Monday 17 March 2014

Ring Ouzel

Hello

A modest ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall this morning provided 37 captures which included 15 new birds. Interesting re-traps included Marsh Tit, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker.  Other birds noted on-site included the regular Raven(s) and singing singles of Brambling, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Chiffchaff.

In the meantime Eleanor took a short walk at Harrington Airfield and saw a male Ring Ouzel by the first bunker along the airstrip from the chippings compound.

Regards

Neil M

Sunday 16 March 2014

March bounty

Hello

A ringing session at Stortons GP this morning successfully caught many of the usual species including a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff.  The ringers on-site believe there are two pairs of Bearded Tits present in the Phragmites beds.

Nick Wood was checking nest-boxes out at Chase Park Farm (near Yardley Chase) today and came across a roosting Little Owl (please see below).

Eleanor was out and about locally and saw a Grey Wagtail at Beck Dairy, Cottesbrooke and at least c100 Golden Plovers in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.  A visit to Harrington Airfield yielded 2 Bramblings, a Tree Sparrow and 4 Red Kites. Pitsford continues to host the Great Northern Diver and the pair of Oystercatcher.

In the meantime I was over at Ditchford Gravel Pits completing the monthly WeBs count.  The pits west of Ditchford Lane attracted two Great White Egrets, five Little Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, the drake Scaup, three Oystercatchers, three Kingfishers, a Water Rail, two Peregrines, a Grey Wagtail and two Chiffchaffs.  I spent some time watching the wintering Water Pipit, this bird now advancing in to summer plumage.

Birds on the older pits east of Ditchford Lane included three Goosanders, a Little Egret, a Water Rail, three Kingfishers, three Cetti's Warblers and eight Chiffchaffs.

And of course with the warm sunshine today, there were good numbers of butterflies on the wing which were made up of Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma and Brimstone.

Regards

Neil M


Male Great Spotted Woodpecker,
happily drilling a series of small holes
in to the fingers and knuckles
of a Trainee Ringer!
Courtesy of Chris Payne.



Little Owl Chase Park Farm
Courtesy of Nick Wood

Male Brimstone
Ditchford GP

A very worn Peacock
nectaring on Blackthorn
blossom.  Ditchford GP.

Saturday 15 March 2014

Spring flights

Hello

Out of the strong wind and today's sunshine was glorious and warm. In tune with the conditions was a singing Chiffchaff in full voice at Sunderland Wood (Kelmarsh), and nearby Scotland Wood hosted two unidentified Crossbills seen only briefly in flight.

At Hanging Houghton a female Peregrine was over the village, several Siskins flew north and a flock of c300 Golden Plovers inhabited fields below the village in the Brampton Valley (morning only).

Another singing Chiffchaff was along the Brampton Valley Way at the Draughton Crossing and at Harrington Airfield this afternoon a single Golden Plover flew over and two Bramblings were feeding on the seed.

The Great Northern Diver was in the mouth of the Pintail Bay at Pitsford Res this afternoon and an adult Mediterranean Gull was in the dwindling gull roost as watched from the yacht club.

Local ringer Chris Payne caught three Lesser Redpolls in his garden yesterday at Greens Norton, which is one of many gardens in the county at the moment attracting increasing numbers of Reed Buntings.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil




Lesser Redpoll
Greens Norton

Male Reed Bunting
Greens Norton


Cock Pheasant Kelmarsh.
At this time of the year you might
expect the male Pheasants to look
at their best.  However they are continually
fighting each other and it isn't
uncommon to see resplendent males
walking with a limp and sporting broken 
tail feathers.

Singing Robin
Kelmarsh Hall

Displaying Common Buzzard
Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh Estate

Friday 14 March 2014

A foggy Pitsford

Hello

A ringing session at Pitsford Res this morning failed in an effort to catch some more Snipe, but we were fortunate to catch a number of gorgeous Yellowhammers which included 25 new birds.  The Oystercatchers could be heard in the morning fog, a Jack Snipe was flushed and we saw singles of Siskin and Willow Tit.  A small number of Meadow Pipits were moving over the site, the fog bank not preventing their northward projection.

