A celebration of Water Rails!

Hello

A couple of videos attached of Water Rail activity at a site in Northamptonshire where a study of Water Rail behaviour is being conducted by members of the Northants Ringing Group using camera trap opportunities.

The Purple Heron continues to delight at Summer Leys LNR, at times showing well in front of the scrape hides. A Cuckoo was also present.

Three more Cuckoos at Barnwell Country Park tends to support anecdotal evidence that this species is in better numbers this spring than in recent years.

Post-breeding dispersal was evident today with a Common Redstart noted in Kettering at Furnace Lane on the Telford Way Industrial Estate and also two or three Common Crossbills at Hanging Houghton this afternoon. The first returning Green Sandpiper will be reported any day now!

Two Peregrines were at Higham Ferrers and at Stanford Reservoir there were two Cuckoos, an Oystercatcher, a first summer Common Gull and three Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Stortons Pits wildlife

Hello

Some bird ringing took place at Stortons Pits today with just short of forty birds being processed which were mostly common breeding warblers on site, a few tits, Reed Buntings, a Blackbird and some juvenile Robins. Water Rails were audible and visible at times and at least three Cuckoos were noisy and excited. An adult Peregrine spent quite some time overhead and scarcer birds in the reeds and scrub included several Cetti's Warblers. Odonata on the wing included Blue Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer and Banded Demoiselle.

The Purple Heron continues to lord it at Summer Leys LNR and there are now many excellent images of this stunning bird which seems to like the channels and vegetation around the scrape.

Two Sandwich Terns were a good find at the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits today, showing well before they flew off south. Two Peregrines were at Higham Ferrers today.

Regards

Neil M

This Garden Warbler was first
ringed as an adult female at
Stortons Pits in 2021. Close to
where she was captured today at
least one fledged youngster was
present so it seems that this is her
breeding site!

Water Rails courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Blue Emperor courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Peregrine courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Broad-bodied Chaser.

Cuckoo.

All images from Stortons Pits today.

June birds, dragons, damsels and butterflies

Hello

A ringing session at Christies Copse at Pitsford Reservoir this morning proved quiet with just a handful of birds finding the mist nets. Other birds on-site included a vocal Cuckoo and a fly-over Spotted Flycatcher. Odonata on show today included Broad-bodied Chasers, Blue Emperor and a single Willow Emerald Damselfly. Butterflies included Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Small Heath and there were still good numbers of Chimney Sweeper moths in the meadows.

At Stanford Reservoir there were two Cuckoos again, three Cetti's Warblers, a female Gadwall was spotted with a brood of ducklings and three Oystercatchers were present. Cuckoos were near Wicksteed Park and Mary's Lake, Earls Barton today.

A Little Ringed Plover and two Oystercatchers were at Upton Country Park.

The Purple Heron at Summer Leys LNR showed again today but with long periods of not being seen. The Bittern showed up again this afternoon too.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Nuthatch
courtesy of Jane Neil.

Adult Long-tailed Tit
already in post-breeding
moult courtesy of Jane Neil.

Oystercatcher and Little
Ringed Plover at Upton CP
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Birds of the heat and thunder

Hello

A warm and sunny day for most in the county today with darkened skies and sporadic thunderstorms and even some rain in some parts this afternoon.

For those that were patient, the Purple Heron was seen on several occasions at Summer Leys LNR today, a very good looking individual that finds the vegetation around the scrape to it's liking.

A Birdguides report of a Quail over Higham Ferrers at 11.10pm last night was presumably heard calling! 

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and two Hobbies were hunting dragonflies in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening. Two Cuckoos were still at Stanford Reservoir today and a Black-tailed Godwit was at Stanwick Pits on the Main Lake early this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Broad-bodied Chaser.

A fledgling Carrion Crow
out of the nest too early!

Common Whitethroat.

All images courtesy of
Tony Stanford from Stortons
Pits and Hardingstone.

 

Summer Leys LNR has it!

Hello

A ringing session in sweaty conditions and with mosquitoes making conditions difficult was what Kenny Cramer and team suffered today to complete yet another high volume catch at Linford Lakes this morning. As expected newly fledged youngsters made up the majority with the tits out in force. Just over a hundred birds were processed today of twenty-three species which included eighteen Long-tailed Tits, thirteen Blue Tits and eleven Great Tits. Twelve Reed Warblers included a bird affixed with a ring from elsewhere and there were also six Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, two Common Whitethroats, singles of Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Cetti's Warbler and four Chiffchaffs.

Fledglings of Dunnock, Goldfinch and Treecreeper were nice and fluffy and nine Sand Martin chicks were ringed in the Sand Castle colony. A feisty Great Spotted Woodpecker was the first there for some time and a re-trap Kingfisher is always a treat.

