Yet more rain!

Hello

More dire weather today but at least it was relatively mild! The photographers out there are managing to obtain quality photographs despite very challenging overcast conditions.

A flooded Nene Valley provided some interesting birds today with two Marsh Harriers, three or four Great White Egrets, a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits.

Four White-fronted Geese were again on fields north of main lake at Stanwick Pits plus five Oystercatchers, sixteen Redpoll and an Otter. Summer Leys LNR provided again for a Glossy Ibis, two Marsh Harriers, a Great White Egret, nine Common Snipe and a pair of Grey Partridge.

Eleven Lesser Redpolls were at Stortons Pits and at least seven others were in birches at the car park of Brixworth Country Park. A Siskin was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and at least one Green Sandpiper(s) was calling in the fog at the dam-end of Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon produced two hunting Barn Owls, a pair of Stonechats and a couple of Bramblings.

Six Great White Egrets were at Stanford Reservoir plus five Goosanders, a Water Rail and a Kingfisher and the female Ruddy Shelduck was at Lilbourne Water Meadows reserve.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll at Stortons Pits
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys LNR
yesterday courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Wing-tagged Marsh Harrier at
Summer Leys LNR today courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Better start building the Ark

Hello

Appalling weather today and the rain seems set to continue for the next couple of days.

Summer Leys LNR at least provides some respite from the weather with the provision of great hides. There today was the Glossy Ibis again plus the smart adult Caspian Gull too and an Oystercatcher.

At Stanwick Pits today the White-fronted Goose flock rose to four again, still using a field just north of the main lake.

A Raven was near Brixworth and sodden birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included the pair of Stonechats and good numbers of finches including several Bramblings.

Regards

Neil M

Adult Caspian Gull at Summer Leys 
LNR today courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Female Stonechat at Upton Country Park
yesterday courtesy of Tony Stanford.

The below video clip relates to a 
Black Redstart seen at a farm 
between Lamport and Scaldwell
on Tuesday, courtesy of Olivia Neilson.

Birds of the valleys

Hello

A milder and much more pleasant day in the county.

Initially this morning only two Crossbills were showing poorly in the Gamboro' Plantation between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, but the usual number of fifteen or more were flying around there this afternoon. A male Siskin was singing there and a Woodcock flew out.

The nearby Brampton Valley fields yielded a Jack Snipe and four Common Snipe again, a Great White Egret flying over, the pair of Stonechats, a Brambling, a Redpoll, a Golden Plover, a Barn Owl and a pair of Grey Partridges.

Two Bramblings were at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir today and a Green Sandpiper was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

At Daventry Country Park, two Siberian Chiffchaffs were at the viewpoint near to the grit trap (southern end of the complex).

In the Nene Valley the drake Smew was again on the Nene Barrage at Clifford Hill Pits and a Glossy Ibis was again at Summer Leys LNR. Two White-fronted Geese were in a field north of the main lake at Stanwick Pits at lunchtime. and seven drake Pintail were on gravel pits near Warmington.

A Stonechat was at Upton Country Park and six Goosanders were at Harlestone Lake.

Regards

Neil M

Barn Owl.

Goosander.

Drake Smew courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

And then it snowed...

Hello

A colder day with plenty of cloud and even some snow this evening.

A flock of Crossbills were still at Gamboro' Plantation this morning with at least nine birds staying fairly deep in the north-east of the plantation in breezy conditions.

During the course of the day birds in the Brampton Valley fields below Hanging Houghton included one or two Barn Owl(s), a Jack Snipe, four Common Snipe, two Golden Plovers, at least four Bramblings and a calling Grey Partridge.

At least four Tree Sparrows remained in situ at Rectory Farm, Old and a Black Redstart re-appeared at a private farmstead between Lamport and Scaldwell.

Summer Leys LNR provided views of a Glossy Ibis, the now regular adult Caspian Gull and a flock of Siskins. Two White-fronted Geese were at Stanwick Pits this morning, in fields north of the main lake. 

