Mid Week Movement

 This week has started well with a flurry of Tern and Wader movement especially along the Nene Valley.   It started on Monday with the appearance of Sanderlings at Summer Leys and Clifford Hill GP.  This was followed yesterday by a Turnstone at Summer Leys and Little Stint at Stanwick GP. Today there seemed to be another passage of Sanderlings at Summer Leys and Clifford Hill GP.   Other waders reported along the Nene Valley include Dunlin,  Common Sandpiper,  Greenshanks,  Redshanks,  Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers.                     Today both Black and Little Tern were seen at Clifford Hill GP.  Yesterday 15 Arctic Tern flew through Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows and there was a Black Tern at Thrapston GP. 

Other sites away from the Nene Valley have also seen some interesting birds.  At the beginning of the week there were 3 Curlew Sandpipers and Grey Plover at Lilbourne Meadows and Black Tern at Boddington and Stanford Reservoirs.                                             This evening there was an Osprey at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Sanderling and Black Tern at Pitsford Reservoir. 

Fingers crossed that the second half of the week is just as interesting. 

Regards Eleanor 

It's been a funny week!!!

 It has been a funny old week,  essentially quiet both weather and bird wise but then hotting up at the weekend.  Today I was at an agility competition with Jaeger near Peterborough and my route took me via Oundle.  There is a very attractive flooded field easily viewable from the A605. A quick check on my way past early this morning didn't produce anything of note. However on my way back early afternoon following a successful competition I stopped for another check and there was a White Stork feeding in the floods. I presume that it is the same individual bird which has been seen around the county.    

Despite numerous visits to Harrington Airfield,  Brampton Valley Way,  Blueberry area and Pitsford I have seen very little.  The other morning I saw a Common Buzzard with prey below Hanging Houghton.  The prey item looked suspiciously like a Barn Owl and since this sighting I haven't seen one of my regular Barn Owls.  This happened a few years ago when a Barn Owl ended up the same way.                                                                      Other birds reported today include an Osprey at Stanford Reservoir and both Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers at Lilbourne Meadows and DIRFT3.     Yesterday 4 Turnstone dropped into Stanwick GP before heading off north east. 12 Ringed Plovers were flying around Summer Leys whilst at Pitsford Reservoir a Black Tern and drake Red Crested Pochard were seen.   On Friday a Black Winged Stilt turned up at Summer Leys and a Wood Sandpiper at Lilbourne Meadows. 

One thing that has been noticeable this week is the number of Cuckoo records which is really encouraging to see as their numbers have really declined over the last few years. There have been records from Barnwell CP,  Summer Leys, Overstone Park, Thrapston GP,  Whiston Lock, Walgrave,  Cogenhoe, Billing GP,  Fineshade Wood and Hartwell which shows a good spread around the county. At Stortons GP 2 adult Cuckoo's were caught during a ringing session.  One of the birds had been ringed at Stortons last year whilst the other was a new bird.                                                                                                                           The other influx of birds this week has been the explosion of Starlings,  they seem to be absolutely everywhere.  The youngsters have errupted out of the nests and invaded the gardens.  The other morning as I walked through the village every available tv ariel and roof tops were alive with very noisy young Starlings and lots of my friends and family have noticed just how many of them are around.  I could watch them for hours, they are such characters and their antics are so entertaining to watch. Mind you they are eating us out of house and home and they love dried meal worms and calci worms.  The down side of their incessant chattering and presence is that the local Sparrowhawk is  drawn into the garden and they are sadly an easy meal. I know that a lot of these youngsters will not make it to adulthood. But that is nature and all part of the cycle of life.

The weather forecast for the coming week is pretty settled which will be good for our birds and wildlife which are well into their breeding cycle and no doubt there will be more butterflies,  dragonflies and a huge variety of insects on the wing.  There is always something to look at and enjoy.  Have a good week. 

Regards Eleanor 

Is anybody out there?

 Well I don't know what has happened? Very few bird records over the past few days.  Does this mean that the spring migration has finished and that the birds that have arrived are simply getting down to breeding? Or are there less folk out birding or perhaps turning to look at other things like butterflies and orchids??

