Another grizzly day in January

Hello

Back to the grey and drizzle today after the brightness of yesterday.

A drake Smew was a great find today north of the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Summer Leys LNR provided a Glossy Ibis, an adult Caspian Gull, a Marsh Harrier and a Golden Plover.

At Clifford Hill Pits there was a drake Smew too plus a Great White Egret, seven Golden Plovers, a Water Rail and a Raven.

Blatherwycke Lake was the venue for a pair of Goosanders, a Great White Egret and an Egyptian Goose.

Stanford Reservoir provided for forty-five European White-fronted Geese, seven Great White Egrets, seven Goosanders, an adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost and two Kingfishers.

A Barn Owl, two Stonechats, two Woodcock and a female Peregrine taking a Woodpigeon were all in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Raven was in the village. 

Two Barn Owls were on the Cottesbrooke Estate and a Golden Plover and a Grey Wagtail were at Pitsford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Male Blackbird courtesy of
John Tilly.

Herring Gull.

Barn Owl.

Adult male Sparrowhawk.

Birds on a bright winter day

Hello

A brighter day today with blue skies, some sunshine and a keen breeze was much better than the weather during the week.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Barn Owl, a pair of Stonechats and two Bramblings. Two Barn Owls and a displaying Raven were on the Cottesbrooke Estate.

Pitsford Reservoir is now full of brown water and has lost plenty of wildfowl during the last few days as they have moved on to better conditions. The only birds of interest noted there today were a Raven and two Grey Wagtails.

The Glossy Ibis turned up again at the Embankment at Wellingborough and it seems that the drake American Wigeon has relocated to Ferry Meadows Country Park at Peterborough.

Seven Smew were still at Eyebrook Reservoir plus thirteen European White-fronted Geese and a Greater Scaup.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today were fifty-eight European White-fronted Geese, one hundred and two Pochard, three Water Rails, six Great White Egrets, three Goosanders, a Kingfisher and a Raven. Three hundred Lapwings and thirty Golden Plovers were at Lilbourne Water Meadows.

A drake Smew was at Clifford Hill Pits today with a supporting cast of a Great White Egret, three female Shelducks and a pair of Goosanders. Nearby at Barnes Meadow LNR there were a pair of Stonechats, a Common Snipe, a Woodcock and four Water Rails.

Stanwick Pits hosted a Marsh Harrier, a Redshank and a Pintail and Summer Leys LNR provided for seven European White-fronted Geese and a Marsh Harrier again. Seven Mandarin Ducks were at Barnwell Country Park and nine European White-fronted Geese were in a field near Warmington Mill this morning.

Two Blackcaps continue to visit a garden in Woodford Halse, a pair of Pintail were in flooded fields at Upton Country Park, two Ring-necked Parakeets were seen in flight over Boughton Pocket Park and in excess of three hundred Fieldfares and two Ravens were in fields south west of Sibbertoft.

Regards

Neil M

Canada Geese courtesy
of John Tilly.

Cormorant courtesy of
John Tilly.

Kestrel courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Ditchford Pits WeBS count

Hello

It was rather raw out there but mostly dry for a quiet Ditchford Pits WeBS count.

Birds west of Ditchford Lane included a Marsh Harrier, four Great White Egrets, a Chiffchaff and two Cetti's Warblers and birds to the east included a Marsh Harrier (appeared to be a different individual and was quite vocal), four more Great White Egrets, an apparent drake Tufted Duck x Ring-necked Duck hybrid and two Grey Wagtails.

Summer Leys provided groups of at least two and a flock of seven European White-fronted Geese, a Glossy Ibis, a Peregrine, a Jack Snipe and five Common Snipe. Two Egyptian Geese were at The Embankment at Wellingborough.

Bramblings were heard calling in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Barn Owl was hunting at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

Three Ring-necked Parakeets visited a Billing Lane, Northampton garden today.