A dozen Siskins were on alders at the back of the Nationwide Building Society at Moulton Park, Northampton. A female Blackcap was on fatballs in a Wellingborough garden.

The drake Smew was again at Clifford Hill Pits this morning.

Sixteen European White-fronted Geese were at Stanford Reservoir this evening and other birds were six Great White Egrets and eleven Goosanders.

Regards

Neil M

Robin.

Reed Bunting.

Pied Wagtail.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

All images courtesy of Tony Stanford.

A grimy day for birding

Hello

Another dull and grimy day with showers which did little to inspire!

Birders at Summer Leys LNR pretty much saved the day with sightings of a Glossy Ibis, two Marsh Harriers (together at one point) and a Cattle Egret, an adult Caspian Gull and two Great White Egrets. Nearby there was a Stonechat at Whiston Lock and a Green Sandpiper at the New Workings North section of Earls Barton Pits.

At Stanwick Pits there were four White-fronted Geese with Greylags on fields north of the main lake this morning. The drake Smew was at the south west end of Clifford Hill Pits this afternoon.

Up to fifteen Crossbills were on show first thing at Gamboro' Plantation between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton but seemingly not subsequently. A Chiffchaff was singing at Islip Treatment Works.

Stanford Reservoir hosted a Caspian Gull, twelve Common Snipe and six Great White Egrets.

Regards

Neil M

A Mute Swan's perspective
of a grey day at Pitsford Reservoir.

Flock of Gadwall.

Fabulous Starlings.

A mild and moist start to February

Hello

A mild, cloudy day with light rain and drizzle at times and seemingly nothing new found in the county of note. The conditions seemed to stimulate plenty of bird song today with the Robins and Song Thrushes sounding particularly vibrant and widespread.

At Pitsford Reservoir there was a Jack Snipe north of the causeway plus about twenty-five Common Snipe, two Stonechats and singles of Redpoll and Brambling with a Grey Wagtail at the dam end.

At Hollowell Reservoir there was a single European White-fronted Goose, a Jack Snipe, a Caspian Gull and three Stonechats. Seven Egyptian Geese and a Shelduck were at Blatherwycke Lake with a Brambling along the track to the church. Two Ravens were at Grafton Underwood.

Gamboro' Plantation hosted up to twenty-two Crossbills today plus two Woodcock and a pair of Stonechats and four Bramblings were nearby at shrike hedge in the Brampton Valley fields. Three Goosanders were at Harlestone Lake.

A drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid was at Clifford Hill Pits today and Summer Leys LNR was good for a Cattle Egret, a Caspian Gull, a drake Pintail and a Marsh Harrier.

The Glossy Ibis was again in fields off the Embankment, Wellingborough and four White-fronted Geese appeared again on the main lake at Stanwick Pits.

A Red-crested Pochard or hybrid was at Stanford Reservoir where also six Great White Egrets, four Goosanders and a Redpoll.

Regards

Neil M

Kestrel.

Roe Deer.

Great White Egret
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Last day of January

Hello

A mostly still day but yet again some rain crept in!

The long-staying Glossy Ibis was again in wet fields at the Embankment, Wellingborough and bird further east along the Nene Valley were a Marsh Harrier at the western end of Ditchford Pits plus four Stonechats and a Great White Egret.

A Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys LNR where also an adult Caspian Gull and also a Marsh Harrier at nearby Whiston Lock.

Stanwick Pits hosted four White-fronted Geese first thing on Main Lake and an orange-tagged Marsh Harrier, nine Great White Egrets, thirteen Goosanders, two Redshanks and two Otters.

Ten European White-fronted Geese were at Warmington Meadows near Warmington Mill today and birds on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits included two or three Great White Egrets, a Pintail and two Egyptian Geese.