I have spent quite a bit of time out and about,  mainly at Blueberry area, Harrington Airfield , Lamport area and Pitsford Reservoir,  but have very little to show for it. My best birds have been Barn Owl,  Turtle Dove, Grasshopper Warbler and Grey Partridge.   Other folk have reported Greenshanks and Hobbies at Summer Leys,  Goosander at Hardingstone Lake,  Spotted Flycatcher at Towcester,  Osprey at Hollowell and Brackley and Cuckoo at Ravensthorpe,  Walgrave,  Hartwell and Stortons GP. 

Despite the slightly warmer weather butterfly records have also been sparce. Green Hairstreak,  Grizzled and Dingy  Skipper have been on the wing at Ditchford Lakes and Tywell Hills and Dale's.  I have just been bumping into the common butterflies,  Brimstone,  Peacock,  Orange Tip, Common Blue, Small Copper,  G V White, and Speckled Wood. 

The week ahead looks warmer and more settled which will be nice. Perhaps we might get a few interesting birds,  who knows? Have a good week. 

Regards Eleanor 

Day Tour Rectory Farm/Eyebrook WildBird Foods

Hello

Today was a Naturetrek Day Tour at Rectory Farm, Great Easton the home of the Johnson family and Eyebrook Wildbird Foods.

The breeze was still quite cool at times but some lovely sunshine ensured there was plenty of warmth too.

After meeting at the farm buildings, Fay and Phil provided some information about the history of the farm and aspects of modern-day farming and we went for a walk around the award winning 900 acre complex.

Brown Hares were plentiful but the growing spurt of the crops in recent days meant that sometimes all we saw were the ears! A few Rabbits were about too and there is a real exultation of singing Skylarks wherever you walk! Yellowhammers, Linnets and Red-legged Partridges were next and big birds in the sky included many Red Kites, Common Buzzards, a Kestrel, a Hobby and a family party of Ravens.

Leverets indicated successful breeding in the hare population but we saw one very small animal subject of an argument between a pair of Carrion Crows and a Red Kite with the crows eventually winning and caching the unfortunate lagomorph.

Insects on the wing included Large White, Small White, Orange-tip, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, several Silver Y moths, many teneral damselflies and a super Broad-bodied Chaser. Common Whitethroats were the most common warbler with singing Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat too. A few Yellow Wagtails were in the bean fields and an overflying Meadow Pipit seemed unusual.

After our walk there was an opportunity to talk about the production of wheat, including the provision of quality grain to Weetabix, check out a very busy Badger Sett and shown the mixing room where the bird foods are mixed and bagged. And then it was time for a cuppa and Sue's home-made scones and Victoria Sponge - you can see why I like this particular Naturetrek tour!

We finished the day overlooking Eyebrook Reservoir where the best of the birds were an Osprey, Common Terns, a pair of Stonechats, a drake Teal and a pair of Wigeon (and of course more Brown Hares)!

Back in the county and Nick saw a White Stork flying low over Wicksteed Park, Barton Seagrave at 2.30pm which then headed north-east.

Regards

Neil M

Rectory Farm sheep.

Brown Hare.

Raven.

Small Tortoiseshell.

Brown Hare leveret.

Broad-bodied Chaser.

All images from Rectory Farm,
Great Easton today.

Ospreys

Hello

An Osprey ably photographed by Lee Willcocks at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits on 8th May this spring was colour-ringed. Research shows that this bird was ringed as a nestling at a confidential site near Eidsberg, Ostfold in south east Norway on 7th July 2021. It was one of a brood of two and Lee's sighting is the first report of it since it's initial migration. It is speculated that it may be on it's way to it's natal area in Norway.

Another Osprey, Blue 079, was ringed as a nestling at a nest in Northamptonshire on 5th July 2021. This male bird was the only bird raised from that nest and he fledged on 16th July and then migrated on 23rd August that autumn. Blue 079 wasn't seen again until 2nd February 2023 when he was sighted at Parque Natural Bahia de Cadiz in Spain suggesting he probably wintered in Spain rather than continuing on to Africa. There is a growing trend among UK Ospreys to do this and it probably reduces the risk of migration mortality. On 8th May 2023 this bird was at Farmoor in Oxfordshire, not far from it's natal area.

My thanks to Lee Willcocks and Tim Mackrill for this information.

