Wednesday update...

Hello

A busy day post-Skokholm and we didn't really manage to facilitate much in the way of birding opportunities. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was by the dam this afternoon at Pitsford Reservoir and the Holcot Bay hosted a Kingfisher, two Little Egrets, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Green Sandpiper this evening. Eleanor noted a Grasshopper Warbler and a Cuckoo at Blueberry Farm this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Wheatear caught and ringed
on Skokholm.
Courtesy of Chris Payne

Swallow.
Courtesy of Cathy Ryden

Pipistrelle Bat active
during daylight.
Courtesy of Jean Dunn

Blue Tit.
Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Back to local birding!

Hello

An evening visit to Brixworth Sewage Treatment works today provided views of 5-7 Grey Wagtails and scanning from the road causeway at Pitsford Reservoir was sufficient to see an Osprey and a Little Egret.

A Grasshopper Warbler was still singing on the south side of Blueberry Farm this morning and this site has yielded migrant Redstart, Whinchat and Wheatear during the last week. A Redstart was at Harrington Airfield on 1st Aug and another was between Walgrave village and Pitsford Res on 2nd Aug. Eleanor also noted a Peregrine at Staverton on Monday 3rd Aug plus c6 Crossbills.

Intriguingly a neighbour close to us here at Hanging Houghton reported a Wryneck feeding in their garden yesterday morning! There has been no sign since but it may still be in the village...

Regards

Neil M

Chalkhill Blue butterfly
Barnack Hills and Holes.
Courtesy of John Gamble

Poplar Hawk-moth.
Courtesy of John Gamble

Broad-bodied Chaser.
Courtesy of Cathy Ryden

Manxies and gulls...

Hello

A few more images from Skokholm below...

Chris and Barbara Payne, Kenny Cramer and Eirwen Edwards are the remaining ringers on the island from the NRG contingent and had a great catch of big gulls which was made up of 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 6 Herring Gulls. 

They have been steadily ringing more Manx Shearwaters at night as these birds crash-land amongst the vegetation on there way to nesting burrows. Over the water 'Manxies' are fast-moving birds which really know how to career quickly and low over the waves. When they fly over land at night, it is possible to hear the 'sewing machine' wing-beats (similar sound to Golden Plover). However on the ground they are ponderous and vulnerable, all the grace in the air lost as they shuffle around and struggle to take to the air again. 

It is at this time that they are caught by adult Great Black-backed Gulls which make short work of them, and effectively turn them inside out to consume all the available flesh. These and Rabbits seem to make up the staple diet of the twenty or so pairs of GBb Gulls on the island. All the corpses are counted and every morning there is fresh evidence of the nocturnal predatory habits of these huge gulls. During 2015 well over 2,000 adult 'Manxies' have been predated, a running total similar to last year's figures. This study will be analysed to establish if it is having a long term effect on the productivity of the local Manx Shearwater populations on both Skokholm and nearby Skomer.

Regards

Neil M

Ruff

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull

Adult Great Black-backed Gull
with the grisly remains of yet another
predated Manx Shearwater.
Interestingly this gull
appears to be depicting grey/dull green
 legs and feet, normally a feature of the other
big black-backed gull of the world, Kelp Gull!

Storm Petrel bonanza!

Hello

With some of the Northants Ringing Group having now left Skokholm, it remains for the remnant four individuals to enjoy 'The Island' until their anticipated return to the mainland on Thursday.

Our last nocturnal ringing escapade provided another catch of about 180 Storm Petrels plus about a dozen Manx Shearwaters. This was very much a team effort with several extracting petrels from the mist net using as little light as possible, placing each bird in to a soft cotton bag and then walking the short distance to the make-do ringing station.

Here the bird is checked over, and if it is already bearing a ring the details are recorded. Storm Petrels regularly have parts of their feet or legs missing or damaged, probably as a result of nibbling by fish when they are pattering over the water's surface. Unringed birds have a hard metal ring placed on an unaffected leg, the wing length is measured and the weight of the bird is ascertained. Because Storm Petrels regularly nest in walls, crevices and broken rocks, the metal is particularly hard to withstand wear against rock/stone. In Europe there are regular records of birds being caught in France, Norway plus regular sites on the coast in the UK and a significant cross-over of birds occurs.

