Haloween Birds

Hello

A classic autumn morning at Harrington Airfield with a high volume of birds moving over the plateau north to south. About 500 Woodpigeons moved over in just less than 90 minutes, other birds included about 300 Redwings, 90 Fieldfares, 200 Starlings and good numbers of Chaffinch, Skylark, Linnet, Goldfinch and Meadow Pipit. Small numbers of Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting and Brambling added variety with singles of redpoll sp and Grey Wagtail.

Grounded birds included good numbers of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes and slightly more noteworthy birds seen included a male Peregrine, a Raven, two Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps.

The reserve section of Pitsford Res late morning provided views of two Great White Egrets, 18 Pintail a Black Swan and two Green Sandpipers and at least one Willow Tit in the Scaldwell Bay and 26 Red-crested Pochard in the Walgrave Bay.

This afternoon birds noted at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) included now three pairs of Stonechat, three Woodcock and a Barn Owl (Marsh Harrier reported).

Birds around feeders in the garden here at Hanging Houghton included a Marsh Tit, a Nuthatch and a smart male Lesser Redpoll, with a male Brambling nearby.

Regards

Neil M

The Great White Egrets
had found a shoal of small
fish in the shallows in the
Scaldwell Bay, two Grey
Herons and a couple of
Cormorants also took advantage.

Passerines en-masse

Hello

Eleanor was out and about today and ventured up to Harrington Airfield this morning. Large numbers of passerines were present which included Linnets, Yellowhammers and an influx of Blackbirds. Nothing of particular note though.

It was a similar story at Blueberry Farm near Maidwell with large numbers of small birds on or near the ground, causing a Common Buzzard to alter it's hunting technique and successfully catch a bird by quartering the field similar to a harrier. Two pairs of Stonechat remain on-site and two Ravens were noted in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Jacob Spinks was at Pitsford Res today to the south of the causeway and noted the Grey Phalarope still, the Bar-headed Goose and the pair of Ruddy Shelduck.

Regards

Neil M

Rough-legged Buzzard

Hello

This morning a small team of us decided to try a ringing session at Brixworth Sewer Works. The weather forecast was changeable and we weren't sure if the impending rain was going to disrupt our efforts. Although the overall catch numbers were not high, quality was in the form of four Meadow Pipits, a Pied Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail, a Magpie, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and four Goldcrests.

However whilst we were in the process of checking nets, a raptor appeared just to the west of the site, slowly spiralled up and gently drifted off to the south-west. A stunning juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard! Looking more like a tiny Golden Eagle than a buteo, the bird exhibited proportionately slim wings, was long-bodied and of course displayed the bright white upper tail and dark terminal band, black carpal patches, dark lower abdomen and overall cold plumage tones with a pale head. We were all a touch stunned as the local status of this species is certainly rare; hopefully this may be the forerunner of other sightings as a good number of Rough-legs have been spotted this autumn to the east and north of us.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull later flew over the site towards Pitsford Res.

Eleanor in the meantime was at Blueberry Farm and notched up a pair of Stonechat on the north side of the complex with another pair in the southern-most field. A Grey Plover flew over calling in an easterly direction and a female Merlin caught a passerine. The Short-eared Owl was still in the southern-most field.

At lunch-time visit to Harrington Airfield yielded large numbers of passerines which included good numbers of Linnets and Yellowhammers. Six Bramblings were present and a Short-eared Owl was flushed from the airstrip. Two Ravens were also present.

Regards

Neil M

Magpie

Grey Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

Tuesday's Tales

Another glorious Autumn day with plenty of sunshine and light breeze.  I was up and about early this morning as were the Short Eared Owl and pair of Stonechat in the southern most field at Blueberry Farm.
After a quick coffee I took the younger dogs and headed to Harrington Airfield where I spent the next few hours. Initially there were birds everywhere !! Big numbers of passerines on the top fields including Skylark, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Reed Bunting and Goldfinch, but despite intensive scrutiny I couldn't find anything else different amongst them.  Small flocks of Starling and Redwing were constantly flying over. Harrington is one of those rare places where you can actually physically feel, hear and see migration happening and it can be quite remarkable.
The conditions, plenty of food, sunshine and breeze was perfect for raptors and it was only a matter of time before they put in an appearance.  A female Merlin came low across the fields and caused the passerines to panic. She appeared to catch something before she continued on her way.
Whilst sitting around the bunkers scanning I picked up a male Peregrine, 8+ Red Kites and numerous Common Buzzard.
As I walked back along the main track I was accompanied by 2 "cronking" Ravens.
This afternoon I visited Sywell Reservoir but despite walking round I only saw 6+ Siskins, 2 Grey Wagtail and a pair of Stonechat.