A first year Caspian Gull was in the roost at Stanford Reservoir this afternoon and other birds included eight Great White Egrets and five Goosanders. Seven Smew and fifteen European White-fronted Geese persist at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

White-fronted Goose courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

First year Mute Swan.

Adult Mute Swan.

Egyptian Goose. Note the pike lure
hanging down from the remnants of
this bird's left leg and probably the
reason it lost it.

Summer Leys birding

Hello

Summer Leys LNR seemed to be the main focus for local birders today and birds on offer included a Glossy Ibis, two Marsh Harriers, four European White-fronted Geese, an adult Caspian Gull, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Golden Plovers and eleven Common Snipe.

Another Glossy Ibis still finds the Embankment at Wellingborough to its liking and an Otter showed very well today at Stanwick Pits.

Irchester Lakes and Meadows reserve at Ditchford Pits provided four pairs of Stonechat and two hundred Lapwings.

A pair of Red-crested Pochard and a female Greater Scaup were on Town Lake at Thrapston Pits today. Up to seven Smew remain at Eyebrook Reservoir, now probably the most reliable site to see this species in the winter in the UK.

A Grey Wagtail was at Hanging Houghton, a Chiffchaff and a Grey Wagtail were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, where also a Grey Wagtail.

Regards

Neil M

Little Grebe.

Shoveler.

Coot.

Marsh Harrier.

All images from Summer Leys LNR
today courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Finches on the move

Hello

Another grimy and wet day does little to inspire!

However some birders are out in all weathers and birds at Summer Leys LNR include the Glossy Ibis, a Marsh Harrier, two Great White Egrets and two Common Snipe.

Two Crossbills were at Gamboro' Plantation this morning with the pair of Stonechats and in excess of four Bramblings nearby in the Brampton Valley near shrike hedge.

A singing Grey Wagtail was in Northampton town centre.

A few recoveries associated with Northants Ringing Group activity as follows:-

1. A male Lesser Redpoll was ringed at Morar in the Highlands of Scotland on 19th April 2024 and was caught again at Linford Lakes LNR on 29th December 2025, 619 days later and with a distance of 632 km between the two sites;

2. A first year male Chaffinch was ringed at Austerlands, Greater Manchester on 28th September 2025 and caught again at Hanging Houghton on 21st December 2025 having traveled 153 km in a SSE direction within 84 days;

3. A first year Goldfinch was ringed at Cropwell Bishop, Nottinghamshire on 24th October 2024 and caught again close to Overstone Park, Northampton on 29th December 2025, this bird having traveled 69 km south during the 431 day interval;

4. A Blue Tit ringed as a nestling at Rabbithill Spinney, Kelmarsh on 30th May 2023 was caught in a Corby garden and processed by a ringer on 8th January 2026, this bird having moved 16 km ENE from it's natal area over a period of 954 days;

5. An adult male Goldfinch was ringed at Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway on 12th January 2024 and caught again in a Greens Norton garden on 18th January 2026 having traveled 365 km in a SSE direction over a period of 737 days. It would seem that this bird was attempting to winter in Scotland in 2024 but thought better of it this winter and came south!

Regards

Neil M

Nuthatch at Cottesbrooke
yesterday courtesy of
Phil West.

Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys
LNR today courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Map depicting the movement
of a ringed Lesser Redpoll as at
1. above courtesy of Nick Wood.

Map depicting the movement
of a ringed Goldfinch as at
5. above courtesy of Nick Wood.

Birds of the Nene Valley and elsewhere

Hello

A little frustrating that the superb aurora display up and down the country was difficult to see locally due to low cloud and murky conditions.

Summer Leys LNR seemed to be the place today with a Tundra Bean Goose, five European White-fronted Geese, an adult Caspian Gull, a Glossy Ibis, three different Marsh Harriers, at least eight Common Snipe and sixteen Golden Plovers.

A Glossy Ibis, a Cattle Egret and two Egyptian Geese were at The Embankment, Wellingborough.

