Stortons GP

Hello

Yesterday Chris Payne and John Boland spent some time at Stortons Gravel Pits committing to some general bird ringing and checking the nest boxes there...

The attached images depict some of the results!

Regards

Neil M

Great Tit and Blue Tit nestlings.

Garden Warbler.

Reed Warbler.

Very much a
juvenile Robin!

Logging in Denton Wood

Hello

The following is a message from local naturalist Jeff Blincow...

'The Forestry Commission is currently logging in Denton Wood in the bird breeding season. Several people have expressed their concern and the RSPB and the Wildlife Trust for BCN are involved. I am surprised it got as far as newts (there is a significant colony of Great Crested Newts on-site) before the Police became involved.

I was hoping that other people could contribute. 

If you are members, please contact the RSPB and Wildlife Trust to show concern or offer support.

Contact the Forestry Commission -  this is the thin end of the wedge - once they can do it and get away with it then it will start happening elsewhere.

Contact Carly at the Chron & Echo who has yet to get back to me. 

Make positive suggestions and please forward this to others that may be interested...

Thank-you'

Neil M

The Spotted Flycatchers are here!

Hello

A morning walk in the sunshine at Harrington Airfield this morning resulted in some good views of at least two Turtle Doves and at least one pair of Grey Partridge. A Nuthatch in scrub near to the first bunker was a surprise - maybe a wandering failed breeder or a gleaning bird travelling further afield in search of food?

Single Spotted Flycatchers were in Lamport and Maidwell villages.

At Pitsford Reservoir today a CES ringing session provided 33 captures, not huge numbers but excellent diversity with 15 species - 5 Garden Warblers, 4 Treecreepers, 4 Blackbirds, 3 Wrens, 3 Great Tits, 2 Bullfinches, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Blue Tits, 2 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Long-tailed Tit, a Goldcrest, a Chaffinch, a Dunnock and a Kingfisher.

An Osprey was fishing in the Scaldwell Bay at 12 noon and other birds included 3 Spotted Flycatchers in trees by the Sailing Club and two Common Sandpipers and a Ringed Plover near to the Moulton Grange Bay.

A drake Red-crested Pochard was at Naseby Reservoir, just off the dam this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Turtle Dove
at Harrington Airfield.

A very wet day!

Hello

Eleanor was at Sywell Country Park today and ran around twice with Tor the hound! In such inclement weather there was strangely no-one else there but the bird life included two Spotted Flycatchers and two Grey Wagtails in the dam area...

A ringing session at Brixworth Water Treatment Works provided 51 captures, the majority being new birds. These were made up of 2 Magpies, 12 Starlings, 4 Blue Tits, a Blackcap, a Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Bullfinches and 25 Swallows. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard singing there briefly.

Regards

Neil M

Red Squirrel.

Pied Flycatcher.

Tawny Owl.

Dippers.

Roe Deer.

All images courtesy of
Jim Dunkley following a trip
to the Lake District and Cumbria.

More ringing recoveries...

Hello

Another batch of ringing recoveries with birds initially caught by Northants Ringing Group ringers and then being recorded a good distance away.

The first three are all Siskins as follows:-

1. A male was caught by Chris Payne at Greens Norton on 4th March this year and was caught again by a ringer operating in Drummond, Inverneshire 50 days later on 22nd April. This bird had travelled 626km to get there, travelling in a NNW direction;

2. A male caught by John Woollett at Astcote on 29th Feb 2016 was caught again on 30th April this year, this bird turning up at Millhouse Bridge in Dumfries and Galloway. The distance between the two sites is 368km and this bird's latter location was also NNW of the original ringing area;

3. Another male caught by John at Astcote also on 29th Feb 2016 found a mist net at Cnoc in Argyll and Bute on 1st May this year. Again this bird had veered NNW and in 426 days (14 months) had travelled many hundreds of kilometres albeit that the minimum distance between the two sites is 508km.

These feisty little finches may be small but they certainly know how to travel!

Finally, Kenny Cramer caught a haul of Blackbirds and other thrushes at Milton Keynes Community Orchard on 29th January this year, and one of these (a first year female) was found predated near Leningrad, Russia some 77 days later on 16th April - 2073 km away! Some of our wintering thrushes clearly come quite a distance to avoid the severe winters further north and east but this is undoubtedly one of our longest distance migrants recorded to date (not surprisingly ending up ENE of the original ringing site).

