Garden birds, Ravens and a telescope!

Hello

A grey, cool day and it looks like the cloud cover is going to extinguish any more chances of seeing the Northern Lights locally again tonight.

The Bearded Tit was still at Stanwick Pits today, on the same reed-fringed pit off the A45 layby, and an Otter was sighted too. Also a Pink-footed Goose was reported with Greylags at Lilbourne, off the A5 truck stop and near the Wildlife Trust reserve. The female Ring-necked Duck was again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and a Shelduck and a Great White Egret were noted at Clifford Hill Pits. A Stonechat was seen at Stanford Reservoir today.

The Pink-footed Goose was again at Wicksteed Park lakes and birds at Titchmarsh Reserve, Thrapston Pits included three Great White Egrets and a pair of Oystercatchers.

Efforts at checking the regular breeding Ravens confirmed a pair at one nest in the north west of the county and with two other pairs on territory further south (nests yet to be confirmed). Our garden here at Hanging Houghton is still attracting at least six Pied Wagtails and a couple each of Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting as well as the standard birds. With the weather forecast suggesting colder weather next week I suspect these numbers will go up again!

I have a telescope and tripod for sale (on behalf of a neighbour) if you want an excellent mid-range bargain! The telescope is an Opticron ES 80 GA Waterproof 45 degree angled field telescope fitted with a 16x - 60x Opticron High Definition F zoom eye piece. It comes with an all-weather case and a Velbon Delta metal-legged tripod at an all-in price of £390. Although this combination is a number of years old they were only used about three times and are in mint condition. Please make contact should you be interested.

Regards

Neil M

Opticron telescope and
Velbon tripod for sale.

Muntjac.

Red Kite.
Sadly one of these
lays dead in the carriageway
of the A508 north of Lamport.

Cormorant. Many are already
on their nests locally.

Water Rails.

Hello

Scant reports of wildlife locally but members of the Northants Ringing Group have today continued with a project looking at Water Rails which now breed locally in small numbers at key locations. Seven birds were caught which included four new birds and three birds from previous occasions. Utilising methods to easily identify specific individuals without the need to catch again, we hope to learn much more about this retiring species, as there is a lack of information out there - particularly their breeding habits.

The Ring-necked Duck was again reported from Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and also a Caspian Gull was reported from Summer Leys LNR.

Stanford Reservoir hosted a Great White Egret, four Goosanders and two Oystercatchers and other local birds included a Woodcock at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and two Grey Wagtails and a Barn Owl were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Ravens were still at Kelmarsh today and the adult Yellow-legged Gull was again the only bird of note in the Pitsford Reservoir gull roost.

Regards

Neil M

Six of seven of the 
Water Rails caught and
processed today. Can you easily
 tell the difference between them?
No nor can I, so ringing and hopefully
colour ringing plus an infusion of 
technology will help the project answer
questions.

Images courtesy of Chris Payne.

Pitsford ringing

Blackbird courtesy
of John Tilly.

Hello 

A period of bird ringing took place at Christie's Copse, Pitsford Reservoir today resulting in the processing of about 141 birds of fifteen species. The ringing area was nicely sheltered from the cool breeze and with regular sunshine it was a pleasant place to be. The highlight was undoubtedly an adult Woodcock which hit the nests prior to dawn. Other birds included two Blackbirds, two Redwings, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, five Goldcrests and large numbers of Great Tits, Blue Tits and a few Coal Tits and a re-trap Marsh Tit. There were also a few Long-tailed Tits and Chaffinches and a solitary Goldfinch. Other birds noted on site included singles of Siskin and Raven and the Muntjac and Brown Hares were very high profile.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Great White Egret, four Goosanders and a Kingfisher, the Ring-necked Duck and the Scaup were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and a Pink-footed Goose was with the goose flock at Wicksteed Park Lakes.

In the Nene Valley Stanwick still hosted the Bearded Tit, as many as thirteen Great White Egrets flew from roost early morning and the Goosander flock reached over twenty birds. Summer Leys LNR recorded a Goosander, five Great White Egrets and a female Red-crested Pochard. Blackcaps included three in a Woodford Halse garden and a pair have been regularly in a Nether Heyford garden for much of the winter.

Regards

Neil M

Coal Tit courtesy
of John Tilly.

Woodcock at Pitsford today.

Woodcock courtesy
of Jane Neil.

A cold wind from the North

Hello

Cold out there today with the wind in the north but still good weather for the time of the year.

A Great White Egret and two Goosanders were the pick of the bunch at Stanford Reservoir with another drake Goosander showing nicely at Abington Park, Northampton (long gone are the days when this was a wintering bird at Pitsford Reservoir, sometimes in good numbers).

The female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup were both still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and nearby at Hollowell Reservoir there was a Jack Snipe, two Common Snipe and two adult Caspian Gulls.

What may have been a Common Crane was heard calling over Thrapston Pits this morning but wasn't seen, the calling suggesting it flew over south.

The pair of Smew were at Blatherwycke Lake again today, a Brambling was seen at Harrington Airfield and birds at Summer Leys LNR included a first year Caspian Gull, two Oystercatchers, two Redshanks, about one hundred and fifty Golden Plovers, a Shelduck and several Bramblings at the feeding station.

