Flying Barn Door!

Hello

It's finally happened! With near-misses and birds moving around in counties close to us, one of the reintroduced White-tailed Eagles from the Isle of Wight scheme has landed and spent a few days with us in Northamptonshire. The bird, G393, is a male bird released in 2019 so is now in it's third calendar year. He is fitted with a satellite transmitter and this indicated that he arrived in Northants on Thursday from the north (after spending quite a time in Norfolk and then subsequently Lincolnshire and Leicestershire) and roosted near Desborough. On Friday satellite data indicated he then flew south and arrived at Pitsford Reservoir during Friday afternoon. Since about 4th January his travels have mostly gone unnoticed by the human eye. Remarkably this was the same bird seen moving north east over the county in the spring of 2020 when Steve Fisher saw it over Irthlingborough!

Today G393 has been quite mobile, spending time on the reserve north of the causeway and visiting all three bays. He has also been spending time in hedgerow trees north of the reservoir just south of Old and Cherry Hill villages. If we are fortunate he may remain with us for a while yet before presumably travelling slowly back to the south coast - albeit we would much prefer it if he makes Pitsford his home!

To see the bird it is recommended that viewing points on the Pitsford causeway, Old Scaldwell Road and high ground to the north are the best areas. Would-be observers should adhere to Covid restrictions and keep strictly to public footpaths and bridle tracks. Anyone failing to comply is at risk of damaging the reputation of birdwatchers and naturalists as a whole and also the innovative introduction scheme.

Other birds noticed in the immediate area included a Brambling near Old, two Peregrines and two Ravens between Old and the reservoir, a female Stonechat near Cherry Hill and a Great White Egret and a roost of 415 Fieldfares in the Scaldwell Bay.

Harrington Airfield hosted sixteen Golden Plovers, a Brambling and two Ravens today with a couple of Grey Wagtails at Brixworth.

Over at Stanwick Pits, Steve found a female Ferruginous x Pochard hybrid and other birds there included a Great White Egret and a Cattle Egret and nearby Ringstead Pits had a Great White Egret on Kinewell Lake. At St Mary's church, Higham Ferrers there were two Peregrines today, one with prey.

At Thrapston Pits today there were four Goosanders on Town Lake and a pair of Pintail on a badly flooded Titchmarsh Reserve. Stortons Pits sported a Great White Egret and three Goosanders, a Blackcap turned up in an Irchester garden, a pair of Stonechats and fifteen Redpolls were in the Brampton Valley near Boughton Crossing/Martin Moore wood and a pair of Stonechats were in a field near Raunds.

At Hollowell Reservoir today there was a Jack Snipe, a Common Snipe and two Woodcock (nice trio!).

Regards

Neil M

White-tailed Eagle
in flight courtesy of
Bethan Clyne.

White-tailed Eagle
courtesy of Stewart Short.

Winter's return

Hello

A return to rain, snow and cool winds reminds us that winter is still with us!

Pitsford Reservoir is well over 100% water capacity with excess water pushing up to the perimeter fence in places. The brown water doesn't seem attractive to many waterfowl, particularly the diving ducks, grebes and Cormorants. North of the causeway birds on show included a female Stonechat, a Raven and at least seven Common Snipe. A Weasel was on show too.

The Brampton Valley is also flooded and the sodden fields below Hanging Houghton contained hundreds of Starlings and Fieldfares plus the usual four Stonechats, the Barn Owl and the female Merlin still racing around all over the place. A dead plucked and half-eaten Starling was very fresh but the predator wasn't identified.

A Great White Egret was at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, a Grey Wagtail was at Kelmarsh Hall, a female Blackcap was in an Oundle garden and Harrington Airfield hosted up to one hundred and fifty Golden Plovers and a male Brambling. A Peregrine was sheltering from the weather on a Higham Ferrers church.

A first year male Greenfinch was caught and ringed at Bragborough Hall, Braunston on 11th October 2020 and caught again at Hanging Houghton on 26th January 2021, 107 days later with the bird having travelled 22km in a ENE direction.

Regards

Neil M

Female Merlin.

Male Greenfinch.

Starling courtesy of
John Tilly.

Golden Plover and Lapwing survey

Hello

At least three Stonechats, a pair of Grey Partridge and a Weasel were the best sightings in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with a Raven patrolling the village itself.

The Great Northern Diver was located again at Pitsford Reservoir today, this time in the vicinity of Pintail Bay. An Otter was showing well half a mile south of the causeway off the Brixworth bank at 10.30am this morning, a Great White Egret was close to the Catwalk Bay and other birds included a Redshank and a pair of Stonechats in the Scaldwell Bay.

In the Nene Valley there were still at least twenty White-fronted Geese at Stanwick Pits (NE end) and a pair of Pintail at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits.