At Thrapston Pits the drake Ring-necked Duck was on Town Lake and the pair of Red-crested Pochard and a drake and a female Greater Scaup were still present. A Marsh Harrier was at Stanwick Pits first thing.

Two Water Rails and a Peregrine were at Stortons Pits.

Six Crossbills were at Chase Park Farm, Yardley Chase at lunchtime today.

At least fifty-seven European White-fronted Geese were at Stanford Reservoir today and other birds were two Caspian Gulls and sixty-five Great Black-backed Gulls in the roost, five Goosanders and four Great White Egrets.

A few Bramblings were audible in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and a Siskin was mobile on the west side of Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir. Five Tree Sparrows were at Rectory Farm, Old.

Regards

Neil M

Crossbill at Chase Park Farm
today courtesy of Will Bush.

Reed Bunting.

Female Blackbird.

The geese are thinning out

Hello

Some garden ringing at Billing Lane, Northampton today provided thirty-four captures made up of twenty-one Goldfinches, a Siskin, a Greenfinch, five Blue Tits, two Great Tits, a Coal Tit, a Robin, a Dunnock and a Great Spotted Woodpecker that was at least six years old.

At Stanford Reservoir a remnant eight European White-fronted Geese were present plus six Goosanders, four Great White Egrets, a Golden Plover, a Kingfisher, ten Siskins and a Cetti's Warbler.

At Pitsford Reservoir a drake Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid (Lesser Scaup look-alike) was off the Sailing Club this morning plus an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Grey Wagtail and a Redpoll. A flotilla of fishing Cormorants was made up of one hundred and twenty-three birds. This afternoon two adult European White-fronted Geese were with Greylags in a field west of the Walgrave Bay.

At Summer Leys LNR today there were four European White-fronted Geese and an adult Caspian Gull.

At Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits a Marsh Harrier was seen and the Black-tailed Godwit was still present. A Marsh Harrier was also seen at Stanwick Pits and a pair of Stonechats were at Clifford Hill Pits.

Stuart watched three Blackcaps in his Duston, Northampton garden and between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton there were at least eight Crossbills at Gamboro' Plantation with a pair of Stonechats and two Bramblings nearby in the Brampton Valley.

Two Corn Buntings were on wires between Wicken and Deanshanger this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Heron courtesy
of Jonathan Pitt.

Black-headed Gull.

Common Gull.

Pied Wagtail.

A murky Sunday

Hello

Misty, murky conditions with rain at times was the weather for the day but at least it was mild.

The Glossy Ibis was again at the Embankment at Wellingborough today.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Black-necked Grebe was in the Narrows and there was a massive flock of two hundred and twenty-eight Cormorants in the Catwalk Bay. North of the causeway there were twenty plus Common Snipe, two male Stonechats and a Redpoll. A Blackcap was in Brixworth village.

Thrapston Pits was again the venue for a Firecrest in the scrub at the Willowbrook Angling Club pit and two Red-crested Pochard and a Black-tailed Godwit were on the Titchmarsh reserve with a drake Greater Scaup on Town Lake.

Eleven Goosanders and a Cetti's Warbler were at Clifford Hill Pits. Six Siskins were at Lings Wood, Northampton.

A Crossbill flew over Lower Wellingborough Lock in the Nene Valley where also an Oystercatcher. A pair of Stonechats were at Chester House Lake plus two Great White Egrets.

Single Blackcaps were at Brixworth village, Brington Feed Station and Moulton village. Six Bramblings were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Stanford Reservoir was the venue for ten European White-fronted Geese, five Great White Egrets, a Pintail, fifty-six Pochard and two Kingfishers.

Some garden ringing at Greens Norton provided captures of thirty-four Goldfinches, five Greenfinches, five Blue Tits, a Robin and a Siskin.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing.

Male Stonechat.