Ten Hobbies were again at Summer Leys LNR today and at Thrapston Pits the Titchmarsh reserve attracted nine Hobbies and thirty-two Black-tailed Godwits (the godwits flew SE by 12.40pm).

A Cuckoo was near Hardwick this evening and a calling Cuckoo remains at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway with a Kingfisher and a Raven family present too.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included five Hobbies, a Common Sandpiper, an Oystercatcher, a Common Snipe, two Cuckoos and three Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

The Norwegian Osprey
photographed by Lee
Willcocks on 8th May 2023.

The Walgrave Bay, Pitsford Reservoir
this evening courtesy of Jane Neil.

Tawny Owl at Pitsford Reservoir
this evening courtesy of 
Jane Neil.

 This mature bird was first
ringed on the reserve as an adult
on 26th March 2019, and was
assessed as an adult female following
  a re-capture on 13th May 2021.

SP54 Long Day Count

Hello

Today was the Banbury Ornithological Society Long Day Count in SP54. A cool breeze remained all day but the sunshine was very nice and it remained dry!

We started at Edgcote and Trafford Bridge with a pair of Ravens feeding near-fledged youngsters, a drake Mandarin Duck was on pools there and Grey Wagtails were at Edgcote Mill and at Trafford Marsh. A singing Sedge Warbler is a scarce bird in this square and a pair of Yellow Wagtails were in a bean field, probably their favourite on-territory crop. Three Sparrowhawks in the first couple of hours is unusual but plenty of Common Buzzards and Red Kites are now a regular feature even here in deep South Northants.

Raven families with fledged young were found at Moreton Pinkney and Marston St Lawrence and Spotted Flycatchers were at Trafford Marsh, Edgcote Mill and Marston St Lawrence. A Hobby was at Thenford and a singing Lesser Whitethroat near Trafford Bridge was the only one noted all day.

Good numbers of butterflies and other insects were bountiful in sheltered, sunny areas and we saw a range of butterflies with plenty of Orange-tips, Red Admirals, Brimstones and Holly Blues particularly noticeable. At Farthinghoe LNR there were few birds of interest but odonata included a cracking male Hairy Hawker and a hatch of Beautiful Demoiselles.

Incidental mammals in the 10km square included several Brown Hares and Roe Deer.

A Barn Owl was hunting at Lamport Hall this evening and at Earls Barton Pits there were up to ten Hobbies hawking over Summer Leys LNR during the early afternoon and two Egyptian Geese on Hardwater Lake. An Osprey was an early morning bird at Stanford Reservoir and other birds included five Hobbies, a Common Sandpiper, a Cuckoo and a Cetti's Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Red Admiral.

Hairy Hawker.

Beautiful Demoiselle.

Holly Blue.

All images taken today
in South Northants.

Sunday's birds

Hello

A modest ringing session at Harrington Airfield this morning provided thirty-four captures with the majority being warblers probably trying to breed on site - five Blackcaps, two Garden Warblers, three Lesser Whitethroats, four Common Whitethroats and ten Willow Warblers. A Cuckoo was heard calling briefly and a Turtle Dove was seen twice (after no records at all last year) and Brown Hares and Muntjac were also noted with insects including a swarm of apparent honey bees and butterflies which included Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath and several Orange-tips plus Speckled Wood and Brimstone.

A Cuckoo remains vocal at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway and birds at Clifford Hill Pits included a Raven, a Peregrine and a Hobby.

Up to five Hobbies were at Elinor Trout Lake at Thrapston Pits and four were seen at Quarry Walk, Earls Barton Pits and birds at the pools associated with the DIRFT3/A5 near Lilbourne provided for five Ringed Plovers, a Little Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper, a Dunlin and an Oystercatcher.

A Black-necked Grebe was located at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Garden Warbler courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Garden Warbler courtesy
of Jane Neil.

Another cold spring day

Hello

A ringing session at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes today utilised a newly-designed net and rigging system to try and catch birds towards the treetops and was a resounding success by catching two Cuckoos, a Green Woodpecker and a Jackdaw! Other birds processed included two Bullfinches, two Goldfinches, two Greenfinches, a Reed Bunting, a juvenile Robin and warblers included three Cetti's Warblers, two Blackcaps, four Garden Warblers, two Whitethroats, a Sedge Warbler, eight Reed Warblers and two Chiffchaffs.

