Another winter storm

Hello

Powerful weather affecting other parts of the country seemed to find it's way to us this afternoon with some particularly impactive gusts. A cold but clear day with intermittent showers meant you had to wrap up to be out.

A Peregrine and a Kingfisher were at Stanford Reservoir today and yesterday there were six Goosanders, a Great White Egret, a Chiffchaff and forty Golden Plovers.

Two Ravens and a Grey Wagtail were at Hanging Houghton this morning and there were two Woodcock and two Green Sandpipers in the Blueberry Farm area near Maidwell. A Short-eared Owl and a Woodcock were at Harrington Airfield this morning. Although Short-eared Owls crop up quite regularly at Harrington they rarely hunt or quarter during the day as at some sites and tend to be flushed or are fly-over birds.

The Glossy Ibis was at Summer Leys LNR this morning, back again by the feeding station. A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier, a Merlin and a flock of Golden Plovers were seen between Gayton and Tiffield this morning. An immature male Merlin flew west at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, just north of the causeway.

This afternoon there was a Redpoll in Cottesbrooke village and Ravensthorpe Reservoir was still the venue for the two White-fronted Geese in a field just to the south-west of the causeway. A Great White Egret and a Siskin were there also. Two Smew remain at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard.

Goldfinch.

Redpoll.

Brown Hare.

Reed Bunting.

Above three images
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Muddy Northamptonshire

Hello

It seems as usual that it's a case of living in a pair of wellingtons each winter from September to May if you want to take a wander in the Northamptonshire countryside! With wet, mild and breezy winters being the norm now, gone on the days when you could wander around in a pair of walking boots.

Today was one of those typical days with fast moving weather, mild temperatures, some rain and wintry sunshine and plenty of mud!

A couple of Hawfinches were still on show today with one at Deene Churchyard this morning and one by the church at Cottesbrooke village also this morning where there were also a couple of Redpolls and several Siskins. Singles of Siskin and Redpoll were at Kelmarsh this afternoon.

At Summer Leys LNR a Black-tailed Godwit was rather unseasonable but then many of this species go no further than the the UK these days to winter. The Glossy Ibis was sighted again, this time in a field visible from the old railway track.

Wintering Blackcaps included two coming to fat balls in a Kettering garden and one likewise in a garden at Brixworth.

At least two Green Sandpipers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton where there was a Grey Wagtail and a Barn Owl.

Two Scaup were at Blatherwycke Lake this morning, five Cattle Egrets were at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits before flying east towards Woodford and at Hollowell Reservoir a Jack Snipe and at least five Common Snipe were located.

Two Smew were still at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Mute Swan.

Cormorant.

Goldeneye.

Pre-Christmas birding

Hello

A mixture of weather today didn't provide any new birds for the county.

The Summer Leys LNR Glossy Ibis seems to be spending much of it's time in the meadow between the Screen Hide and the Feeding Station and present again today.

Two White-fronted Geese were still in fields south west of Ravensthorpe Reservoir late this morning and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a Great White Egret, two Stonechats, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff. Two Jack Snipe were located at Hollowell Reservoir.

Two Stonechats and seven Common Snipe were at Upton Country Park and two Goosanders were at Stortons Pits. Two Ravens were at the dam end of Pitsford Reservoir and a Grey Wagtail was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth with two Green Sandpipers and a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard.

Stonechat.

Above courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Raven.

Brown Hare.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

A quiet day yesterday (Wednesday) with very little local bird news but the Glossy Ibis was again at Summer Leys LNR and an adult Caspian Gull roosted at Stanford Reservoir where there was also a Great White Egret, four Goosanders, a Chiffchaff and two Stonechats. In addition there were about fifty Golden Plovers between Gayton and Tiffield, two pairs of Stonechats at Towcester and a Raven at Little Billing, Northampton.

Today (Thursday) and Birdguides reports indicate that the juvenile Great Northern Diver was still present at Pitsford Reservoir, the two White-fronted Geese were just south-west of Ravensthorpe Reservoir early this afternoon, the Glossy Ibis was still by the Feeding Station at Summer Leys and the Ruddy Shelduck was still at Winwick Pools.

A Bittern was again at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon after being flushed from near the Sailing Club and at Hanging Houghton there was a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley this afternoon and two more just north of the village. A Stonechat was at Upton Country Park.

December's WeBS count was completed at Ditchford Pits today but proved to be a quiet and cool affair. At least five Great White Egrets were present with at least four of those west of Ditchford Lane. Other birds included two Kingfishers, thirty-two Common Snipe, two Water Rails, a couple of Cetti's Warblers, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

Cracking Otter photos from Sixfields,
 Northampton courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Yellowhammer.

Mute Swan.

Mid-December birding

Hello

The Summer Leys LNR Glossy Ibis was seen again today, this long-staying prober of the mud clearly liking the reserve. Possibly of not such good provenance, the very long-staying Ruddy Shelduck (originally one of a pair) was again at Winwick Pools. 

