Tundra Bean Geese

Hello

A Minus 2C early temperature was keenly felt at Stortons Pits this morning where a ringing session provided a nice variety of species which included good numbers of Redwings and Blackbirds, a couple of Song Thrushes and finches were well-represented with Greenfinch, Goldfinch and a single Lesser Redpoll finding the nets. Against a backdrop of calling Water Rails from the phragmites, a few warblers were also processed with a couple each of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Cetti's Warbler. A Grey Wagtail was on-site and the lift tower was empty of Crag Martins and Peregrines!

The find of the day were five Tundra Bean Geese on North Lake at Stanwick Pits as located by patch guru Steve Fisher. White-fronted and Bean Geese were a feature of last winter and the early indications are that it may happen again! Tundra Bean Geese have turned up at several far-flung places in the UK over recent days including two right down on the Isles of Scilly. A Marsh Harrier also appeared at Stanwick Pits today.

The Hanging Houghton Snow Bunting brought forth new and old admirers again, this fabulous bird showing down to a matter of feet again! A Short-eared Owl was nearby and birds not too far away towards Blueberry Farm, Maidwell included the female Merlin and the female Hen Harrier again. A Barn Owl was in Hanging Houghton village this morning.

At Summer Leys LNR today two Bitterns showed and a Grey Plover flew over calling with a Cetti's Warbler showing too.

Clifford Hill Pits attracted a Black-tailed Godwit, a Jack Snipe, seven Common Snipe, nine Golden Plovers, a Goosander, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and two Stonechats. A pair of Stonechats were in the Nene Valley at Wellingborough west of Whitworths.

Three Red-crested Pochard and a hybrid Red-crested Pochard x Mallard were at Ravensthorpe Reservoir plus a pair of Goosanders, three Common Snipe and three Green Sandpipers.

An adult Caspian Gull was at Stanford Reservoir today plus six Goosanders and two Cetti's Warblers.

A couple of video clips (please see below) of local Tawny Owls over recent days courtesy of Chris Payne and Simon Wantling.

Regards

Neil M

The treasures of November

Hello

November rarely disappoints when it comes to scarce and rare birds locally and is the classic month to be out and about looking for the unusual.

The Snow Bunting re-appeared on the main track (it is actually a public highway) between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke and was actually watched by a good number of people this morning before the news was finally put out there. Some early observers thought there may have been a second bird in flight with it at one stage. This species is often confiding and hungry when they first arrive in the UK, this bird continues to consume everything in it's path and encroaches on observers rather than the other way around!

The female Merlin was in the same place this morning and successfully caught yet another hapless Skylark - I think she is routinely eating two Skylarks a day and the good numbers on the fields in the valley means she will keep coming back. Two Stonechats were on nearby hedging and an intriguing photograph in circulation suggests there might be something a little rarer in the immediate vicinity too - time will tell!

Large numbers of passerines were in the Brampton Valley this morning and finches on the move included Bramblings and Siskins.

The Snow Bunting would ordinarily be bird of the day for me, but this morning I encountered a Long-eared Owl, the first I have seen locally in years. This is one of those particularly sensitive species that we do not reveal their whereabouts so please don't ask where it was!

A Black Redstart was a great early morning urban find in Daventry town centre this morning, but disturbance was significant and it wasn't seen past mid-morning. The first winter drake Scaup remains at Daventry Country Park.

At Stanford Reservoir there were still three White-fronted Geese and another Snow Bunting was seen near the village of Orlingbury this morning before flying off. A first year White-fronted Goose was at Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits this morning, viewed from North Hide.

At Clifford Hill Pits this morning there was a Black-tailed Godwit, six Golden Plovers, at least five Grey Partridges, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Stonechat. Eight Pintail, a pair of Stonechats and forty-eight Pied Wagtails were north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir and a pair of Red-crested Pochard were at Ravensthorpe Reservoir off the eastern bank reedbed.

Regards

Neil M

The Hanging Houghton
Snow Bunting today.

An interesting winter ahead?

Hello

Light rain during the night and today, warmer in the morning and cooler this afternoon.

At Daventry Country Park a Scaup was present and a flock of five White-fronted Geese flew south-east this morning.

Four White-fronted Geese were at Stanford Reservoir where also a Pintail, twenty-one Great White Egrets, twenty-nine Little Egrets, five Goosanders and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

An adult Caspian Gull was found at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today plus a female Red-crested Pochard, a pair of Goosanders and four Green Sandpipers.