Ten Crossbills were at Hollowell Reservoir early this morning, flying south out of the Guilsborough Bay and the Golden Plover flock at Harrington Airfield on the top fields this afternoon was again in the region of about one hundred and twenty birds with a female Sparrowhawk keeping them on their toes.

Regular birds at Sywell Country Park this afternoon included two Water Rails, two Grey Wagtails, one Cetti's Warbler, a pair of Stonechats, twenty-five Siskins and six Redpolls.

Natural England, the Wildlife Trusts for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre are carrying out a survey to better understand the habitats used by wintering populations of Golden Plover and Lapwing, particularly in the Upper Nene Valley. The study area is focused on feeding and roosting locations around the Special Protection Area (SPA) gravel-pit sites.

Help is required to gather Golden Plover and Lapwing records within the SPA and within the 10km of the surrounding area to the SPA. Additional records within Northamptonshire would be useful too.

 

Due to Covid 19 there is currently no active surveying, but existing records are requested. There may be an opportunity for a co-ordinated survey next winter.

 

Please send Golden Plover or Lapwing records to the NBRC via their website https://northantsbrc.org.uk/record/submit-a-sighting or via email nbrc@northantsbrc.org.uk.

 

Records should include:

-              A count of each species (if possible)

-              Activity – feeding/roosting (if known)

-              Date and time

-              Location – grid reference 6 figure or above , map & description

-              Habitat type – grassland/arable (if arable also a crop type and stage if known)

-              Name of observer

-              A photograph may be useful but is not essential

 

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing courtesy
of Bethan Clyne.

Golden Plover courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Towards the end of January...

Hello

Very few reported sightings today with some sites adversely affected due to flooding - the result of the snow thaw and last night's continual if gentle rain.

Pitsford Reservoir was the place to see two Ravens, three Bramblings, two Stonechats and some more witnessed visible migration of 19 Skylarks and 46 Fieldfares flying WNW. Anyone visiting Pitsford is asked to be vigilant if near the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station as we continue to suffer unwanted human interference with the feeders and nest boxes there.

At Stanwick Pits the wintering flock of White-fronted Geese were located at the north of the complex, this time twenty-eight in total. Four Redshanks were still on the Main Lake.

Two Peregrines were showing well at Kettering Parish Church today, a Barn Owl was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, there were about one hundred and twenty Golden Plovers at Harrington Airfield and the regular birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Barn Owl and two pairs of Stonechats.

Neil Hasdell has kindly completed the rather complex map of Thrapston Pits which includes the Titchmarsh LNR and it has been added to the Birdwatching Sites Map Tab. My thanks to Nick Parker for his up-to-date local knowledge of this birding location.

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing courtesy of
Bethan Clyne.

Jay courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Barn Owl.

Mild and murky

Hello

The pendulum has swung again as we experienced mild and murky conditions today.

Birds at Harrington Airfield today included three Bramblings with the Chaffinches and a small returning flock of eighteen Golden Plovers.

The Barn Owl was hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and later the two pairs of roving Stonechats materialised as well. Further along the Brampton Valley at the Boughton Crossing, Richard found a flock of fifteen Redpolls at Martin Moore wood by the Windhover Pub. Six more were feeding in a birch by Boughton Pocket Park. Five Siskins overflew Hanging Houghton village and at least one Raven was vocal for a time.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Great Northern Diver was still present about three quarters of a mile south of the causeway. Other birds mostly north of the causeway included a Great White Egret, two Redshanks, several Snipe, a Kingfisher, displaying Sparrowhawks, two Chiffchaffs plus a movement of 158 Fieldfares and 62 Skylarks all heading WNW.

In the Nene Valley, five Goosanders were on Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits and there were still about thirty White-fronted Geese at Stanwick Pits. Further west and the valley below Cogenhoe again hosted good numbers of Chiffchaffs, a Grey Wagtail and three Grey Partridges.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Goldcrest courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Grey Heron courtesy of
Bethan Clyne.

Pied Wagtail courtesy of
Bethan Clyne

The thaw begins

Hello

A morning snowy wander at Harrington Airfield this morning before the thaw started was pleasant and the 'chacking' Fieldfares remain even if the snow has driven off the plovers and Lapwings. One or two Brambling(s) were with the mixed finch and bunting flock and two Ravens flew through.

In our garden today the Fieldfares increased to a dozen or so birds in the first hour of daylight, most of them eating apples but also guelder rose berries and broadcast mixed food. A Redwing and a female Reed Bunting paid us a visit too. A Redpoll was on garden feeders at Nassington today.

