Norway and back

Hello

I'm just back in from a Naturetrek tour in Norway - some images from this tour can be seen on the page or tab 'Norway - Whales and Seabirds of Norway's Lofoten Islands 2023'.

This morning and a couple of Ravens were vocal at Hanging Houghton and earlier Neil Hasdell endured a poor view of an interesting Swift sp passing over Harrington Airfield. Further visits by both Neil and myself failed to find this no doubt transitory bird. Not far outside the county and John Friendship-Taylor photographed an apparent Black Kite this morning on his way to work just west of Bicester towards Chesterton.

The male Bearded Tit remains at Pitsford Reservoir in the phragmites reedbed below the Fishing Lodge in the Holcot Bay and showing well at 8.30am. Up to fifty Sand Martins were off the dam late this morning.

At Earls Barton Pits there was a Great White Egret on Hardwater Lake and birds of note on the Summer Leys LNR included a female Shoveler with eight ducklings (the second brood seen there this year) and a Green Sandpiper and a Garganey.

Birds at Hollowell Reservoir today included an Osprey, a female Ruddy Shelduck, three Common Sandpipers and three Green Sandpipers. A Barnacle Goose was on the canal west of Stortons Pits and two Kingfishers were on the brook in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A Curlew flew NW this evening at Stanford Reservoir where there were also three Oystercatchers, a Common Sandpiper, a Cuckoo and a Cetti's Warbler.

Marbled White butterflies were fluttering at Harrington Airfield and the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Monarch butterfly visiting a county garden today would be an amazing record if the insect is of wild origin. Wakerley Wood was the venue for White Admiral, Marbled White and Silver-washed Fritillaries today with all three species and Purple Emperors being seen at Old Pastures Wood, Yardley Chase yesterday.

Regards

Neil M

Marbled White.

Burnett moth sp.

Juvenile Goldfinch.

Barnacle Goose.

Chiffchaff.

Blackbird.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Ospreys and Barn Owls

Hello

Monitoring of the scarcer species breeding in the county is all part of the process if you are an active birder and conservationist! In general there is a significant amount of preparatory work and a great deal of time committed to ensure local projects are successful. During this week a local Osprey nest was visited which is closely monitored every year and two well-grown chicks were ringed and returned to the nest. In addition many in the Northants Ringing Group look out for the owls and a half day on the Kelmarsh Estate provided proof of successful breeding in one of the new nest boxes where two Barn Owl nestlings were ringed. Nearby an adult was caught and was already bearing a ring (but not one of the NRG allocated rings).

Regards

Neil M

A male and a female nestling
Osprey, growing fast on a protein-
rich diet of fish!

Adult re-trapped Barn Owl.

Two nestling Barn Owls,
images courtesy of Chris Payne.

 Another quiet time for new birds in the county.  The Bearded Tit remains at Pitsford Reservoir and shows well in the reed bed next to the moth trap below the Lodge.  A Garganey turned up at Summer Leys today.  Other birds on the move seem to be Crossbills. On Sunday a Crossbill was reported from Stanford Reservoir, on Monday at Hollowell Reservoir and today at Pitsford Reservoir and Earls Barton.                                      Other birds reported over the last few days include Great White Egret at Hollowell and Summer Leys,  Common Sandpiper at Hollowell and Pitsford Reservoir,  Ruddy Shelduck at Winwick Pools, Yellow Legged Gull at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Osprey at Hollowell Reservoir,  Summer Leys and Stanwick GP. 

Things are getting more interesting on the Butterfly,  Dragonfly and other flying insect front with the first Purple Emperor Butterfly for the county being recorded at Hazelborough Forest on Saturday (24th) . There have been a few Hummingbird Hawkmoths in people's gardens and also the attractive Scarlet Tiger Moths.  One Butterfly which seems to be having a good year is one of my favourites,  the Marbled White.  Up to 50 were seen at Gayton and I have seen good numbers at Harrington Airfield,  Pitsford Reservoir and Lamport area.