Regards Eleanor

Here and There !!

   Today I have been out and about mixing birding with errands, beginning with a short walk at Blueberry Farm area and finishing at Harrington Airfield.
The Short Eared Owl and pair of Stonechat were present in their usual southern most field of Blueberry. There was a noticeable movement of Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Redwing at this time.
A run along the Brampton Valley Way only produced 2 Grey Wagtails and good numbers of Redwings.
A brief visit to Pitsford Reservoir which was a very busy with people walking + cycling as well as numerous fishing boats and sailing craft . Infact it seemed as if "the whole world" was out enjoying the lovely Autumn warmth and the wildfowl themselves looked stunning in the sunshine.  From the causeway I could see 2 Great White Egret, 2 Ruddy Shelduck and 10+ Red Crested Pochard and from the dam a Green Sandpiper and the Grey Phalarope which was very mobile.
This afternoon I visited the garden centre at Harlestone and whilst browsing there were at least 4 Common Crossbill flying around. A walk around Harlestone Firs produced at least 20+ Siskins, mainly near the railway line and plenty of common woodland birds.  The rich reds, orange and yellow of the leaves were beautiful and my canine companions enjoyed a roll in the leaves followed by a bath in the muddy puddles !!!  it is very muddy away from the main track.
I decided to do a late afternoon visit to Harrington Airfield . I only walked out along the rough strip and it was quite productive with a Short Eared Owl, 6 Grey Partridge, approx. 50 Golden Plover and a pair of Stonechat, topped off with a lovely sunset.

Regards Eleanor

NBC Car Trip

Hello

Today Eleanor stayed local and birds in the Blueberry Farm area near Maidwell included a Short-eared Owl, a Peregrine and two pairs of Stonechat.

It was the day for the Northants Bird Club car trip and our car went to the Norfolk coast starting at Titchwell. A blustery south-westerly accompanied us all day but it remained mild and dry. Very few people were at Titchwell first thing and we quickly connected with Sparrowhawk, at least five Marsh Harriers, four Cetti's Warblers, a Woodcock and a Chiffchaff for starters. Plenty of Little Egrets and common waders occupied the salt-marsh and passerines included about five Rock Pipits. 

The sea provided views of Razorbill, Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser and Red-throated Diver and the shoreline bustled with Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Knot and Curlew. A seal pup was left high and dry on the high tide but didn't seem that bothered!

Plenty of waterfowl and waders inhabited the fresh-marsh and brackish lagoon, the best being Spotted Redshank, Avocet, Ruff and Pintail. Skeins of Brent and Pink-footed Geese whizzed about in all directions.

Our next venue was Holkham which was very busy with people, dogs and horses! Nevertheless our perseverance paid off with distant views of a Great White Egret, four Marsh Harriers, half a dozen Common Buzzards and a flying well-marked Rough-legged Buzzard. Efforts at checking the small bird flocks in the foliage failed to find much out of the ordinary but Jays were very high profile and flocks of Starlings swept past us all day.

Scanning the sea and we found some close-in scoters which included a couple of small parties of Velvet Scoter and a very smart drake Surf Scoter. More Red-throated Divers, a Gannet and a Razorbill fished the shallows off the beach.

We finished the day with skeins of calling Pink-footed Geese arriving to roost against a stunning rich pink sun-set.

Regards

Neil M

Stonechat

Black-tailed Godwit

Little Egret

Brent Geese

Mild October

Hello

A ringing session in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today netted about sixty birds, the best perhaps being a single Redwing and a dozen each of Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit plus three Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a couple of Blackbirds which may have been of continental origin.

