Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

A rather cold and foggy start today gave way to some winter sunshine and pleasant weather.

This provided us with the opportunity to complete the WeBS count at Ditchford Pits - the older pits were checked first and the latter part of the count concentrated on the newer pits west of Ditchford Lane.

A Marsh Harrier was seen a couple of times west of Ditchford Lane at one stage interacting with a dark Common Buzzard. Other birds in this section included a drake Pintail, a couple of Goldeneye, two Egyptian Geese, three Goosanders, three or four Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper, a Water Rail, a pair of Stonechats and four Cetti's Warblers.

East of Ditchford Lane and birds included another four Great White Egrets, at least four Cetti's Warblers, four Grey Wagtails and a couple of Chiffchaffs.

The two Glossy Ibis were showing very well close to the road at the Wellingborough Embankment today, using both wet fields either side of the road.

Two Ring-necked Ducks were reported via Birdguides as being present at Summer Leys LNR today with no other details known.

The Black Redstart was again in Northampton this morning, showing on rooftops in Sandringham Road at about 10am.

The Glossy Ibis remains at Stanford Reservoir where also six Great White Egrets and a Peregrine were seen.

Regards

Neil M

The Glossy Ibis at the Wellingborough Embankment today.

Tystie is quickly growing up!

Caspian Gulls, more Black-necked Grebes and the Black Red still!

Hello

Yesterday's birds (11th) included the Black Redstart still off Sandringham Road, Northampton and a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was seen again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Birds around Spring Pond off the Brampton Valley Way below Brixworth included a Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler and at least one Chiffchaff with a couple of Bramblings nearby.

Three Black-necked Grebes stopped off for a brief stay at Daventry Country Park yesterday and a Caspian Gull was present too. A Caspian Gull was seen at Hollowell Reservoir and birds at Stanford Reservoir included the Glossy Ibis still plus six Great White Egrets and two Goosanders.

Also yesterday the Black-necked Grebe was in Pintail Bay at Pitsford Reservoir with the juvenile Whooper Swan in the Narrows and two Goosanders were at Town Lake, Thrapston Pits.

A Merlin was a good record for Hinton Airfield in the afternoon and Clifford Hill Pits attracted a Raven and two Great White Egrets in the morning.

Today (12th Dec) and the Black Redstart was still showing nicely in Northampton in the same place, clearly enjoying it's urban setting. A different Caspian Gull was at Hollowell Reservoir today where there was also a Water Rail, three Stonechats and two Common Snipe.

Thrapston Pits was the venue again for the drake Ring-necked Duck at the north end of Town Lake and two Greater Scaup and two Goosanders were at the south end by the sailing club (early afternoon).

Two Glossy Ibis were on flood pools by the bend in the road at Wellingborough Embankment and an adult Caspian Gull was identified at Summer Leys LNR.

A Siskin was at Lamport Hall and good numbers of Starlings and Fieldfares were at Harrington Airfield and Stonechats were heard calling in the gloom in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Stanford Reservoir's birds today included the Glossy Ibis, four Great White Egrets, three Goosanders and ninety Pochard. Two Caspian Gulls were at Daventry Country Park today.

Variable numbers of Scaup have been reported at Eyebrook Reservoir recently with four today and where also five Smew including three drakes.

Regards

Neil M

Cetti's Warbler.

Chiffchaff.

Water Rail.

Winter lingerers

Hello

A much better day's weather provided more sightings in the county.

A Glossy Ibis was seen again at Stanford Reservoir and the Black Redstart was on and off in the Sandringham Road area in Northampton.

Two Greater Scaup were on Town Lake, Thrapston Pits this morning and a Marsh Harrier was on the Titchmarsh reserve.

The Black-necked Grebe was again at Pitsford Reservoir just off the shoreline between Pintail Bay and the Sailing Club, the juvenile Whooper Swan was also present and other birds included a Yellow-legged Gull, a Peregrine, a Redpoll and at least ten Common Snipe. Four Green Sandpipers were in the Holcot Bay at lunchtime.