A drake Red-crested Pochard was in the Pintail Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today with three Great White Egrets and two Yellow-legged Gulls.

At Thrapston Pits there was a first year White-fronted Goose on Islip Water Meadows and a female Scaup was on Town Lake.

A Peregrine was at St Peter's church Oundle and birds seen at Clifford Hill Pits were two Black-tailed Godwits flying over, eleven Golden Plovers, three Common Snipe and two Stonechats.

The Snow Bunting wasn't seen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today but the female Merlin was there this morning and again this afternoon, still chasing Skylarks. A Peregrine and a Stonechat were also present and a Short-eared Owl was between there and Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was seen again in the valley, this far-ranging individual was seen flying towards Lamport Station on this occasion. Two Bramblings were with Chaffinches at Lamport Hall.

The forthcoming winter sounds like an interesting one with the apparent beginnings of a Waxwing invasion with flocks in Scotland, an early arrival of grey geese from the continent and the potential of Rough-legged Buzzards and maybe more Nutcrackers arriving on our shores.

Regards

Neil M

Kestrel courtesy of Robin Gossage.

A 'lovely' example of Dog Vomit
Slime Mold recently in the
Brampton Valley.

White-fronted Goose courtesy
of Tyler Atkinson.

Jack Snipe courtesy of
Tyler Atkinson.

Snow Bunting.

Hello

Another cold day but a shift in the weather with clearer conditions.

The find of the day was a Snow Bunting which frequented the track in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton close to the shrike hedge. Initially very confiding it was flushed a number of times by vehicles and walkers and was last seen flying off towards Blueberry Farm after flying over and calling above a number of observers this afternoon. Plenty of seed has been broadcast along the track should it see fit to return!

A Short-eared Owl was seen briefly nearby this afternoon and a female Merlin was in pursuit of a singing Skylark with the falcon making numerous passes with the stoic lark performing exhausting manoeuvres which went on for at least five minutes. With both birds tiring a Carrion Crow intervened and the Merlin gave up and moved on. A Barn Owl was present at dusk.

Concerned Chaffinches in our garden apple tree this morning were calling persistently - and the source of their concern was a Little Owl which flew off!

A drake Red-crested Pochard was in Yacht Bay with the Coots at Pitsford Reservoir and two Great White Egrets and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were in the immediate vicinity. North of the causeway there were seven Shelducks, five Pintail, three Great White Egrets, three Golden Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, another adult Yellow-legged Gull and a pair of Stonechats.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir were a Merlin, four White-fronted Geese, four Red-crested Pochard, six Goosanders, a Pintail, an 'aythya' hybrid duck and an adult Caspian Gull.

Sightings at Summer Leys LNR included one hundred and fifty Lapwings, two Common Snipe, twenty Golden Plovers, thirty Meadow Pipits, a Chiffchaff and a Marsh Harrier.

Regards

Neil M

The Brampton Valley Snow Bunting
today courtesy of Sharon Wood. Sharon's
 perseverance after the initial report paid
off and permitted a number of local birders
to see this cracking bird.

Birds of the fog!

Hello

More foggy conditions and cold temperatures made it feel wintry today.

A Short-eared Owl showed well at Clifford Hill Pits before disappearing into the murk.

Two Marsh Harriers and three Common Snipe were at Summer Leys LNR today.

A grey male Black Redstart popped up in the grounds of the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir today and other birds at that end of the reservoir were four Yellow-legged Gulls, two Great White Egrets and six Siskins. Two Great White Egrets and five Shelduck were later in the Walgrave Bay.

A pair of Stonechats and a singing Cetti's Warbler were at Hunsbury Meadows/canal corrider on the south side of Northampton.

A female Red-crested Pochard was again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir where also a Green Sandpiper and a Common Snipe.

A Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and there was also the remnants of a freshly-predated second bird. A Woodcock was also seen.

A Caspian Gull was at Stanford Reservoir today plus two hundred and two Pochard, ten Goosanders and two Kingfishers.

Regards

Neil M

Short-eared Owl.

Golden Plovers.

Grey Plover.

Birds of a fog-bound Clifford Hill Pits
courtesy of Tyler Atkinson.

Ringing at Linford Lakes.