A visit to Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon suggested that yesterday's Little Terns had gone. A summer plumage Common Redshank was not an anticipated sighting. A few Large Red-eyed Damselflies were amongst the swarms of Common Blue Damsels and the Scaldwell Meadow contained Small Heath, Common Blue and Meadow Brown butterflies and Chimney Sweeper moths. A Spotted Flycatcher was noted between Kelmarsh and Clipston and Ravens were at Kelmarsh and Hanging Houghton. An Orange-tip butterfly was briefly in our Hanging Houghton garden. Black Hairstreaks were noted at Glapthorn Cow Pastures today and Beautiful Demoiselles were plentiful on the Kelmarsh Estate.

Summer Leys LNR was the place to be this afternoon with the splendid re-appearance of the Purple Heron (well done Linda Summerfield for relocating your bird from two days ago), a brief view of a Bittern, a Bearded Tit, a Marsh Harrier and a Hobby.

Regards

Neil McMahon

Juvenile Dunnock.

Juvenile Goldfinch.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Sand Martin chick.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

More interesting birds locally

Hello

More interesting birds reported today include a Purple Heron photographed at about 1pm yesterday at Summer Leys LNR (an image was uploaded today on the Summer Leys Facebook page).

A pair of Grey Partridge were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon and a Lesser Whitethroat counts as an infrequent visitor to our Hanging Houghton garden this morning. A Hobby and two Cuckoos were at Stanford Reservoir today and an Osprey was over Biggin Lake, Oundle Golf Club this evening.

The lingering drake Red-crested Pochard remains in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir and this evening three Little Terns appeared just before 6pm and lingered throughout the evening, spending their time between the Old Scaldwell Road and the Bird Club hide.

A Wood Sandpiper was reported from the inlet end of Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Red-legged Partridge
at Upton Country Park
today courtesy of Tony
Stanford.

Black-headed Gulls courtesy
of John Tilly.

Adult and chick Lapwing
courtesy of John Tilly.

A Grosbeak, a Golden Oriole and a Black-necked Grebe.

Hello

Some interesting sightings in and close to the county during the last few days have sparked quite some interest!

On the 6th June a Rose-breasted Grosbeak was apparently photographed in a Corby garden. This species originates from North America so whether this was a bird of wild origin or an escapee from captivity we will perhaps never know. If it is/was a wild bird then this signifies the first North American passerine to be recorded in Northamptonshire.

At Stanford Reservoir yesterday evening a Golden Oriole was heard calling on the Leicestershire bank but not seen and it wasn't relocated this morning. The Marsh Warbler present yesterday hasn't been reported today but birds present today included two Hobbies, three Cuckoos (one rufous phase) and two Cetti's Warblers.

Today and a Black-necked Grebe was located on the Summer Leys LNR where it was seen during the day near Gull Island and a Marsh Harrier was there this afternoon.

At Pitsford Reservoir this morning there was a Ringed Plover, a Dunlin and a Grey Wagtail on the dam, and two Grey Wagtails in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Orchids, hares and a Marsh Warbler

Hello

It seems like the day temperatures have changed as of today and we can expect warmer weather ahead.

Anecdotally the Brown Hares seem to have done well this year with plenty locally including Harrington Airfield where there is also a great display of Common Spotted and Bee Orchids and a good selection of grassland butterflies and day-flying moths when the sun shines.

The most note-worthy bird reported locally is an elusive Marsh Warbler at Stanford Reservoir, but apparently the bird is on the Leicestershire bank!

Regards

Neil M

Bee Orchid
Harrington Airfield.

Common Spotted Orchids
Harrington Airfield, above 
images Eleanor McMahon.

Brown Hare courtesy of
John Tilly.

Iceland and back

Hello

I returned home last night from two Naturetrek tours of Iceland, and the outside temperatures didn't seem much different!

Today and much of my time at home has been watching the very hungry Starlings, Jackdaws and Blackbirds in the garden. Interestingly there is a small but seemingly growing population of Starlings in Iceland and although there are no Jackdaws (yet) Blackbirds have colonised and are spreading around the country. With very few exceptions, all these passerines leave the country in the autumn and head south, returning in the spring to breed.

I have created two additional tabs or pages on the blog which are designed to exhibit some images from both tours - 'Undiscovered Iceland 2023' and 'Iceland in Spring 2023'.

It seems there has been some late passage of waders and terns through the county and country this spring and the remnants can still be found at our Nene Valley Pits such as Thrapston Pits (particularly the Titchmarsh reserve) and Earls Barton Pits (mostly on the Summer Leys LNR).

Regards

Neil M

Water Crowfoot.

Grass Snake.

Beautiful Demoiselle.

Common Buzzard.

All images from a
Spratton garden courtesy
of David Arden.