Regards

Neil M

Cetti's Warbler.

Common Terns.

Dingy Skipper butterfly.

Adder.

All images courtesy of John
Gamble following an excursion
to Dorset!

Breezy and wet Monday

Hello

Yesterday (Sunday) Debbie and Eric Graham were at Blatherwycke Lake and saw a pair of Egyptian Geese and several Shelduck as well as a hawking Hobby.

A morning foray to Harrington Airfield in the rain this morning confirmed the presence of at least two pairs of Grey Partridge. Last year they seemed to delay their breeding efforts and produced two broods of young which appeared to survive to full size. With this current wet spell let's hope they do the same this year! It may have been wet and breezy but it didn't stop Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat and plenty of Willow Warblers from singing their stuff!

Pitsford Reservoir, like many county sites, has had a cracking spring so it was a touch disappointing when this afternoon and evening there were just three Ringed Plovers and a Little Ringed Plover at the Moulton Grange spit.

Congratulations go to Gary Pullan who yet again found a Red-rumped Swallow at Daventry Country Park today. Gary has an amazing ability to find rare birds with a track record of stunning birds over the last couple of decades. Well done Gary!

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing. Very few pairs
seem to be holding territory
in the county this year...

Bird Race results

Hello

The intrepid and slightly mad team of Phil, Bob, Jacob and I with support from Helen are a touch weary but still just functioning after the county Bird Race yesterday.

Starting at Midnight at Oundle, a nocturnal singing Sedge Warbler was the first bird but the regular Grasshopper Warbler remained silent! A Lesser Whitethroat also sang for us briefly and was the second species of the day! A drive around near Ashton Wold provided excellent views of a roadside-hunting Barn Owl and a vocal Tawny Owl was the first of several during the early hours. The song of Nightingale was next as three or four songsters banged it out at Polebrook Airfield. Something disturbed roosting Carrion Crows as they called to each other. A drive around the exterior of the old airfield and down to Barnwell was good for Hare and Rabbit but not much else.

A tiny roadside fawn Muntjac and a juvenile Tawny Owl were noted at Lilford and Wadenhoe hosted more singing Sedge Warblers, a singing Cetti's Warbler and singing Woodpigeon but not the hoped-for Curlew. Next it was the small Wildlife Trust car park at Aldwincle and a Grasshopper Warbler reeled continually - a short expedition on to the Titchmarsh Reserve secured a calling Water Rail, more Sedge and Cetti's Warblers and several Reed Warblers. The meadows at Thorpe Waterville were the venue for a calling and over-flying Grey Heron but again no Curlew. However to have secured five species of singing warbler by 2am is definitely a first for the bird race team! The full moon and bright, mild conditions were perhaps the stimuli.

A bit of a drive up to the Corby area resulted in some good views of roadside Fallow Deer and the Welland Valley produced some more quality mammal sightings. First was three tiny Red Fox cubs playing at the side of a minor road, and they remained curious as we stopped the car and watched them with torches. A little further on and a listening session was interrupted when a female Badger and three young came bimbling across the field and started sniffing Bob's wellingtons. They didn't seem to like them much and careered back off from whence they had come! Shortly afterwards, two young Badgers also came very close before they realised the errors of their ways and made off in the opposite direction!

By this time the sky was beginning to lighten and of course Robins, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes began singing. Another Tawny Owl hooted as we made our way towards Fineshade. A roadworks diversion ensured we saw another hunting Barn Owl near Duddington.

At Fineshade Wood birds were awakening and we quickly added the warblers of woodland and scrub, another Tawny Owl, Cuckoo and the first of the tits. We were a little late in getting there for the prime time and consequently failed to connect with a roding Woodcock. However Siskin was a bonus bird and there were brief encounters with Nuthatch and Jay by individuals within the team. However everyone has to see and hear the bird and agree with the identification so these birds didn't count!

We decided to push on and Blatherwycke Lake yielded the hoped-for Mandarin Ducks, Shelduck, Kingfisher and more common fare. Nearby Deene Lake assisted with Grey Wagtail, another Kingfisher and Teal. Scrub and grassland adjoining an industrial estate at Corby produced our only Meadow Pipits all day.

It was time then for the Nene Valley and after a brief stop at Ringstead we moved on to Stanwick Gravel Pits which hosted an Egyptian Goose, but the long-staying Scaup and the waders of the previous day were not to be found! Nearby Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows provided us with a splendid Red-crested Pochard, our first waders in the shape of Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher and Little Ringed Plover and our first Sparrowhawk of the day.

