Happy New Year!

Hello

And yet another year comes to an end! I'd only just acclimatized to the year 2022 and tomorrow it's 2023!

For me it's been a busy year with the number of tours now back at the pre-pandemic stage and with plenty in the diary for 2023 too. The downside is that I spend relatively little time in the county these days and combined with ringing activities and other allied interests my county-related birding is somewhat lean. However being a WeBS counter, conducting other surveys and an avid bird feeder it means I'm still immersed in my birds and other wildlife but it is very rare day indeed when I go out simply to go birding!

Today I returned back from an eight day Naturetrek tour to southern Portugal entitled 'The Algarve at Christmas'. This was my first ever tour back in 2013 and I look back with fondness at the nine Christmas periods I have spent out there generally in very good weather and seeing quality birds and in good numbers. Just like here things have changed and some birds are more difficult to see and some have become easier. Trends seem to accelerate with our influence and it's generally tough to find Little Bustards these days but this Christmas we found four species of eagle wintering in the area as well as Little Bitterns and increasing numbers of hirundines and warblers and Ring Ouzels. I've formatted a few images from this month's tour and they are on the Tab or Page entitled 'The Algarve at Christmas 2022'.

Eleanor tells me the only birds she managed to see of note today were one hundred and eighty Golden Plovers at Harrington Airfield and I note that Jon was able to confirm that at least one of the Yellow-browed Warblers was still present at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits this afternoon. Two Caspian Gulls were in the roost at Stanford Reservoir this afternoon plus a Green Sandpiper was present and an excellent nine Smew (seven drakes) were at Eyebrook Reservoir just across the border.

A very big thank-you to the regular contributors to this blog - reporting details of birds and their activities, interesting sightings and of course plenty of images and some video too. Your support is very-much valued.

We wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Neil and Eleanor

Grey Heron courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Stunning Yellow Browed Warblers

 I had to pop over to Wellingborough this morning and on my way home made a detour to Mary's Lake at Summer Leys for another look at the Yellow Browed Warbler(s). When I got there I was very surprised to find that there were no other birders, mind you the weather wasn't very inviting as dull and raining.  After standing around for 40 minutes getting rather wet I was beginning to think that I had made a huge mistake.  Then just as I was about to go I heard a Yellow Browed calling incessantly from the hedgerow.  I soon located a movement but the light was awful as I looked through my binoculars into the gloom. Thankfully the bird came out and onto the outside of the hedge before dropping down into the brambles infront of me before disappearing back into the hedge. It did this twice which was very frustrating.  However I decided that as I was already wet then I might just as well stay a bit longer.  The weather did actually break and brighten up a bit and it wasn't long before a Yellow Browed appeared in the hedge again and dropped into the brambles, but this time it showed extremely well and was joined briefly by another Yellow Browed Warbler!!  This is quite unprecedented and amazing to see. The second bird soon disappeared into the hedge leaving the original bird to feed and flit about in close open view.  I have seen numerous Yellow Browed Warblers whilst holidaying on the Isles of Scilly but the views I have had of this bird have far surpassed any of those encounters.  I know that there are a lot of very happy birders and photographers  out there at the moment thanks to these stunning birds. But I think that we all owe a huge thanks to the original finder of the bird who I believe is Adrian Borley. 

After dragging myself away from Summer Leys I took my young collies for a brisk walk around Sywell CP where I managed 2 Cettis Warbler,  4 Stonechat, Water Rail,  2 Grey Wagtail,  6 Lesser Redpolls approx 20 Siskins.        As it was on my way home I made stop at Pitsford Reservoir.  It seemed very quiet.  Just a Redshank,  Green Sandpiper and pr Stonechat in the Scaldwell bay.  My final outing of the day was Blueberry area where there was a Barn Owl and 2 Little Owls. 

Unfortunately the weather looks quite wet for the weekend but don't let that put you off from visiting Summer Leys and catching up with these fabulous stunning Warblers.  It will be worth getting wet for and I know that you will not be disappointed.  I suspect that Sunday may be quite busy as the "year listers" will be out in force attempting to get these Warblers on their birding list on the first day of the New Year. 

