Hello
This evening, a re-visit to Harrington Airfield provided views of a male Ring Ouzel around the first and second bunkers (from the chippings compound), and four Wheatears.
Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening included two Wheatears and two Ravens.
Regards
E & N
Monday 14 April 2014
Monday a.m.
Hello
Harrington Airfield this morning was productive with a female Ring Ouzel in roadside bushes near to the concrete track entrance, 4 Bramblings on the seed just inside the entrance and at least 6 Wheatears on the second and third airstrip bunkers.
However Pitsford Res seemed relatively unproductive - the Green Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail and 100+ Sand Martins were visible from the dam and the usual 2 Oystercatchers and passage Swallows and at least 8 displaying Common Buzzards were north of the causeway.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Harrington Airfield this morning was productive with a female Ring Ouzel in roadside bushes near to the concrete track entrance, 4 Bramblings on the seed just inside the entrance and at least 6 Wheatears on the second and third airstrip bunkers.
However Pitsford Res seemed relatively unproductive - the Green Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail and 100+ Sand Martins were visible from the dam and the usual 2 Oystercatchers and passage Swallows and at least 8 displaying Common Buzzards were north of the causeway.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Sunday 13 April 2014
Returning migrants on a cool breeze
Hello
Limited birding opportunities today in bright warm sunshine but still with a cool breeze. A singing Whitethroat was noted between Pitsford Res and the village of Old and a singing Lesser Whitethroat was in roadside hedging between the villages of Old and Scaldwell.
A brief visit to Pitsford Res this evening confirmed the continuing presence of the Green Sandpiper below the dam on floodwater, and a Raven was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.
A few Swallows and House Martins were noted visiting old nest sites in local villages today, the fore-runners no doubt of many more to come.
Regards
Neil M
Limited birding opportunities today in bright warm sunshine but still with a cool breeze. A singing Whitethroat was noted between Pitsford Res and the village of Old and a singing Lesser Whitethroat was in roadside hedging between the villages of Old and Scaldwell.
A brief visit to Pitsford Res this evening confirmed the continuing presence of the Green Sandpiper below the dam on floodwater, and a Raven was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.
A few Swallows and House Martins were noted visiting old nest sites in local villages today, the fore-runners no doubt of many more to come.
Regards
Neil M
Saturday 12 April 2014
Saturday morning ringing
Hello
In pretty overcast and cool conditions a bird ringing session at Pitsford Res this morning provided 46 captures including many Yellowhammers, eight of which were new birds. Other new birds included ten Tree Sparrows and a Coot.
Some exploratory ringing at Harrington Airfield also this morning provided a modest catch of 12 birds which included an early Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff. Other migrants noted at Harrington Airfield included Swallow, redpoll sp, Siskin and Meadow Pipit, but for the second day in a row no Bramblings were seen.
Regards
Neil M
In pretty overcast and cool conditions a bird ringing session at Pitsford Res this morning provided 46 captures including many Yellowhammers, eight of which were new birds. Other new birds included ten Tree Sparrows and a Coot.
Some exploratory ringing at Harrington Airfield also this morning provided a modest catch of 12 birds which included an early Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff. Other migrants noted at Harrington Airfield included Swallow, redpoll sp, Siskin and Meadow Pipit, but for the second day in a row no Bramblings were seen.
Regards
Neil M
Friday 11 April 2014
Cowslips on parade
Hello
No birds of particular note today although there was a solitary Wheatear and a pair of Grey Partridge at Harrington Airfield.
I spent some time at Pitsford Res watching a particularly small Herring Gull associating with Common Gulls. In addition to the small size, the gull's bill was curiously-shaped and the markings were not typical of an adult or near-adult bird (please see below).
Sadly I recovered a dead Tawny Owl today - another wildlife casualty of the A508 Brixworth by-pass.
Cowslips are now well in flower, with many colonies obvious on the verges of our county 'A' roads, the A45 and the A14 perhaps being the best examples.
Regards
Neil M
No birds of particular note today although there was a solitary Wheatear and a pair of Grey Partridge at Harrington Airfield.
I spent some time at Pitsford Res watching a particularly small Herring Gull associating with Common Gulls. In addition to the small size, the gull's bill was curiously-shaped and the markings were not typical of an adult or near-adult bird (please see below).