The extensive old gravel pits at Earls Barton are critical to the bird race but were generally very quiet but we managed Hobby, Wigeon, Shoveler and Greenshank - none of which were seen anywhere else. A Little Owl near Grendon was much appreciated. The Nene Barrage at Clifford Hill was good enough for a pair of Barnacle Geese but again no hoped-for waders.

A spot of urban birding was called for next as we scoured Abington Park for Mistle Thrush (but failed) but did encounter Ring-necked Parakeet; Nuthatch and Jay were now seen by all the team!
By this time we still hadn't recorded a Green Woodpecker and our wader list was to stick stubbornly on only seven species for the duration.

It was mid-afternoon before we finally tipped up at Pitsford Reservoir and added Great Black-backed Gull to the proceedings as well as a measly three Tree Sparrows at the main feed station. A visit to the reserve's Christies Copse secured Marsh Tit and finally Green Woodpecker but a single Willow Tit was not seen/heard by the whole team and couldn't be included!

Next was Harrington Airfield and a bit of a hike claimed a pair of gorgeous Turtle Doves and three pairs of Grey Partridge. It seemed that the Wheatear from the morning had departed. A local Raven was the next bird to be added and then it was off to Stanford Reservoir where the very low water levels this spring have provided a series of excellent sightings including many waders. Not this time though! However some careful scanning was good in securing Pochard and Common Gull to the stuttering day list. A distant second year gull might have been a Yellow-legged but remained unconfirmed.

A quick scan at Hollowell Reservoir also failed to find any migrant waders and there was no sign of the White-fronted Goose which had been there the day before. A hunting Barn Owl was near Creaton as we progressed towards our last venue - the dam at Pitsford Reservoir. Scanning the Moulton Grange spit suggested no waders there and the large Common Tern flock just didn't contain any Arctic or Black Terns. Very much the last bit of scanning paid off though when we pick out a distant and very unexpected drake Long-tailed Duck, in all probability our best bird of the day!

Collectively we saw or heard 112 species of 'countable' birds. We also came across feral pigeon, Black Swan and Peacock! Our list included seven species of raptor and ten species of warbler but we didn't locate Corn Bunting, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodcock, Snipe or Curlew. Redshanks were only seen at one site and Lapwings at two. Other observers on the day in the county saw Redstart and Marsh Harrier. With more luck it should have been possible to see many more species of wader, a couple more tern species which have provided a strong passage this spring and other sporadic birds such as Garganey and Little Gull. Long-staying individuals of Whooper Swan, White-fronted Goose and Scaup were notably absent on the day in question!

A very big thank-you to the many birders out there who made contact during the day and provided us with information beforehand to help us in our endeavors.

Today (Sunday) and Pitsford was busy with birds again with a mixture of observers seeing a Curlew, a Whimbrel, a Little Stint, a Dunlin, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, two or three Black Terns, a Hobby, a pair of Mandarin Ducks and the Long-tailed Duck (still present this evening)...

Regards

Neil M

County Bird Race

Hello

A visit to the dam area of Pitsford Reservoir in the rain this morning suggested there was little that was new. Three Oystercatchers were in the grounds of the Sailing Club and the Moulton Grange spit attracted a Common Sandpiper, six Ringed Plovers and two Little Ringed Plovers.

A wander around Harrington Airfield late morning procured a Wheatear, three pairs of Grey Partridge and the very welcome sight and sound of a 'purring' Turtle Dove!

Tomorrow (Saturday) will be taken up completing a 24 hour bird race whereby four locally-based observers will endeavour to record as many bird species within the county boundary of Northamptonshire as is possible from Midnight to Midnight. So by Midnight tonight Phil Horsnail, Jacob Spinks, Bob Bullock and I hope to be at our first site trying to see or more likely hear the first possible bird species!

Having done this before a few times, I know how weary we will have become by early afternoon so hope to co-opt a safe driver (Helen Franklin) to prolong our effort (and agony) until we feel we cannot see or hear any more! May is the traditional month to try to find the maximum number of species albeit that the seasons seem to be becoming earlier.

There are always some relatively common species that prove to be difficult on the day, and of course our visiting waders and terns can be fleeting, but we aim to visit most of the prime spots in the county to record our feathery friends! However if you think you can assist by putting us on to a bird you know about or that you find during the day we would very much like to hear from you! If you are able please text me on 07905 596427...