In the north of the county Deene Lake held a Green Sandpiper, nine Shelducks, two hundred and thirty Teal, two Egyptian Geese and two Black Swans and nearby Blatherwycke Lake provided a Barnacle Goose and at least nine Egyptian Geese.

Up to fifty Common Snipe, one or two Jack Snipe(s) and a pair of Stonechats were in the Scaldwell Bay, Pitsford Reservoir today and a displaying Raven was at Harrington Airfield. A singing Redpoll was at Scotland Wood and a Woodcock and at least two Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall.

Upton Country Park was the venue for two Jack Snipes, at least thirty Common Snipe, a Great White Egret, a Raven and two pairs of Stonechats. Barnes Meadow LNR was good for a Common Snipe, a Woodcock, three Goosanders and a pair of Stonechats.

Two drake Goosanders were at Harlestone Lake and three Crossbills were in flight nearby with a couple of Crossbills seen again at Wakerley Wood this morning.

Eyebrook Reservoir remained good for eight Smew today plus fifteen European White-fronted Geese and three Greater Scaup.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard.

Male Sparrowhawk courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Drake Goosander.

Common birds on parade

Hello

A Siberian Chiffchaff was located at Daventry Country Park again today, suggesting there is an elusive wintering individual on-site. It was near the grit trap from the viewpoint at the south-east end of the park.

Birders at Eyebrook Reservoir were able to see seven Smew, eight Greater Scaup and sixteen European White-fronted Geese today.

At Stanford Reservoir an adult Mediterranean Gull was again in the afternoon roost and other birds included a Great White Egret and ten Goosanders. A Raven and a drake Goosander were in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning.

Bramblings were heard calling in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with one at Gamboro' Plantation, and Blackcaps included three in a Duston, Northampton garden and a male in a garden at Sywell.

In the Nene Valley four White-fronted Geese were seen briefly on the main lake at Stanwick Pits this morning where also two Oystercatchers, the drake Smew was again at Clifford Hill Pits and an adult Caspian Gull was again on Hawthorn Island at Summer Leys LNR. Five Redpolls were at Upton Country Park and two were noted at Brixworth Country Park.

Six Tree Sparrows were still at Rectory Farm, Old this morning. A Moorhen was a prey item for a female Sparrowhawk at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Treecreeper.

Robins - forever arguing!

Above images from Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Glossy Ibis and Teal
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Blue Tit enjoying its bath - I think!
Courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Mid-winter birding

Hello

As we come towards the end of January we seem to have experienced a real variety of weather during the first month of the year. It's not always easy for us to adapt to changing temperatures and terrain, goodness only knows how the wildlife achieves it! It always amazes me how a barren winter-scape comes alive when the temperatures go up and insects come out from nowhere and the birds begin to sing!

For anyone living in the NN6 post code in Northamptonshire it's been like WW3 with the amount of Pheasant shooting - on seemingly all the surrounding estates and farmland and on almost a daily basis somewhere no matter the weather. With the pheasant shooting concluding at the end of the month I look forward to the relative peace of the countryside without shotguns going off constantly.

A relatively quiet day in the county today but the Wellingborough Glossy Ibis performed again at The Embankment water-logged fields.

A flock of twenty plus Crossbills entertained at Wakerley Wood today, about three quarters of a mile along the main track from the car park next to a seat by an oak tree. Six Crossbills were also found at Harlestone Heath together with about thirty Redpolls and a Great White Egret (the latter next to the flooded brook at the north west edge of the complex).

A Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys LNR where also eight Common Snipe, thirty Golden Plovers and a Kingfisher.

Several Bramblings and a Stonechat were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton near to shrike hedge, plus about a hundred each of Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.

Some bird ringing took place at Stortons Pits yesterday culminating in about sixty-five captures, a session organised specifically for three Trainees to gain some important practice of bird handling, ring application and the complexities of ageing, identification of gender and the confusing world of moult (not confusing for the birds but the coding is for the more simple-minded ringers amongst us)! Hopefully a similar session will take place at Pitsford Reservoir this Sunday.