Sadly I recovered a dead Tawny Owl today - another wildlife casualty of the A508 Brixworth by-pass.
Cowslips are now well in flower, with many colonies obvious on the verges of our county 'A' roads, the A45 and the A14 perhaps being the best examples.
Regards
Neil M
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| Herring Gull |
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| Cowslips |
Thursday 10 April 2014
Birds of Hanging Houghton
Hello
Fleeting birding opportunities today but Eleanor located two Wheatears and c50 Golden Plovers on fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and a couple of Common Buzzards were hassling a Raven over Clint Hill which is near to the village.
Regards
Neil M
Fleeting birding opportunities today but Eleanor located two Wheatears and c50 Golden Plovers on fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and a couple of Common Buzzards were hassling a Raven over Clint Hill which is near to the village.
Regards
Neil M
Snake's Head Fritillaries
Hello
Birding highlights yesterday (Wednesday) were minimal in the cool breeze but warm sunshine. The Green Sandpiper remained below the dam at Pitsford Res in the morning and a Little Ringed Plover was heard overhead. Small numbers of Sand Martins and a couple of Swallows were also present as was a singing Grey Wagtail and on-territory Meadow Pipits
The daily visit to Harrington Airfield yielded 6 Bramblings, 2 Wheatears and a pair of Grey Partridge and a couple of Ravens were present at Kelmarsh village.
The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton produced c100 Golden Plovers and 2 Wheatears on the fields.
The wild flowers looked splendid at Kelmarsh Hall and included Wood Anemones, Primroses and Snake's Head Fritillaries.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Birding highlights yesterday (Wednesday) were minimal in the cool breeze but warm sunshine. The Green Sandpiper remained below the dam at Pitsford Res in the morning and a Little Ringed Plover was heard overhead. Small numbers of Sand Martins and a couple of Swallows were also present as was a singing Grey Wagtail and on-territory Meadow Pipits
The daily visit to Harrington Airfield yielded 6 Bramblings, 2 Wheatears and a pair of Grey Partridge and a couple of Ravens were present at Kelmarsh village.
The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton produced c100 Golden Plovers and 2 Wheatears on the fields.
The wild flowers looked splendid at Kelmarsh Hall and included Wood Anemones, Primroses and Snake's Head Fritillaries.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
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| Snake's Head Fritillaries |
Tuesday 8 April 2014
The migrants are arriving...
Hello
Two Bramblings were present at Harrington Airfield this morning and the white wing-tagged Common Buzzard made an appearance near to Hanging Houghton.
This evening two Curlew flew east over the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, a flock of c500 Golden Plovers were in the fields there which is presumably why the adult female Peregrine was there too!
At Pitsford Res, birds visible from the dam this evening included the Red-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, two male Grey Wagtails and plenty of hirundines made up of c50 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins and at least 6 Swallows.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Two Bramblings were present at Harrington Airfield this morning and the white wing-tagged Common Buzzard made an appearance near to Hanging Houghton.
This evening two Curlew flew east over the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, a flock of c500 Golden Plovers were in the fields there which is presumably why the adult female Peregrine was there too!
At Pitsford Res, birds visible from the dam this evening included the Red-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, two male Grey Wagtails and plenty of hirundines made up of c50 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins and at least 6 Swallows.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
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| Close-up image of a Coal Tit courtesy of Jacob Spinks |
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| Cormorant Pitsford Res |
Monday 7 April 2014
Red is the colour of summer!
Hello
Still plenty of small birds coming down to the seed at Harrington Airfield today, but only one Brambling was noted.
The Red-necked Grebe was again present off the valve tower at the dam of Pitsford Reservoir at lunch-time today. The bird is now progressing well in to summer plumage. The Green Sandpiper was on floodwater still below the dam and three Swallows and seven Sand Martins were spiraling around in the strong breeze.
Ravens were noted at Lamport, Maidwell and Kelmarsh today, probably amounting to four birds in total.
Regards
Neil M
Still plenty of small birds coming down to the seed at Harrington Airfield today, but only one Brambling was noted.
