Migrants of the sunshine

Hello 

Stunning sunshine all day, a weak breeze and pleasant temperatures ensured today was a day to be out there! Plenty of butterflies of eight species seen on the wing in the county today and the weather forecast suggests we will have plenty of sunshine for at least another week.

A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker near the dam at Stanford Reservoir was a good record and other birds included a Kingfisher, a Barn Owl, a Water Rail, two Ravens, three Oystercatchers, a Great White Egret, three Willow Warblers and five Blackcaps.

Birds of interest at Harrington Airfield this morning included a Yellow Wagtail, a Wheatear and three Willow Warblers. A male Common Redstart and two Wheatears were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell also this morning. A singing Willow Warbler was at Hardingstone Lake, Northampton.

An Osprey was seen at Hollowell Reservoir both this morning and this afternoon and a White Wagtail was on the dam. This afternoon a fourth calendar year Caspian Gull was briefly off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir and two Yellow-legged Gulls were also present.

In the Nene Valley the possible Northern Treecreeper was seen again at Summer Leys LNR and other birds on the reserve included four Black-tailed Godwits, three Little Ringed Plovers, the Glossy Ibis and a fly-over Marsh Harrier. An Otter was photographed on the reserve today. At Thrapston Pits two Little Gulls were on Town Lake this afternoon.

The Whiston Wetlands provided two Avocets, three Green Sandpipers, four Shelduck, four Oystercatchers, a Ringed Plover, five Golden Plovers, a Willow Warbler and a Raven. A Wheatear was at Clifford Hill Pits this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Red Fox.

Cattle Egret courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Black-tailed Godwit
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Chiffchaffs have increased
in numbers markedly during
the last week and now the
Willow Warblers are hot on
their heels! Image courtesy
of Jonathan Pitt.

Ringing at Linford Lakes

Hello

More sunshine and cool winds dominated today and seem set for the week ahead too!

A ringing session today at Linford Lakes on the outskirts of Milton Keynes provided forty-two captures of fourteen species of which twenty-three were birds already ringed. Two Chiffchaffs and three Blackcaps were the warbler contingent and finches included five Goldfinches and six Greenfinches. Of the four Reed Buntings caught one bore a ring from elsewhere and some glamour birds included a Magpie and a stunning Kingfisher. Possibly the star bird of the session was a Common Snipe.

Digital photography often assists in identifying difficult birds and appears to have been instrumental in identifying a possible Northern Creeper wintering at Summer Leys LNR. What appeared to be this bird was still present today, possibly with a more typical British bird. The Glossy Ibis was also present as was a Black-tailed Godwit and a Blackcap.

Two Wheatears were at Clifford Hill Pits and birds at Thrapston Pits this afternoon included two Avocets, an overflying Osprey, four Egyptian Geese, a Water Rail, three Great White Egrets, two Kingfishers, four Oystercatchers, a Swallow, two Willow Warblers, two Grey Wagtails plus an Otter, all on the Titchmarsh reserve.

Elsewhere and there was a White Wagtail at Lower Barnwell Lock, a Grey Wagtail was near Brixworth and a Great White Egret was north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir.

A vocal male Common Redstart was at Hanging Houghton this afternoon in a field hedge just north of the village at what3words stun.unloaded.everyone

Regards

Neil M

Galavanting lamb!

Jaeger in the sunshine!

Peacock butterfly in 
a remarkably good condition.

Male Blackcap courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Kingfisher courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Common Snipe courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Nene Valley

 At this time of year the Nene Valley tends to be the best place to be as it always attracts a good variety of species. Already plenty of birds are present and this will only get better in the coming weeks. 

At Clifford Hill,  Northern Wheatear, Swallow and Little Ringed Plovers.  Summer Leys hosts Glossy Ibis, Black Tailed Godwit,  Little Ringed Plovers,  Sand Martins, Curlew,  Goosander and Marsh Harrier.  Nearby at the Whiston Lock/Wetlands area there are 2 Avocets, Shelduck,  Pink Footed Goose,  Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers.  Yesterday at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows a Sedge Warbler was singing.                                                                                               Away from the Nene Valley there was a Crossbill at Irchester CP, a Willow Warbler at Abington Park,  Caspian Gull and Jack Snipe at Hollowell Reservoir and Barn Owl and Northern Wheatear below Hanging Houghton. 