Although it is a bit of fun, the serious side of this effort is that some familiar birds have become much scarcer in recent years and are often tricky to find. Some of course have increased and this day will highlight these variations.

Thank-you

Neil McMahon
07905 596427

Hobby at Summer
Leys. courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Osprey at Pitsford Reservoir,
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

We hope to see Hobby tomorrow but can
we see one of the wandering Rutland Water
project Ospreys?

Thursday's offerings

Hello

Eleanor was out and about today and Pitsford Reservoir was the first venue with birds in the Moulton Grange Bay area including an Oystercatcher, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers and two or three Common Sandpipers. A Fieldfare was an unusual late sighting as it fed along the waterline with Blackbirds. Later there was a Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover on the shoreline near to the causeway.

A Barn Owl and two Grey Partridges were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and this evening's birds included two Ravens at Staverton and a Whinchat and a Raven at Borough Hill Country Park. An Otter was visible at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, showing on the small side from the road causeway at 6pm...

Regards

Neil M

Male Cuckoo.

Female Cuckoo.
Both these birds were
caught and ringed at Linford
Lakes at the week-end.
Images courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Bits and Bobs

Although I have been out and about I seem to have missed everything !!!!  Harrington Airfield has been very cold, windswept and devoid of birds. Blueberry has not been much better and the recent changes in the land management has dramatically reduced the bird population. 
My "best" birds have been a couple of Barn Owls below Hanging Houghton village and the usual Ravens at Staverton.

The ringers were out at the weekend.
Nick Wood's group caught 5 Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Blackbird, 2 Cettis Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, 1 Wren and 15 Blue Tit pulli at Stortons Pits.
Meanwhile another group were ringing at Linford.   Kenny reports " Linford today was very much the epitome of quality over quantity, with 21 new birds, 9 retraps and a total of 15 species. 
Two Garden Warbler and 3 Reed Warbler validated my predictions, a new Willow Warbler was a nice surprise, while 2 Goldfinches and a Bullfinch added some colour to the proceedings.
At this point it is worth saying that we have long hoped that one of Linford's reliably regular Cuckoo's would find its way into a net but always felt it was a remote possibility. It would therefore be fair to say that never in our wildest dreams did we think we might catch two, a male and female. "

Regards Eleanor

Wednesday Wader Fix

The highlight of an early morning visit to Harrington airfield were 4 Grey Partridge !!
Pitsford Reservoir was equally as quiet  with 5 Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover, Greenshank and 2 Common Sandpiper being the only birds of note. A far cry from the numbers and species of waders present a few days ago.
It was quite apt that the talk at the Birdclub this evening was by Wader Quest which is an entirely voluntary charity dedicated to supporting and promoting wader conservation projects around the world and raising awareness about the challenges that these birds face in every environment that they inhabit..
Rick and Elis gave a very entertaining and informative talk which prompted many questions afterwards, and it certainly made us aware of the many issues facing this fantastic and often evocative family of birds. I'll never take waders for granted anymore.
If you want to find out more check out www.waderquest.org

Regards Eleanor

Birds of early May

Hello

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included a rather unseasonal Great White Egret in the Scaldwell Bay at about 9am and then later this afternoon, but interestingly Dave Francis saw three together in the Walgrave Bay on Sunday (30th April).

Other birds today at Pitsford included a Greenshank in the Scaldwell Bay, a couple of Common Sandpipers, three Oystercatchers and a pair of Shelduck.

The first Constant Effort ringing session took place in the Scaldwell Bay this morning and resulted in a modest capture of birds but which included two male Kingfishers.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning included a Barn Owl, two Wheatears and a pair of Grey Partridge.

Regards

Neil M

Jim Dunkley kept his
distance but still managed
some interesting shots of
a recent Honey Bee swarm!

...and Graham Bentley was rather close
to this singing Goldcrest which is always
a treat...!

Yellowhammer coming for garden
 feeding seed still,
courtesy of Cathy Ryden.

A posing Red-legged Partridge
courtesy of Jacob Spinks.

More waders!

