So that was Easter

Hello

Similar weather conditions to yesterday but seemingly less new migrants following a more easterly steer to the wind.

A male Ring Ouzel was found at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning together with a Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail but by late afternoon they had been replaced with a Common Redstart.

Three pairs of Grey Partridge and a Redpoll were the best on offer at Harrington Airfield this morning and three Tree Sparrows remained at Rectory Farm, Old.

The Red-throated Diver remains at Hollowell Reservoir but must surely move on soon and seven Golden Plovers were noted flying north at Mears Ashby.

The extensive Earls Barton area of the Nene Valley provided a Common Redstart in a hedge at the point where pylons cross the river between Wollaston Lock and Wellingborough Prison, and at Summer Leys LNR a Bittern was seen in flight, a Black-tailed Godwit was a brief visitor and a singing Sedge Warbler and two Yellow Wagtails were noted. The New Workings section/Whiston Wetlands further west provided a fly-over Osprey and a brief visit from an Avocet and earlier the drake Red-crested Pochard, three Goosanders and a Wheatear.

Reports on Birdguides indicated that the Ring-necked Duck was on Town Lake at Thrapston Pits and a Hobby was also reported on the Titchmarsh reserve. Nick saw and heard a singing Garden Warbler and four Dunlin also on the Titchmarsh reserve.

Six Little Ringed Plovers and a Yellow Wagtail were noted at Clifford Hill Pits. There was no sight or sound of the Nightingale at Twywell Hills and Dales today.

A Great White Egret was still north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today with another one at Stanford Reservoir where also two Yellow Wagtails, an Oystercatcher, a Water Rail and two Goosanders.

Regards

Neil M

Ring Ouzel.

Red Kite.

Male Common Redstart.

Here come the migrants!

Hello

A cracking day's weather and lots of migrants on the move throughout the county made it all the more enjoyable.

Borough Hill Country Park at Daventry was an interesting place to be with a Ring Ouzel, a male Common Redstart, three Wheatears, two Peregrines, two Ospreys (over Daventry town), seven Fieldfares, two Siskins, two Redpolls and a Raven all on show this morning. Nearby at Braunston village there were two more Peregrines and a Swallow on territory. Just over the county border at Willoughby there was a male Common Redstart and a Yellow Wagtail.

A Nightingale was an early bird at Twyford Hills and Dales, a Wheatear was near Cold Ashby and another was on a hill between Titchmarsh and Clopton.

Hollowell Reservoir continued to host the Red-throated Diver and a Wheatear was on the dam with a Common Sandpiper on the dam at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

At least two Ospreys, a Mediterranean Gull and a Yellow Wagtail were seen at Pitsford Reservoir today.

Another Wheatear was at Stanford Reservoir where also a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and a passage of Common Gulls noted moving west.

Clifford Hill Pits attracted five Little Ringed Plovers, three Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, two Oystercatchers and a Wheatear. A Cattle Egret was on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits this afternoon and other sightings were a Common Sandpiper and three Sedge Warblers. Summer Leys LNR provided for a Caspian Gull, a Little Ringed Plover and a Yellow Wagtail.

Two or three singing Corn Buntings and a Wheatear were at Chelveston Airfield this morning and an Osprey was seen flying over Finedon. Bitterns were heard 'booming' at two sites today.

This afternoon there was a male Common Redstart at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell plus a Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail with two Ring-necked Parakeets flying over. Two Wheatears and a collection of Red Kites and Common Buzzards were in a recently-worked field in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A ringing session at Linford Lakes, Miltom Keynes provided sixty-seven captures of nineteen species, thirty-eight of which were newly-ringed. This total included nine Blackcaps, two Cetti's Warblers, three Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler. The finches were represented by eight Greenfinches and five Goldfinches and other birds of interest and variety were four Reed Buntings, a Treecreeper, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Sand Martin and a Canada Goose. Birds on-site were six Fieldfares, a Siskin, a Great White Egret and three Ring-necked Parakeets.

Regards

Neil M

Sunrise at Linford Lakes.

Sand Martin.

Willow Warbler.