Looking ahead to next week things look to be hotting up, both temperature wise and hopefully bird wise as the wind direction shifts to a more favourable direction to aid migration. 

Regards Eleanor 

Ringing at Harrington Airfield

Hello

Some bird ringing at Harrington Airfield kept a few of us occupied this morning and in ideal conditions we processed some seventy-nine birds of thirteen species. The three dominant species number-wise were Dunnock (16), Goldfinch (21) and Yellowhammer (19) and the catch included a Chiffchaff, two Song Thrushes, six Reed Buntings and to round the session off a rather resplendent male Green Woodpecker.

A House Martin flew through going west, a Great White Egret flew over heading south and a female Wheatear was at the end of Bunker Two. Plenty of Brown Hares are always good to see, a dog Fox being a much scarcer sighting up there but more frequently since the Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges were put down in such large numbers.

The  Black-necked Grebe continued to grace Clifford Hill Pits even if it does keep it's distance and other birds were the Cattle Egret still, a Wheatear, two Little Ringed Plovers and five Sand Martins.

The Whiston Wetlands area continued to host two Avocets today plus three Green Sandpipers, an Oystercatcher, two Grey Wagtails and two Cetti's Warblers.

An Osprey caught a fish at Hollowell Reservoir late morning and at Stanford Reservoir there was a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, three Common Snipe, two Kingfishers and a Cetti's Warbler.

A Brambling and at least four Reed Buntings were in our small garden at Hanging Houghton this morning and two Peregrines were in Market Harborough town centre.

Regards

Neil M

Comma courtesy of
Jonathan Pitt.

Lapwing courtesy of
Jonathan Pitt.

Peregrines at Market Harborough
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

The below video clip was of the Green Woodpecker
being released today at Harrington Airfield courtesy
of Claire Nuttall.

Black-necked Grebe

Hello

Little change out there but a Black-necked Grebe found at Clifford Hill Pits was a new bird in and easily bird of the day! The Cattle Egret and Wheatear, two Sand Martins and a Ringed Plover were present too.

At Summer Leys LNR the Glossy Ibis was in a field north of the sand martin bank this afternoon and other birds included seven Redshanks and three Oystercatchers. At Stanwick Pits four Cattle Egrets flew north-east from the Main Lake early this morning.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there was something of a southerly movement of Sand Martins with a few lingering and the Great Northern Diver and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were visible from the dam. A Little Ringed Plover flew over north of the causeway and a Great White Egret was in the Scaldwell Bay.

At Hollowell Reservoir a Ring-necked Parakeet flew over and two Jack Snipe and three Common Snipe were noted. An Osprey carrying a fish was in flight between Ravensthorpe Reservoir and the Guilsborough/Teeton road at about 8am this morning.

There was evidence of a sizeable movement of Fieldfares and Redwings through the county today, most of the flocks moving east. Single Barn Owls were at Lamport Hall and Harrington Airfield.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Heron.

Black-headed Gull.

Drake Teal.

All above images courtesy
of Jonathan Pitt.

Redshank courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

A bit late but finally found the time to conduct the WeBS count at Ditchford Pits today. It was rather cool and grey initially but then the sun came out and it was lovely and warm.

Birds east of Ditchford Lane included a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, two Grey Wagtails, a Jack Snipe, sixteen Common Snipe, three Oystercatchers, plenty of Chiffchaffs, three Cetti's Warblers, two Sand Martins and a singing Marsh Tit. There were thirty-one active Cormorant nests, some containing young already and at least twelve Grey Heron nests which also included nestlings. Little Egrets also looked maternal but they tend to nest later than the Grey Herons. A Blackcap was singing at Wharf Road, Higham Ferrers and one or two Otter(s) were on show. A drake Tufted Duck appeared to have some Ring-necked Duck genes included and a hybrid goose showed some White-fronted traits.