An adult Caspian Gull was again at Hollowell Reservoir and other birds were a Jack Snipe, four Common Snipes, a Chiffchaff and three Stonechats. At Daventry Country Park there were a pair of Red-crested Pochard and three 'redhead' Goosanders.

A male Blackcap was in a garden at Brixworth and one or two Barn Owl(s) and two Green Sandpipers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was over fields at Tiffield heading towards the village from the A43 this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

'Redhead' Goosanders.

Pair of Red-crested Pochard.

Grey Squirrel posing as 
a teddy-bear!

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford

                                   

                                                    Video courtesy of Chris Payne

                                                     and SW Wildlife Monitoring

                                                     depicting two Tawny Owls evicting

                                                     a Barn Owl from a nest box.

                                                                       

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Today was the monthly waterbird count at Pitsford Reservoir, taking over four hours with three recorders. Excess water and mild temperatures ensured good counts of Common Snipe (up to one hundred and fifty-eight) and Lapwings (nearly two hundred birds). The area between the causeway and the dam was exceptionally quiet and to the north of the causeway there was a Mediterranean Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull but little in the way of variety.

A Hawfinch showed in trees in Brixworth Hall Park this morning with a small flock of Greenfinches.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a Mediterranean Gull, two adult Caspian Gulls, a Great White Egret, three Goosanders, seventy Lapwings, a Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff and two Stonechats.

Four Smew remained at Eyebrook Reservoir (three drakes) and the long-staying Glossy Ibis was again near the feeding station at Summer Leys LNR.

The two White-fronted Geese were again seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and at Clifford Hill Pits there was a Pink-footed Goose and four Red-crested Pochards.

Regards

Neil M

Record shots of Hawfinch at
 Brixworth Hall Park today.

Mute Swans at
Pitsford Reservoir.

Mid-month mildness

Hello

More sunshine with mild temperatures, a breezy southerly and beautiful colours in the sky to the west before the day's end.

Eyebrook Reservoir accumulated up to four Smew (three drakes) today and a Knot and a Scaup were seen there too. At Stanford Reservoir two adult Caspian Gulls and one hundred and forty-five Great Black-backed Gulls were in the gull roost and other birds included fifty-four Pied Wagtails, five Goosanders, a Kingfisher, two Stonechats and a Chiffchaff.

A pair of Stonechats were at Lilbourne Meadows with two hundred and fifty Lapwings on the ground and one hundred and fifty Golden Plovers flying over. The two White-fronted Geese were again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

At Pitsford Reservoir there was a female Stonechat north of the causeway on the Scaldwell bank and two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Grey Wagtail were visible from the dam this afternoon. A Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl and two Green Sandpipers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Two Ravens and two Siskins were at Scotland Wood with singles of Redpoll at Kelmarsh and Hanging Houghton.

The Glossy Ibis was again at Summer Leys LNR near to the feeding station and a drake Red-crested Pochard was at Whiston Pits. At least two Mandarin Ducks and a Chiffchaff were at Barnwell Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Perhaps rather unseasonal
Dog Vomit Slime Mold at
Kelmarsh today.

Common Gull and Tufted Duck
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Great Crested Grebe courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Little Egret.

Rare sunshine sighted in Northants!

Hello

It was rather low in the sky and didn't exude much warmth but there was definitely a sighting of the sun today!

Some seasonal bird ringing at Kelmarsh Hall today provided over a hundred captures of thirteen species with the mainstay being tits which included singles of Coal Tit and Marsh Tit. A particularly bright Grey Wagtail was perhaps the star bird although a female Great Tit that was at least six years old was pretty special. Nine Robins included six re-traps suggesting good adult survival rates and eleven Dunnocks were probably attracted to the food on offer. At least one of the Blackbirds caught and ringed today displayed traits normally associated with being from the continent and other birds included a Bullfinch, six Goldfinches and three Goldcrests. Other birds present included several Siskins and two Ravens.

Two Bewick's Swans at Upton/Kinslingbury in the Nene Valley west of Northampton were a good find but they appeared to move on this afternoon. The two White-fronted Geese were again seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir plus a high count of seven Egyptian Geese, and neighbouring Hollowell Reservoir provided a rare Bittern sighting for that locality and earlier two Jack Snipe and five Common Snipe were also seen.

Six Cattle Egrets were at Ringstead Pits in paddocks near Kinewell Lake and the Summer Leys LNR Glossy Ibis was seen again. The Ruddy Shelduck was still at Winwick Pools and the drake Smew still at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Harrington Airfield provided two Woodcock, a pair of Stonechats and twenty-five Golden Plovers this morning.

Ferry Meadows at Peterborough has had several Yellow-browed Warblers during the autumn but today went one better and hosted a Pallas's Leaf Warbler! Still a bird we are waiting for in Northants...

Regards

Neil M

Redpolls courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Mallard.

Common Gull.

Birds of the murk

Hello

A grey, gooey day again and it never did seem to get light!