Regards Eleanor 

Super Summer Leys

 Summer Leys was the place to be today. It began with a male Hen Harrier passing through.  This bird had originally been spotted by Martin Swanell sitting in a roadside tree between Mears Ashby and Earls Barton.  All I ever seem to find in roadside trees are Common Buzzards, not that I'm complaining as they always look so majestic whilst on look out duty.                                                                                                                                          A couple of hours later and a report of the Yellow Browed Warbler showing again at Mary's Lake. This bird has been around for a couple of weeks but has been elusive. Today it was showing well.  Then it was reported that 2 Yellow Browed Warblers were present. As is often the case when birders gather at a bird other birds are located and sure enough a juvenile Great Northern Diver was picked up on Mary's Lake.                                                I must admit that it was a bit of an effort for me to drive over to Summer Leys as I was recovering from a migraine,  but I'm so glad that I went.  A Yellow Browed Warbler was on show when I arrived.  It was simply stunning and extremely close. Infact I didn't really need my binoculars as at times it was too close.  The bird was constantly feeding and climbing about on the outside of bushes or vegetation.  There will be some amazing pictures of this bird circulating. As I watched it seemed to make some short circuits and then end up back infront of me.  At times it was joined by a Goldcrest and also a Chiffchaff. Two birds had been reported earlier but I only ever saw one Yellow Browed.  I did hear a Yellow Browed Warbler calling a short distance from where I was standing but have no way of knowing whether it was a second bird or the bird that I had been watching. 

Earlier today I visited Harrington Airfield. Whilst scanning the fields opposite the main entrance for Golden Plovers (20 birds) the Ring Tail Hen Harrier made an appearance and headed off towards Draughton Village. Harrington was otherwise quiet.                          Yesterday a visit to Pitsford Reservoir only yielded a pair of Stonechat in the Scaldwell bay and the previous day (Christmas day) I had a large female Peregrine successfully hunting the Fieldfares below Hanging Houghton .

A few birds reported around the county. A Redhead Smew on town lake Thrapston,  2 ad Caspian Gulls and 5 Goosander at Hollowell Reservoir,  Pink Footed Goose, drake Mandarin and Chiffchaff at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Red Crested Pochard at Hardingstone Lake and Stanford Reservoir.  

Regards Eleanor 

Yellow-browed Warbler at
Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits,
images courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Christmas Greetings

 I actually managed quite a bit of birding today as I had only left myself a few last minute errands to fit in.  I  was up early as usual and raring to get out as soon as it was dawn. As I set off along the Brampton Valley Way it was still dark and I hoped that I literally didn't bump into anyone!! As I stopped at the stream I disturbed a Grey Heron and I don't know who jumped the most, the Heron, me or my young collie who has a very vivid imagination.  It was quite funny. After the obligatory game with the collies in the stream I headed towards Blueberry.  After the rain of yesterday it was a beautiful morning and whilst standing around taking in the atmosphere I picked up a raptor heading towards me. It was the Ring Tail Hen Harrier again.  This bird has been around for a good few weeks but I still have absolutely no idea where it spends most of it's time. I walk this area daily but only randomly bump into this bird. I can only imagine that it hunts over a vast area.

After breakfast I went to Pitsford Reservoir.  I stopped off at the dam and picked up a couple of drake Red Crested Pochards.  A couple of weeks ago when we completed the Webs count there were hardly any birds on the big side and I remember only a handful of Coot. Well today there were over 200 Coot easily visible plus good numbers of Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes. I know that this is not very remarkable but there has obviously been a bit of a movement of these birds.  I did wonder if they had simply come from the small side but judging from the amount of birds still present on the small side I think unlikely.    The 2 drake Smew were still in the Holcot Bay and Redshank,  Green Sandpiper, several Pintail and 6 Great White Egrets also on the small side.                              A very quiet visit to Harrington Airfield to feed the birds only produced 2 Grey Partridge and 70 Golden Plovers.                                                                                                                           It has been a very quiet day in the county and I suspect that bird news may be quiet for the next few days as other things take presedence. 

We would just like to wish everyone a Very HAPPY CHRISTMAS and we hope that you have a lovely day however you are spending it.

Regards Eleanor 

Robin.

Wet and foggy

Hello

A wet, foggy and rather miserable day's weather whilst I was driving and walking around the winter feeding stations today.

The best birds found in the county today were two resplendent drake Smew at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, spending much of their time in the Holcot Bay.

There were two Water Rails and a Grey Wagtail in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning and at Harrington Airfield this afternoon there were around eighty Golden Plovers on the top fields, a Brambling and a couple of hundred Fieldfares. What appears to be an eyepiece to a telescope was found there today if you are missing one?