Hello

An early morning visit to Pitsford Reservoir provided a fresh batch of migrant waders with the spit near the Moulton Grange Bay providing most of the records. A summer plumage Knot was a different bird to yesterday and there were also 2 Grey Plovers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 5 Little Ringed Plovers, at least 7 Common Sandpipers, 3 Dunlin, a Sanderling, 2-3 Oystercatchers and 2 Greenshank.  Pitsford spring records of wader passage have been poor in recent years and this passage is somewhat unprecedented and helped by low water levels.

Other birds on-site today included a female Blue-headed or Channel Wagtail, two Hobby, a Black Tern, two Shelduck and a drake Red-crested Pochard.

Eleanor had five Whimbrel flying north over Blueberry Farm this morning and there were two singing Grasshopper Warblers there too. A Barn Owl was again hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Little Ringed Plover
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Waders at Pitsford Reservoir
today - Dunlin, Knot
 and Ringed Plover.

Cuckoo at Summer Leys
today courtesy of Robin
Gossage.

Ringing recoveries

Hello

Some recent ringing recoveries have come through from the BTO Ringing Unit and kindly disseminated by our local ringing secretary Nick Wood...

W24716 is a ring fixed on the leg of an adult Mute Swan on 5th April 2008 in Leicestershire. The ring was photographed by Cathy Ryden at Guilsborough Fish Ponds on 15th March 2017 where this bird is the male on territory. Cathy successfully photographed the ring on this bird at the same venue in 2015 so these small ponds are clearly his own back yard. This bird is at least eleven years old.

A male Fieldfare was caught and ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 30th December 2011 (LC22169) and was sadly killed by hunters on or about 15th January 2017 at Trainou, Loiret, France. Although the simple distance between the two sites is 530km clearly this nomadic bird had travelled many thousands of km during its life.

On 28th July 2016 a young Blackbird was ringed by a Swedish ringer at Vanbo, Smedjebacken, Dalarnas Lan near Kopparberg. This bird turned up in a mist net at Milton Keynes Community Orchard on 20th February this year where it's gender was confirmed as a female. In 207 days this young migrant travelled a minimum of 1347km and probably wintered in Milton Keynes.

Yellowhammers are generally considered sedentary so when John Woollett caught and ringed a female at Astcote on 8th January 2015 and this bird was found dead in the village (believed to be a road casualty) on 17th March this year it wasn't particularly surprising. It is a shame that with small birds many of our recoveries are only recorded when they become a casualty.

Regards

Neil M

Mute Swan.

Fieldfare.

Blackbird.
Courtesy of Cathy Ryden.

Yellowhammer courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

House Martin survey

From Ben Reeve, Assistant BTO Regional Representative for Northants Hi all, We hope you're enjoying the arrival of our summer migrants; the county has plenty of Warblers in full song, waders visiting our reservoirs and Swallows overhead. Here's hoping we'll see a higher number of House Martins in 2017! Sadly, as you may already know, House Martin numbers are in steep decline so in 2015 the BTO launched a specially designed survey to gather vital information to help understand them better. Hopefully you'll be aware of last year's House Martin nest study even if you couldn't participate. It was originally going to run from 2015 to 2016 but last year wasn't considered a typical year for House Martins so the nest study has been extended for another year. Do you have House Martins nesting on your house, close by or somewhere else convenient where you will be able to monitor them regularly throughout the season? If you can answer yes to the following questions we’d love you to take part in the survey – Can the nests be viewed safely (from ground level or from a window) without causing disturbance to the birds? Is the site convenient to commit to visiting regularly throughout the breeding season until September (ideally once a week, with an occasional break being acceptable)? Could I obtain the site owner’s permission where necessary? Surveying can be very satisfying and enjoyable, this nest study in particular is straight forward and will provide useful data that may help to explain the species’ decline. Below is a list of useful links which should help you decide if you can take part in the survey. We're also more than happy to chat to you to help with any reservations, concerns or general questions you may have. House Martin appeal Nest study info Video tutorial Resources Sign up / log in House Martin ID video If you can’t take part in the survey there are other ways you can help, the appeal needs to raise funds to make up a shortfall and you can donate here. We’d very much appreciate you giving this some thought. House Martins are in danger of being added to the Red Data list and you could really help by spending 15 minutes a week over the coming few months. All the best, Ben. Ben Reeve BTO Assistant Regional Rep for Northants 7 Rectory Close, Crick, Northants, NN6 7SY Email: benreeve@outlook.com Twitter: @NorthantsBTO Personal Twitter: @BeardWarbler 01788 824413 07961 038455