Regards

Neil M

Hard at work, three ringing Trainees supported
by a scribe, a mist net extractor and a supervisor
at Stortons Pits yesterday.

Image courtesy of Chris Payne.

Pheasants.

Garden birds with Blue Tit
and Long-tailed Tits depicted
by Jim Dunkley.

Geese, scarce gulls and Crossbills

Hello

A lovely winter day's weather today with blue sky, sunshine and cool air.

Steve's morning at Stanwick Pits was enlivened with about forty White-fronted Geese flying over and two new Greater Scaups, one on North Lake and the other on the Main Lake, plus a first year Caspian Gull.

The Glossy Ibis was again at The Embankment in wet fields at Wellingborough this afternoon.

The adult Caspian Gull was again at Summer Leys LNR plus twenty Golden Plovers and twenty-one Common Snipe.

Clifford Hill Pits still hung on to the drake Smew, hopefully it remained unscathed during the duck shoot there today (victims included Tufted Ducks). A Stonechat was present too.

Nick watched fifty-four Pink-footed Geese fly NE over Titchmarsh reserve, Thrapston Pits at 3.25pm.

Eight Shelducks and a Cetti's Warbler were at Deene Lake today.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were four Stonechats in the Scaldwell Bay, a Common Sandpiper feeding on the stumps between the Holcot and Walgrave Bays and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the gull roost off the dam.

About fifty European White-fronted Geese were still at Stanford Reservoir today plus an adult Mediterranean Gull was in the afternoon roost and other birds on-site were nine Great White Egrets, fifteen Goosanders, one hundred and five Pochard, a Kingfisher and twenty-five Siskins.

Crossbills today were at Wakerley Wood with a small flock at What3Words catching.affords.meaty. At least twelve Crossbills were showing on and off all day at Gamboro' Plantation and coming down to drink at a puddle with other finches including a male Brambling.

A mixed finch/bunting flock this morning at Highfield Road, Mears Ashby included several Bramblings.

A Barn Owl, three Woodcock and a Common Snipe were at Harrington Airfield with another Woodcock at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate.

Birds around shrike hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton were the female Peregrine again plus a Jack Snipe, a pair of Stonechats, two Redpolls and several Bramblings.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Gadwall.

Raven.

Common Buzzard.

Storm Chandra

Hello

The awful wet and windy weather associated with Storm Chandra ensured little was seen in the county today.

However the drake Smew was still at Clifford Hill Pits today and at least forty European White-fronted Geese were still at Stanford Reservoir.

At least five Smew and a Greater Scaup were still at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

A Raven was in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir and a pair of Stonechat and several Bramblings were still in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. At least two Tree Sparrows were at Rectory Farm, Old.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kites are increasingly
becoming garden birds as 
they learn that food may be
available for them too!

Images courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Nuthatch courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

The below video depicts a 
feeding Blackcap courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

A cold day before the rain of tomorrow!

Hello

Seemed cold out there to me but only a light breeze and essentially dry.

At Ravensthorpe Reservoir the drake Smew was still present north of the causeway and a Firecrest was present briefly this morning. Other birds included a vocal Raven, a Woodcock, a Chiffchaff and a drake Mandarin Duck.

Stanford Reservoir retains the European White-fronted Goose flock with forty-five birds present and two Pink-footed Geese joined them briefly. An adult Caspian Gull was in the roost this afternoon and there were six Great White Egrets, four Goosanders, two Water Rails, thirty Siskins and a Cetti's Warbler.

At Pitsford Reservoir there was an adult Mediterranean Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Redpoll at the dam-end this afternoon.

Sixteen Crossbills were at Wakerley Wood, about two km along the main track from the car park. Three Red-crested Pochard were at Deene Lake. Barnwell Country Park provided two Water Rails, a pair of Egyptian Geese and Siskins and Redpolls.