West of Ditchford Lane it was pretty quiet with up to three Great White Egrets, three Cetti's Warblers, two Oystercatchers, a Redshank, two Little Ringed Plovers, displaying Lapwings, a Grey Wagtail and two Sand Martins. Butterflies were Peacock, Brimstone and a male Orange-tip.

There are plans to hold a ringing session at Harrington Airfield on Wednesday when there will be restricted access around the bunkers between the Chipping Compound and main concrete track - this to meet the requirements of the site-owner's risk assessment. However if you would like to come along and potentially see some bird ringing on the day please forward me an email and I can provide more details. This afternoon there was a Barn Owl there which was disturbed from roost due to farming operations and a pair of Grey Partridge.

The Slavonian Grebe and a Yellow Wagtail were the highlights at Eyebrook Reservoir and Stanford Reservoir was the place for a Pink-footed Goose, three Great White Egrets, two Shelducks, two Egyptian Geese, two Goosanders, two Oystercatchers, two Common Snipe, six Golden Plovers flying over, a Water Rail, six Sand Martins and a Swallow.

Avocets were busy in the Nene Valley with one at Clifford Hill Pits, two at Stanwick Pits and two at the Whiston Wetlands. Seven White-fronted Geese were still below Whiston and the drake Scaup and two Dunlin were on Mary's Lake at Earls Barton Pits with the Summer Leys Glossy Ibis putting in an appearance too.

Other birds for Clifford Hill Pits which seems to be receiving good coverage this spring were a Wheatear, the Cattle Egret and a fly-over Mediterranean Gull.

A Marsh Harrier showed nicely below Whiston and other birds included four Oystercatchers, two Shelducks, a Grey Wagtail and Cetti's Warbler. Two Cattle Egrets were again at Stanwick Pits early this morning.

Away from the Nene Valley there was a Wheatear at Borough Hill, Daventry, the two White-fronted Geese still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, a Jack Snipe at Hollowell Reservoir and two Black-tailed Godwits briefly in a flooded field near Lower Barnwell Lock this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Common Redshank courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

The Clifford Hill Avocet
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Orange-tip butterfly.

Slow slide to spring

Hello

Mostly grey and overcast for much of the day with patchy rain in some places.

Eyebrook Reservoir today recorded House Martin, Willow Warbler and Avocet as well as the Slavonian Grebe. Stanford Reservoir was good for a first year Caspian Gull, two Great White Egrets, a Pink-footed Goose, a Barn Owl, a Dunlin, two Common Snipe, two Oystercatchers, three Sand Martins and a White Wagtail.

The Great Northern Diver was still between Pintail Bay and the Narrows at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and there was also a Raven and three Yellow-legged Gulls.

The Scaup was still at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits and the Glossy Ibis was seen near the Feeding Station on the Summer Leys reserve where there were up to five Black-tailed Godwits, a Great White Egret, three Little Ringed Plovers and a White Wagtail.

In the Nene Valley further west, six White-fronted Geese were still in meadows below Whiston with a drake Red-crested Pochard on the River Nene still. Two Avocets and two Pintail were on the new gravel pits there too where Common Snipe and Little Ringed Plover were also noted.

Ten Great White Egrets, two Oystercatchers and a Redshank were on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

White-fronted Geese at Whiston.

Drake Red-crested Pochard at Whiston.

Images courtesy of David Smith

Local weekend delights!

Hello

Birds visible from the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this morning included the Great Northern Diver, three Yellow-legged Gulls (adult, second calendar year and third calendar year), a Curlew, a Raven, two Sand Martins and two Egyptian Geese flew in as I was leaving. The diver was acting aggressively towards a small group of Great Crested Grebes, behaviour I haven't witnessed before.

North of the causeway was a Curlew (possibly the same one), two Redshanks, two Sand Martins and a Great White Egret.

A Wheatear and two Green Sandpipers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and Harrington Airfield also hosted a Wheatear plus about eighty Golden Plovers and six Grey Partridges.

A Raven nest was confirmed on the Kelmarsh Estate and two Kingfishers were chasing each other at Fishponds Road, Little Billing today.