Two Ravens and a couple of Siskins were at Hanging Houghton and the Brampton Valley below the village yielded a Short-eared Owl, a female Merlin, a pair of Stonechat and eight Bramblings. A Red Admiral was on the wing at Lamport Hall.

A pair of Stonechat were at Upton Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Gadwall.

Drake Teal.

Red Fox.

Another dark and dingy day

Hello

Another short and dark day but we have avoided the worst of Storm Bram it seems!

A Glossy Ibis was near the feeding station at Summer Leys LNR today and the Black Redstart was still in Northampton to the west of Abington Park at Sandringham Road.

A first year drake Greater Scaup was at Thrapston Pits early this afternoon, still on Town Lake and the Black-necked Grebe was in Yacht Bay, Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

Two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton today, a couple of Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall.        

I've recently returned from a short trip to south France and another page/tab has been produced - Wallcreeper and the Camargue December 2025 - with a few images included.

Regards

Neil M

Raven.

Tufted Duck.

Pied Wagtail.

There's a Black Red in Town!!

Yesterday it appeared to be rather quiet with very few birds reported.  Just the Black-necked Grebe in the Pintail Bay, Pitsford Reservoir,  Glossy Ibis at Stanford Reservoir, Bittern and Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys. 

For a while I have suspected that the large mixed flock of buntings and finches that I see regularly at shrike hedge/ blueberry area feed elsewhere as sometimes I see absolutely nothing and a few hours later the area is alive with birds. This was certainly the case yesterday.  My first visit was fruitless with just a handful of birds. So I decided to have a good walk around the fields ( I have permission) and check out some other sunflower strips. All of these other strips yielded a mixture of buntings and finches including quite a few Bramblings.  I think that these birds are covering quite an area in their search for food.   When I returned to shrike hedge/Blueberry in the afternoon the area was full of birds including a Corn Bunting,  15+ Bramblings and a female Merlin hunting her favourite prey item, Skylarks. 

Today we were reminded that you don't have to travel miles to find a good bird, but instead just be aware of the birds which visit your garden.  Tyler Atkinson did just that by spotting a Black Redstart in his garden. A great find. The bird remained in the area of Sandringham Road/Thursby Road and King Edwards Road, Northampton.  This area of town is close to Abington Park which has been put on the birding map thanks to Tyler birding it regularly. 

Today there were 2 Hawfinches in  the churchyard at Blatherwycke.  Hopefully these birds will hang around.  This is a regular wintering site for these birds. It is worth checking out the other known wintering areas of Cottesbrooke and Deene Churchyard as well as looking out for new sites.                                                                                      Other birds reported today include a Short-eared Owl and 2 Stonechats at Nevilles Lodge, Finedon, 7 Crossbills at Bucknell Wood, 3 Glossy Ibis on flooded area near Irchester, a Glossy Ibis at Stanford Reservoir, Black-necked Grebe and Goosander at Pitsford Reservoir, Caspian Gull and 2 Woodcock at Naseby Reservoir and a 1st winter drake Greater Scaup on the Town Lake at Thrapston. 

Regards Eleanor 

Black Redstart today
courtesy of Tyler Atkinson.

Short December Days

It's the time of year when the days seem to be so short. Because I usually have lots of things to get done I'm chomping at the bit waiting for the day to get light. This morning I went out early and used the brightness of the moon to light my way.  It was lovely being out at that time and I was treated to a spectacular daybreak with the sky turning various shades of blue and pink. It was crispy underfoot due to the hard frost and this had the added advantage of coming back with clean dogs instead of the wet and muddy ones of late. 

