Northamptonshire Birding: Full on autumn birding

Hello

There was plenty of small bird activity in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with good numbers of Common Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler, a Common Redstart, four Whinchats and a Green Sandpiper. Two male Common Redstarts were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a Tree Pipit flew over calling.

Stortons Pits hosted a Hobby, a Spotted Flycatcher and three Ravens and Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) also hosted a Raven and a Spotted Flycatcher. Two Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village.

A Common Redstart was still present at Woodford Halse LNR, a Whinchat remained at Hollowell Reservoir and birds of note at Stanford Reservoir were the Black-necked Grebe again, the Ruddy Shelduck, a Hobby, a Kingfisher, two Common Sandpipers and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Summer Leys LNR provided quality sightings with of a flock of seven Cattle Egrets and subsequently a flock of six. A Bittern was also seen and other birds included a Marsh Harrier, a Garganey, a Wood Sandpiper, three Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpiper, three Greenshanks, two Redshanks and two Ringed Plovers.

Two Marsh Harriers were on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today and this evening two Barn Owls and a Hobby were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

An Osprey and a Red-crested Pochard were in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning.

Another very productive ringing session at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes epitomized autumn migration with good numbers of warblers which included fifty-two Blackcaps, five Garden Warblers, seven Willow Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, three Sedge Warblers, twelve Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler all caught and processed. Other birds included an adult Sand Martin, a high number of nineteen Greenfinches (they seem to be having a good year), a Treecreeper and plenty of common resident birds.

Regards

Neil M