Hello

A determined week-end's ringing at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes provided nearly three hundred birds of a variety of species which included twenty-three Redwings, a Fieldfare, fifteen Blackbirds, three Song Thrushes, twenty-seven Greenfinches, ten Chaffinches, thirty-two Goldfinches, two Redpolls, six Cetti's Warblers, seven Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps, a Kingfisher, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Stock Doves, three Goldcrests, a Meadow Pipit and two Treecreepers.

Two Scaup were on Town Lake, Thrapston Pits at dusk today and other birds on-site were two Marsh Harriers, two Peregrines and three Stonechats.

A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was between Rushden and Newton Bromswold and rough fields there also supported over one hundred and fifty Linnets, at least two Redpolls and six Bramblings.

A Ring-necked Parakeet flew over Moulton this morning and Summer Leys LNR attracted a Glossy Ibis and a Raven. A late-season Black-tailed Godwit was at Clifford Hill Pits plus eight Golden Plovers.

Three drake Pintail were at Blatherwycke Lake plus a Raven and Grey Wagtail, two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and a flock of fifty Skylarks were in fields south of Lamport Hall.

Two Barn Owls and four Grey Partridges were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening and a Yellow-legged Gull, three Great White Egrets and a Raven were by the dam at Pitsford Reservoir.

Stanford Reservoir today was the site for six Red-crested Pochard, twelve Goosanders, four Egyptian Geese, twenty-five Great White Egrets, a Caspian Gull and a Redpoll.

Regards

Neil M

Blackcap.

Chaffinch.

Fieldfare.

Redpoll.

Stock Doves.

Images courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

A foggy day

Hello

Persistent fog and mist frustrated would-be birders today and there may be some more of the same weather tomorrow.

Birds glimpsed in the murk at Pitsford Reservoir today included a Jack Snipe, two Common Snipe and three Stonechats - all in the Scaldwell Bay.

It must have been clearer at Stanford Reservoir as Chris saw four White-fronted Geese, four Egyptian Goose, a Cackling Goose, thirteen Goosanders, at least twenty-five Great White Egrets, a Pintail and an adult Caspian Gull.

Two Scaup were on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits this afternoon plus a Pintail, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine and three Stonechats.

A flock of twenty-two White-fronted Geese flew south west at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon.

A Little Owl was in Hanging Houghton village this evening and a Barn Owl and a Short-eared Owl were in the Brampton Valley below the village, the latter heading off towards Brixworth.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret and Black-headed Gulls.

Fieldfare courtesy of Robin Gossage.

All images from Pitsford Reservoir yesterday.

Early November movers

Hello

Seemingly a much quieter day today with plenty of cloud and a little rain this afternoon.

At Stanford Reservoir there was no sign of the Great Skua this morning but seven White-fronted Geese were present in an adjacent field and other birds were four Egyptian Geese, about thirty Great White Egrets, seven Goosanders, a Pintail and a Redpoll.

The Scaup wasn't seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today (a Green Sandpiper was present), but Hollowell Reservoir hosted an adult Caspian Gull and two Stonechats.

At Pitsford Reservoir there was no sign of the scoter flock this morning - birds in the dam area were three Yellow-legged Gulls, a Shelduck, a Grey Wagtail and a Redpoll. Birds reported north of the causeway were two Shelducks, a Redshank, six Common Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, two Great White Egrets and twenty-five Golden Plovers plus a Stonechat.

A Grey Wagtail was at Hanging Houghton, two Redpolls were at Scaldwell village and four Stonechats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

At Sywell Country Park this afternoon there were two Green Sandpipers, a Water Rail, four Stonechats, two Chiffchaffs and two Grey Wagtails. There were also about four Redpolls and twenty-five Siskins.

A Marsh Harrier was seen feeding on a dead goose at Summer Leys LNR and a male Stonechat was at Crowfields, Moulton.

Clifford Hill Pits provided a Grey Plover, five Common Snipe, eight Golden Plovers, a Shelduck, a Raven and two Stonechats. A Marsh Harrier was seen from North Hide at Thrapston Pits.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret.

Grey Plover at Clifford Hill Pits.

Mute Swan.

Images courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Birds of a cool, grey November day.

Hello

I've just returned from a two week stint visiting Islay and Mull in Scotland - it definitely feels cooler down here!

The north-easterly airflow certainly provided an influx of birds in the county today with a Black-necked Grebe at Summer Leys LNR, a first year drake Scaup at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and a Great Skua that may have roosted overnight at Stanford Reservoir. Single White-fronted Geese popped up at Clifford Hill Pits and Boddington Reservoir.