Plenty of fun and games in the garden with the antics of the young birds. We have a lot of young Starlings which are very noisy and funny to watch,  but they have competition now that the young Jackdaws have arrived and these are equally as noisy and comical to watch.  Added to the mix today were a family party of Great Spotted  Woodpeckers.  All watched from the comfort of the house !!

Regards Eleanor 

Ringing at Linford Lakes

Hello

Kenny Cramer and team were mist netting at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes today, processing some one hundred and fifty-one birds of twenty-one species, the majority of the birds being newly-ringed with many juveniles on the wing. Seventy tits and and forty-nine warblers ensured it was a good small bird day but a new Cuckoo was a welcome capture as was a juvenile Kingfisher and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers. A Starling and a Woodpigeon added more variety and among fourteen Reed Warblers was a stand-out bird which was a bird ringed as an adult on-site back in 2017 and not encountered since - this bird is at least seven years old!

Regards

Neil M

Cuckoo.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Images courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Recent ringing recoveries

Hello

Another warm summer day and the male Bearded Tit was still in situ today in the phragmites reed bed at Pitsford Reservoir in the Holcot Bay below the Fishing Lodge near to the moth trap.

Little else was reported today so some recent ringing recoveries associated with Northants Ringing Group activity:-

1.  A Chiffchaff ringed as a juvenile at Pitsford Reservoir on 17th August 2022 was re-captured at Stanford Reservoir on 26th April 2023 - 252 days later - with a probable stay in Iberia or similar inbetween time!

2.  An adult male Greenfinch was ringed at Astcote on 23rd January 2022 and killed itself by striking glass at nearby Eastcote on 3rd June 2023 - 496 days later;

3.  An adult female Reed Warbler was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 22nd May 2022 and was caught again at Lax Hill, Rutland Water on 5th June this year - 379 days later and with a small matter of migrating to and from Africa in the meantime!

4.  A first year male Reed Bunting was ringed at Harrington Airfield on 11th November 2021 and was picked up and released after hitting a window at Belton, North Lincolnshire on 23rd April 2023 - apparently flying away unharmed - 528 days elapsed between the two records, the site in Lincolnshire being 128km north of Harrington Airfield;

5.  An adult male Mallard was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 22nd February 2019 and found dead at Holcot on 15th December 2022 - 1392 days elapsing in that time, but only moving 3km away;

6.  A first year female Yellowhammer was ringed at Harrington Airfield on 2nd October 2019 and just the ring was found at nearby Foxhall on 7th May 2023 - found by a person using a metal detector 1313 days later!

7.  A nestling Common Tern was ringed on one of the rafts at Pitsford Reservoir on 24th July 2019 and found dead on one of the lagoons 39km away at Rutland Water on 17th May 2023 - 1393 days later and a presumed casualty of the bird flu outbreak;

8.  A Chiffchaff was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 20th August 2022 and found dead in Milton Keynes on 25th April 2023 - 248 days later - and probably an example of a returning bird coming to a premature ending;

9.  A first year Sedge Warbler was ringed at Witches Oak, Derbyshire on 18th August 2022 and caught again at Stortons Pits on 5th May 2023 - 260 days later and with a trip to Africa and back inbetween;

10.  A male Blackcap was ringed at Wytham Wood, Oxfordshire on 5th May 2022 and trapped again at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 27th May this year - 387 days later - I wonder where he had been in the meantime?

11.  Another male Blackcap was ringed at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordshire on 24th April 2022 and caught again at Linford Lakes on 13th May 2023 - 384 days later and no doubt with a story to tell too!

12.  A first year Garden Warbler was ringed at Park Farm, New Marston, Oxfordshire on 12th August 2022 and caught again at Linford Lakes on 6th May this year - 267 days later and it had presumably been much further than either of the two Blackcaps.

Regards

Neil M

Blue Emperor consuming a
damselfly.

Marbled White.

Bearded Tit.

All images above taken at
Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Sun-bathing Song Thrush.

Just emerged Ruddy Darter.

