Birding the county valleys

Hello

A pleasant morning deteriorating into a drizzly, wet afternoon.

Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits was still the place to be today with the Red-necked Grebe and drake Ring-necked Duck still present, a Cattle Egret, two Goosanders and for a time the Tundra Bean Goose and twenty-three European White-fronted Geese before they moved down the Nene Valley just east of Denford for the remainder of the day.

Seven European White-fronted Geese were seen on the main lake at Stanwick Pits and Summer Leys LNR was good still for the Glossy Ibis and an adult Caspian Gull, with a Green Sandpiper, a Common Snipe and an Oystercatcher at Earls Barton New Workings (North). That man again Nick Parker watched a Common Crane fly north over Thrapston Pits (still a surprisingly rare sighting in the county despite many being in neighbouring Cambridgeshire), and the Pink-footed Goose was on Elinor Lake.

Crossbills were heard calling at Wakerley Wood car park this morning and one was still at Scotland Wood. Two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton, a Raven and at least two Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall and two Ravens were at the Brampton Valley Draughton Crossing.

At Pitsford Reservoir there were two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Grey Wagtail and in the Walgrave Bay two Ravens, a Brambling and a Siskin. At least five Tree Sparrows were at Rectory Farm, Old village.

Approximately seven Redpolls were visiting a Greens Norton garden today and quality birds at Hollowell Reservoir were the Red-throated Diver still, four Jack Snipe, six Common Snipe, two Caspian Gulls and a Stonechat. Two Grey Wagtails and several Siskins were at Beck Dairy, Cottesbrooke this morning.

The Harringworth floods in the Welland Valley today attracted a Curlew, five Dunlin and eight Pintail and twenty-nine European White-fronted Geese were again in a field at Stanford Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Blue Tit.

Goldfinch.

Dunnock.

Song Thrush.

Above images taken at Summer Leys LNR
today courtesy of John Tilly.

Below is a video of a Red Fox
helping itself to some bird food
in our back garden during the early
hours of this morning!

The birds of water have our full attention!

Hello

Another mild day with only a few showers on a breezy day which the corvids and raptors seemed to enjoy.

The initial favoured location for birding this morning was perhaps Clifford Hill Pits with the drake Lesser Scaup and drake Smew and a first year Caspian Gull present before considerable disturbance made it more difficult.

There was then a shift to Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits later in the day with the discovery of a fine Red-necked Grebe and the continued presence of the drake Ring-necked Duck. It's certainly been quality birding in the county this winter!

Just further upstream and Summer Leys LNR attracted a Bittern, a Marsh Harrier, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank, a Cetti's Warbler and the long-staying Glossy Ibis and in-between Stanwick Pits hosted a Marsh Harrier and two European White-fronted Geese. Warmington Water Meadows continues to host twenty-one European White-fronted Geese.

A Stonechat was near the Welligborough Embankment with a Great White Egret and Cetti's Warbler further east along the Nene Valley.

A remarkable seventy-nine Pintail (surely a county record?) and a Curlew were on floods in the Welland Valley east of Harringworth this morning.

Birds near Stanford Reservoir included twenty European White-fronted Geese in the Percy Pilcher monument field at Stanford Hall with the reservoir attracting four Great White Egrets.

Four Ravens were at Hanging Houghton, the pair of Stonechats were in the Brampton Valley below the village and Harrington Airfield provided two Ravens and three Grey Partridges. Three Siskins visited a Woodford Halse garden.

Regards

Neil M

Red-necked Grebe at Ringstead Pits
today courtesy of Nick Parker.

Little Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe.

Cormorant.

Nestbox maintenance.

Hello

A rise in temperature and dry for much of the day was a pleasing tonic!

A team of three of us spent the day on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir clearing out, checking and repairing the numerous nest boxes in readiness for the imminent breeding season. It's surprising how many insects and mammals shelter in these boxes during the winter and today included queen wasps, a fabulous queen hornet, lots of beetles, sawfly larvae, ladybirds, spiders, Wood Mice and Grey Squirrels!

We also encountered Tawny Owls roosting in the big boxes and other birds noted on our seven mile wander included two or three Kingfishers, a Great White Egret, several Siskins, a Crossbill, two Woodcock, a couple of Ravens and a pair of Stonechats. Plenty of Redwings were feeding and singing in the plantations with some foraging in the adjacent sodden fields. Flying insects included a bumblebee.

Steve experienced a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier crossing the road between Holcot village and the A43.