They are a joy to handle as they are small and aren't capable of scratching or pecking, they have a pleasant aroma which everyone describes differently and they make a wonderful little squeaky call in the hand, something like the retro 'Sooty and Sweep' hand puppets for those old enough to remember!

After being processed they are given time to compose themselves and once again become accustomed to the dark. This normally takes less than a minute and they flutter of in to the night breeze like little feathery bats.

Other birds on the island included lingering waders in the shape of a couple of Ruff, a couple of Green Sandpipers, a Dunlin and three Whimbrel, all of which are attracted to the recently refurbished North Pond which is towards the centre of the island. Three Peregrines performed well in the strong breeze, hanging in the air and 'playing' with any other birds that dared come close enough!

Regards

Neil M

Skokholm adventure...

Hello

Saturday today but the days and nights are merging in to one as the ringing and birding activities continue on the Pembrokeshire island of Skokholm...

Due to a change in the forecast, the petrel ringing session planned for last night was put back a night and we went out looking for Manx Shearwaters, with a small number caught. Prior to that, some pleasant sunny conditions allowed us to enjoy insects whizzing around the island and fresh migrants included a Little Egret and a handful of common waders.

The ringing of passerines continued with small numbers of birds being processed and a Herring Gull was caught and ringed.

Today (Saturday), and the conditions are a touch greyer but with some warm sunny interludes. Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and Wheatear were all caught and ringed this morning and we await calmer conditions this afternoon to see what new migrants arrive...

Regards

Neil M

Emperor Dragonfly
laying eggs in a small
pond by The Wheelhouse,
Skokholm.
Courtesy of Jacob Spinks

Chough

Storm Petrels - no time for sleep!

Hello

Yesterday (Thursday) was a full day on the island of Skokholm with the 16 strong members of the Northants Ringing Group (including helpers and friends) committing to a number of different strategies for catching and ringing wild birds on the island. The weather helped as we woke to a sunny day and with a breeze which later dwindled.

The night before we had roamed the island and managed to catch a small number of Manx Shearwaters which were a new species for some. However the almost full-moon conditions meant it wasn't conducive to catch large numbers of 'Manxies' so we enjoyed a relatively easy night and were bedded down by 2.30am in the morning. After the luxury of two hours kip, some of us were up at 5am and managed to catch a couple of roosting Jackdaws before moving on to smaller fare.

During the day we deployed spring-traps, mist nets and Heligoland cages and caught small numbers of passerines which were a mixture of migrants and island breeders. Willow Warbler was the most common bird caught but the supporting cast included Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear and Reed Bunting.

A passage day for waders provided us with views of Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Ruff and Whimbrel and quality island regulars came in the form of Chough, Raven, Peregrine and common sea-birds.

In the afternoon nine of us elected to take a RIB cruise to the island of Grassholm, with its renown Gannet colony dominating the island. Grassholm is usually visible from Skokholm but is some six miles further west. Here we enjoyed the spectacle of thousands of Gannets milling around us. the cliffs supported small numbers of common seabirds including auks and Kittiwakes and we spotted a gaggle of waders which included three Purple Sandpipers.

Thursday evening/early Friday morning was relatively calm and tranquil, normally ideal conditions for mist-netting Storm Petrels, However the almost full moon made the two nets look more obvious than normal so the catch was probably reduced. Nevertheless we worked solidly from 11pm to 4am, catching some 180 'Stormies' and all members of the team were able to partake in extraction, ringing and releasing techniques. These gorgeous little ocean wanderers are a joy to handle and everyone felt privileged to play a small part in their world.

With the danger of significant sleep deprivation already upon us, we retired from the field at about 5.30am to 6am, with a view to starting the diurnal activities by 9am. And with a further petrel ringing session planned for tonight, we will be very tired by dawn tomorrow!

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Most birds on
the island are adults or juveniles, but there are
a few of other ages too

No not a rare bunting, just a
juvenile Reed Bunting in moult!

Skokholm is reputed to be home
to the largest Slow Worms in the
UK.

Nick Wood, Mark Spinks and Helen
Franklin enjoying the sunshine!

Gannet

Grey Seal

Skokholm at last!

Hello

Yesterday (Tuesday), and the gathering of Northants Ringing Group members in Pembrokeshire continued as we failed to yet again reach Skokholm Island due to adverse conditions. Nevertheless we made the best of it and combed the coastline around Dale, Marloes and beyond to find a variety of birds and other wildlife.