At Stanford Reservoir today there was an adult Caspian Gull, one hundred and forty-six Great Black-backed Gulls in the roost, seven Goosanders, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff.

Not too far away the Ruddy Shelduck was at Winwick Pools, a drake Smew was again at Eyebrook Reservoir and the two White-fronted Geese were with Greylags at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. An adult Caspian Gull, a Kingfisher and two Great White Egrets were at Hollowell Reservoir but the Slavonian Grebe of the last two days wasn't seen.

This afternoon a Cattle Egret was seen off Mill Lane, Earls Barton and then flew towards Grendon. Also this afternoon a Barn Owl and a Green Sandpiper were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and five Goosanders were at Daventry Country Park.

A ringing session took place at Harlestone at a new site resulting in over seventy common birds being processed, the majority being tits including a Marsh Tit and three Coal Tits but also a Song Thrush, three Blackbirds, a couple of Goldcrests and the highlight was a Woodcock. Other birds seen there included at least one more Woodcock, one or two Raven(s) and a Siskin.

Regards

Neil M

Blackbird courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Muntjac courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Woodcock.

Ringing recoveries

Hello

A grey, murky day with drizzle and low cloud failed to inspire!

The Great Northern Diver was still at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, fishing out in open water between Pintail Bay and the Narrows. A Grey Wagtail was on the dam.

The Hollowell Reservoir Slavonian Grebe was reported via Birdguides today and a first year Caspian Gull was reported from Daventry Country Park.

Two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton and a Grey Wagtail and a Siskin were at Kelmarsh Hall.

Ringing recoveries associated with Northants Ringing Group activities are as follows:-

1. A first year male Reed Bunting was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 13th October 2024 and captured again at Marsworth Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordshire on 4th December 2024, 52 days later having travelled 59km in a SSE direction;

2. A first year drake Mallard was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 15th June 2021 and then shot near Lamport on or about 29th November 2024, 1263 days later;

3. A first year female Goldfinch was ringed at Cropwell Bishop, Nottinghamshire on 29th October 2024 and caught again at Greens Norton on 5th November 2024, seven days later and having traveled 83km in a southerly direction;

4. A first year Great Tit was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 10th August 2024 and caught again at Stanford Reservoir on 26th October 2024, twenty km WNW with 77 days having elapsed;

5. Another first year Great Tit was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 23rd September 2023 and caught again at Bliss Wood, Wiltshire on 21st October 2024, 394 days later with this bird having moved 129km in a south-westerly direction;

6. A second year female Goldfinch was ringed at Greens Norton on 21st March 2024 but was found dead in the same village on 14th October 2024 (207 days later) after colliding with a window;

7. A juvenile Chiffchaff was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 29th June 2024 and caught again at Lodge Hill, Medway, Kent on 29th September 2024, 92 days later after traveling 117 km in a south-easterly direction;

8. A first year Sedge Warbler was ringed at Icklesham, Sussex on 26th July 2023 and caught again at Stanwick Pits on 23rd June 2024, 333 days later after no doubt having traveled to Africa and back;

9. A first year male Blackcap was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 18th August 2024 and caught again just eight days later on 26th August 2024 when at Stanford Reservoir, having traveled in a NNW direction.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret.

Dunnock.

Goldfinch.

All above images taken
locally yesterday courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Another grey December day

Hello

The days are short and it's barely daylight when the cloud dominates the sky at this time of the year!

Mark had a productive time with the two Russian White-fronted Geese again with the goose flock at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning and he went on to Hollowell Reservoir to find a Slavonian Grebe in the mouth of the feeder stream, which then settled off the east bank just to the south of the pine plantation.

The Glossy Ibis was reported again at Summer Leys LNR near to the Feeding Station.

Six Goosanders were on the main lake at Stanwick Pits this afternoon and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning amounted to a Barn Owl, two Grey Wagtails and two Green Sandpipers.

A ringing session at Stortons Pits today provided some ninety birds which included five new Chiffchaffs, a Treecreeper, a Lesser Redpoll, a Blackcap and three Reed Buntings and lots of re-trap tits. There remains a big Starling roost and murmuration and this afternoon two Peregrines were attracted to the melee!

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll.

Reed Bunting.

Treecreeper.

Images courtesy of
Jane Neill.

A grey cold day

Hello

I'm just in from a five day tour spent looking for Wallcreepers and other birds of South France and particularly the Camargue. Some images of the trip can be found on the page or tab 'Wallcreepers and the Camargue Dec 2024'.

A cold and rather grey day again in the county and it seems we have a few of these to deal with before brighter and fresher weather appears.

The Glossy Ibis was again at Summer Leys LNR today and the long-staying Ruddy Shelduck was seen at Winwick Pools.

An adult Caspian Gull was at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning as was a Goosander, a pair of Egyptian Geese and a drake Mandarin Duck.

At Pitsford Reservoir there was a Barn Owl around the causeway just before 8am and later two Woodcock in Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay. A Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Glossy Ibis.

Pheasant.

Great White Egret.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.