A flock of forty-nine female/immature Common Scoters greeted me at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, spending much of their time in open water between the Pintail Bay and the Sailing Club. I was there to count the gull roost and this also proved interesting with two Caspian Gulls, at least four Yellow-legged Gulls, a Mediterranean Gull and fifteen hundred Common Gulls together with three thousand Black-headeds, fifty Herring Gulls, thirty Lesser Black-backed Gulls and four/five Great Black-backs. Other birds at this end of the reservoir were twelve Dunlin only seen in flight, two Great White Egrets, a Grey Wagtail and six Bramblings over. North of the causeway there was a Shelduck, several Pintail, a pair of Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail, at least two Great White Egrets and at least one Raven.

A Raven and ten Redpoll were in Hanging Houghton village and birds in the Brampton Valley below the village this afternoon amounted to six Stonechats, the female Hen Harrier and a Barn Owl.

An adult Mediterranean Gull was in a field next to the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits late this morning, with a Scaup on Town Lake.

Other birds at Clifford Hill Pits were five Shelduck, eight Golden Plovers, a Dunlin, a Jack Snipe, a  Yellow-legged Gull and two Stonechats, and a Redshank was noted at Hollowell Reservoir.

Also at Stanford Reservoir there was a record site total of thirty-six Great White Egrets, three Pintail and seven Goosanders.

Regards

Neil M

Kestrels courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Goosanders.

A quiet start to the week

It has been a very quiet start to the week for myself due to a variety of commitments.  Visits to both Harrington Airfield and Pitsford Reservoir produced little of note. Even shrike hedge area has been very quiet but that is partly due to the farming activity going on and a change of use of the field which previously was weedy and full of seeds which both attracted and sustained many passerines throughout the winter.   The Short Eared Owls were still present on Sunday but I haven't seen them since the fields they were hunting were ploughed up, so I think that they have moved on. I did bump into the Ringtail Hen Harrier yesterday near Blueberry. I think that this bird hunts over a large area and it is just "pot luck " if you see it.

Very few birds reported over the last couple of days.  Yesterday there was a female Common Scotor at Stanford Reservoir,  Mediterranean Gull at Daventry CP,  Caspian Gull and 3 Green Sandpipers at Ravensthorpe Reservoir,  Jack Snipe,  Glossy Ibis and Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys,  2 Marsh Harriers at Titchmarsh LNR and 3 Whooper Swans flying over Kettering.                                                          Today there was a Mediterranean , Caspian and 8 Yellow Legged Gull, Goosander and Dunlin at Boddington Reservoir and the usual Glossy Ibis and Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys. 

The Northamptonshire Bird Club meet tomorrow,  Wednesday 4th November at 19.30hrs at the Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir.  There will be an update by Megan Shersby of the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants on the Stawberry Hill Reserve in nearby Bedfordshire.                       Everyone is very welcome 

Regards Eleanor 

Marsh Harrier.

Chaffinch.

Great White Egret.

All images from Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

A Comedy of Errors!!

