GP enjoyed the exciting capture of a pair of Bearded Tits this morning!
Other birds seen at Kelmarsh this morning included two Ravens, a redpoll sp and 1-2 Siskin.
At Pitsford Res today, the three Great White Egrets were still present (two north of the causeway and one south), the 12 Red-crested Pochard were still in the Walgrave Bay and waders included a Black-tailed Godwit, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and four Redshank. A Chiffchaff, a Grey Wagtail and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were south of the causeway. A flock of about a hundred Golden Plover was the only sighting of note at Harrington Airfield this afternoon.
Regards
Eleanor, Neil H and Neil M
Bearded Tits
Stortons GP
courtesy of
Chris Payne
Saturday 16 November 2013
Pitsford has it!
Hello
A modest ringing session at Pitsford Res utilising the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station produced a nice variety of birds including quite a few Goldfinches and Greenfinches, a Redwing and an adult male Lesser Redpoll. Birding the site confirmed the continued presence of three Great White Egrets with two birds north of the causeway and a third ensconced south of the causeway on the Brixworth bank. Other birds included 12 Red-crested Pochard in the Walgrave Bay and 5 Pintail and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the Scaldwell Bay. A Shelduck appeared north of the causeway and the day's surprise was three Black Swans touching down and swimming in to the Scaldwell Bay. Waders were well represented with a gaggle of Snipe, 2 Redshank, a Green Sandpiper and 10 Golden Plovers. There were plenty of Goldeneye and a Raven was heard croaking.
Birds elsewhere were hard work, Harrington Airfield provided 4 Bramblings by the shooting wall and the Blueberry Farm area yielded just 2 Stonechats and a Brambling.
Regards
Neil H, Neil M and Eleanor
A modest ringing session at Pitsford Res utilising the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station produced a nice variety of birds including quite a few Goldfinches and Greenfinches, a Redwing and an adult male Lesser Redpoll. Birding the site confirmed the continued presence of three Great White Egrets with two birds north of the causeway and a third ensconced south of the causeway on the Brixworth bank. Other birds included 12 Red-crested Pochard in the Walgrave Bay and 5 Pintail and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the Scaldwell Bay. A Shelduck appeared north of the causeway and the day's surprise was three Black Swans touching down and swimming in to the Scaldwell Bay. Waders were well represented with a gaggle of Snipe, 2 Redshank, a Green Sandpiper and 10 Golden Plovers. There were plenty of Goldeneye and a Raven was heard croaking.
Birds elsewhere were hard work, Harrington Airfield provided 4 Bramblings by the shooting wall and the Blueberry Farm area yielded just 2 Stonechats and a Brambling.
Regards
Neil H, Neil M and Eleanor
Adult Redwing
Pitsford Res
Friday 15 November 2013
Long-tailed Tits out in force!
Hello
A ringing session in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning was enjoyable in the super late autumn sunshine and produced 91 small birds. Bird of the session was definitely the Long-tailed Tit with 30 birds captured. Other birds processed included 3 Song Thrushes, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Coal Tits and a Marsh Tit.
Other birds noted in the Walgrave Bay included a Raven, 7 Red-crested Pochard, a Little Egret, a Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher.
A wander around Harrington Airfield this morning provided another viewing of an immature male Merlin, 2 Crossbills over heading towards Kettering, 8 Bramblings and 4 redpoll sp.
A Sparrowhawk took a Greenfinch off our garden feeder this afternoon, it all happening so quick that I don't think the prey item knew much about it.
This afternoon, birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at the adjacent Blueberry Farm complex included a female Peregrine, 2 Red Kites, 2 Ravens, 2 Barn Owls and 2 Stonechat.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
A ringing session in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning was enjoyable in the super late autumn sunshine and produced 91 small birds. Bird of the session was definitely the Long-tailed Tit with 30 birds captured. Other birds processed included 3 Song Thrushes, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Coal Tits and a Marsh Tit.
Other birds noted in the Walgrave Bay included a Raven, 7 Red-crested Pochard, a Little Egret, a Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher.
A wander around Harrington Airfield this morning provided another viewing of an immature male Merlin, 2 Crossbills over heading towards Kettering, 8 Bramblings and 4 redpoll sp.
A Sparrowhawk took a Greenfinch off our garden feeder this afternoon, it all happening so quick that I don't think the prey item knew much about it.
This afternoon, birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at the adjacent Blueberry Farm complex included a female Peregrine, 2 Red Kites, 2 Ravens, 2 Barn Owls and 2 Stonechat.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
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