Three Great White Egrets were noted at Thrapston Pits this morning.

Blackcaps are visiting gardens locally, the food bringing them in being apples, fat blocks and berries like Cotoneaster.

Regards

Neil M

Smew.

Little Egret.

Common Snipe.

All images courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Scotland Wood ringing

Hello

A period of bird ringing at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today yielded 113 captures made up of traditional common birds - two Blackbirds, eight Robins, two Wrens, twenty-eight Great Tits, fifty Blue Tits, ten Coal Tits, three Marsh Tits, two Long-tailed Tits, three Nuthatches, a Treecreeper and four Goldcrests. This has been a regular ringing site for some years now and longevity of resident birds is one of the aspects we study here and at nearby Kelmarsh Hall. One of the re-trapped Coal Tits was first ringed in early 2017 and if aged correctly at the time is at least seven years old. Most birds of this size do not survive their first year so it is interesting when we encounter these long-lived individuals. Other birds noted at Scotland Wood included two Woodcock, a Redpoll, a Brambling and several Siskins.

At Hollowell Reservoir today Mark saw an adult Caspian Gull, two Pintails, a Jack Snipe and two Common Snipe and at Stanford Reservoir a Caspian Gull was seen in the roost by Chris and other birds included the Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, 175 Great Black-backed Gulls, a Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler and a Lesser Redpoll. At Pitsford Reservoir this morning there was a Great White Egret and an adult Yellow-legged Gull north of the causeway.

At Stanwick Pits this evening Steve saw five Great White Egrets coming into roost plus twenty-one Goosanders and a Woodcock.

Eleanor's amble around the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and up to Blueberry Farm this afternoon provided a Peregrine, a Barn Owl, two Little Owls, two Woodcock, a Common Snipe and hundreds of Fieldfares.

Thank-you

Neil M

Caspian Gull.

Nuthatch courtesy
of John Tilly.

Coal Tit courtesy
of John Tilly.

Fieldfare.

Quiet December day

Hello

As we loom up to Christmas and the shortest daylight days of all it is time to reflect on another tumultuous year gone by!

Again very few reports of interesting wildlife locally but the long-staying 'ringtail' Hen Harrier pitched up at Harrington Airfield this afternoon, arriving from the direction of the Brampton Valley and crossing the top fields to career off towards the bunkers - no doubt traveling many miles in the quest for food. Also present were about eighty Golden Plovers and a single Brambling.

At Stanford Reservoir today the Red-crested Pochard was still present and other birds noted included a Great White Egret, four Goosanders, a Green Sandpiper, two Water Rails and a Cetti's Warbler. At least one Siskin was present at Kelmarsh Hall today and it was great to see surviving Goldcrests at both there and Scotland Wood.

Regards

Neil M

Goldcrest.

Water Pipit.

Kingfisher.

All images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

A short winter's day

Hello

Another short winter's day with few reported sightings during a very mild period of double-figure temperatures.

Birds at Harrington Airfield were few in number this morning and the bushes there didn't produce their usual mass of berries during the autumn and what few they did produce have now mostly been consumed. Golden Plovers were heard calling and at nearby Draughton Pool the local drake Mandarin Duck was lording it over hundreds of Teal and small numbers of Mallard.

Yesterday there were at least eight Common Snipe and a Grey Wagtail in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and today birds at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate included Raven, at least one Siskin and two Bramblings.

The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was again espied at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning. Nocturnal video work confirms the presence of three Otters on the River Welland at Market Harborough in recent days and a single Willow Tit (one of very few in the county these days) maintained a presence at Pipewell Wood during the cold weather, teaming up with a mobile flock of Nuthatches and Treecreepers.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a Ruddy Shelduck, a Red-crested Pochard and a Great White Egret.

Regards

Neil M

Great Tit courtesy
of John Tilly.

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

A change in the weather

Hello

A change in the weather today took it's time but rain and a rise in the temperature will be a relief to birds such as Lapwings and Golden Plovers which have struggled during the last ten days or so. Some tiny birds will have struggled or succumbed too but surviving birds such as Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs etc will now endeavour to put on weight by finding sufficient food.

Reports of birds locally today have been few and far between but in Cottesbrooke village there were two Bramblings and about twenty Siskins at the Haselbech-end of the village. A Woodcock and a Golden Plover were noted at Harrington Airfield this morning. A Redpoll was noted on the Kelmarsh estate.