The Red-necked Grebe was again present off the valve tower at the dam of Pitsford Reservoir at lunch-time today. The bird is now progressing well in to summer plumage. The Green Sandpiper was on floodwater still below the dam and three Swallows and seven Sand Martins were spiraling around in the strong breeze.
Ravens were noted at Lamport, Maidwell and Kelmarsh today, probably amounting to four birds in total.
Regards
Neil M
Sunday 6 April 2014
A quiet Sunday
Hello
Quite a bit of time out today but very little of note located.
The two Oystercatchers remain at Pitsford Res and the Harrington Airfield feeding flock contained six Bramblings. Migrants on the old airstrip included an early Cuckoo and two Wheatears.
Regards
Eleanor & Neil
Quite a bit of time out today but very little of note located.
The two Oystercatchers remain at Pitsford Res and the Harrington Airfield feeding flock contained six Bramblings. Migrants on the old airstrip included an early Cuckoo and two Wheatears.
Regards
Eleanor & Neil
Saturday 5 April 2014
East to West
Hello
A excursion to a restricted area to the east of the county this morning was interesting and provided views of a pair of Little Ringed Plover, three pairs of nesting Lapwing, two Snipe, a pair of Shelduck, three Wheatears and a couple of singing Willow Warblers.
An afternoon wander around the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston GP yielded a pair of Shelduck, a 'redhead' Goosander, up to five Little Egrets, a pair of Oystercatcher, three Common Terns, four Swallows, five Cetti's Warbler territories, a couple of Willow Warblers, and a singing Sedge Warbler was reported.
Birds seen from the dam at Pitsford Res this morning included the Great Northern Diver, the Red-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail. About half a dozen Sand Martins were visible from the causeway.
At Harrington Airfield this afternoon, two Lesser Redpolls came down on the track to feed alongside four Bramblings, and a Raven and two Wheatears were also present.
Andrew and Karen Moss and Helen Franklin committed to some ringing this morning in the very west of the county at Glyn Davies Wood. Good numbers of woodland birds were processed and assessed and included a couple of Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, two Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Regards
Neil M
A excursion to a restricted area to the east of the county this morning was interesting and provided views of a pair of Little Ringed Plover, three pairs of nesting Lapwing, two Snipe, a pair of Shelduck, three Wheatears and a couple of singing Willow Warblers.
An afternoon wander around the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston GP yielded a pair of Shelduck, a 'redhead' Goosander, up to five Little Egrets, a pair of Oystercatcher, three Common Terns, four Swallows, five Cetti's Warbler territories, a couple of Willow Warblers, and a singing Sedge Warbler was reported.
Birds seen from the dam at Pitsford Res this morning included the Great Northern Diver, the Red-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail. About half a dozen Sand Martins were visible from the causeway.
At Harrington Airfield this afternoon, two Lesser Redpolls came down on the track to feed alongside four Bramblings, and a Raven and two Wheatears were also present.
Andrew and Karen Moss and Helen Franklin committed to some ringing this morning in the very west of the county at Glyn Davies Wood. Good numbers of woodland birds were processed and assessed and included a couple of Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, two Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Regards
Neil M
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| The full famous weed dance ceremony of Great Crested Grebe is not often witnessed and it is even more difficult to capture with still photography. These images by Robin Gossage provide an insight in to this spectacular if sometimes rather rapid and ornate ceremony. |
Friday 4 April 2014
Kelmarsh Hall ringing
Hello
A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall this morning provided an opportunity of processing 73 birds which in the main were common finches and tits plus a Nuthatch, four different Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Chiffchaff. Two Ravens were also present.
An Osprey was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at 5.20pm, the bird flying up towards the village and presumably onward to Pitsford Res.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall this morning provided an opportunity of processing 73 birds which in the main were common finches and tits plus a Nuthatch, four different Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Chiffchaff. Two Ravens were also present.
An Osprey was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at 5.20pm, the bird flying up towards the village and presumably onward to Pitsford Res.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Thursday 3 April 2014
Snow Bunting
Hello
Gary Pullan located a confiding Snow Bunting at Daventry Country Park today, and the bird continued to show well in to the late afternoon. Please see some images below kindly provided by Andrew Tyrrell and Dave Jackson.