Images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Sand Martin influx, a Spoonbill and a Sandwich Tern

Hello

Clifford Hill Pits was the place to be this morning with a Spoonbill and a Sandwich Tern on offer for those there early on, plus a migrant Wheatear. A Common Snipe was at nearby Abington Meadows.

Pitsford Reservoir attracted a fishing Osprey south of the causeway and birds north of the causeway included at least two Great White Egrets and at lunchtime an adult Kittiwake was on the water in the mouth of the Scaldwell Bay. In excess of a hundred Sand Martins were also present this morning.

The Red-throated Diver and a Common Sandpiper were still at Hollowell Reservoir and Ravensthorpe Reservoir provided two adult Caspian Gulls, a Common Sandpiper and in excess of one hundred and sixty Sand Martins.

Stanford Reservoir was the venue for an Osprey, a Great White Egret, a Common Sandpiper, two Goosanders, a White Wagtail and seventy Sand Martins.

The Earls Barton Pits complex provided a Black-tailed Godwit, a drake Red-crested Pochard, three Goosanders, two Shelducks and thirty Sand Martins at the New Workings section and a Common Sandpiper at Summer Leys LNR.

Three Mandarin Ducks were at Barnwell Country Park and a pair of Oystercatchers were at the A605 Oundle floods.

A pair of Grey Partridges were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and three Redpolls were visiting garden feeders on the north-eastern outskirts of Northampton.

Regards

Neil M

Spoonbill at Clifford Hill Pits today.

Sandwich Tern at Clifford Hill Pits today.

Wheatear at Clifford Hill Pits today.

Above images courtesy of
Tyler Atkinson.

Adult Kittiwake.

Jaeger came first place
in his agility contest today!

Breezy Easter weekend

Hello

A changeable day of weather but mostly dry and windy in the latter half.

Several would-be observers tried their luck at Harrington Airfield this morning but it was mostly a quiet affair with two pairs of Grey Partridges and a two Ravens perhaps the best. An early Common Whitethroat at Desborough Airfield may well be the first in the county this year.

A singing Firecrest was a good find at Harlestone Heath and records so far this spring seem to indicate they are making efforts at colonising the county - sporadic breeding efforts/summering over the last three decades are perhaps becoming more determined?

An Osprey was on show north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today and the Red-throated Diver was still at Hollowell Reservoir where also a Common Sandpiper.

A couple of Sedge Warblers were at Thrapston Pits today and the best birds on offer at Summer Leys LNR were two Caspian Gulls which included a short-staying adult.

Morning birds at Clifford Hill Pits were three Little Ringed Plovers, four Oystercatchers, a Common Snipe and two Ravens.

A Barn Owl has been noisy the past few evenings around the village at Hanging Houghton and one of the local Little Owls has been vocal too. A Water Rail remains at Spring Pond alongside the Brampton Valley Way below Brixworth, three Tree Sparrows were still at Rectory Farm, Old and at least two Siskins were at Scotland Wood.

Regards

Neil M

Singing Firecrest.

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Starling.

Good Friday birding

Hello

A blustery Good Friday and with minimal bird sightings.

The Red-throated Diver continues it's stay at Hollowell Reservoir and the Glossy Ibis was again present at Summer Leys LNR where also a handful of Common Snipe and two Little Ringed Plovers.

A Caspian Gull was at the New Workings section of Earls Barton Pits where also a drake Red-crested Pochard and a pair of Goosanders.

Three Wheatears were at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry and Lilbourne Meadows provided for two Ringed Plovers, a Little Ringed Plover, a Common Snipe and a Water Rail.

Fifty Common Gulls at Stanford Reservoir is quite unseasonal where also still an Oystercatcher.

Two Siskins were at New Covert, Kelmarsh and three Tree Sparrows hang on at Rectory Farm, Old.

Regards

Neil M

Pied Wagtail.

Red Kite.

Wheatear courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Black-headed Gulls.

Easter's nearly here!

Hello

Cold early on with a northerly breeze, much more pleasant later when the sun came out!

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included an Osprey near the causeway, a pair of displaying Great White Egrets, a Common Tern, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Grey Wagtail, a Redpoll and three Bramblings.