Male Siskin courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Some images of locally processed birds 
at the week-end. The Stonechat is a 
wintering bird at Pitsford Reservoir
originally ringed on 9th November 2025
and the Siskin was the Greens Norton
bird caught and ringed today.

And the rain came down again!

Hello

The wet weather today severely affected ringing sessions at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes and Pitsford Reservoir. A Canada Goose, three Redwings and three Greenfinches were the best at Linford and at Pitsford it was possible to ring five Redwings between showers and we processed another forty-six birds which included six Coal Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A Raven, a Siskin and White-fronted Geese were heard calling in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were four Great White Egrets, two Goosanders and thirty Siskins. Hollowell Reservoir again hosted a European White-fronted Goose, two Great White Egrets, two Stonechats and two Common Snipe.

Four Ring-necked Parakeets were in a garden this morning off Billing Lane, Northampton and ten were on garden feeders in Cogenhoe village.

Nine European White-fronted Geese and two Goosanders were at Blatherwycke Lake this afternoon and birds at Deene Lake were a Raven, seven Shelducks and a pair of Stonechats. Several Crossbills were at nearby Wakerley Wood.

At least ten Crossbills were still at Gamboro' Plantation this morning and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton were two Ravens, six Bramblings, a pair of Stonechats and a female Peregrine successfully hunted a Fieldfare. An estimated thousand Fieldfares were feeding on the ground and in the bushes at Harrington Airfield this afternoon plus two Woodcock.

At least two Corn Buntings were in fields between Deanshanger and Wicken this afternoon.

At Thrapston Pits the Firecrest showed again in the south west corner of the Willowbrook Fishing Lake this afternoon and a Black-tailed Godwit was still on the Titchmarsh reserve.

Regards

Neil M

Canada Goose ringed at
Linford Lakes today.
Courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Linford Lakes after the showers!
Courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Eastern Black Redstart from
Sheringham yesterday.

Ring-necked Parakeet
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Black-winged Kite and county Firecrests

Hello

I couldn't resist it any longer so today saw me drive over to the Norfolk Broads to see the wintering Black-winged Kite which showed well but distantly about a mile north of Stubbs Mill. The supporting cast included lots of harriers, Common Cranes and a smart male Merlin and we finished the day with a quick visit to Sheringham to see the very smart Eastern Black Redstart.

In the meantime the county was lively today with a host of good birds on offer.

At Thrapston Pits the Firecrest re-appeared in the south-west corner scrub of the Willowbrook Angling Pit probably best reached from Islip and at Islip Water Treatment Works there was an outstanding winter count of thirty-two Chiffchaffs! Two European White-fronted Geese were on the Titchmarsh reserve opposite North Hide and two Greater Scaup and two Red-crested Pochard continued to grace Town Lake. Other birds included the Black-tailed Godwit still, thirty-seven Golden Plovers over and a Peregrine.

Two Marsh Harriers were at Summer Leys LNR today with a Pink-footed Goose reported and ten European White-fronted Geese and an orange-tagged Marsh Harrier were at North Lake, Stanwick Pits.

A Firecrest was a great find in a roving tit flock on the west side of Wakerley Wood between the main track and the new quarry workings, twenty-five Crossbills were high up in larches at the main car park and small numbers of Crossbills and Siskins were mobile throughout the wood.

At Blatherwycke Lake the Tundra Bean Goose conveniently placed itself in front of the huge Greylag flock but there may have been more than the five European White-fronted Geese seen. A Marsh Harrier was attracted to the tiny phragmites bed and eight Egyptian Geese were present.

In the south of the county there were twenty Corn Buntings on power cables over a field between Deanshanger and Wicken, by a small building.

A drake Smew was in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon plus two Stonechats. Three Great White Egrets were at Stanford Reservoir today where there was also two Water Rails, a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

In recent days there has been quite a
gathering of surface-feeding ducks
in the Scaldwell Bay, Pitsford Reservoir,
 the rising water levels releasing food
 from the margins.

