A very quiet week

 It has been an extremely quiet week for birds in the county,  although this is only to be expected as the bulk of the spring migration is over and our birds are busy breeding. My best bird of the week was a male Common Redstart found on one of my numerous visits to Harrington Airfield in my quest for a particular species which I failed to find.                   Our garden has been full of young Starlings,  which are both entertaining and noisy.  I  don't think that we are popular with the neighbours as the Starlings arrive in the garden at first light and always wake me up. I certainly do not need an alarm clock but it would be nice to have a lie in !!       Whilst watching the antics of the young Starlings as they were running around from adult to adult begging for food I saw one being fed by a male Blackbird which was trying to find food for his own young. I suspect that the Blackbird either fed the Starling by mistake or just got fed up with it pestering it for food and he just rammed it in the open beak to keep it quiet. 

At this time of year many birders turn their attention to butterflies and there are plenty species around at the moment.  Brimstone, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue,  Orange Tip , Brown Argus and Small Copper have all been recorded this week.  One lucky person managed 5 species of Skipper, Small, dingy,grizzled, large and chequered at Westhay Wood which is part of the Fineshade complex.  There are guided walks each day to view the Chequered Skipper.  The walks leave the visitor centre at Fineshade 11am and this is the recommended way to view these rather smart butterflies. 

Regards Eleanor 

Ringing at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes

Hello

Kenny Cramer and team have completed a couple of ringing sessions at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes this month, netting a variety of interesting birds for conservation and scientific purposes.

On the 14th May fifty-four birds included seven Blackcaps, five Garden Warblers, twelve Reed Warblers, four Sedge Warblers and singles of Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. A Cuckoo was also caught and ringed as was a Carrion Crow which are rarely caught during such sessions.

On the 22nd May some forty-five birds were processed which included sixteen Reed Warblers, three Garden Warblers, two Blackcaps and two more Cuckoos!

Regards

Neil M

Garden Warbler.

Carrion Crow.

Cuckoo.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Blackbird apparently attempting to feed Great Tits

Whilst preparing lunch today my attention focused on the bird box in my garden hedge, there is a well-developed brood of Great Tits in it. I have been concerned about them as the local Jays have been showing a great deal of interest in them, so far to no avail. The arrival of a large bird had me reaching for my binoculars for a better view. To my surprise the intruder was a female Blackbird with a beak full of what appeared to be worms. She repeatedly pushed her head into the nest box, once whilst both parents were inside. This behaviour went on all afternoon without any sign of the nestlings taking any of the proffered food. The adult Great Tits showed no concern regarding the Blackbird’s behaviour and continued to feed the young as normal.

Blackbird with worms at nest box

The Great Tit parents

It’s fascinating to watch but impossible to divine what the Blackbird’s reasons are.

Has anybody else come across this sort of behaviour?

The video was all phonescoped from a bedroom window without disturbing the birds.

     Regards,

Neil H.

Black-necked Grebes

Yesterday (Saturday) had me heading over to Pitsford to look for the Black-necked Grebes. They had been seen this morning having been discovered on Friday evening.

After scanning from the Old Scaldwell Road feed station area and spotting the birds performing in front of the James Fisher hide I headed off in their direction for a better view. As frequently happens I got distracted on the way, initially by the small white flowers of Pignut in amongst the buttercups and clover.

Pignut equals Chimney Sweeper moths and so I started hunting around for them. After a few minutes I spotted one and attempted to photograph it to no avail. Despite several moths being present not one landed. After about 20 mins of this I returned to my original quest and headed off to the JF hide.

Distraction 2 was a singing Whitethroat in one of the bankside trees. I decided to try and phonescope it to see if it was possible to catch the song at relatively long range. It seems the answer is yes, although it’s not the clearest recording.

Finally arriving at the JF hide I watched the Black-necked Grebes diving and resting just off the bund for some time. It’s hard to beat one of these stunning summer plumaged birds for ‘showiness’.

Neil H

Right place at the right time !!

 It has been a strange sort of day where my birding was likely to have been non existent due to other commitments.  However when I opened the curtains this morning the first bird which I saw and heard was a Spotted Flycatcher sitting on a post next to the pond. I thought that I was dreaming but it stayed around the garden for most of the day and interestingly another Spotted Flycatcher visited another garden in the village.  I wonder if they knew of each others presence?.                                                                                               I managed a very brief visit to Pitsford Reservoir and caught up with the 2 Black Necked Grebes which are such super birds to see at this time of year.  Not much else of note, just lots of very noisy Black Headed Gulls which have successfully bred on the tern rafts. The poor Common Terns have no chance of getting onto these rafts this year. 