Jon spotted 'his' nine Crossbills at Hollowell Reservoir today and the female Ruddy Shelduck and three Snipe were also present. At Thrapston Pits Nick found a female Goosander, with a flock of forty-two Golden Plovers at Islip Meadows and an Oystercatcher at Titchmarsh LNR.

A pair of Mistle Thrushes have taken over Chris Payne's garden at Greens Norton, guarding the apples from marauding Fieldfares!

Regards

Neil M

Snowy scenes at Kelmarsh.

Long-tailed Tit courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Song Thrush courtesy
of Bethan Clyne.

Mistle Thrush courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Snow birds

Hello

A truly beautiful day out there today with stunning sunshine bouncing off the bright, snowy landscape! It's amazing to think that only a few days ago four different species of butterfly were seen on the wing in the county and here we are now in the middle of some very cold, wintry weather.

The county gritters did an excellent job of keeping the main roads open and moving and it was a good time to tramp about and try and identify the animal footprints in the snow from overnight. Personally I managed to identify Badger, Fox, Hare, Rabbit and unidentified rodents!

Three Fieldfares were our best birds in the garden today, feeding on apples, but Steve managed a female Blackcap in his garden at Brixworth.

In the Nene Valley yesterday a huge flock of thirty-five Whooper Swans were reported from Nassington and today birds between Mary's Lake below Earls Barton and Wellingborough included a Jack Snipe, a pair of Stonechats and fifty plus Meadow Pipits. At Ecton SF and surround below Cogenhoe, Bob enjoyed some solitude watching three Little Egrets. one or two Green Sandpiper(s), a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, three Grey Wagtails, a Cetti's Warbler, two Stonechats and at least fifteen Chiffchaffs.

Further east and Steve Fisher located two White-fronted Geese at Stanwick Pits plus a Cattle Egret, two Great White Egrets, thirty Snipe and four Redshanks. A Cattle Egret and a Great White Egret were reported from the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows complex.

Two pairs of Stonechats are hanging on still in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and birds at Pitsford Reservoir comprised of a Great White Egret, a Redshank, twenty-four Snipe, a Kingfisher, two pairs of Stonechats and a Redpoll. There were four Grey Wagtails at Brixworth and a single at Scaldwell village.

Regards

Neil M

Snowy scenes at
Harrington Airfield.

Goldfinches in the snow
courtesy of John Tilly.

Super snowy Starlings
courtesy of John Tilly.

Robin -waiting to be
fed in the snow!

Garden birds in the snow

Hello

I think that most of the county experienced a reasonable snow fall today which has stirred things up a bit!

Our small garden certainly pulled in the birds once the snow began to cover the ground and we had brief visits from a Common Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk, a Redwing, a Fieldfare, a Yellowhammer plus more usual fare, with Blackbirds and Goldfinches in particularly good numbers.

Birders out and about, mostly before or during the initial snowfall saw a few things today with thirty White-fronted Geese being located by Adrian at Stanwick Pits and four Cattle Egrets being spotted there earlier by Jon Andrews. Ian found six Barnacle Geese, a Goosander and five Golden Plovers at Clifford Hill Pits and Jon Cook saw his usual gang of nine Crossbills at Hollowell Reservoir.

Three Goosanders were reported from Hardwater Lake at Earls Barton Pits and a hard weather movement of eighty Skylarks in two flocks were seen flying east over Scaldwell village. A Barn Owl and a pair of Stonechats were visible in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton just before the snow hit.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard in the
garden birch tree!

Adult male Blackbird.

Blue Tit eyeing up the apple!

Male Chaffinch.

Male Nuthatch.

All these images were taken in
the garden today. Apologies for the
poor quality but snow and double-
glazing doesn't make it easy!

Almost status quo

Hello

Another pleasant wintry day with a bright afternoon perhaps better than the morning.

At Kelmarsh today there were a pair of Ravens and singles of Redpoll and Grey Wagtail. Pitsford Reservoir continued to host the Great Northern Diver (this afternoon in Stone Barn Bay), an adult Yellow-legged Gull, eight Common Snipe, a pair of Stonechats and a Redpoll.

A Mealy Redpoll was reported in Market Harborough today with a garden there attracting seven Blackcaps at a time to suet. A couple of Blackcaps have been seen in a East Hunsbury garden recently too.

Thirty Redpolls were located at Lings Wood, Northampton today, a female Merlin was seen north east of Braunston and the regular bird was again at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today.

Birds at Hollowell Reservoir today included a Great White Egret, the long-staying female Ruddy Shelduck and one or two Chiffchaff(s). Two Crossbills were seen in flight over the north east corner of Salcey Forest this afternoon, close to Piddington Lodge.

The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton remained home to a Barn Owl, two pairs of Stonechats and hundreds of Starlings and winter thrushes. A pair of Ravens again visited the village. The flocks of Lapwings and Golden Plovers remain on the top fields at Harrington Airfield.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing.