The bird list from Stanford Reservoir included two Great White Egrets, two Goosanders, a Water Rail, two Common Snipe, two Oystercatchers, two Sand Martins, two Lesser Redpolls and a White Wagtail.

In the Nene Valley a Marsh Harrier left it's roost at Stanwick Pits at 6am and at Earls Barton Pits the drake Scaup was still on Mary's Lake and the Glossy Ibis was on the Summer Leys reserve this afternoon. In the New Workings/Whiston area quality birds were still two Avocets, six Little Gulls, several White-fronted Geese, a Pink-footed Goose and a Barn Owl. 

The Slavonian Grebe was still at Eyebrook Reservoir and the Richard's Pipit was still near Newport Pagnell.

Regards

Neil M

Barn Owl courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Common Snipe courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

The curious antics of Oystercatchers
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Male Bullfinch courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Pitsford Common Bird Census

Hello

The first CBC of the year at Pitsford Reservoir was completed today, so much for the forecast sunshine! At least it was mild if cloudy and most of the birds were singing despite the lack of sun. The early surveys are always useful for plotting some of our resident birds such as Dunnock, Wren and Robin before the summer visitors arrive and potentially drown out some bird song. Long-tailed Tits are in pairs now and busy confirming their territories and making ready to start nest-building. Already plenty of in-coming Chiffchaffs are re-establishing territories and many of the plantations had flocks of foraging Redwings, many quietly singing in the trees. 

There seemed to be about three each of Little and Great White Egrets (neither species breeds) which remained mobile, up to six Kingfishers, a Brambling, a pair of Ravens with a nest and three Sand Martins making the most of a significant fly hatch.

The south and west of the UK has 'suffered' an invasion of about thirty Hoopoes today although none making it as far as us (one made it to Islay in the Inner Hebrides)!

However the Little Gulls made it here with six at Whiston Wetlands, one at the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve and three at Higham Lake at Ditchford Pits. Other birds in the Nene Valley at Whiston included seven White-fronted Geese, a Pink-footed Goose, two Avocets, the drake Red-crested Pochard, two Sand Martins, a Wheatear, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Green Sandpiper. Other birds on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve this morning were seven Dunlin, two Black-tailed Godwits, four Redshank, two Oystercatchers and an Egyptian Goose.

At Summer Leys birds included a Marsh Harrier and the Glossy Ibis with a drake Scaup on nearby Mary's Lake. Four Cattle Egrets and a Marsh Harrier were at Stanwick Pits early this morning and the Cattle Egret was still in a southern field at Clifford Hill Pits.

Away from the Nene Valley two Little Ringed Plovers were at Willowbrook Industrial Estate, Corby this morning, Hollowell Reservoir hosted a Swallow, an Osprey, three Jack Snipe, nineteen Common Snipe, a Yellow-legged Gull and about two hundred Redwings. Two Sand Martins were noted flying through at Cold Ashby Golf Course at noon today. The two White-fronted Geese were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning.

A Blackcap was in a Duston garden, there were at least two Grey Wagtails in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and Stanford Reservoir was good for a Great White Egret, three Oystercatchers, three Common Snipe, two Water Rails, two Sand Martins and an Otter.

Two Barn Owls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and the remains of one was found next to the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir. The Slavonian Grebe was still at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

The Clifford Hill
Cattle Egret courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Redshanks courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Ruff and sleepy Shovelers
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Shovelers at Pitsford today.

Grey Heron at Pitsford today.

Wildfowl in the sunshine.

Hello

Very warm and sunny for much of the day but little change in the birds with most of the action further to the south of us.

Nevertheless two Avocets at Barnwell Lower Lock was a good find and they lingered to at least early afternoon.

Plenty of passage Meadow Pipits were moving overhead all day long, their calls barely a whisper as the temperature and their overflying height rose. Pied Wagtails, winter thrushes and Woodpigeons were on the move too, mostly heading north or east.

At Pitsford Reservoir both Curlew and Whimbrel were reported north of the causeway where there were also three Great White Egrets; an adult Yellow-legged Gull was again off the dam this evening.