The adult Yellow-legged Gull presided over the gull roost again at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and birds north of the causeway this morning included a Barn Owl, a Jack Snipe, up to about forty Common Snipe and two Stonechats (both caught and ringed). A Chiffchaff and two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this afternoon and Ravens were at Hanging Houghton and Kelmarsh.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Goosander Abington Park,
Northampton courtesy of John Tilly.

Grey Heron Abington Park, Northampton
courtesy of John Tilly.

Nuthatch.

Female Stonechat.

Stonechats, thrushes and Snipe

Hello

Stanford Reservoir continued to host a drake Red-crested Pochard today plus three Goosanders, a Barn Owl and a Cetti's Warbler.

A Siberian Chiffchaff was still lingering at Billing Pits/Ecton SF by bridge 'K121' and a Green Sandpiper was there too. Two Caspian Gulls were at Hollowell Reservoir today and other birds included a Jack Snipe, six Common Snipe, about a hundred Redwings, a Lesser Redpoll and three new-in Stonechats.

Approximately eighty Common Snipe were at Pitsford Reservoir today where there was also a Jack Snipe, a Raven and a female Stonechat. Two Chiffchaffs were at Stortons Pits.

In the north of the county the pair of Smew remained at Blatherwycke Lake and a pair of Egyptian Geese were in fields behind the lake. A Great White Egret was at Wicksteed Park this morning.

The long-staying female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir again today and near the causeway.

Migrant Redwings and Fieldfares were generally conspicuous today with flocks over-flying and dropping in at a variety of sites and the spillage of grain near the village of Old has attracted up to seventy Yellowhammers during the last couple of days.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff at Stortons Pits
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

A rainbow today at
Pitsford Reservoir!

Common Gull.

Mute Swan.

Displaying and gathering wildfowl

Hello

A cooler day and the gritters were out this evening so the potential of frosty conditions before the cloud cover later in the night.

The male Bearded Tit showed again at Stanwick Pits today, in phragmites around the same pit as before, and a second bird was noted too.

The female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup were both at Ravensthorpe Reservoir again this morning, generally viewable from the closed off car park near the causeway. Birds at Stanford Reservoir included the Red-crested Pochard still, eleven Goosanders, a Great White Egret, six Meadow Pipits and a Barn Owl with the gull roost providing a count of 975 Common Gulls.

A female Peregrine and a pair of Grey Partridge were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, Ravens remained on the Kelmarsh Estate and two female Stonechats were fresh birds in at Pitsford Reservoir (near to the Maytrees Hide). Numerous parties of vocal and displaying Goldeneye at Pitsford Reservoir is an annual event and the beautiful trilling song of the Little Grebe echoed across the water there this evening.

I don't think that winter is quite over yet but the heralds of spring are very welcome!

Regards

Neil M

Drake Goldeneye courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Female Goldeneye courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Female Stonechat.

Little Grebe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

A few bits and pieces!

Hello

A quiet day in the county it seems today but a few sightings of interest as follows...

Stanford Reservoir today retained it's Red-crested Pochard and an Oystercatcher was the first at the site this year; eight Goosanders were also present.

Just over the county border Eyebrook Reservoir enjoyed a good day with three Scaup, at least one Smew, a Caspian Gull, a Great White Egret and a Kittiwake. Also just inside Leicestershire there were two Grey Wagtails and a Little Egret on the River Welland at Market Harborough.

I don't think the Stanwick Pits Bearded Tit has been reported today and it was looked for - but some days it does go to ground!

A Water Rail was showing well in front of Pioneer Hide at Summer Leys LNR today, a Red-crested Pochard was present and three pairs of Mandarin Ducks at Barnwell Country Park were photographed.

Two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this afternoon, Ravens were seen at Harrington Airfield and Lamport village and Lamport Hall hosted a Woodcock, a Barn Owl and a gathering of twenty-eight Red Kites!

A Weasel at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell was entertaining and the adult Yellow-legged Gull off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir was again the only bird of interest at the southern end of this site.

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was an excellent observation locally at this time of the year.

Regards

Neil M

Blackbird courtesy
of John Tilly.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth
courtesy of Jim Dunkley
(taken last year).

Male Sparrowhawk.

Weasel.

Unobtrusive migration

Hello

Some mist-netting at Pitsford Reservoir was the first such activity for a long while and the precursor to more ringing activity on-site soon. About ninety birds were processed, the majority being Blue Tits and Great Tits but also included Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch and Marsh Tit. Other birds noted north of the causeway included a male Stonechat, a singing Siskin and a Raven. Pike moving in the shallows signaled their intention to spawn soon. A couple of Ravens were again at Kelmarsh.

The Stanwick male Bearded Tit continued to show nicely today and a Bittern was seen in flight at the west end of the lake complex at dawn. A female Peregrine was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a male Brambling was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and birds at Sywell Country Park included a Chiffchaff, two Cetti's Warblers, a Grey Wagtail, two Water Rails and about twenty Siskins.