It seems pretty quiet everywhere in the county. Glossy Ibis were seen at Stanford Reservoir,  Summer Leys and a flooded field near Irchester. The regular Marsh Harriers were at Summer Leys and Titchmarsh LNR.  A Caspian Gull was at Hollowell and Ravensthorpe Reservoir,  Black-necked Grebe in the Pintail Bay at Pitsford Reservoir,  Bittern at Summer Leys, Cettis Warbler and 5 Stonechats at Hollowell Reservoir and on the Town Lake at Thrapston the drake Ring Necked Duck and both male and female Greater Scaup. Two Stonechats were at Upton Country Park today.

I have had very quiet visits to Harrington Airfield and shrike hedge/Blueberry.

 

Of interest a Common Gull seen and photographed (Stuart Mundy) at Pitsford Reservoir had been ringed at a site 500 miles away at Heligoland Island north of Germany. 

Have a good weekend

 

Regards Eleanor 

Stonechat.

Robin.

Common Gull.

Blackcap.

Goldfinch.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Birds lost in the fog

Hello

Foggy start to the day and then some sunny, still conditions made the afternoon brief but pleasant.

The Red-breasted Merganser wasn't seen at Boddington Reservoir today but there were fourteen Goosanders and a Raven there.

A drake Goosander was on Rotary Island at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and a Common Snipe was the only bird of note seen at Harrington Airfield before the pheasant shooting began.

A male Blackcap visited a Little Billing garden this morning.

A/the female Merlin was again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon, hunting Meadow Pipits trying to go to roost and other birds included the Corn Bunting again plus a pair of Stonechats and at least six Bramblings.

Regards

Neil M

Female Blackbird. Very few
Blackbirds about currently.

Robin.

Peregrine.

A Firecrest, the Merlin still and Siskins

Hello

A pleasant day's weather with some sunshine and blue sky, quite different to yesterday.

A Firecrest was an excellent find at Abington Park, Northampton, these smart birds are always looking for ivy and holly at this time of the year and are probably more common in the county than we think. A Great White Egret was seen flying over the park today.

A Red-breasted Merganser was seen again at Boddington Reservoir this afternoon before flying off with five Goosanders. A first year Yellow-legged Gull and at least six Chiffchaffs were present too.

The three Glossy Ibis were again in flooded fields near Little Irchester today.

An adult Caspian Gull was off the dam at Hollowell Reservoir this morning plus four Common Snipe, three hundred and seven Wigeon and five Stonechats.

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Pitsford Reservoir today, moving between the Pintail Bay and Yacht Bay and then swimming towards the dam and being unusually vocal. Other birds nearby were an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a 'redhead' Goosander, a Siskin, a Great White Egret and a Grey Wagtail, and a Crossbill and a Siskin were at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton again included the female Merlin (with prey), a pair of Stonechats and at least six Bramblings. A Blackcap and a Grey Wagtail visited our garden at Hanging Houghton today.

Twenty Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall and a single was at Scotland Wood with four or five at Sandy Lane Attenuation Pond, Duston where also a Water Rail. A single Redpoll and a few Siskins were noted at Barnwell Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Queen Hornet hibernating
in the ringing hut at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

The Firecrest found today at
Abington Park by Tyler Atkinson
and photographed by
 Martin Swannell.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull.

 

Wet weather birding

Hello

Pretty horrific weather today so perhaps not surprisingly there wasn't a great deal reported in the county.

The Red-breasted Merganser was seen again at Boddington Reservoir today and the Black-necked Grebe was in Pintail Bay at Pitsford Reservoir.

A Caspian Gull was seen at Daventry Country Park this morning. Two Egyptian Geese were in the Welland Valley below Cottingham.

Two Woodcock were seen at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon and there were two Woodcock flushed at Harrington Airfield too.

Regards

Neil M

One of the Brampton Valley
Bramblings courtesy of Phil West.

Egyptian Goose.

Common Buzzard.

That was November!

Hello

A cool start to the day and then some pleasant sunshine, probably a day sandwiched between two days of rain!

Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits was the venue for a drake Ring-necked Duck, probably two Greater Scaup, a Marsh Harrier and a pair of Stonechat.