Eight Ring-necked Parakeets were in a garden on feeders at Cogenhoe today with a Common Snipe nearby.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Tit courtesy
of Steve Wilson.

Robin courtesy of
Steve Wilson.

Golden Plover courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Marsh Harrier courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Ringing at Kelmarsh Hall

Hello

A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall today yielded 115 birds of ten species made up of nine Blackbirds, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, eight Dunnocks, eleven Robins, twenty-two Great Tits, forty-eight Blue Tits, a Coal Tit, two Marsh Tits, eleven Goldfinches and two Chaffinches. Half a dozen Siskins were present on-site this morning.

Nearby there were six Golden Plovers in a grass field north of Maidwell and a Woodcock and two Bramblings were at Harrington Airfield. Several Redpolls were in flight at Hanging Houghton.

A Stonechat was located in the Brampton Valley by the Pitsford sidings and at Woodford Halse Ian enjoyed watching two Blackcaps feeding on apples in his garden with a bonus Woodcock flying over.

At Clifford Hill Pits there were five Golden Plovers, a Redshank, at least six Common Snipe, a Great White Egret, a Peregrine and two Stonechats.

Sadly there was no sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler at Earls Barton Pits today but at least three Chiffchaffs and a possible Siberian Chiffchaff were present around Mary's Lake with a Great White Egret seen nearby too.

The Black-tailed Godwit was still on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits today and a gathering of seven Smew at Eyebrook Reservoir included five drakes.

Regards

Neil M

The English White Cattle of
Kelmarsh Hall - safely under
cover for the winter!

Male Blackbird - a local bird
or maybe a migrant from far, far
away?

Male Goldfinch.

All images courtesy
of Bethan Clyne.

Sub zero temperatures and winter sunshine

Hello

Another cold and sunny day provided at least one good bird sighting in the county today.

A Yellow-browed Warbler (or something very similar) was seen flitting around the island on Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits with Chiffchaffs this afternoon, an excellent December find for Adrian!

Two Great White Egrets, four Green Sandpipers, two Water Rails and several Common Snipe were at Ecton Sewage Farm and at Thrapston Pits a Marsh Harrier and a Black-tailed Godwit were good winter records for the Titchmarsh LNR.

A Blackcap was in a Wellingborough garden this afternoon and two Blackcaps have been on apples in Sywell village the last couple of days. Nearby at Sywell Country Park there was a Great White Egret, two Water Rails, four Stonechats and two Cetti's Warblers.

At Ravensthorpe Reservoir there was a Pink-footed Goose, a Pintail, six Goosanders and a Redshank and at Hollowell Reservoir the birds included an adult Caspian Gull, two Goosanders, a Redshank and a Brambling. 

Sadly a Cattle Egret was found dead at Thorpe Malsor Reservoir today and five Smew (three drakes) were at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Nine Grey Partridges were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Woodcock was active near Lamport Hall at dusk.

Regards

Neil M

Sparrowhawk with Starling prey.

Female Blackcaps at Sywell.

Images courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

With night-time temperatures dropping to minus seven degrees Centigrade in the county last night it was a busy day of squeezing in feeding stations and also completing a WeBS count. A pre-dawn circuit at Harrington Airfield ensured the birds there had some food to wake up to and many of the early-risers had already found it before I left.

After two lots of garden feeding it was then onto Pitsford Reservoir (where much of the reserve was covered in ice) and where a bag of peanuts was left with the warden team for delivery to Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay. I drove on to Ditchford Pits to complete the December WeBS count. The clear conditions from last night, no wind and cold temperatures ensured that the pits were variably 90 - 100% ice-bound, with plenty of birds in the breaks of the ice on some of the pits.

West of Ditchford Lane and the highlights were a Great White Egret in flight, two Peregrines, three Stonechats, four Egyptian Geese, four Water Rails, four Common Snipe, at least three Cetti's Warblers, two Goosanders, a Lesser Redpoll and a couple of Siskins. East of Ditchford Lane and the scarcer birds included a Green Sandpiper, two Woodcock, the mostly white Carrion Crow still, a solitary Kingfisher, two Great White Egrets, a Grey Wagtail, three Cetti's Warblers, three Chiffchaffs and a Siskin or two.