Other birds noted in the bay included a Brambling and a Grey Wagtail, a few Goldeneye and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. The Scaldwell Bay hosted two Great White Egrets in the afternoon plus a Little Egret, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, twelve Red-crested Pochard, several Pintail, two Green Sandpipers and a pair of Stonechat.

Blueberry Farm again provided views of a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl and a pair of Stonechat this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret

Great White Egret

Mad March Brown Hares in
October! The relative warm
temperatures appears to be
causing some unseasonal behaviour
in our local wild-life including these
Hares. And there are still some
butterflies, dragon-flies and bees about,
and many birds such as Dunnock
have started singing again.

Quick round-up

Hello

A gallop around Harrington Airfield was called for this morning, and a continuing theme for the autumn has been the large number of common birds present. It was the same today with excellent numbers of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, common finches and the like inhabiting the scrub, and with pigeons, corvids and Skylarks on the open fields. A Corn Bunting, once a breeding bird at this location but now a rare visitor, was present near the first bunker after initially being flushed from the large triangle of rough grass. A Ring Ouzel was in track-side bushes near to the shooting wall and other migrant thrushes were present in good numbers. The finches included a few each of Brambling, Siskin and redpoll sp. Other birds included about 30 Golden Plovers, two Ravens, a covey of seven Grey Partridge, two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and a Willow Tit.

Birds in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res this morning included a Great White Egret and 12 Red-crested Pochard and the Short-eared Owl and two Stonechats were still present in the southern-most field at Blueberry Farm.

Regards

Neil M

Parish birding

Hello

Birds noted locally by Eleanor today included a Peregrine at Lamport and 50 Golden Plovers and 3 Ravens in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

This afternoon the Short-eared Owl showed well in the southern-most field of the Blueberry Farm complex, initially at 1pm and again from 5.45pm. A Barn Owl and a pair of Stonechat were also present in the same area.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford WeBS

Hello

Much of today was spent completing a WeBS count at Pitsford Reservoir. Unfortunately there was a significant amount of disturbance but we persevered in the pleasant weather conditions. 

A single Great White Egret was seen in the Walgrave Bay and later a single was in the Scaldwell Bay. It's not known if these observations refer to one or two birds. Other birds on-site included about 8 Little Egrets, a Black Swan, 27 Red-crested Pochard (11 in the Walgrave Bay and 16 in the Scaldwell Bay), 13 Pintail, 4 Goldeneye, 3 Green Sandpipers, 38 Snipe, three adult Yellow-legged Gulls, a Stonechat and a Siskin.

Nearby a Water Rail and three Snipe were noted at Brixworth Sewer Works.

Regards

Neil M

Red Fox Pitsford Res.
A different individual
to the injured animal seen
at the week-end.

Steadfast birds in the wind

Hello

Birds noted at Pitsford Res today included 2-3 Great White Egrets (two in the Scaldwell Bay and later one at the Gorse Bushes), the Grey Phalarope near to Pintail Bay still, the two Ruddy Shelduck south of the causeway and three (two adult) Yellow-legged Gulls in the gull roost.

Despite the very windy conditions this afternoon, a Short-eared Owl and two Barn Owls were hunting at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, but this time in the sheltered area at the bottom of the largest seta-side field (on the hill) to the west of the farm.

Regards

Neil M

Detecting diurnal migration

Hello

A wander around Harrington Airfield this morning provided plenty of evidence of south-bound migration but nothing of particular note was seen. Common finches made up much of the movement which also included a Brambling and a couple of redpoll sp. Redwings, Starlings and Woodpigeons made in-roads in to the south-westerly air-stream and moved over in small flocks. Skylarks are more difficult to assess because they spend so much time chasing each other around and singing, direct diurnal migration is less pronounced. For the last month or so small numbers of Tree and House Sparrows have been flying over the disused airfield or even pitching down on the bushes for a short while. This may just be localised movement but who knows! Other birds seen this morning included a Wheatear and about sixty Golden Plover.

Birds in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res today were noted as a single Great White Egret (I'm not certain that the other two are currently on-site, but one has been seen regularly south of the causeway too), 18 Red-crested Pochard, 11 Pintail, a pair of Stonechat and a Willow Tit. A few Siskins were around Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay. Birds visible from the dam this afternoon in wet and dull conditions included a Water Rail, a Green Sandpiper, up to four Grey Wagtails, a Wheatear and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. 