Yesterday (Saturday) I  decided to visit Stanford Reservoir to catch up with the Sabines Gull which had been coming into the gull roost following the storms of last weekend.  I knew that it had been seen coming into roost on Friday evening so all I needed to do was to get there before the gulls left the roost.                                                                           What should have been straightforward turned out to be a real "Comedy of Errors ".  I was up early as usual and left four slightly bemused dogs behind as I left without them.  It was dark and also foggy but the journey to Stanford Reservoir was uneventful. I needed to access the Reservoir at the dam and that's when things went awry as I couldn't find the entrance to the dam!! It didn't help that it was dark and foggy and I also hadn't been to Stanford Reservoir for ages. I drove painfully slowly along the road for what seemed like ages and even ended up in Stanford on Avon. So I drove back from where I'd come and it was a bit lighter now and saw a very inconspicuous turn which took me down towards the dam.  Phew I breathed a sigh of relief but also with a hint of panic as it was getting lighter and I didn't want to miss the gulls leaving.                                           My next hiccup was with the padlock as for some reason I just found it very fiddly and I could sense the clock ticking.  Once in I arrived at the car park there was only one other car parked and no sign of anyone else.  I just grabbed my stuff and headed along the track to find a viewpoint. My heart sank when I saw that the majority of gulls were quite a way off and because I'm not familiar with the Reservoir I couldn't remember how much further I needed to walk to a better view point so I stayed put and attempted to set my scope and tripod into position.  However my scope/tripod nearly ended up in the Reservoir as I fought to get the scope and tripod to talk to each other and not play up. Neil very kindly bought me a super dooper tripod which he assures me is easy to use but I cannot get on with it. It seemed to take me forever to attach the scope to it but it didn't help that I was trying to hold my phone as I needed to use the torch on it to see what I was doing. In hindsight I should have had it all attached and ready for action before I left home, lesson learnt.                                                                Finally I was ready to start looking and just spent my time scanning the gulls as they started to leave and it really was more by luck than judgement that I picked up the Sabines Gull as it flew through my field of view and departed. All that effort for a brief view.                                                              Bizarrely I had picked up a training spot for Tystie in the afternoon at Welford so after we had finished I decided to drive the Short distance back to Stanford Reservoir in the hope of getting a better view.  Would you believe it but I missed the entrance down to the dam again, I just couldn't see it.  This time the carpark was full but again due to the light conditions I ended up quite a way from where the gulls were coming into roost.  This time I'd already got my scope and tripod attached so I was ready for action, but despite my best efforts I actually didn't see anything of interest although there were 2 Mediterranean Gulls,  Caspian and Yellow Legged Gull present. 

I haven't really seen much of note over the weekend. A couple of very quiet visits to Harrington Airfield,  just lots of Fieldfares/Redwings in the bushes, small flocks of Golden Plover flying over and sadly a dead Water Rail at bunker 2. I've heard Bramblings,  Siskins and Redpolls flying over wherever I've been and the Short-eared Owls are still around but the fields they like are being ploughed up so I expect that they will move on. 

There's been a good variety of birds around this weekend as we said goodbye to October and hello to November.  At Clifford Hill GP there was a female Common Scotor, 6 Golden Plover and Stonechats,  2 Cattle Egrets at Denford, a Hawfinch at Hazelborough Forest, female type Greater Scaup at Titchmarsh LNR, 20 Pintail, 6 Shelduck and an eye watering 1400+ Tufted Duck in the Scaldwell bay Pitsford Reservoir,  2 Dunlin at Hollowell Reservoir,  female Ruddy Shelduck at Winwick Pools and an amazing 5 Mediterranean Gulls over Kettering heading north west.

Have a good week. 

Regards Eleanor 

Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

The three "G's", Geese, Gulls and Grebe !!

The three "G's", Geese, Gulls and Grebe sums up the main birds of the past two days.  Today there were 3 White Fronted Geese at Summer Leys and a further 2 in the Cherwell Valley between Aynho and Clifton.   The first winter Sabines Gull continues to come into the gull roost at Stanford Reservoir just before 17.00hrs and departs around 06.45hrs. Best viewed from the dam (permit required).          There are several Mediterranean Gulls around at the moment, an adult in the roost at Stanford Reservoir, a 2nd winter at Daventry CP and an adult on the main lake at Wicksteed Park, Kettering. Not to be left out, a Yellow-legged Gull at Titchmarsh LNR and a Caspian Gull at Hollowell Reservoir.                                                                        The Slavonian Grebe which has been at Pitsford Reservoir for a while appears to have moved from the Holcot Bay into the Scaldwell bay where it has been trying to hide amongst a large flock of Tufted Ducks. 

Birds around apart from the 3 "G's" include 6 Whooper Swans at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, a female type Black Redstart briefly at Greens Norton, Ruddy Shelduck at Winwick Pools, Short-eared Owl over A1599/A14 junction, a female type Greater Scaup on the town Lake at Thrapston GP, Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys, Titchmarsh LNR and Harrington Airfield. However the best bird got away, a Woodlark flew over poplars field at Stanford Reservoir this morning. 

Have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor 

Red Kite.

Meadow Pipit.

Mute Swan.

All images from Clifford Hill Pits
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

After the Storms

Things are settling down following the storms of the weekend with the welcome return of blue skies and sunshine.  So far it would seem that the only bird to be "storm assisted " is a first winter Sabines Gull that has found itself at Stanford Reservoir.  This gorgeous dainty Gull is a very rare visitor to the county. I don't know how long it will stay but since it was found on Monday in the Gull roost it seems to have settled into a pattern of arriving at about 16.45hrs and departing in a westerly direction early the following morning at around 06.40hrs.  I don't think that its whereabouts during the day has been found. Definitely well worth a visit to Stanford Reservoir (Northants/Leicestershire border), permit required and you may even get hooked on Gulls!!   There have also been 2 Mediterranean Gulls, adult and 1st winter, and a Caspian Gull at the roost.  The adult Mediterranean Gull was sitting in a field south west of Welford Road adjacent to the old railway track. 