The strong winds caused a number of feeding sea-birds to pass close to Wooltack Point near to Marloes, as joined by a couple of Harbour Porpoise.

Afternoon sunshine brought forth dragonflies and damselflies and the butterflies included Painted Lady, Wall Brown and Grayling.

Today (Wednesday) and we managed to finally boat over to Skokholm and begin our expedition proper.

Regards

Neil M

Gannets

Harbour Porpoise

Kittiwake

Gannet

Night Heron images

Hello

Although it sounds as if the Night Heron was not seen at Ditchford GP today, please find a couple of images below of the bird as taken by Neil H a couple of evenings back...

Currently I'm with a fair chunk of the Northants Ringing Group down in Pembrokeshire, waiting for the strong winds to abate with a view to landing on the island of Skokholm. Here we hope to see and ring breeding and migrant birds on the island which should include Manx Sheawater and Storm Petrel.

Birding around the Dale Peninsular and Marloes area today provided views of Chough, Raven, Peregrine, Manx Shearwater, Fulmar, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Stonechat, Wheatear and Spotted Flycatcher, often in very blustery conditions.

Regards

Neil M

Night Heron at
Ditchford Gravel Pits
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

The Night Heron remains

Hello

The Night Heron has been seen this evening both in flight and half-concealed in bushes at Ditchford Gravel Pits, in much the same place where it has been seen in flight the last few evenings (on the River Nene between the Bailey Bridge and the Broadholme SWT outflow).

This evening Eleanor located a singing Grasshopper Warbler and a party of four Whinchats in the southern-most field (Big Lichfields) at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Sule Skerry Part 2

Hello

Dave Francis is not long back from his sortie on Sule Skerry, ringing sea-birds during the second week of the three week BTO-led expedition. I was there in the first week and it sounds like the somewhat challenging weather conditions persisted through some of the second week too...

However Dave also enjoyed some decent calm and sunny weather and managed to take some photos as below...

Regards

Neil M

Great Skua

Rock Pipit

Gannets

The iconic Puffin

A wet Pitsford!

Sparrowhawk and bird bath!
Courtesy of Cathy Ryden.

Hello

This morning a foray to Pitsford Reservoir near the dam area produced a fishing Osprey which caught a trout, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls and a Grey Wagtail. Three Grey Wagtails were also present at Brixworth Sewer Treatment Works.

Neil H was at Summer Leys Nature Reserve this morning and saw a Water Rail and a Green Sandpiper.

The wet weather extending in to the early hours tomorrow may down an interesting migrant or two...?

Regards

Neil M

Whitethroat with Grasshopper/
cricket prey.
Courtesy of Cathy Ryden

Butterflies and more...

Yesterday, a 'spur of the moment' decision found me heading to Fermyn Wood Country Park and nearby woodland in search of butterflies.

I didn't think that I would find time to visit the area this year, but I grabbed a few hours when the opportunity arose. I took my two young dogs with me and kept my fingers crossed that they wouldn't accidentally trample on the butterflies and embarrass me, but thankfully they behaved and all butterflies remained intact !

Initially it was quite cloudy but just after midday the sun came out and the butterflies and insects erupted in a frenzy of colour and activity.  I don't think that I have ever seen so many Silver-washed Fritillaries, they were absolutely stunning.  At times it was easy to count 10+ on the Blackberry flowers. 

There seemed to be a profusion of Blackberry flowers which attracted large numbers of butterflies including Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, White Admiral and Ringlet.
A few Purple Hairstreak were found flitting about at the top of the Oak trees and a couple of White Letter Hairstreak were visible in an Elm hedge.

Although I hoped to see Purple Emperor I thought that I had left it too late in the season, so I was very pleased to find 4 individuals. I came across a superb male sitting on the track, but as I prepared to take a photograph a family of Fallow Deer chose that moment to cross the track, which one of the dogs found interesting , which meant I was momentarily distracted. When I turned back to take my photograph the Purple Emperor was nowhere to be seen !

Birds took second place, but I did see approx 10 Crossbills, several family parties of Jays, and good numbers of Red Kites which were both very vocal and acrobatic above the trees.

Regards

Eleanor

Silver-washed Fritillary

Female Silver-washed Fritillary
of the form 'Valezina'.
Thanks to Doug Goddard for
confirming this identification.

Large White

Peacock butterfly

White Admiral

Honeysuckle

Tor to the left and Smeagol to the right!

Fallow Deer