An Osprey with a Bream or Bream hybrid was photographed at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon and the warm temperatures in the county brought forth a variety of butterflies with Brimstone dominating proceedings. The two White-fronted Geese remained at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning.

Stanford Reservoir recorded double-figure Chiffchaff numbers plus two Goosanders, two Oystercatchers, a Water Rail and a Common Snipe. A pair of Grey Partridge were at Harrington Airfield this morning.

The drake Scaup at Earls Barton Pits was on Mary's Lake today and two Ruff and a Dunlin were on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR. Clifford Hill Pits hosted a Cattle Egret still plus three Dunlin and two Little Ringed Plovers. Four Cattle Egrets were noted at North Lake, Stanwick Pits and a single Little Ringed Plover was on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadow reserve. Eight Sand Martins were already showing an interest in the Sand Martin nesting wall on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits.

Two Barn Owls were again hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Gadwall.

Great Crested Grebe.

Shoveler.

Teal.

Tufted Ducks.

All images courtesy
of John Tilly.

Southerly air flow

Hello

Another cold one last night but finally some warm air arriving from the south today! So far it hasn't changed the local bird scene a great deal but there were definitely more Chiffchaffs about today. Further south the changing weather conditions caused plenty of up-channel migration as seen from southerly and south-easterly headlands with waterfowl dominating on their passage north. It's possible that the local birding tomorrow will reflect this as we keenly anticipate the arrival of Garganey, passage Common Scoters, more waders and the like.

Three Cattle Egrets were seen in flight at Stanwick Pits this morning and Summer Leys LNR retained the Glossy Ibis and drake Scaup with waders amounting to passage Common Snipe, two Ruff, a Dunlin, a Redshank, a Golden Plover, a Little Ringed Plover and a Jack Snipe.

Nearby there were still seven White-fronted Geese and a Pink-footed Goose in the valley below Cogenhoe towards the on-going gravel extraction workings. The drake Smew was still at Clifford Hill Pits and there were two Dunlin and two Little Ringed Plovers on the shoreline. The Cattle Egret was still in fields south of the complex. A Little Ringed Plover and two Dunlin were on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits.

A Jack Snipe, a Common Snipe and five Sand Martins were noted at Hollowell Reservoir.

In the Brampton Valley there were four Grey Wagtails below Brixworth and two Barn Owls below Hanging Houghton. Another Grey Wagtail was at Kelmarsh Hall with Ravens over Higham Ferrers and on the Kelmarsh Estate. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Ruff courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Blue Tit courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Nuthatch courtesy
of Sean Gower.

Marsh Tit courtesy
of Sean Gower.

Starlings, Avocets and the long-stayers

Hello

Another cool day with a breezy easterly but some fabulous sunshine too.

Birds at Lilbourne Water Meadows today included at least one Little Ringed Plover, a Golden Plover, a pair of Redshanks, ten Common Snipe, a Shelduck, three hundred and forty-five Wigeon, a Raven and two hundred Starlings plus a scattering of winter thrushes.

There were four hundred Starlings at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby and Harrington Airfield this afternoon hosted a male Brambling and a pair of Grey Partridge. 

The two White-fronted Geese were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and two Jack Snipe were seen at Hollowell Reservoir.

In the Nene Valley four Avocets stayed for a short time at Summer Leys LNR where there were also a Ruff, a Dunlin, four Common Snipe, four Oystercatchers, a drake Scaup and a Great White Egret. The Glossy Ibis was in a flooded field just east of Hardwater Crossing.

Clifford Hill Pits again caused the drake Smew and the Cattle Egret to stay longer plus two Dunlin were seen. The Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston  provided sightings of three Great White Egrets, two Oystercatchers, two Cetti's Warblers and several Chiffchaffs.

Eight White-fronted Geese were in the Nene Valley east of Cogenhoe Mill with the flock of Canada and Greylag Geese at lunchtime.

Regards

Neil M

Animals of Lilbourne
Water Meadows - the
black sheep and Roe Deer.

Red Fox.

Starling courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
courtesy of Robin Gossage.