Regards

Neil M

Thursday 13 March 2014

Thursday's notes

Hello

Whilst walking the dogs early this morning I could hear the evocative calls of the Golden Plover penetrating through the fog below Hanging Houghton, but I never saw them!

At lunchtime there were 2 very noisy Ravens flying over Brixworth Country Park.

Late afternoon found me walking the dogs again, this time at Harrington Airfield.  Birds here included at least 8 Bramblings with a few bright males looking rather splendid.  Other birds on my circuit were 2 Grey Partridge, a Green Sandpiper, approx. 25 Golden Plover and a Chiffchaff.

Regards 

Eleanor

Bird v Fish

Hello

Robin Gossage's images below illustrate the fishing and swallowing capability of the Cormorant.  Having latched on to a Pike, which is itself a fearsome predatory fish, the Cormorant achieves the impossible and consumes it's very large prey whole!  I doubt if it needs to eat again for a little while!

Regards

Neil M













Wednesday 12 March 2014

Not a lot today

Hello

Little to report today, despite some time at Pitsford Res and Harrington Airfield.  In the morning fog, two Oystercatchers and a Redshank were noted at Pitsford Res and this afternoon there was a modest four Bramblings at Harrington Airfield.  Dave Jackson kindly allowed me access to his Kingsthorpe garden to try and see the Lesser Whitethroat that has returned to his garden, but unfortunately I didn't see it (but it was seen in the morning).

Chris Payne had been ringing down at Greens Norton today and caught a range of species including Lesser Redpoll and Yellowhammer (please see images below).

Regards

Neil M


Lesser Redpoll


Yellowhammer

Tuesday 11 March 2014

A cool easterly breeze

Hello

A modest ringing session at Pitsford Res this morning was enhanced with the capture, ringing and release of two Snipe.

Other birds at the reservoir today included an Osprey near to the dam at 2.45pm, the Great Northern Diver, a Green Sandpiper and two Oystercatchers.

A Woodcock was present along the Brampton Valley Way between Brixworth and Hanging Houghton and another was flushed at Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate), which also hosted a couple of Siskins.  A Raven could be heard calling at Kelmarsh Hall and the Brampton Valley fields below Hanging Houghton continued to attract twenty Golden Plovers.

Birds on the seed at Harrington Airfield this afternoon included 35 Yellowhammers, Tree Sparrow and 10+ Bramblings.  This site also attracted a pair of Grey Partridge, a female Peregrine and a white wing-tagged Common Buzzard.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil



Snipe
Pitsford Reservoir

Monday 10 March 2014

Cooler than yesterday!

Hello

Neil Hasdell was on the Summer Leys reserve at Earls Barton this morning, and after a 40 minute wait the male Bearded Tit showed well (first seen yesterday), from the Pioneer Hide.  The long-staying Long-tailed Duck was back on Mary's Lake and two Great White Egrets were still present on the reserve.  A flock of nine Ruff was reported.

At Pitsford Res this afternoon, a pair of Oystercatcher were present in the Scaldwell Bay and quite mobile - it looks like another breeding attempt will be made this year!  The Cormorant colony occupied nest tally has now gone up to at least 19.

Regards

Neil M

Sunday 9 March 2014

That Mediterranean feeling...

Hello

As forecast it was sunshine from dawn to dusk today and must rank as one of the warmest days in March that I can remember.

John Woollett and his team of ringers were in action at Stortons Gravel Pits this morning and their planning and preparation paid off with the capture, ringing and release of good numbers of birds which included singles of Snipe and Jack Snipe. These species are particularly difficult to catch and monitor (as well as see).

At Pitsford Res this afternoon, the Great Northern Diver was in the mouth of the Pintail Bay and the gull roost again attracted two adult Mediterranean Gulls.

Regards

Neil M

More flutterbies

Hello

With the amazing weather today it just has to be a day to go out walking etc.  A very pleasant circular walk along the foot-paths around Harlestone Lake early morning located plenty of common birds but no hoped-for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.  This always used to be a good site for this species and I can't see that the habitat has changed much.  Today there were ridiculously high numbers of Great Spotted Woodpeckers instead.