Other birds seen on-site included three Hobbies and Muntjac and Badger were seen early morning.

Four Hobbies were hawking insects at Summer Leys this morning and a drake Garganey was asleep on Gull Island late morning with a Common Sandpiper on Hardwater Lake. An Otter put in an appearance last week. Two Hobbies were at Titchmarsh LNR (Thrapston Pits) this morning.

Five Wood Sandpipers were on the almost permanent flood water at Lilbourne Meadows reserve this afternoon and a Short-eared Owl was seen at Stanwick Pits this evening before being chased off by a Carrion Crow. A Barn Owl was near Preston Capes early this morning and a Peregrine was at a favoured site nearby. A drake Garganey was at Fawsley Park this morning but couldn't be found later.

The cold day temperatures ensures our garden is still busy with adult birds collecting food for their young and feeding up themselves - dried calciworms, sunflower hearts and suet pellets and suet blocks are the super foods that help both growing nestlings and hard-working parents.

A ringing session is planned for Harrington Airfield tomorrow and as such there will be limited access to the bunkers and the scrub between the gritting compound and the main concrete track. The bridle track and footpaths are unaffected.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Robin.

Common Whitethroat.

Both images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

May north-easterlies

Hello

North-easterly winds at this time of the year traditionally produce migrant sea-birds, particularly gulls and terns, but with the exception of a solitary Kittiwake at Stanwick Pits this morning, little was reported that suggested a significant movement.

Two Yellow-legged Gulls (an adult and a first summer), a Cuckoo and three or four singing Sedge Warblers were the best to be found at Pitsford Reservoir between the causeway and dam this morning.

Three Ringed Plovers and two Hobbies were at Summer Leys LNR late this morning and a Dunlin was at Clifford Hill Pits. A hunting Barn Owl was understandably struggling in the strong wind in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included four Hobbies, two Cuckoos, a Kingfisher, two Common Sandpipers and eighty Swifts.

Regards

Neil M

Tawny Owlets - it's that
time of the year!

Pitsford CBC

Hello 

A Common Bird Census was completed on the Wildlife Trust reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today with the majority of the summer migrants in now and joining the resident birds to produce the next generation. A Cuckoo was calling intermittently, a single Oystercatcher was present and a drake Red-crested Pochard was an unseasonal addition. Raven was confirmed as breeding on the reserve for the first time, a nest containing at least two youngsters was discovered in the Walgrave Bay.

The usual clamour of Black-headed Gulls around the rafts was much quieter than usual and it looks as if bird flu has struck the colony, as with other colonies in the county, and a number of dead birds were strewn about. A Kingfisher and a Redpoll were also noted and butterflies included Brimstone, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Orange-tip.

A Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and birds at Earls Barton Pits included three Hobbies, four Common Sandpipers (Hardwater Lake) and Lapwing chicks on the Summer Leys LNR.

A Pink-footed Goose remains with Greylag Geese at Wicksteed Park and birds at Stanford Reservoir included five Hobbies, a Cuckoo and a Yellow Wagtail.

Regards

Neil M

Raven nestling.

Muntjac.

This male has a damaged
antler and ragged ear and has probably
engaged in fighting with another male.
A dead male was found with an injury to
hindquarters which may also have been 
caused in a fight with a rival. At
least fifteen live Muntjacs were seen
 around the reserve this morning

Great Crested Grebe.

Adult and young Coot.

All images taken at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Another Bank Holiday

 Well that's the second of the Bank Holidays over and apart from a flurry of excitement yesterday with the arrival of 4 Black Winged Stilts it has been rather quiet.    News broke early yesterday morning of the Stilts at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows.  Amazingly they stayed all day giving plenty of people the opportunity to catch up with them.  They are a scarce visitor and I couldn't get over until late afternoon but it was well worth the wait as they were showing well,  moving about and finding plenty of food to eat.  Today they had moved on.    There was also another wader present which proved challenging to identify.  Was it  a Greenshank,  Wood Sandpiper,  Marsh Sandpiper or Ruff ???? Who knows?  When I was there I saw the wader but I was looking directly into the light, it was a long way off and quite often obscured by vegetation,  so I can fully understand why identification was problematic.                  