Little Egret.

Four-spotted Chaser.

Starling.

All images taken locally
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Pitsford wildlife today

Hello

An interesting day to be at Pitsford Reservoir today with the Bearded Tit below the Fishing Lodge still in the reedbed next to the shoreline moth trap and two Sandwich Terns arrived this morning, visiting all bays north of the causeway and remaining until about 11.30am. Two summer plumage Black-tailed Godwits were on the shoreline in the Scaldwell Bay between Maytrees and the Bird Club hides. Other birds included a Kingfisher, a singing Spotted Flycatcher, Ravens and a calling Cuckoo. Plenty of butterflies on the wing included Marbled Whites in Scaldwell Meadows near to the causeway and plenty of day-flying moths included Chimney Sweepers. Large numbers of damselflies were active and included Large Red and Large Red-eyed and there were a few examples of Beautiful Demoiselle, lots of Four-spotted Chasers and rather fewer Black-tailed Skimmers, Broad-bodied Chasers, Ruddy Darters and Blue Emperors. A single Pyramidal Orchid was found flowering on the grassy area of the road causeway (Brixworth end).

Yesterday at Sywell Country Park there were two Hobbies, two Cetti's Warblers, a family of Grey Wagtails and sadly lots of dead Common Terns on the rafts. A Peregrine was noted over Rushden today.

All images below and video from Pitsford Reservoir today...

Regards

Neil M

Brown Hare.

Four--spotted Chaser,

Broad-bodied Chaser.

Bearded Tit courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Sandwich Terns courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Sandwich and Common
Terns courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Image and video of Sandwich
 Tern courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Brixworth ringing

Hello

Some heavy rain around this morning which is what the ground required, but still humid and pleasant once the pulses had concluded.

An impromptu ringing session at Brixworth today yielded just over fifty captures, the majority made up of thirty-five Starlings (one of which were re-trap from last year and another a re-trap adult from May 2018). Seven Swallows were a delight and other birds included a Grey Wagtail. three Pied Wagtails and a couple of Chiffchaffs (including a breeding male first ringed as an adult there in May 2021).

A male Bearded Tit was seen at Pitsford Reservoir again today, remaining loyal to the phragmites reed bed in the Holcot Bay along the shoreline below the Fishing Lodge and close to the large static moth trap. A Scarlet Tiger moth was also seen there.

A Barnacle Goose was in fields at Upton Country Park and birds noted at Stanford Reservoir included a Green Sandpiper, a Curlew, a Shelduck, a Kingfisher and a Cetti's Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Buck Roe Deer courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Doe and fawn Muntjac courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Common Whitethroat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Bearded Tits

Hello

Our apologies for the lack of a blog entry for yesterday, a loss of electricity locally and no WiFi conspired to prevent that from happening! Even now the village is running off a generator - the perils of living out in the sticks!

The best birds locally yesterday (Sunday) were two male Bearded Tits at Pitsford Reservoir found by Fiona and Lisa as they were checking the moth trap in the Holcot Bay below the Fishing Lodge. One bird was vocal and showing well but then seemed to depart high at 10.20am. At the same time another bird could be heard calling from the phragmites reedbed and subsequently this bird became very vocal and was very showy too, making flights up and then back down again. At one point a vocal Crossbill completed a canopy circuit of the trees behind the moth trap and this seemed to attract the second Beardie and he went in search of the caller, only to return rather disappointed! This second Bearded Tit was still present at 11.45am but a later visit failed to locate him. Plentiful insects here included patrolling Hornets and a male Beautiful Demoiselle.

Black Hairstreaks, very much a local speciality, were on show at Glapthorn Cow Pastures and Fermyn Wood CP and birds on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits included a family of Kingfishers, five Oystercatchers and an excellent total of six Cuckoos including two females.

Today (Monday) and some Ravens were noisy first thing at Hanging Houghton and later there were a pair of Grey Partridge at Harrington Airfield and reasonable numbers of Marbled White butterflies.