A Grey Wagtail was in Hanging Houghton village today and three Bramblings flew south over the Brampton Valley below the village. This evening the Short-eared Owl again hunted the southern-most field of the Blueberry Farm complex; a Barn Owl and a pair of Stonechat were present too.

Regards

Neil M

Goldfinch. Large numbers of these
birds pass through the county at this
time of the year, many to winter in Iberia.

More images from Pitsford

Hello

Local naturalist Jacob Spinks was out and about at Pitsford Reservoir with his camera yesterday, and shares with us some of his favorite images of the day...

Neil M

Grey Phalarope

Kestrel

Breezy Sunday

Hello

At Harrington Airfield this morning birds present included a Short-eared Owl, a pair of Stonechat and a Wheatear. Three Siskins flew south over Hanging Houghton early morning.

At Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, time spent on the reserve north of the causeway provided views of a single Great White Egret (Scaldwell Bay), 24 Red-crested Pochard (22 in Scaldwell Bay and 2 in the Walgrave Bay), four Goldeneye, seven Pintail, a Black Swan, both Marsh and Willow Tit and a pair of Stonechat (male trapped and ringed). A Swallow was seen near the dam.

A female Pochard and a drake Tufted Duck were both sporting blue bill shields in the Scaldwell Bay this afternoon. Hopefully we have recorded the correct details of the Tufted Duck but the Pochard was too distant. It is likely that both birds were initially trapped and ringed in France or Spain.

A Short-eared Owl was hunting in breezy conditions at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell in the southern-most field just before dusk.

Regards

Neil M

Red Fox Pitsford Res.
This animal was suffering
an injury to it's left leg
causing a severe limp.

Male Stonechat
Pitsford Res.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

This morning Eleanor located a Wheatear in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke.

This afternoon we completed a belated WeBS count at Ditchford Gravel Pits in breezy but ridiculously warm conditions. Common Blue Damselflies and Common Darters were among many insects on the wing in these balmy temperatures.

The water-sport pit west of Ditchford lane hosted a Water Pipit and at least seven Egyptian Geese. A Bittern was in waterside vegetation on the second old pit east of Ditchford Lane. Other birds included a Green Sandpiper, a Snipe, three Little Egrets, ten Kingfishers, a pair of Stonechat, six Cetti's Warblers, four Grey Wagtails and two Siskins.

Regards

Neil M

Goldfinch bonanza!

Hello

Time spent at Pitsford Reservoir today provided further views of the first winter Grey Phalarope which was still in the Pintail Bay at 4.30pm. Other birds present included a Green Sandpiper, a Black Swan, the pair of Ruddy Shelduck still, a Great White Egret, a Rock Pipit and a Wheatear.

At least one male Brambling remained at Hanging Houghton today.

Yesterday morning (Thursday) and Chris Payne experienced an influx of Goldfinches at his Greens Norton ringing site, catching a whopping 47 birds! He processed a total of 90 birds which in addition to the Goldfinches included a couple of Collared Doves, a Woodpigeon, a Great Spotted Woodpecker as well as Long-tailed Tits, House Sparrows, Greenfinches etc.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Phalarope
Pitsford Res

Wood Duck

Hello

John Gamble has kindly forwarded some images of a female Wood Duck present on the River Nene near Morrisons Supermarket at Northampton on Tuesday (14th Oct) at about 11am. Presumably the same individual as that further up-river near the Carlsberg premises earlier in the year...?

Regards

Neil  M

Wood Duck
Courtesy of John Gamble

Pitsford Birding

Today most of my birding was confined to the big side of Pitsford Reservoir. As it was a lovely Autumn day I thought that I would walk the whole circuit which I believe is just over seven miles which took me and my canine companions four hours.
Plenty of birds to look at including at least 6 Little Egrets, 1 Great White Egret, Green Sandpiper, Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, 1 Siskin, and 8 Brambling.
The Grey Phalarope was still present just north of Moulton Grange Bay, but it was quite flighty today giving most birders the run around.
As I walked across the causeway I noted the 2 Ruddy Shelduck sitting at the waters edge in front of the Lodge.

Regards  Eleanor