The Red-throated Diver remained at Hollowell Reservoir and an Osprey was there this afternoon. A/the Glossy Ibis re-appeared at Summer Leys LNR after an absence of several days with six Common Snipe also present (ten Golden Plovers flew through) and four basking Grass Snakes provided super viewing.

Little Ringed Plovers were present at Summer Leys and at the Towcester Balancing Lake.

A pair of Firecrest were reported from Hazelborough Forest and one or two Corn Bunting(s) were singing on the county border at Chelveston Airfield.

Another Osprey flew north-east over the A45 at Flore this morning.

Two Wheatears remained at Harrington Airfield where also three Ravens.

Some garden ringing on the north-east outskirts of Northampton provided a Greenfinch, eleven Goldfinches and two Redpolls.

Regards

Neil M

Great Tit.

Yellowhammer.

Grass Snake today at
Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

First day of April

Hello

Another day with limited reported sightings in the county and although cloudy it was dry and with only a light breeze.

Seven Cattle Egrets on the main lake at Stanwick Pits was a good total and a singing Sedge Warbler was by the visitors centre.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was again at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits this morning.

Thrapston Pits hosted an Osprey today and a Pink-footed Goose was on the north section of Town Lake.

A Wheatear was on the east side of the scrape at Summer Leys LNR and three Avocets dropped in there this evening with a Goosander at the New Workings section of Earls Barton Pits.

New migrants in at Harrington Airfield today included a mobile male Ring Ouzel around the bunkers, two Wheatears, two Willow Warblers, a couple of Swallows and resident Grey Partridges.

The Red-throated Diver was still at Hollowell Reservoir this evening and a Great White Egret in full breeding regaliia was north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Tufted Duck.

Great White Egret.

Drake Gadwall.

In position for breeding.

Hello

A warmer and sunnier day which brought forth the butterflies again!

However limited reported sightings today with a Common Redstart reported at Sywell Country Park early this morning and six Cattle Egrets at Stanwick Pits on the main lake before 7am.

Five Common Snipe, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Caspian Gull and five basking Grass Snakes were at Summer Leys LNR, three Little Ringed Plovers were at the Towcester balancing lake adjacent to the A43 roundabout and summer migrants at Brixworth Country Park included a smart male Wheatear with a Raven nearby.

At Hollowell Reservoir the Red-throated Diver was still present this evening and an Osprey was in attendance too.

Four Great White Egrets remain at Stanford Reservoir where also a Kingfisher, two Oystercatchers, two Water Rails, five Goosanders and migrant warblers and hirundines.

Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Sand Martins are in reasonable numbers in the county now and migrant Willow Warblers are slowly increasing. Peregrines seem to be at all their traditional nesting/summering sites in the county and some of the returning Ospreys are also back at nest sites but we await more individuals yet to arrive. Several pairs of monitored Tawny and Barn Owls are on eggs already and hopefully will enjoy a good breeding season after the very poor year of 2025.

Regards

Neil M

'...and another thing...'
These drake Mallard were
having quite a natter!

Jackdaw.

Rook.

Cool and breezy again.

Hello

Some more cool, windy weather today, not exactly the sunny day as forecast!

The Red-throated Diver continued to grace the water at Hollowell Reservoir today and Stanford Reservoir continues to host four Great White Egrets, five Goosanders, three Oystercatchers, a Common Snipe and early warblers and hirundines.

Summer Leys LNR provided a loafing Caspian Gull on Cormorant Spit, a Marsh Harrier, two Little Ringed Plovers and six Common Snipe.

The New Workings/Whiston Wetlands section of Earls Barton Pits provided the sight of a drake Red-crested Pochard and his Mallard partner with four presumed hybrid ducklings in tow! Other birds included two Goosanders, one or two Great White Egret(s) and a Green Sandpiper.

A Bar-tailed Godwit flew through at Clifford Hill Pits and five Little Ringed Plovers and the two Wheatears were still present.

A singing Firecrest was noted in Bucknell Wood.

Regards

Neil M

Reed Bunting.

Chiffchaff.

Green Sandpiper.

Above images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Muntjac.

Long-stayers and summer and winter visitors

Hello

Initially quite a pleasant day capitulated into a grey, cool, windy and sometimes wet afternoon!