When I returned home late this afternoon I had a dilemma,  a desperately needed cup of tea or take my old crocs out for a walk? In the end my old crocs won me over and as they seemed quite lively for them I decided to take them across the fields, albeit slowly.  As we came back I picked Bobbie up to carry her the last bit as I desperately needed that cuppa.  I heard a very quiet alarm call from a Blue Tit and automatically looked up and saw a raptor coming over.  Poor Bobbie nearly got dropped as I knew by it's distinctive jizz of longer wings, longer broad tail  pinched in wing base giving a S shape and slim neck with a protruding head what the bird was, a Honey Buzzard . Luckily as I had taken the crocs across the fields I had also taken my binoculars and  I  had a  good look at the birds. It had a pale grey head, pale underbody and distinctive dark oval wrist patches which would suggest a male bird.  I couldn't believe it and was so glad that I hadn't sat down and had a cup of tea before taking the crocs out for a walk. 

After tea it was the turn of my young collies to go out so I went up to Harrington Airfield.  It was a lovely evening and we just took a very slow amble as I was looking for a specific species,  but no sign. It was whilst I sat around the bunkers enjoying the peace and tranquility, the only sound being the birdsong,  that I had a Marsh Harrier fly over and as far as I could tell it kept on flying towards the A14.                                                                         A good day for raptors in the county as I understand that a White Tailed Eagle was seen at junction 15a of the M1. So someone else was also in the right place at the right time. 

Regards Eleanor 

End of the week

 It seems to have been a much quieter week in the county with very few new birds. A couple of Black Necked Grebes turned up at Stanwick yesterday and I presume that the same two appeared at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.  I caught up with them yesterday as I happened to be in that part of the county and they looked resplendent with their golden ear tufts.                                                                                                                                       I still haven't managed to visit DIRFT3 but others have as it is still attracting a good variety of waders including Grey Plover,  Dunlin and over 20 Ringed Plovers.                       There seem to be good numbers of Hobby,  Cuckoo and Swifts getting about now.  Of course there are plenty of fledglings making themselves known.  Our garden is alive with young Starlings who are extremely vocal and very comical to watch. Although I really enjoy watching them and laughing at their antics they have attracted some unwanted attention from the local Crows and Sparrowhawk and several have met a grisly end.     Surprisingly we still have good numbers of Yellowhammers visiting the garden daily. 

Have a good weekend.      Regards Eleanor 

Weekend Again!!

 Goodness knows where this week has gone to ?!. However for various reasons my birding has been limited and having no internet has been quite frustrating not being able to keep in touch. 

This morning I went for an early morning run before anyone else was up and about.  A beautiful Barn Owl sat on a post at Blueberry totally oblivious to my presence as it gazed intently into the grass.  As I ran through Cottesbrooke village there was at least one Spotted Flycatcher and a further one just outside the village at the old Beck Dairy.  Then this evening whilst walking my old crocs through the village there was another Spotted Flycatcher,  fingers crossed that it is going to be a good year for these lovely birds.               I  visited Harrington Airfield this afternoon coincide with the end of a shower of rain in the hope that some birds may have been grounded.  But no matter how hard I tried I simply couldn't find anything,  it was barren!!!! However yesterday an unexpected Short-eared Owl was flushed at bunker one.

Bird news over the weekend has been a bit sparse. For many the weekend starts on Friday and there were a few birds around on that day.  Two drake Red Crested Pochard at Stanford Reservoir,  Turnstone, Bar Tailed Godwits and Dunlin at Pitsford Reservoir,  Turnstone at Lilbourne meadows,  Sanderling,  Cattle Egret and Shelduck at Summer Leys and the Glossy Ibis at Stanwick.                                                                                            But undoubtedly bird of the weekend and indeed bird of the day was a Honey Buzzard at Byfield.  Although it wasn't seen again after the initial sighting it is possible that it could still be in the area or further afield in the county as it drifts around on it's migration journey.  So keep your eyes peeled.