The drake Lesser Scaup was again on the Clifford Hill Pits complex after first being found on the River Nene. The drake Smew was also present and a flock of eleven Black-tailed Godwits flew west towards Brackmills Industrial Estate.

Ringstead Pits hosted the drake Ring-necked Duck on Kinewell Lake where there were also eight Pintail and a Cattle Egret. Nearby a Tundra Bean Goose and up to ten European White-fronted Geese were at Denford, visible from a footpath between Woodford and Thrapston.

Further down the valley the Pink-footed Goose re-appeared at Islip Meadows (Thrapston Pits), before flying off with Greylag Geese, plus a Marsh Harrier was also present and a Curlew flew over.

The Glossy Ibis was in front of the screen hide at Summer Leys LNR this morning.

Much further upstream and a female Red-crested Pochard was found at Kislingbury Pits.

Nine Crossbills were noted at Harlestone Heath early this afternoon and the mobile Red-throated Diver was initially at Ravensthorpe Reservoir before moving to Hollowell Reservoir.

A Blackcap was again in a Wellingborough garden, a Grey Wagtail was at Rothersthorpe, a Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Little Owl was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. A Caspian Gull was at Daventry Country Park.

Mark wandered along the flooded Welland Valley, finding a first year Caspian Gull below Cottingham plus two Oystercatchers and a Green Sandpiper with an adult Yellow-legged Gull at Harringworth plus twenty-eight Pintail, seven Golden Plovers and a superb three thousand five hundred Lapwings.

Nearby at Eyebrook Reservoir there was a drake American Wigeon, three Pink-footed Geese, an immature Whooper Swan, eleven Greater Scaup and at least eight Smew.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Scaup today at Clifford Hill
Pits courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Tawny Owls at Pitsford Reservoir today.
Images courtesy of Jane Neill and Michelle
Spinks.

The bottom image depicts a bird first ringed
as a nestling at Pitsford Reservoir in April
2014, one of three siblings. It was encountered
again in 2019 and this year will be twelve years old!

The four amigos on top of Blueberry
Hill today - Jaeger, Tor, Rouzel and Tystie!

Lesser Scaup

Hello

A 'Scaup' photographed at Clifford Hill Pits and circulated by Whatsapp was quickly identified as a drake Lesser Scaup and this bird was quite mobile around the site for much of the day. Presumably this is the same individual as that seen last year at Stanford and Ditchford. Other birds included the long-staying drake Smew, a drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid and a Dunlin.

A Slavonian Grebe was found at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and this scenic location proved popular with local birders today as the Red-throated Diver was also there. A Siskin was also present.

A Crossbill was singing at Scotland Wood and a Raven was at Kelmarsh Hall. Two Crossbills were at Gamboro' Plantation this afternoon and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a calling Little Owl and a Barn Owl. A Grey Wagtail was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

A Blackcap was seen briefly in a Wellingborough garden today.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Lesser Scaup - image courtesy
of the finder Tyler Atkinson.

Drake Lesser Scaup courtesy
of Nick Parker.

Rook.

Winter relenting gradually

Hello

Another cool and grey day after a night of rain. Yet on the Isles of Scilly House Martins and at least one Swallow have been around the islands! Milder conditions here at the weekend won't necessarily stop the rain!

Daventry Country Park was the venue today for a visiting Slavonian Grebe and re-sighting of a wintering Siberian Chiffchaff. The Red-throated Diver has decided to return to Ravensthorpe Reservoir where it was seen south of the causeway this afternoon. Two adult Caspian Gulls were again off the Guilsborough Bay Point at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon.

At Stanford Reservoir an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen in the afternoon roost and other birds were three Great White Egrets, two Goosanders, two Water Rails and a Cetti's Warbler.

The Glossy Ibis was again at Summer Leys LNR today, close to the Sand Martin colony wall.

Two Water Rails were seen at Spring Pond off the Brampton Valley Way between Brixworth and Spratton.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon there were a pair of Grey Partridges and a continually calling Tawny Owl in daylight conditions.

With no reports of European White-fronted Geese or other 'wild geese' being seen in the county today, maybe these visitors from the east are now gathering further to the east in the UK before heading off to the continent.

Regards

Neil M

Common Gull.

Mute Swan.

Great White Egret.

Robin.

'February Field Dyke' weather

Hello

A cold day and with constant rain forecast for overnight.

The Red-throated Diver was still at Hollowell Reservoir, off the west bank between the dam and Guilsborough Bay.

In the Nene Valley eighteen Pintail were on floodwater off the A605 at Oundle.