A Marsh Harrier was seen at Summer Leys LNR and nearby Mary's Lake at Earls Barton Pits early this afternoon and the three Glossy Ibis were seen at both Irchester Country Park and latterly in their flooded field next to Little Irchester village.

A Crossbill was noted at Harlestone Heath early this afternoon and the Starling roost again took place at Stortons Pits with some nice formation flying before they roosted in the reeds.

A Black-necked Grebe was seen again at Pitsford Reservoir in the Yacht Bay and some ringing in the Walgrave Bay provided ninety-eight captures which included a Green Woodpecker, two Lesser Redpolls, eight Redwings and six Goldcrests. Other birds noted were a male Peregrine, a Green Sandpiper, a Great White Egret, a Woodcock, a Brambling and a few Siskins.

A Red-breasted Merganser was again seen briefly at Boddington Reservoir mid-morning before flying off.

Stanford Reservoir attracted a Glossy Ibis, ten Great White Egrets, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, three Goosanders, three Water Rails, six Chiffchaffs and three Cetti's Warblers.

Two Bramblings were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing.

Lesser Redpoll.

Green Woodpecker.

Rare ducks, raptors and Short-eared Owls

Hello

Topsy turvy temperatures currently with apparently a cooler day again tomorrow.

A Red-breasted Merganser popped into both Daventry Country Park and Boddington Reservoir yesterday (28th Nov) before moving on from both. Also yesterday a second Greater Scaup was located on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits courtesy of Nick.

Today and the rain of this morning gave way to much more pleasant weather this afternoon. The Black-necked Grebe was again reported at Pitsford Reservoir in the vicinity of Yacht Bay and a Woodcock was in Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was reported on the Aldwincle Lake at Titchmarsh this afternoon.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and in fields towards Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today included a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier, a female Merlin, a Corn Bunting, two Stonechats, a Woodcock and twelve plus Bramblings. A Grey Wagtail was in the village.

A Grey Wagtail and twenty Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall and a few Siskins and a Redpoll were at Scotland Wood. A Raven was in a tree in Dallington cemetry, Northampton with a female Blackcap eating apple in a garden there.

A Short-eared Owl was hunting the Nene Valley three hundred yards down-river from Wollaston Lock this afternoon and at Harrington Airfield two Short-eared Owls were discovered where also a female Peregrine and a Woodcock. A large Starling murmuration was visible this afternoon at Stortons Pits which attracted two Sparrowhawks and a Peregrine.

A Glossy Ibis was again at Stanford Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Peregrine.

Stonechat.

House Sparrow.

Birds of the winter

Hello 

The drake Ring-necked Duck at Thrapston Pits was giving birders a run around after being on both Town Lake and Aldwincle Lake (on the Titchmarsh reserve) today. A female Scaup was also on Aldwincle Lake with over a hundred Pochard present and about thirty Goldeneye.

The three Glossy Ibis were still on floods at Little Irchester this morning.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Common Sandpiper was in Yacht Bay, the Black-necked Grebe was in Pintail Bay and the juvenile Whooper Swan was near the Holly Tree. A Grey Wagtail was at the Sailing Club and a Raven remains in the Walgrave Bay and there were at least three Bramblings in a sunflower field adjacent to the reservoir with good numbers of Chaffinches and Greenfinches.

Some great birding at Stanford Reservoir today with a Glossy Ibis, an amazing thirty Great White Egrets, ten Little Egrets, a Bittern on the Leicestershire bank, an adult Caspian Gull in the gull roost plus three Goosanders.

A Grey Wagtail was at Hanging Houghton and two Blackcaps were in our garden eating apple. Two Stonechats and four Bramblings were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton village.

Two pairs of displaying Raven were over Great Billing this morning and a female Blackcap was in a Spratton garden today.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret.

Water Rail.

Drake Wigeon.