Regards Eleanor 

Mid-week

 I cannot believe that it is mid week already,  I just feel as if the last few days have passed me by without stopping!!!!     I have been out and about but haven't seen many good birds. Harrington Airfield seems to be going through one of it's extremely quiet patches. Pitsford Reservoir too has been quiet with only 2 Bar tailed Godwits remaining in the Scaldwell bay.     Today I walked around Sywell CP and apart from a very vocal and showy Cetti's Warbler and several Sedge Warblers it was quiet.             It sounds like I should have ventured further down the road to Summer Leys as a Pectoral Sandpiper turned up there this afternoon and appeared to be keeping company with several other waders including Ruff, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Common Sandpiper.   Nearby at Clifford Hill were Ringed Plovers and Dunlin and a Sanderling at Stanwick.      The long standing Glossy Ibis is still at Stanwick GP along with 4 Cattle Egrets and the wandering White Stork was again at Barnwell on the floodwater.                                                             But well away from the Nene Valley at DIRFT3 there were a staggering 46 Ringed Plovers,  5 Sanderlings and 5 Dunlin.  This is an area which I have personally never visited but I may have to seriously think about having a recce over there.  Watch this space!!....

Regards Eleanor 

Relaxing Sunday

 After a busy day yesterday it was a much more relaxed and quiet day for me and the dogs.  I started with an early morning wander around Blueberry and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise whilst being serenaded by Skylarks,  Blackcaps,  Chiffchaffs and Dunnocks to name but a few. There was no one else up and about so I felt as if I was their captive audience, not that I minded as the perfect way to start my day.  As I sat at the highest point of Blueberry enjoying the view and planning my day my thoughts were interrupted by the evocative call of a couple of Whimbrel which flew over and headed towards Pitsford Reservoir. 

I managed to fit in a visit to the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir.  Plenty of birds around especially Black Headed Gulls and Common Terns.  The noise from the gulls was quite deafening as they argued amongst each other for prime positions on the Tern rafts. They appear to have completely taken over the Tern rafts leaving nowhere for the Common Terns to nest. The Common Terns were sitting on the muddy shoreline as that was the only place available to them.  Also on the shoreline were 3 Bar Tailed Godwits,  a Sanderling,  Oystercatcher and 2 Common Sandpipers.  A nice surprise was a Black Tern at the mouth of the bay 

The only other birds of note today were a Hobby over the house this afternoon and I  came across a Spotted Flycatcher in the village whilst walking my old crocs. 

Kenny Cramer had an interesting ringing session at Linford Lake yesterday.  A modest 34 birds caught of 15 species and 15 new birds.   Reed Warblers were top of the list with 11 birds processed,  most of which were returning birds from the past couple of years.   Other warblers included 2 Sedge,  Cettis,  Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaff,  one of which had been ringed as an adult back in 2018 making it at least 5 years old. Quite remarkable for a small delicate bird and I wonder how many miles it has flown during this time.                 Other birds of interest caught were a pair of Kingfishers,  a new Water Rail which was a surprise and the star bird , a smart male Cuckoo which was was the first for this year and the 23rd to be ringed at this site.

Regards Eleanor 

Successful Saturday

 A successful day for me involving the White Stork and agility!!     I headed towards Peterborough early this morning and my route took me along the A605 . Luckily I was able to pull off the road near Barnwell to check the small flooded meadow adjacent to the lock. The first bird I saw was the White Stork feeding ,pottering about and looking very much at home. I thought to myself that it didn't look out of place at all. I know that this bird has been giving folk run around,  myself included so I was delighted to finally catch up with it.                                                                                                             I  spent most of the day competing at an agility competition near Peterborough with my two young collies Jaeger and Rouzel.  They had both done fairly well but on his last run of the day Jaeger was awesome and a lovely clear round and second place,  beaten by 1 second by the winning dog.   So a successful time for me.                                                          On my way home I checked the fields around Hemington and Polebrook but all seemed quiet, my luck had run out!!

It would seem that all the action has been in the Nene Valley again with a couple of mobile Avocets being seen at Stanwick, Clifford Hill, Summer Leys and finally they appeared to have settled at Ditchford.                                    