Yesterday was the busiest day for bird sightings and also for the most interesting birds.  An extremely rare bird for Northamptonshire was reported,  a Black Kite flying north over Bearshank Wood. I  don't know any more details.    Other birds seen over the weekend include Grey Plover, Marsh Harrier,  Osprey,  Garganey,  Egyptian Geese and Nightingale at Summer Leys.  Three Avocet turned up at Clifford Hill GP.   There was a drake Garganey at Lilbourne Meadows and at DIRFT3 two Caspian Gulls,  Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers. 

I have seen absolutely nothing of note at Harrington Airfield despite daily visits and likewise daily visits to the scrapes along the BVW have only produced 2 Little Ringed Plovers.                                                                                                                                                       Fingers crossed for another movement of birds and some warmer weather. 

Regards Eleanor 

A Week of Waders

 Due to several reasons I have had a very quiet week for birding.  Infact my best birding happened on Wednesday afternoon whilst I was working in the front garden and Spotted Flycatcher started calling from the neighbours garden and quickly followed by a noisy Ring Necked Parakeet which perched on the TV ariel.    Several visits to Harrington Airfield only produced a Whinchat and several visits to the scrapes along the BVW below Brixworth only Little Ringed Plovers,  Lapwings,  Gadwall and Lesser Black Backed Gulls. 

However looking at the birds reported during the week the Waders top the list, particularly Wood Sandpipers which were recorded from Clifford Hill GP, Lilbourne Meadows and flood waters near Braunston and in an area between Aynho and Clifton.  There have been a couple of Grey Plovers at Summer Leys plus Ruffs, Common Sandpipers, Greenshanks,  Dunlin,  Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers.   At nearby Clifford Hill GP,  Ruff, Whimbrel,  Black Tailed Godwit,  Ringed Plovers and Dunlin.   Also at this site a scarce visitor in the form of a Little Tern.  It's been a while since I have seen one in the county.                                                                                                                                                 Other birds recorded during the week include a White Stork over Oundle, Mandarin Ducks at Fotheringhay, Greater Scaup , Marsh Harrier,  Osprey and Hobbies at Summer Leys,  Arctic Terns at Stanwick,  Osprey and Common Sandpipers at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and 2 Bramblings at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows.                                        A ringing session today at Stortons GP yielded 64 birds, predominantly Warblers including  Chiffchaff,  Willow Warbler,  Whitethroat,  Blackcap,  Lesser Whitethroat and Garden,  Reed and Sedge Warbler. 

Things are hotting up on the butterfly front.  First records of the year for  Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak both at Fermyn County Park.   Green Hairstreak was also on the wing at Collyweston Deeps.   Holly Blues at Barton Seagrave,  Watford locks and Wadenhoe.  Grizzled Skipper at quarry walk and  Painted Lady at Higham Ferrers.  Certainly a bit of sunshine and warmth have been welcomed by the butterflies and I have seen plenty of Orange Tips,  Brimstones,  Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. 

Hope that you have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor 

Bank Holiday Weekend

 Well that's the first of the three Bank Holiday's this month almost over.  Weather wise it has been a touch warmer but bird wise disappointingly quiet. Personally I have seen very little,  Common Redstart,  Sedge Warbler,  Whinchat and Northern Wheatear at Harrington Airfield and Little Ringed Plovers and White Wagtail on the scrape area along the BVW below Brixworth. 

There haven't been many birds reported over the weekend.  A Wood Sandpiper and drake Garganey on the flooded fields at Barnwell.   An Avocet made a brief appearance at Summer Leys.  There seems to have been a small influx of Whinchat and birds were recorded at Clifford Hill GP , Stanford Reservoir, Stanwick GP and Ditchford GP.       Quite a few of our Common migrants have arrived with Swifts, Cuckoo's,  Hobby, Grasshopper Warbler,  Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler all making themselves known.      Hopefully there will be more to follow.                                                                                              Probably the most interesting record was that of a Stone Curlew being picked up injured in the Hackleton area and taken into care.  I don't know any further details or update on it's progress, fingers crossed that the outcome is good.

The Northamptonshire Bird Club will be meeting on Wednesday at 7.30pm at the Lodge, Pitsford Water.  The talk will be given by birdclub member Jeff Blincow who is always an entertaining speaker.  Everyone welcome to come along. 

Regards Eleanor