Two Reed Buntings and two Yellowhammers were nice additions to our garden today and at Clifford Hill Pits there were a pair of Oystercatchers and a Shelduck. A Ring-necked Parakeet was in a garden at Hartwell at lunchtime, a pair of Smew were again at Blatherwycke Lake and Ravensthorpe Reservoir again hosted the female Ring-necked Duck and the female Scaup.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included the Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, a Cetti's Warbler, nine Goosanders and twenty-two migrant Meadow Pipits. Other birds on the move in the county today included Skylarks, wagtails and winter thrushes - most moving over unobtrusively and heading generally north-east.

Regards

Neil M

The Stanwick Bearded Tit
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Pitsford WeBS count.

Hello

Another mild and sunny day provided the backdrop for the Pitsford WeBS count - and as usual by February many of the winter wildfowl have already departed. It was very quiet south of the causeway with a single Little Egret being the only noteworthy bird and north of the causeway the choice birds were a Great White Egret, a Redshank, a Jack Snipe and at least sixty Common Snipe. Also present were two Kingfishers, a Grey Wagtail, a male Stonechat and a few Siskins.

The Bearded Tit remained on show at Stanwick Pits today and birds at Hollowell Reservoir included three Caspian Gulls, two Jack Snipe and five Common Snipe.

Three Smew and three Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir today and the female Ruddy Shelduck was at Winwick Pools near West Haddon.

A pair of established Peregrines at a site at Higham Ferrers now have a camera monitoring their behaviour and a live link can be established by clicking on:-

https://youtu.be/ix7EdikYE61

Regards

Neil M

Peregrine.

Stonechat courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Common Gull courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

That bird...the Stanwick Bearded Tit.

Hello

Favourable conditions and a particularly confiding bird brought photographers far and wide to Stanwick Pits today with the male Bearded Tit largely ignoring the shutter sounds of numerous cameras.

The female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup were visible from the causeway car park at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning and other birds present included a Great White Egret, three Little Egrets and a couple of Siskins. A Water Rail and two Common Snipe were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning where there were also three Grey Wagtails, a Redpoll and five Siskins.

Eight Golden Plovers were at Harrington Airfield late this morning, the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull was off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir and a Woodcock was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. 

A Woodcock and a pair of Stonechats were in fields between Walgrave village and Pitsford Reservoir and a Barn Owl was at Hanging Houghton with a pair of Ravens on the Kelmarsh Estate.

A Siberian Chiffchaff was still at Ecton SF/Billing Pits by Bridge 'K121' today, three Smew and a Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir and the Red-crested Pochard was still at Stanford Reservoir as were two Great White Egrets.

Regards

Neil M

Bearded Tit courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Bearded Tit courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Ringing at Kelmarsh Hall.

Hello

A period of bird ringing was completed at Kelmarsh Hall today with about one hundred and forty-five birds caught and processed, giving some indication of the numbers of birds coming to the feeders there. Eighty-eight of these birds were newly ringed, the remaining fifty-seven being birds caught and ringed on previous occasions. Blue Tits dominated with seventy-seven being processed and another thirteen species included Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. Kingfisher and Raven were present on-site too.

A Bearded Tit was seen again at Stanwick Pits today, providing photographic opportunities for some and other long-staying birds in the county included the female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Two Smew, including a drake, were at the west side of Blatherwycke Lake today. Two Goosanders were on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits.

A female Merlin was again hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and at Kislingbury Lakes/Upton Country Park there was a Great White Egret, two Oystercatchers, a Common Snipe and a Green Sandpiper. Seven Little Egrets were off Mill Lane, Greens Norton today, a regular wintering venue, and Ian had a female Blackcap visiting his Woodford Halse garden.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Great White Egret, a Pintail, seven Goosanders and two Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Treecreeper courtesy
of Chris Payne.

'Redhead' Smew.

Nuthatch courtesy of
John Tilly.

Ditchford WeBS count.

Hello

It was time for the WeBS count at Ditchford Pits today and it was interesting to see small numbers of Pochard on many of the pits, an increase in Tufted Ducks and a strong passage of gulls along the Nene Valley. Birds west of Ditchford Lane included two Peregrines, three Oystercatchers, an Egyptian Goose, a Great White Egret, a Grey Wagtail, just one Cetti's Warbler and two Lesser Redpolls. Birds east of Ditchford Lane included three Common Snipe, just two Cetti's Warblers, three Goosanders and a Siskin. Surprisingly I didn't encounter Kingfisher, Water Rail or Chiffchaff.

A procession of would-be observers visited Stanwick Pits in an effort to track down the Bearded Tits and most failed. However social media suggests that an individual was seen at some stage today. Vocal Cetti's Warblers and a Water Rail were present around the edges of the same pit.

Two first year Caspian Gulls were seen at Daventry Country Park this morning and birds at Sywell Country Park included a Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler, two Grey Wagtails, a pair of Stonechats and about twenty Siskins. A Barn Owl was again on show at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

The female Ring-necked Duck was reportedly again off the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning and three Scaup were still at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

The Ditchford Oystercatchers
today...and very noisy they were too!

Blue Tit courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Male Blackbird courtesy
of Robin Gossage.