The drake Ring-necked Duck was again relocated at Ringstead Pits today, showing well at Kinewell Lake early this afternoon. At least two Cattle Egrets were north-east of the lake.

Clifford Hill Pits attracted an Avocet (which flew off), four Little Ringed Plovers, two Wheatears, a Swallow and a Caspian Gull.

The New Workings section of Earls Barton Pits provided two Egyptian Geese, a Pintail x Mallard hybrid, a Green Sandpiper, a Redshank, a Caspian Gull, Grey Partridges and a Raven. A new wing-tagged Marsh Harrier was seen at Summer Leys LNR and a Peregrine chased a Common Snipe which escaped.

Four Mandarin Ducks and a Kingfisher were at Barnwell Country Park.

The long-staying Red-throated Diver was still at Hollowell Reservoir today and the over-wintering Blackcap was still visiting a garden at Woodford Halse.

A male Ring Ouzel flew across a road at Collyweston just before 12 noon and birds reported at Stanford Reservoir today included all three hirundines, four Great White Egrets, three Oystercatchers, two Kingfishers, two Water Rails and four Goosanders.

Willow Warblers were reported at three sites in the county today. A couple of Siskins were at Scotland Wood and the regular adult Yellow-legged Gull was at the dam-end of Pitsford Reservoir.

Some ringing at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes this morning began with a stunning sunrise before thirty-seven birds of eleven species were processed which included two Chiffchaffs, two Cetti's Warblers, two Blackcaps and a Fieldfare. Birds on-site included three Ring-necked Parakeets, a Great White Egret, a Siskin and three White-fronted Geese.

Regards

Neil M

Sunrise at Linford Lakes.

Blackcaps.

Cetti's Warbler.

Fieldfare.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

It's Friday again!!

Another couple of quiet birding days for me. Despite being out and about wrapped up against the elements I have seen very little.  Harrington Airfield was bleak and birdless apart from a Northern Wheatear and a Swallow, Pitsford Reservoir extremely full of water but hardly any birds and shrike hedge/blueberry also birdless!! Infact the highlight of my birding was the arrival of 4 male Reed Buntings in the garden this morning and they remained feeding throughout the day. 

Yesterday there was a female Common Redstart at Summer Leys plus the long staying Glossy Ibis, a Kittiwake at Thrapston GP,  Northern Wheatear near Everdon,  Ruff at Ditchford GP and Red- throated Diver at Hollowell Reservoir.                                                                                            Today there were a few more Kittiwakes with singles reported at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, Clifford Hill GP and Town Lake Thrapston where there was also 2 adult Whooper Swans (see video below courtesy of Nick Parker).     Three Cattle Egrets were seen in a field of cattle just north east of Kinewell Lake Ringstead and an Osprey over Boddington Reservoir.  There has been a scattering of Sand Martins today with birds reported from Boddington Reservoir,  Islip STW, Hollowell and Ravensthorpe Reservoir. 

Have a good weekend.  Regards Eleanor 

Wild Wednesday!!

It has certainly been a very wild day with strong northerly winds, numerous hail showers and a significant drop in the temperature.  I had to dig out my big coat and gloves again. It was definitely a day for staying indoors unless like me you have dogs to walk. Very little of note to report. I did bump into an Osprey at Pitsford Reservoir and this afternoon a flock of 300+ Fieldfares chattering away in the hedgerows which reminded me that they would soon be heading off and that warblers would be arriving to take their place. I feel sorry for the migrants that have already arrived as they search for food and warmth to recharge themselves after their long journeys. Today Swallows, House and Sand Martins were present at Pitsford Reservoir, fingers crossed that they managed to find enough food. 

Yesterday a Black Redstart was photographed in a private garden on the Ise Lodge Estate, Kettering, lucky person. The Red-throated Diver was still present at Hollowell Reservoir, the drake Ring-necked Duck popped up again at Titchmarsh LNR and there were 7 Ruff at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows. 

Regards Eleanor 

Pied Wagtail.

House Sparrow.

Little Grebe.

Ditchford WeBS count.