Catkins.

Robin.

Cormorant.

Dandelion.

All images taken yesterday 
at Sywell courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Winter sunshine

Hello

The stunning sunset of yesterday evening was a precursor to a sunny and beautifully sharp winter's day today.

A Pink-footed Goose was found with Greylag Geese at Islip Meadows adjacent to Thrapston Pits and west of the sailing club today in what has proved to one of the best ever 'grey goose' winters in the county. A pair of Peregrines were on the parish church in Kettering town centre today and the numbers of Crossbills at Hollowell Reservoir could have risen to as high as forty, seen mostly in flight.

Four Little Egrets were feeding in a field south of Bradden Road, Greens Norton and birds at Pitsford Reservoir included at least one pair of Stonechats and a Redshank. 

A pair of Ravens were very vocal at Hanging Houghton today and the Brampton Valley below the village was again the venue for the female Merlin which was chasing Skylarks; both pairs of Stonechat remain.

Regards

Neil M

Pink-footed Goose.

Drake Mallard.

Mute Swan.

Today's winter sunshine at 
least provided an opportunity
to take images with colour and
shadow contrast.

Golden Plovers and Lapwings

Hello

Harrington Airfield was bright and breezy this morning and the top fields held a flock of mixed corvids, about one hundred and twenty Lapwings and two-hundred and fifty Golden Plovers. In the strong wind the plovers and lapwings careered around in mini murmurations and the finches and buntings coming down for the food again included two Bramblings.

The two pairs of Stonechats were still present in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at least one Raven was at Cottesbrooke village.

A pair of Red-crested Pochards were at Kislingbury Pits today and the Irthlingborough Lakes section of Ditchford Pits attracted three Cattle Egrets and seven Pintail.

The Great Northern Diver was again at Pitsford Reservoir, this time about a mile south of the causeway and other birds included two Great White Egrets, a Barn Owl, four Stonechats and a Chiffchaff with three Redpoll still in nearby Scaldwell village.

Regards

Neil M

Golden Plovers and
Lapwings at Harrington
Airfield today.

Bring on the waders!

Hello

Perhaps not surprising given the weather and our lock down status, there is little in the way of bird sightings to report today. 

Yesterday (Tuesday) the Nene Valley between Cogenhoe and Whiston was productive with a Green Sandpiper, a couple of Kingfishers, a Grey Wagtail, a covey of four Grey Partridges and twenty or so wintering Chiffchaffs.

I've been particularly impressed to see how the conservation organisations have responded to the pandemic and endeavoured to provide inspiration, support and education to us all on-line. Good examples are provided by the RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts who have definitely upped their game to support wildlife initiatives and inspire those of us caught up in the lockdown. It is the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch coming up at the end of the month and at the moment it is possible to obtain a half price membership to our local Wildlife Trust. If you haven't seen some of the products and opportunities I recommend clicking on their respective websites:-

https://www.rspb.org.uk/

https://wildlifebcn.org

Wild Justice have been very busy with a variety of judicial reviews designed to test and challenge long-standing laws and direction in the control of wild birds, the rearing and release of birds for shooting purposes and the environmental issues associated with heather burn, discharge of shotgun cartridges and a variety of other issues. You can learn more of their efforts and objectives here:- 

https://wildjustice.org.uk/

Locally the Northants Bird Club has been experimenting with Zoom and have so far projected a quiz created by local naturalist Jeff Blincow and also a presentation by Peter Holden MBE. Next month is the club annual photographic competition which will be managed by Zoom too, with subsequent presentations in March on the Birds and Animals of Cambodia and in April on the Birds of South Africa. Until it is possible and safe to do so, all monthly meetings will be on-line utilising the Zoom opportunities which provides connectivity with a number of personal devices such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones. The NBC blogsite can be reached by entering the following details:-

https://northantsbirdclub.blogspot.co.uk/

And of course this week sees the beginning of BBC 2's Winterwatch, which seeks to portray the best of the wildlife that the UK has on offer and will be running for two weeks. Generally it is on at 8pm and will be available on the BBC iPlayer in due course too.

As we look to the future, there are many groups and families of birds that are firm favourites with birders, and one of these is the large group which in Europe we call waders and in the USA they tend to refer to as shorebirds. So in recognition of past experiences and looking forward to seeing more of them once we are all out of lock-down and restrictions relax, here are some images of waders as captured digitally by Robin Gossage...

Regards

Neil M

Bar-tailed Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwits.

Dunlin.

Little Stint.

Sanderling.

Greenshanks.

Spotted Redshank.

Wood Sandpiper.

Turnstone...although
it's not a stone!