The Glossy Ibis and an Oystercatcher were in flooded fields at the Embankment Wellingborough at lunchtime with two Egyptian Geese by the car park.

In the Nene Valley four Shelducks flew east at Stanwick Pits where also a Great White Egret, an Oystercatcher, a Redshank, ten Redpolls and two Blackcaps. A pair of Red-crested Pochard were at Clover Lake at Ecton Fisheries (Billing Pits) and a Green Sandpiper flew over. Sixty-five Golden Plovers and an adult Caspian Gull were seen at Summer Leys LNR.

A drake Smew and a Shelduck were at Clifford Hill Pits this morning.

A Brambling was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Ring-necked Parakeet was in a garden off Billing Lane at Northampton.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Smew at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today.

Crossbills at Wakerley Wood
today courtesy of Nick Parker.

Below is a garden video
of Long-tailed Tits courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Another grizzly day in January

Hello

Back to the grey and drizzle today after the brightness of yesterday.

A drake Smew was a great find today north of the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Summer Leys LNR provided a Glossy Ibis, an adult Caspian Gull, a Marsh Harrier and a Golden Plover.

At Clifford Hill Pits there was a drake Smew too plus a Great White Egret, seven Golden Plovers, a Water Rail and a Raven.

Blatherwycke Lake was the venue for a pair of Goosanders, a Great White Egret and an Egyptian Goose.

Stanford Reservoir provided for forty-five European White-fronted Geese, seven Great White Egrets, seven Goosanders, an adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost and two Kingfishers.

A Barn Owl, two Stonechats, two Woodcock and a female Peregrine taking a Woodpigeon were all in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Raven was in the village. 

Two Barn Owls were on the Cottesbrooke Estate and a Golden Plover and a Grey Wagtail were at Pitsford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Male Blackbird courtesy of
John Tilly.

Herring Gull.

Barn Owl.

Adult male Sparrowhawk.

Birds on a bright winter day

Hello

A brighter day today with blue skies, some sunshine and a keen breeze was much better than the weather during the week.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Barn Owl, a pair of Stonechats and two Bramblings. Two Barn Owls and a displaying Raven were on the Cottesbrooke Estate.

Pitsford Reservoir is now full of brown water and has lost plenty of wildfowl during the last few days as they have moved on to better conditions. The only birds of interest noted there today were a Raven and two Grey Wagtails.

The Glossy Ibis turned up again at the Embankment at Wellingborough and it seems that the drake American Wigeon has relocated to Ferry Meadows Country Park at Peterborough.

Seven Smew were still at Eyebrook Reservoir plus thirteen European White-fronted Geese and a Greater Scaup.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today were fifty-eight European White-fronted Geese, one hundred and two Pochard, three Water Rails, six Great White Egrets, three Goosanders, a Kingfisher and a Raven. Three hundred Lapwings and thirty Golden Plovers were at Lilbourne Water Meadows.

A drake Smew was at Clifford Hill Pits today with a supporting cast of a Great White Egret, three female Shelducks and a pair of Goosanders. Nearby at Barnes Meadow LNR there were a pair of Stonechats, a Common Snipe, a Woodcock and four Water Rails.

Stanwick Pits hosted a Marsh Harrier, a Redshank and a Pintail and Summer Leys LNR provided for seven European White-fronted Geese and a Marsh Harrier again. Seven Mandarin Ducks were at Barnwell Country Park and nine European White-fronted Geese were in a field near Warmington Mill this morning.

Two Blackcaps continue to visit a garden in Woodford Halse, a pair of Pintail were in flooded fields at Upton Country Park, two Ring-necked Parakeets were seen in flight over Boughton Pocket Park and in excess of three hundred Fieldfares and two Ravens were in fields south west of Sibbertoft.

Regards

Neil M

Canada Geese courtesy
of John Tilly.

Cormorant courtesy of
John Tilly.

Kestrel courtesy
of Robin Gossage.