Hello

A WeBS count was completed at Ditchford Pits today and birds west of Ditchford Lane were a Marsh Harrier, a Bittern, a Great White Egret, two Oystercatchers, three Cetti's Warblers, a Grey Wagtail and two Siskins. East of Ditchford Lane and birds encountered were a Kingfisher, two Jack Snipe, three Common Snipe, a Grey Wagtail and a Siskin. Seven Ruff was a great record for the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve.

A bright Scandanavian Rock Pipit was at Summer Leys LNR for a short time this morning where also a Water Rail, two Grey Partridges and a Marsh Harrier. A Pintail, a Redshank, an Oystercatcher, a Green Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover were at the New Workings section of Earls Barton Pits.

At Thrapston Pits the drake Ring-necked Duck re-surfaced at the north end of the Aldwincle Lake on the Titchmarsh reserve where also three Black-tailed Godwits and a Swallow.

A Swallow, a Little Ringed Plover and two Pintail were on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits early this morning and two Common Scoters were found at Clifford Hill Pits.

The Red-throated Diver was still at Hollowell Reservoir today and the Little Ringed Plover was still on the balancing lake in Towcester.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Grey Wagtail were at the dam-end of Pitsford Reservoir this morning and a Grey Wagtail was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today were five Great White Egrets, five Goosanders, a Water Rail, two Oystercatchers and a Cetti's Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Wagtail.

Collared Dove.

Marsh Tit.

Long-tailed Tit.

Sunday ringing

Hello

Some bird ringing took place in and close to the county today albeit that the freezing fog wasn't anticipated or welcomed!

At Linford Lakes quality captures included a Cetti's Warbler, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker, three Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, a Redpoll and a Jay.

At Pitsford Reservoir over a hundred birds were processed which were mostly Blue Tits and Great Tits but other birds of interest were a Redwing, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Bullfinches, two Goldcrests and two Treecreepers.

Other birds noted on-site included a Crossbill, approximately fifteen Siskins, a Redpoll, a Kingfisher and a Raven.

A number of birders spent some time at Evenley Woods near Brackley in an effort to try and see the reported Black Kites from yesterday. Although most birders just saw Common Buzzards and Red Kites, at least on observer was confident of seeing at least one Black Kite.

A Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover were on a balancing lake in Towcester adjacent to Grafton Way and the new A43 roundabout.

Two pairs of Mandarin Ducks were again at Barnwell Country Park and a drake Pintail and two Oystercatchers were on the A605 Oundle floods.

A Pintail, a Little Ringed Plover, twenty-four Common Snipe and eleven Redshanks were at Summer Leys LNR today.

A Raven was noted at Kelmarsh this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Green Woodpecker.

Jay.
Above two images of birds
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Kestrel.

Robin.

First Day of Spring

Hello

More fine weather officially heralds in spring as the migrants fly over us and just keep going! Siskins and Meadow Pipits were audible but often not visible as they went over throughout the morning. Some calls last night over Hanging Houghton sounded like Common Scoters but I'm afraid the traffic noise from the busy A508 partly drowned out the sounds so I couldn't be sure.

The trouble with nice weather is that migrants push on to their destination without necessarily stopping over if there is no inclement weather and blocking winds to prevent progress. Often some of the best birds found inland are on days when you would rather not go out yourself!

The long-staying Glossy Ibis remained at Summer Leys LNR today and a drake Pintail was also present. Nearby the Earls Barton New Workings/Whiston Wetlands provided for a Marsh Harrier, two Green Sandpipers, two Ruff, two Oystercatchers, a Little Ringed Plover, a Common Snipe, four Redshanks, a Raven and a Shelduck.

The Red-throated Diver was still at Hollowell Reservoir, a Redpoll was at Hanging Houghton, a Woodcock was at New Covert, Kelmarsh and a Raven in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir. A Willow Warbler was singing at Harrington Airfield.

An email report was received today of three Black Kites at Evenly Wood near Brackley at 11.30am. The observer is familiar with Red Kite. This would be an unprecedented record in the county if verification was possible.

Regards

Neil M

Cetti's Warbler.

Treecreeper.

Above two images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Large Tortoiseshell not taken locally
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Chiffchaff.