At Hanging Houghton, a dead lamb in one of the grass fields adjacent to the village attracted a couple of Ravens and a Red Kite.
I noticed a north-bound Swallow over Brackmills, N'pton this afternoon and a singing Willow Warbler was present at Kelmarsh Hall this evening.
Regards
Neil M
Gary Pullan located a confiding Snow Bunting at Daventry Country Park today, and the bird continued to show well in to the late afternoon. Please see some images below kindly provided by Andrew Tyrrell and Dave Jackson.
At Hanging Houghton, a dead lamb in one of the grass fields adjacent to the village attracted a couple of Ravens and a Red Kite.
I noticed a north-bound Swallow over Brackmills, N'pton this afternoon and a singing Willow Warbler was present at Kelmarsh Hall this evening.
Regards
Neil M
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| Snow Bunting Andrew Tyrrell |
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| Close-up shot of Snow Bunting by Dave Jackson, depicting the classic bunting anvil-shaped lower mandible. |
Wednesday 2 April 2014
Early breeders
Hello
Yesterday Dave Francis spent some time on a boat at Pitsford Reservoir for tern raft maintenance and made a point of counting the nests in the Cormorant colony. Thirty-six nests are in use and many of them have young visible, including one brood that were almost adult-sized! It is possible to hear the young calling from as far away as the Old Scaldwell Road.
An occupied Raven nest was located in the NN6 area today and there were four Bramblings on the seed at Harrington Airfield at about 12.15pm.
Despite spending some time at Pitsford Res this morning, the only birds of note included the Red-necked Grebe off the dam and the pair of Oystercatcher still mostly on the reserve section of the reservoir.
Regards
Neil M
Yesterday Dave Francis spent some time on a boat at Pitsford Reservoir for tern raft maintenance and made a point of counting the nests in the Cormorant colony. Thirty-six nests are in use and many of them have young visible, including one brood that were almost adult-sized! It is possible to hear the young calling from as far away as the Old Scaldwell Road.
An occupied Raven nest was located in the NN6 area today and there were four Bramblings on the seed at Harrington Airfield at about 12.15pm.
Despite spending some time at Pitsford Res this morning, the only birds of note included the Red-necked Grebe off the dam and the pair of Oystercatcher still mostly on the reserve section of the reservoir.
Regards
Neil M
Tuesday 1 April 2014
Blue-winged Teal
Hello
Yesterday (31st March), and it seemed that singing Blackcaps were just about everywhere I was - they are obviously hot on the heels of the now widespread singing Chiffchaffs!
Also late yesterday morning, Eleanor witnessed an impressive 'kettle' of 18 Common Buzzards circling over the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. It wasn't clear if this was an indication of migration or whether it was simply local birds gathered together enjoying the warm air and light breeze.
This morning Stanwick Gravel Pits stalwart Steve Fisher found yet another rare bird on his local patch, this time a very smart drake Blue-winged Teal. The bird was associating with a pair of Shoveler on the A45 layby pit but reportedly flew off some time after 10.30am.
A pair of Shelduck were noted at Pineham today in the Nene Valley and Pitsford Res continued to host the Great Northern Diver and Red-necked Grebe north of the dam this evening. Andrew Tyrrell saw and heard the female Wood Duck on the River Nene at Carlsberg today.
Regards
Neil M
Yesterday (31st March), and it seemed that singing Blackcaps were just about everywhere I was - they are obviously hot on the heels of the now widespread singing Chiffchaffs!
Also late yesterday morning, Eleanor witnessed an impressive 'kettle' of 18 Common Buzzards circling over the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. It wasn't clear if this was an indication of migration or whether it was simply local birds gathered together enjoying the warm air and light breeze.
This morning Stanwick Gravel Pits stalwart Steve Fisher found yet another rare bird on his local patch, this time a very smart drake Blue-winged Teal. The bird was associating with a pair of Shoveler on the A45 layby pit but reportedly flew off some time after 10.30am.
A pair of Shelduck were noted at Pineham today in the Nene Valley and Pitsford Res continued to host the Great Northern Diver and Red-necked Grebe north of the dam this evening. Andrew Tyrrell saw and heard the female Wood Duck on the River Nene at Carlsberg today.
Regards
Neil M
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