Pitsford Reservoir was very busy with people but I managed to espy the Great Northern Diver before the yachts hit the water, and a Redshank and a Green Sandpiper were on the flood pools in the fields below the dam.

Neil H in the meantime took a lengthy walk around Salcey Forest. No birds of note but there were large numbers of butterflies on the wing, particularly Brimstones.  Other butterflies fluttering by include Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Peacock, these latter individuals being insects that have successfully over-wintered.

Neil M

Saturday 8 March 2014

Saturday selection

Hello

Despite the very welcome weather today, I was tempted to stay at home and watch the birds in the garden. A singing male Siskin, a smart male Great Spotted Woodpecker and singles of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer made it all quite compelling.

Nevertheless there were duties to perform with more wild bird feeding stations to be maintained.  A couple of Siskins were present around the feeders at Kelmarsh Hall where there were also good numbers of common finches too.  The regularity of our visits ensure that some birds now come to greet us!  Some of the Pheasants trail behind us and all the local Robins have tamed-up to the degree that a couple of them sit just a couple of feet away whilst we are filling up the feeders and sing to us!

Harrington Airfield attracted up to about 12 Bramblings today plus a Raven, a pair of Grey Partridge, the usual raptors and the Green Sandpiper still.

This afternoon a female Peregrine was in pursuit of about twenty Golden Plovers in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Approximately sixty Snipe were still in residence at Pitsford Res this afternoon and a pair of displaying Sparrowhawks in the Scaldwell Bay put on a good performance.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil



Goldeneye in flight, the duck
endeavouring to catch her drake!
Pitsford Reservoir

Friday 7 March 2014

'Tis the Brimstone season

Hello

Another very spring-like day today with plenty of insects on the wing including bumble-bees and a Brimstone butterfly or two.  I always think that a vivid yellow male Brimstone looks particularly stunning this time of the year, probably because normally the back-drop is dull and uninspiring before the buds and leaves emerge in profusion.

Birds on the move today included winter thrushes, Linnets, wagtails and Meadow Pipits.  A Grey Wagtail at Hanging Houghton was part of this northward movement.

A quick wander around at Harrington Airfield failed in an effort to find an early Wheatear, and I had to make do with a Raven, several common raptors and at least one Brambling.

Regards

Neil M

Thursday 6 March 2014

Thursday's Tales !

There is nothing better than starting the day with a run !!!!! This morning I ran around the big side of Pitsford Reservoir with our new boy Tor attached to my waist. This was a new experience as he is a "scent hound type" so I expected to be dragged all over the place, but after the initial excitement he settled down into his stride, and it was actually quite a pleasurable experience !!!.  The big side looked quite devoid of birds, but I managed to notch up 4 Smew, Great Northern Diver, Great White Egret, 2 Little Egret, Grey Wagtail and the Ross' type Goose.
Although I didn't see it myself, NH, saw the Scaup half way down the bigside, near the gorse bushes.
A late morning meander around Blueberry saw double figures of Common Buzzard, circling and meewing overhead. There were at least 4 Red Kites, pair of Grey Partridge and 5 Golden Plover over.
Whilst gardening this afternoon there were several Siskins flying about, more Common Buzzards, 2 Red Kite and a Raven .


Last night it was the AGM of the Northants Bird Club and discussion and decisions needed to take place over some important issues facing the club. Sadly the turnout of members was so poor, a total of 15, of which 8 were committee members, making it impossible to proceed with making any decisions. The club may have to move venue and we wanted imput from the members as to possible suitable halls etc, and to share our thoughts about using the Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir as a possible new meeting place. If you have any thoughts, opposition to using the Lodge or ideas of suitable venue's, please let us know.  Thanks.
The evening was not all "business" as we finished with a light hearted quiz and pictures of Tanzania.......it was worth coming along just for that !!!


On another note, the road at Hardwater Crossing is now open which makes it easier to get to Summer Leys, where I understand the Long Tailed Duck on Mary's lake has been showing well and worth a visit as the plumage is quite striking.