An Osprey and a Greenshank were at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon and a Peregrine remains at Higham Ferrers.

Regards

Neil M

Bearded Tit at Pitsford
Reservoir yesterday, the
last image courtesy of
David Arden.

A Slavonian Grebe, a Wood Sandpiper and hares!

Hello

Another warm day but without the heat of the previous week was still a pleasant day's weather.

A Slavonian Grebe was an excellent summer find on Town Lake at Thrapston Pits and was still present this evening. It looks likely that the Summer Leys Purple Heron has moved on to Bedfordshire, with a  similarly aged bird being found at Coronation Pit today.

A Wood Sandpiper was a good find at Main Lake, Stanwick Pits at about 5.30am this morning and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a Cuckoo, a Shelduck, a Common Gull, an Oystercatcher and three Cetti's Warblers.

Five Yellow-legged Gulls were present at Pitsford Reservoir this evening and a Barn Owl and a gathering of fourteen Brown Hares were at Lamport Hall this evening.

A pair of Grey Partridge and several Marbled White butterflies were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Marbled White.

Meadow Brown.

Brown Hare courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Avocet, Quail and damselflies.

Hello

An early morning visit to the Lilbourne Meadows reserve provided for three Green Sandpipers, at least one Oystercatcher, one plus Little Ringed Plovers and on territory Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtail. There were nine Little Egrets on the dwindling flood water meadows and breeding birds with young included Lapwing and Gadwall. Mammals included three Roe Deer. Five Little Ringed Plovers were on the adjacent DIRFT pools.

Eleanor ran around the southern section of Pitsford Reservoir this morning and was surprised to see an Avocet on the dam by the valve tower at 7am. This bird later flew past her on it's way towards the causeway but wasn't noted again. The drake Red-crested Pochard and a Cuckoo were by the Gorse Bushes.

The Purple Heron again didn't show at Summer Leys LNR but two Cuckoos included a rufous phase bird did. A Spotted Flycatcher was on the village Green at Creaton and a Quail was heard calling from a cover crop on the Cottesbrooke estate this evening (no public access).

A visit to the Welland valley this afternoon in the vicinity of Gretton Weir was good for a variety of odonata which included lots of White-legged Damselflies, many of them in cop. Another eight species of damselfly and dragonflies were present but the bad news was that there were large numbers of dead fish, particularly Chub, Dace and Perch. The Environment Agency were on-site and trying to determine the reasons behind the big die off. Two Cuckoos were very vocal around the riverside trees there.

Regards

Neil M

The Purple Heron
at Summer Leys LNR
(but not today) courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Buck Roe Deer.

Doe Roe Deer.

Male White-legged Damselfly.

Large Red Damselfly.

Female Banded Demoiselle.

Mid June birds

Hello

There were no reported sightings of the Purple Heron at Summer Leys LNR today but as a whole the Earls Barton Pits is a large complex and the bird could easily still be present. A Peregrine flew west there at 5.45am and other birds included a party of five Ravens over, two Cuckoos, two or three Common Snipe, eleven Redshanks (including two well-grown youngsters), at least six Oystercatchers (including three almost full-size youngsters) and good numbers of Teal, Shoveler and Gadwall. Three foxes were working the area early this morning and at least six Little Egrets were mobile. Amongst the Lapwings were a pair with three small chicks.

Spotted Flycatchers seem in short supply this year but there was one today in Towcester churchyard and single Ospreys were at Titchmarsh Reserve (Thrapston Pits) and Hollowell Reservoir where there was also a Red-veined Darter seen today. Birds for Stanford Reservoir today amounted to a Cuckoo, a Hobby, an Oystercatcher and a Shelduck and three Cetti's Warblers whilst at nearby Welford Reservoir there were two Grey Wagtails, three Common Terns and three Little Egrets.

Regards

Neil M

Pied Wagtail courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Yellow Wagtail courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Male Reed Bunting
courtesy of John Tilly.

Adult and juvenile Oystercatchers
courtesy of John Tilly.