Elsewhere it has been rather quiet.  At Thrapston the female type Greater Scaup remains at Titchmarsh LNR and 2 Cattle Egrets on Islip Water Meadows,  2 Marsh Harriers at Summer Leys and Rock Pipit,  Jack Snipe,  Stonechats and Yellow Legged Gull at Clifford Hill GP. 

Another page/tab has been created on this blog with photos from a recent Naturetrek trip to Islay and Jura.

Regards Eleanor 

Pitsford Stonechats courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Corn Bunting courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

A Wild Weekend!!

It has certainly been a very wild , wet and windy weekend which made birding challenging at times.  An early morning run yesterday before the weather turned only produced a flock of Siskins at Gamboro plantation and this was followed by a more productive visit to Harrington Airfield where the Ring Ouzel was still present at bunker 1 and in the area beyond bunker 3 a female Merlin and 2 Stonechats.  The bushes were alive with huge numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings and the noise of their chattering quite deafening.                                                                                My birding today has been very limited due to having a training day with Tystie.  He was awesome and has huge potential . He was absolutely full of himself and needless to say I needed a stiff drink and a lie down when I got home !!

Very few birds reported over the weekend, probably due to the weather. The drake Ring Necked Duck and female type Greater Scaup remain at Thrapston GP and seem to commute between Aldwincle Lake and the Heronry Lake. Two Cattle Egrets were nearby at Islip Water Meadows.         Both Stanford Reservoir and Earls Barton GP hosted a Caspian and Yellow Legged Gull and a Marsh Harrier was at Stortons GP and Summer Leys.  A Glossy Ibis was at Summer Leys and also one in a field below St Peters Church at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows complex.    Two White Fronted Geese were found in a field between Aynho and Clifton and the only report from Pitsford Reservoir was of a Dunlin and Common Sandpiper. 

The new week looks to be starting wet and windy again but should be settling down as the week progresses.  I'm sure that there will be plenty of birds to enjoy, we just need to get out and find them. 

Regards Eleanor 

Stonechat courtesy of Tyler Atkinson.

Marsh Harrier courtesy of Tyler Atkinson.

Carrion Crow courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Reed Bunting courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Stormy Times

Yesterday was definitely "the calm before the storm " with lots of sunshine and blue skies.  My birding opportunities on Thursdays are always limited due to my doggy commitments.  An uninterrupted walk at Harrington Airfield produced a Short Eared Owl,  Ring Ouzel and Woodcock around bunker 3 but I noticed that there was another shoot in the area today.  I managed a walk around Blueberry area late afternoon and connected with the Ringtail Hen Harrier which had been found by Stuart earlier in the day and could see from a distance the  2 Short Eared Owls flying around near shrike hedge.  

Other birds reported yesterday included the American Pipit still showing well at Clifford Hill GP, female Red Crested Pochard and 2 Green Sandpipers at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, 2 Caspian Gulls, Peregrine and Stonechats at Hollowell Reservoir,  Slavonian Grebe, 2 female Goosanders and 4 Shelducks in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir and over at Titchmarsh LNR female Greater Scaup and drake Ring Necked Duck plus 4 White Fronted Geese and a Cattle Egret on Islip Water Meadows. 

Today has been very different.  The morning was relatively calm but a good walk around shrike hedge/blueberry area produced very little,  plenty of winter Thrushes,  small numbers of Bramblings and a couple of Golden Plovers.  Then the predicted Storm Austen hit bringing strong winds and rain which made birding challenging and the few birds reported were from this morning.  The American Pipit remains at Clifford Hill GP,  Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys, female Greater Scaup at Titchmarsh LNR and a female type Greater Scaup at Stanford Reservoir. 

Over the weekend we will feel the affects from Storm Boelo which hits tomorrow  as well as remembering to put the clocks back an hour !!.  Have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor 

Cattle Egret.

White-fronted Goose.

White-fronted Geese.

Scaup.

All images from Thrapston Pits
courtesy of Nick Parker.