Yesterday I walked around Sywell CP but it was very quiet. A few Common Terns are nesting on the Tern raft, a Cettis warbler was very vocal and several Sedge Warbler were very showy.   Harrington Airfield was extremely quiet,  in fact there were more birds in our garden than on the airfield.  I counted 6 Yellowhammers and 2 Reed Buntings plus young Song Thrush and Blackbirds in the garden. 

Regards Eleanor 

Waders and Terns

 It would seem that the Nene Valley has been the place to be over the past few days with a good variety of Waders and Terns lingering or flying through on passage. Traditionally this area far surpasses the woodlands and reservoirs and this year has been no exception. 

On Monday there were Turnstones, Dunlin Ruff and Bar Tailed Godwits at Clifford Hill,  Dunlin, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper at Titchmarsh .                                                       Yesterday sounded like an amazing day in the Nene Valley with Bar Tailed Godwits,  Ruff, Dunlin and 3 rather splendid Spotted Redshank at Summer Leys/Hardwater crossing.  Ringed Plovers,  Dunlin and Common Sandpipers at Clifford Hill and 3 Turnstone at Stanwick.                                                                                                                                             But the Terns stole the show yesterday  with Little Tern at Ditchford, Sandwich Terns at Stanwick, Arctic Terns at Summer Leys,  Clifford Hill,  Ringstead and Stanwick. Outside the Nene Valley there were a few Black Terns at Boddington Reservoir.                         Today there has been Wood Sandpiper at Summer Leys and Lilbourne Meadows,  Sanderling at DIRFT3 and Black Tailed Godwits at Pitsford Reservoir,  Hardwater Crossing and Ditchford.

The long standing Glossy Ibis remains at Stanwick along with  Cattle and Great White Egrets,  Garganey at Summer Leys and Titchmarsh,  Mediterranean Gulls at Summer Leys and Female Ring Ouzel at Honey Hill.  Quite a few Northern Wheatear recorded around the county.  I bumped into 2 males at Harrington Airfield this morning but otherwise it was very quiet there.  A few Whinchat have been moving through at Hollowell,  Corby and Elkington,  always a very smart looking bird.

Tonight the Northamptonshire Bird Club will be meeting at the fishing lodge, Pitsford Reservoir.  This will be our first indoor meeting since 2020 !!!. We will be meeting at 7.30pm where club member Jeff Blincow will be presenting a talk on "The Wildlife of Finmark", the most northerly and easterly part of Norway. Jeff is an excellent speaker and photographer so I think that we will be in for a treat.  Tea/coffee/ biscuits available.  We look forward to welcoming back our members and any visitors.  Everyone is very welcome to come along. 

Regards Eleanor 

Ringing recoveries

Hello

We have details now of a series of ringing recoveries associated with the activities of Northants Ringing Group members as follows:-

1. A juvenile Robin ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 8th September 2021 was found dead in Earls Barton on or about 27th April this year, this bird moving 13km in a south easterly direction post ringing. Two hundred and thirty-one days had elapsed between the two records;

2. A young Magpie was ringed at Brixworth on 3rd August last year and was destroyed near Lamport on or about 10th April this year 'for Nature Protection', this bird moving 3km from where first ringed and displacing in a north-easterly direction before it's demise two hundred and fifty days later;

3. A first year Redwing was caught and ringed at Harrington Airfield  on 12th December 2021 and was found dead as a suspected road casualty in Norway at Hjellestad, Bergen 129 days later and 952km from where first ringed on or about 20th April 2022. This bird had survived the winter and had headed back in a NNE direction;

Redwing movement.

4. A Coal Tit was ringed as a nestling in a nest box at Pitsford Reservoir on 27th June 2021 and found dead in Loddington village on 15th April 2022 - 292 days later and 8km from where first ringed having moved in a NNE direction;

5. A juvenile Reed Bunting was ringed at Stanford Reservoir on 7th August last year and re-captured at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 27th March this year, this female travelling 44km in a SSE direction from where first ringed with 232 days elapsing between the two captures;

6. A first year Lesser Redpoll was caught and ringed at Hollesley Heath, Suffolk on 12th April 2021 and ended up in a ringer's mist net at Greens Norton on 22nd March this year. Some three hundred and forty-four days had elapsed with the bird 168km further west of where first ringed.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Robin courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Magpie courtesy of
Lewis Aaron.

Redwing courtesy of
Lewis Aaron.

Juvenile Coal Tit.

Reed Bunting.

Lesser Redpoll courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.