I then had just enough time to whizz back to Pitsford Reservoir and fill up the feeders and broadcast some food at The Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station in readiness for the next couple of days before the cold weather breaks.

Over at Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits, Nick today located a pair of Smew swimming around in a break in the ice. A Blackcap was seen in a garden at Woodford Halse today and another has been in a Weston Favell garden in recent days. Graham witnessed a small skein of eight Pink-footed Geese flying east just south of Hartwell this morning.

A Short-eared Owl flew over Daventry Country Park in a WNW direction late this morning and yesterday both an Egyptian Goose and a Ruddy Shelduck were at Stanford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Wigeon.

Female Stonechat.

Cetti's Warbler.

Grey Squirrel.

Grey Heron.

Mute Swans.

All images are from Ditchford
Pits today.

Birds of the frost, snow and sunshine

Hello

Even colder temperatures overnight and first thing this morning but in many places some pleasing sunshine was much enjoyed after the freezing fog and hoar frost.

Plenty of common birds were looking forward to their food at Kelmarsh Hall today and a Siskin was heard calling there.

A first year Shag was a good find at Daventry Country Park today and two Merlins were seen today, an adult male at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon and another seen in flight at Burton Latimer.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was again in the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Robin at Harrington Airfield.

This first year male Sparrowhawk
was sunning himself and preening
in our Hanging Houghton garden today.

Lapwing at Pitsford 
Reservoir today.

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

It might have been very cold out there today but it was time for the WeBS count at Pitsford Reservoir. About thirty percent of the water north of the causeway was ice but south of the causeway it was mostly free. Of the four Great White Egrets present, three of them were south of the causeway and waders present included a Green Sandpiper, a Redshank, two Jack Snipe and five Common Snipe plus a handful of Lapwings. Eight Pintail were north of the causeway and the Teal were huddled on the ice in their hundreds. A Crossbill and eight Redpolls were in the Catwalk Bay with a couple of Siskins in Moulton Grange Bay and other birds included two Grey Wagtails and a Raven.

Bigger birds such as Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, gulls, Mallard, Moorhens and pigeons had taken over the Old Scaldwell Feeding station they were so hungry!

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth included a Cetti's Warbler, two Water Rails and at least three Grey Wagtails and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir the Pink-footed Goose was still present together with a drake Mandarin Duck and a Green Sandpiper. Four Goosanders were at Hollowell Reservoir this morning. A Marsh Harrier drifted SW over Stanwick Pits mid afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Female Blackbird.

Fieldfare.

Cock Pheasant.

Birds foraging in our current winter scene.

Feeding the birds

Hello

The cold winter weather continues with an icy grip but the forecast suggests maybe something of a relaxation at the weekend. At first light this morning our small back garden had forty Blackbirds foraging for food, but they didn't hang around after the arrival of a male Sparrowhawk. However they were soon back once the hawk left and continued eating ground mix, mixed seed, dried calciworms, apples and similar offerings.

A Raven was at Hanging Houghton too and the two Woodcocks remained in their field hedge at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. A covey of Grey Partridges and a few Golden Plovers were at Harrington Airfield and the territorial Robins there argued over the food on offer.

A visit to Market Harborough yielded a Kingfisher and two Little Egrets on the River Welland between Waitrose and the Railway Station.

A Peregrine was over Abington Park at Northampton chasing pigeons and a third hand report suggests a Black Redstart was at Northampton General Hospital.

Regards

Neil M

Fighting Little Egrets
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Blue Tit courtesy of
John Tilly.

Bullfinches courtesy of
John Tilly.

Birds of the freezing fog

Hello

Another harsh day in the county with a little snow and temperatures barely rising above freezing all day is further evidence of a cold December.

Despite the harsh conditions there is little evidence of significant cold weather movement at the moment although Golden Plovers and Lapwings have definitely been affected.

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this morning included two Great White Egrets and a Redshank and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was again in the gull roost by the dam. Over at Hollowell Reservoir an impressive list of birds was made up of two adult Caspian Gulls, two Jack Snipe, 4-6 Common Snipe, two Dunlin and at least seven Stonechats.

Four Common Snipe and a pair of Stonechat were at the Summer Leys LNR today and three Grey Partridges were at a foggy Harrington Airfield.

Regards

Neil M

Some more images of the 
rather beautiful leucistic
Black-headed Gull at Pitsford
Reservoir this afternoon.

Wren.

Magpie.