Regards  Eleanor

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Pied Wagtail portfolio

Hello

The Pied Wagtail may be a familiar bird to many of us.  It is very much the British race of the nominate species White Wagtail which has a large European distribution.  This species and all races are renown for their variation in plumage.  Adult males tend to be the blackest and the young females tend to be the palest, but there are a significant number of plumage types in between that provide a challenge to those of us that try to ascertain their age and sex.  All the below images taken today relate to Pied Wagtails.  If you fancy having a go at ageing and sexing them, be my guest!

Neil M







Classic spring day

Hello

A beautiful spring day with almost warm temperatures, a gentle breeze and plenty of sunshine.

A couple of Siskins were present at both Kelmarsh Hall and Scotland Wood this morning and c6 Bramblings were feeding at Harrington Airfield.  Two Grey Wagtails remained at Brixworth Sewer Works.

At Pitsford Res this afternoon the Great Northern Diver was still present (in the mouth of the Pintail Bay) and the gull roost included two adult Mediterranean Gulls (one a stunning full summer plumage bird).

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Harrington

Hello

Eleanor managed a visit to Harrington Airfield this afternoon and noted ten Bramblings on the seed by the concrete track entrance, and the Green Sandpiper was again near to the road on the shallow pool just opposite the entrance.

Regards

Neil M

Monday 3 March 2014

Bird Club AGM

Hello

Plenty of tasks and meetings ensured that we had little time for birding today.  However there were still 10 Brambings on the feed-stuffs at Harrington Airfield at 1pm this afternoon.

A reminder to Northants Bird Club members that our next meeting is this coming Wednesday evening at our normal venue of Moulton Village Hall.  This month it is the Annual General Meeting which is generally a rather short affair.  As always there will be the election of committee members and other business such as the financial state of the club to be discussed.  This year the membership will be asked to comment and vote on a couple of proposals from the existing committee in order to take us forward through 2014/2015.

Robin Gossage and Bob Gill will host a light-hearted quiz immediately after the AGM.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Sunday 2 March 2014

Different month, same weather!

Hello

A grey dull day with a strengthening wind then giving way to persistent and heavy rain.  Obviously we are paying for yesterday's decent weather.

Fifteen Bramblings and a Green Sandpiper remained at Harrington Airfield this morning and two Golden Plovers flew over.  Red Kites have become a regular sighting at this site during the last year and the numbers locally are at their most significant, to the point where we will stop routinely reporting their presence. Hopefully this regularity of sightings will be a precursor to breeding.

Pied Wagtails were much in evidence today, there clearly being an increase in numbers as migrants move north through the county. Gulls and Linnets were the other more obvious diurnal migrants on the move today.

Two Woodcock were flushed at Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) but probably the bird of the day was a Chiffchaff that moved through our garden here at Hanging Houghton this morning.

A walk around Welford Reservoir, a scan over Naseby Reservoir and checking through the gulls at the Pitsford roost all failed to find anything different.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Saturday 1 March 2014

March is here!

Hello

At last the weather conditions today permitted some wild bird ringing locally at three sites, with about 118 birds being caught. Species included Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail and Siskin.

At Pitsford Res this afternoon, local birder David Sharp located the Great Northern Diver north of the dam and also saw a juvenile Glaucous Gull which flew a couple laps of the reservoir as seen from near the Holly Tree, and was then associating with some Great Black-backed Gulls.

Andrew Tyrrell in the meantime spent some time at Thrapston GP this afternoon and located the two Firecrests - again in scrub and brambles next to the River Nene by the footbridge that connects Town Lake with the northern section of the Titchmarsh Reserve. He also espied the Long-tailed Duck and the drake Scaup on Town Lake.

Fifteen Bramblings were feeding on the seed in the fog at Harrington Airfield this morning and Kelmarsh Hall attracted two Siskins and two or three Ravens.  Birds in the vicinity of Brixworth Sewer Works included two Snipe, one or two Water Rail (s), two Siskins and two Grey Wagtails.

Local birder Jacob Spinks was lucky to have a Willow Tit visiting feeders in his Scaldwell village garden today.

Regards

Neil M