Four European White-fronted Geese and two Stonechats were at North Lake, Stanwick Pits this morning and the drake Ring-necked Duck was reported from the Fishing Pit at Ringstead Pits. The Glossy Ibis was similarly reported from Summer Leys LNR late this morning.

Twenty-five European White-fronted Geese and a Tundra Bean Goose were in the Nene Valley near Denford early this afternoon.

Three Mealy Redpolls were reported from Abington Park, Northampton.

A Common Snipe was at Harrington Airfield and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton amounted to the pair of Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail and nine Ravens making a racket.

Regards

Neil M

Brown Hare.

Sadly Harrington Airfield is presently littered
with dead hares where people have been killing
 them with dogs for fun.

Cock Pheasant.

 With the end of the shooting season the considerable
numbers of survivors will become ever bolder!

First year Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Fieldfare.

A few long-stayers still with us...

Hello

Seemingly a quieter day in the county for sightings but with a mixture of weather on the horizon this might provide some changes.

Long-stayers include the Glossy Ibis and a 'wing-tagged' Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon.

Eight European White-fronted Geese were still on Elinor Trout Lake at Thrapston Pits, the Pink-footed Goose was at Islip Meadows, three Pintail were on the Titchmarsh reserve and there were Grey Partridges in adjacent fields.

Sightings in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a/the 'ringtail' Hen Harrier, four Bramblings, a pair of Stonechats and a Barn Owl. The Crossbills were looked for at Gamboro' Plantation but not seen.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was again at the dam end of Pitsford Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Wigeon courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Red Kite.

Stonechat courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

First year Black-headed Gull.

Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count

Hello

Sun and showers today for the Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count, although there were so few waterbirds it could be a record low count! The brown, muddy water is never enjoyed by birds that dive and the very high water levels have flooded out the margins.

North of the causeway and there was a Great White Egret, about thirty-five Common Snipe, a Woodcock, a Common Sandpiper, three Ravens, two pairs of Stonechats and ten Siskins. It was extremely quiet south of the causeway with just two Ravens and several Siskins.

A wild goose chase along the Nene Valley proved productive with a Tundra Bean Goose, a Pink-footed Goose and twenty-five European White-fronted Geese being found near Denford, eight European White-fronted Geese on Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits and the Islip Meadows section of the complex held a Pink-footed Goose and a Tundra Bean Goose.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was again at Ringstead Pits and this time on the fishing lake.

At Summer Leys LNR the Glossy Ibis was still present plus three Oystercatchers, ten Common Snipe, two Great White Egrets, a Marsh Harrier and two Kingfishers.

The drake Smew was again at Clifford Hill Pits plus a Great White Egret, twelve Golden Plovers and a Raven.

The Red-throated Diver decided to switch reservoirs and was off the eastern side of the dam at Hollowell Reservoir this morning plus two adult Caspian Gulls, two Jack Snipe, four Common Snipe and two Stonechats.

Four Great White Egrets were at Stanford Reservoir where also fifteen Goosanders and a leucistic Black-headed Gull.

Three Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield, a Crossbill was in Scotland Wood, at least four Crossbills were at Gamboro' Plantation where a Green Sandpiper flew over and two Grey Wagtails and a gathering of at least thirty Magpies were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

Two Corn Buntings were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton with a large flock of finches and buntings which included six Bramblings, over a hundred Chaffinches, at least one hundred and fifty Goldfinches and smaller numbers of Greenfinches and Yellowhammers. Two Stonechats were also present plus a Barn Owl.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Harrier.

Kingfisher.

Oystercatchers.

Song Thrush.

All above images from Summer Leys
LNR today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Image and video of the Pink-footed Goose
 Islip Meadows today courtesy of Nick Parker.

A very wet Sunday

Hello

A very wet day (again), when will it stop raining?

The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits again today and the drake Smew was again reported from Clifford Hill Pits.

Four European White-fronted Geese appeared again at Stanwick Pits, in fields to the north of Main Lake this afternoon.

Two different Marsh Harriers (including the orange-tagged bird) at Summer Leys LNR.

The Red-throated Diver was again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and at one stage flew to the north of the causeway and plonked itself down on the water there.

Forty European White-fronted Geese, a Goosander and four Great White Egrets were at Stanford Reservoir today.

A Great White Egret was at Blatherwycke Lake, five Ravens were at Harrington Airfield and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included the pair of Stonechats, a Woodcock and four Common Snipe.