Dunnock.

After a glut of berries in the
autumn there is still plenty on
the bushes for the winter thrushes
to consume like these sloe berries.

Image and video of the 
Black-winged Kite today
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

And down came the rain!

Hello

With heavy rain for much of the day the local reports were few and far between!

A late report from yesterday (14th) was of a Tundra Bean Goose and nine European White-fronted Geese at Blatherwycke Lake.

A Yellow-browed Warbler was photographed and video'd in a garden in Raunds today but there is no public access at present.

A huge count of seventy-five European White-fronted Geese at Stanford Reservoir is quite incredible and other birds were seven Great White Egrets, two Water Rails, four Goosanders and a Cetti's Warbler.

Two Egyptian Geese were in the Welland Valley below Cottingham and to the south there were still several Corn Buntings between Deanshanger and Wicken this morning.

Two Marsh Harriers at Stanwick Pits provides more evidence of a small number successfully wintering in the Nene Valley and perhaps a pair will at long last breed in the county this year! Fifteen Redpolls and a Redshank were also present.

A Black-tailed Godwit was reported on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today and yesterday there were two Greater Scaup and two Red-crested Pochard still on Town Lake. A Kingfisher was at Summer Leys LNR.

Regards

Neil M

European White-fronted Geese
courtesy of David Smith.

Yellow-browed Warbler
(not the Raunds bird).

I'd know those concrete posts
anywhere! Stonechats at
Pitsford Reservoir.

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Cold and frosty this morning gave way to a lovely winter day with sunshine and a light breeze.

An ideal day to complete the Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count which south of the causeway provided the Black-necked Grebe, a 'redhead' Smew, nine European White-fronted Geese, two Grey Wagtails, over thirty Siskins, about eight Redpolls, one Chiffchaff and four Ravens. North of the causeway there was a female Peregrine, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, two Jack Snipe, thirty-one Common Snipe, two Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail and a Siskin.

At Wellingborough the Glossy Ibis was again in a wet field next to the Embankment near the Premier Inn.

A small flock of Crossbills were on the west side of Harlestone Heath today where also two Ravens. Up to fifteen Crossbills were again at Gamboro' Plantation showing well this morning (a small block of woodland between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton). One Stonechat was seen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Grey Wagtail was in the village.

A flock of no less than twenty-two Corn Buntings were between Wicken and Deanshanger again today, showing well and singing from the overhead wires.

Little news from the Nene Valley today but three Goosanders were along the River Nene at Hardwater Mill.

Three Blackcaps were visiting a Duston, Northampton garden this morning feeding on ivy berries. A Peregrine was seen over Daventry town today.

Regards

Neil M

Some pictures of the
Gamboro' Plantation
Common Crossbills
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Quiet day in January

Hello

Another mild day provided little that was new.

The Glossy Ibis appeared again at The Embankment, Wellingborough and other birds in the near vicinity were a Cattle Egret and two Egyptian Geese.

Ten European White-fronted Geese and the Tundra Bean Goose were again at Stanwick Pits, still around North Lake and a Marsh Harrier was again at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows.

The drake American Wigeon was again reported at the north end of Aldwincle Lake, Titchmarsh reserve, Thrapston Pits.

It was quiet in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today but the female Merlin was present just before dusk, trying to catch Skylarks as they were going to roost. Two Common Snipe were also in the valley and two Redpolls were at Scotland Wood.

Ten European White-fronted Geese were in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today and the pair of Stonechats were still in the Scaldwell Bay.

A Kingfisher was at Clifford Hill Pits and a flock of twenty-eight Magpies at Billing Fishponds, Little Billing was a large and no doubt noisy gathering.

A Blackcap continues to visit a garden in Wellingborough, being attracted to apples impaled on bushes. I find if you cut the apples in half and impale the convex section other birds are quickly attracted, particularly Blue Tits.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret.

Goldeneye.

Magpie.