Quality November stayers

Hello

A grey, cloudy and mild day with a very gloomy afternoon but at least most of it was dry.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today, initially located on Aldwincle Lake. Other bird on-site were over a hundred Pochard, a Marsh Harrier and five Great White Egrets and two Stonechats.

The three Glossy Ibis were still at a flooded field opposite Milton Road, Little Irchester this afternoon. Two were reported near the feeding station at Summer Leys LNR this morning.

Clifford Hill Pits hosted two drake Red-crested Pochard this morning plus three Great White Egrets and seven Golden Plovers. An adult Caspian Gull was at Hollowell Reservoir at lunchtime and a Glossy Ibis was still at Stanford Reservoir this morning.

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Pitsford Reservoir today, seen in the Pintail Bay at midday. The juvenile Whooper Swan was in the Yacht Bay but then flew towards the causeway. Two Tree Sparrows were at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station, a Grey Wagtail was in the Scaldwell Bay and a Brambling in the Walgrave Bay. A Raven was at Hanging Houghton.

The drake American Wigeon remains at Eyebrook Reservoir where also at least one Scaup persists.

Yesterday (26th) afternoon and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Short-eared Owl, a female Merlin, a pair of Stonechats and fifteen Bramblings.

Regards

Neil M

Robin.

An Airbus 400M Atlas military
aircraft guilty today of flying low and
 disturbing birds in the county. These big
turbo prop planes are often seen careering
around at low level in a similar manner, but
flying faster, than the Hercules transport
 planes of a previous era.

Brown Hare cavorting around
today - this animal is blind in
it's right eye.

Buck Muntjac. No sooner had the 
hare disappeared then this little chap
came bimbling along over the horizon!

Cold weather birds

Hello

A cold start to the morning saw a strong frost and little in the way of breeze.

According to Birdguides the three Glossy Ibis were again reported at Little Irchester in flooded fields today.

An adult Caspian Gull was seen in the roost at Boddington Reservoir where also two Yellow-legged Gulls, a Great White Egret and three Chiffchaffs.

The female Ruddy Shelduck was at Hollowell Reservoir this morning plus a Peregrine, two or three Common Snipe and three Stonechats.

Seven Golden Plovers were at Clifford Hill Pits plus a Green Sandpiper, two Common Snipe and a Peregrine. At nearby Delapre Lake there were nine Goosanders, a Great White Egret, fifteen Little Egrets and two Kingfishers.

Stanford Reservoir again hosted a Glossy Ibis, fifteen Great White Egrets, two Goosanders, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Snipe, an adult Caspian Gull in the gull roost, a Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler, two Kingfishers, a Raven, five Siskins and a Redpoll.

Birds in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir included a Woodcock and a Siskin.

Three Scaup and the drake American Wigeon were at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Male Sparrowhawk caught
and ringed today.

A couple of frosty mornings

Hello

A cold night brought the birds in to the garden feeders this morning and a male Sparrowhawk was making frequent sallies.

At Stanford Reservoir today a Glossy Ibis was present at the settling pool and other birds included a large flock (by modern standards) of twenty Goosanders and an adult Caspian Gull in the gull roost.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was still on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today and two Marsh Harriers were present too.

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Pitsford Reservoir today, this time in the mouth of the Yacht Bay, and a Raven remains vocal in the Walgrave Bay. Four Green Sandpipers and two Great White Egrets were in the Holcot Bay this morning.

At Summer Leys LNR singles of Short-eared Owl and Long-eared Owl flew over late in the morning and a Glossy Ibis was on the reserve. Two Glossy Ibis were seen on the island on nearby Mary's Lake.

The drake American Wigeon was showing well at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

There was a Raven at Harrington Airfield, a Woodcock at Scotland Wood and a Woodcock and seven Siskins at Kelmarsh Hall. A Grey Wagtail and a Raven were in Hanging Houghton village.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret.

Great White Egret.

Raven.

Golden Plovers.