Yesterday there were still four Tree Sparrows at Rectory Farm, outside Old village and a garden ringing session on the northern outskirts of Northampton provided thirty-four captures which included nineteen Goldfinches, two Siskins, a Greenfinch, a Long-tailed Tit, four Great Tits and seven Blue Tits.

Regards

Neil M

Yellow-legged Gull.

Caspian Gull.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Sparrowhawk.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello 

The forecast was for a cold, sunny day and it proved accurate! Much of the day was spent at the Ditchford Pits complex counting birds utilising this wetland habitat.

West of Ditchford Lane and the Marsh Harrier was again present and appears to be the same bird we have seen there the last three months. Other birds were three Great White Egrets, four Egyptian Geese, three Oystercatchers, two drake Pintail, a couple of Cetti's Warblers and a Grey Wagtail.

East of Ditchford Lane was a single Great White Egret, five Goosanders, a Chiffchaff, two Cetti's Warblers and two or three Grey Wagtails.

Further down the Nene Valley and quality birds at Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits were the drake Ring-necked Duck, a Tundra Bean Goose and twenty-three European White-fronted Geese.

Eight European White-fronted Geese were on the Elinor Trout Lake at Thrapston Pits this morning with four drake Pintail on Town Lake, and at Summer Leys LNR the long-staying Glossy Ibis was still present plus two Oystercatchers and a Redshank. A Marsh Harrier and two Stonechats were around the Whiston Lock area.

The Red-throated Diver was mobile around the water at Ravensthorpe Reservoir but showed well near the dam on occasions. An Oystercatcher was at Hollowell Reservoir plus four Stonechats and at least two Common Snipe.

A vocal Raven remained at Hanging Houghton, eight Crossbills were at Gamboro' Plantation this morning and a pair of Stonechats and a Barn Owl were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Cormorant.

Canada Geese.

Great White Egret courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Little Grebe courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Scoters and waders on the move

Hello

Early morning birding at Clifford Hill Pits prepared us for further finds in the county as Common Scoters and waders showed us some early season passage. Three drake Common Scoters were at Clifford Hill plus the drake Smew and two each of Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher, three Dunlin and a Redshank.

Three Common Scoters were subsequently found on Town Lake, Thrapston Pits, two were at Hollowell Reservoir and five were located at Stanford Reservoir. Interestingly all these scoters were drakes.

A/the drake Ring-necked Duck was on Aldwincle Lake at Thrapston Pits today and the Glossy Ibis was at Summer Leys LNR where also two Dunlin, three Common Snipe and six Shelducks flying over.

A Redpoll was with Goldfinches coming to feeders in a Weston Favell garden, four Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield and the Red-throated Diver was still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. A drake Smew was a brief visitor at Hollowell Reservoir.

The gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir provided an adult Mediterranean Gull, a leucistic white Black-headed Gull, two Yellow-legged Gulls (one adult), an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid (x Herring Gull?) plus an Oystercatcher and a Grey Wagtail.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir, in addition to the scoters, included a new Stonechat and five Great White Egrets.

Regards

Neil M

Birds at Clifford Hill Pits this morning - 
Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews and
Common Scoters courtesy of Tyler Atkinson.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Herring Gull.

Mid February county birding

Hello

A quiet and calm day with light rain towards the end and little new found in the county today.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Black-necked Grebe that first arrived in December was still south of the causeway, this time in Catwalk Bay, with a Stonechat near The Pigs. North of the causeway it seemed quiet with about forty Common Snipe, a Redpoll and at least one pair of Stonechats in the Scaldwell Bay. Four Tree Sparrows were at nearby Rectory Farm, Old.

The Red-throated Diver continued to cruise around between the causeway and the dam at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. 

The Glossy Ibis was visible from the screen hide at Summer Leys LNR and other birds included a Shelduck, four Oystercatchers and at least four Grey Partridges.

A Siberian Chiffchaff re-appeared at Daventry Country Park, again near the grit trap from the view-point at the southern end.

European White-fronted Geese continue to linger in the county with seven in a field north of the main lake at Stanwick Pits this morning and seven at the Elinor Trout Lake at Thrapston Pits this afternoon.

A female Goosander was at Ecton Fisheries and an excellent count of thirty-eight Redpolls were in birches at Sixfields Lake/Sixfields Rugby car park (Northampton) this morning.

The pair of Stonechats remain in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton but the Crossbills seemed to be absent from Gamboro' Plantation today.

Regards

Neil M

Pied Wagtail.

Grey Wagtail.

Reed Bunting.

Lesser Redpoll courtesy
of Stuart Munday.