Ringing at Linford Lakes

Hello

Kenny Cramer and a small team enjoyed a quality ringing session yesterday (Saturday) at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes which included plenty of juvenile birds. However the first mist net round was the best when three large birds in one net proved to be two re-trapped Cuckoos and a Hobby! The Hobby was a new species ringed for the site which is no surprise as they rarely end up in mist nets! The Cuckoos were a female first ringed there last year and the second bird was a male that was originally ringed way back in 2017 and is at least eight years old - and old for a Cuckoo! He has been encountered at Linford in 2021 and 2022 which proves great site fidelity and if paths cross again next year is set to break the British longevity record. He was also the very first Cuckoo to be caught and ringed at Linford.

Other birds processed included a Song Thrush, Blackcaps, Garden Warblers, Common Whitethroats, Reed Warblers, six Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, a Starling, a Treecreeper and two Kingfishers.

Regards

Neil M

Blackcap.

Blue Tit.

Cuckoo.

Hobby.

Images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Mid Week Movement

 This week has started well with a flurry of Tern and Wader movement especially along the Nene Valley.   It started on Monday with the appearance of Sanderlings at Summer Leys and Clifford Hill GP.  This was followed yesterday by a Turnstone at Summer Leys and Little Stint at Stanwick GP. Today there seemed to be another passage of Sanderlings at Summer Leys and Clifford Hill GP.   Other waders reported along the Nene Valley include Dunlin,  Common Sandpiper,  Greenshanks,  Redshanks,  Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers.                     Today both Black and Little Tern were seen at Clifford Hill GP.  Yesterday 15 Arctic Tern flew through Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows and there was a Black Tern at Thrapston GP. 

Other sites away from the Nene Valley have also seen some interesting birds.  At the beginning of the week there were 3 Curlew Sandpipers and Grey Plover at Lilbourne Meadows and Black Tern at Boddington and Stanford Reservoirs.                                             This evening there was an Osprey at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Sanderling and Black Tern at Pitsford Reservoir. 

Fingers crossed that the second half of the week is just as interesting. 

Regards Eleanor 

It's been a funny week!!!

 It has been a funny old week,  essentially quiet both weather and bird wise but then hotting up at the weekend.  Today I was at an agility competition with Jaeger near Peterborough and my route took me via Oundle.  There is a very attractive flooded field easily viewable from the A605. A quick check on my way past early this morning didn't produce anything of note. However on my way back early afternoon following a successful competition I stopped for another check and there was a White Stork feeding in the floods. I presume that it is the same individual bird which has been seen around the county.    

Despite numerous visits to Harrington Airfield,  Brampton Valley Way,  Blueberry area and Pitsford I have seen very little.  The other morning I saw a Common Buzzard with prey below Hanging Houghton.  The prey item looked suspiciously like a Barn Owl and since this sighting I haven't seen one of my regular Barn Owls.  This happened a few years ago when a Barn Owl ended up the same way.                                                                      Other birds reported today include an Osprey at Stanford Reservoir and both Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers at Lilbourne Meadows and DIRFT3.     Yesterday 4 Turnstone dropped into Stanwick GP before heading off north east. 12 Ringed Plovers were flying around Summer Leys whilst at Pitsford Reservoir a Black Tern and drake Red Crested Pochard were seen.   On Friday a Black Winged Stilt turned up at Summer Leys and a Wood Sandpiper at Lilbourne Meadows. 

One thing that has been noticeable this week is the number of Cuckoo records which is really encouraging to see as their numbers have really declined over the last few years. There have been records from Barnwell CP,  Summer Leys, Overstone Park, Thrapston GP,  Whiston Lock, Walgrave,  Cogenhoe, Billing GP,  Fineshade Wood and Hartwell which shows a good spread around the county. At Stortons GP 2 adult Cuckoo's were caught during a ringing session.  One of the birds had been ringed at Stortons last year whilst the other was a new bird.                                                                                                                           The other influx of birds this week has been the explosion of Starlings,  they seem to be absolutely everywhere.  The youngsters have errupted out of the nests and invaded the gardens.  The other morning as I walked through the village every available tv ariel and roof tops were alive with very noisy young Starlings and lots of my friends and family have noticed just how many of them are around.  I could watch them for hours, they are such characters and their antics are so entertaining to watch. Mind you they are eating us out of house and home and they love dried meal worms and calci worms.  The down side of their incessant chattering and presence is that the local Sparrowhawk is  drawn into the garden and they are sadly an easy meal. I know that a lot of these youngsters will not make it to adulthood. But that is nature and all part of the cycle of life.

The weather forecast for the coming week is pretty settled which will be good for our birds and wildlife which are well into their breeding cycle and no doubt there will be more butterflies,  dragonflies and a huge variety of insects on the wing.  There is always something to look at and enjoy.  Have a good week. 

Regards Eleanor 

Is anybody out there?

 Well I don't know what has happened? Very few bird records over the past few days.  Does this mean that the spring migration has finished and that the birds that have arrived are simply getting down to breeding? Or are there less folk out birding or perhaps turning to look at other things like butterflies and orchids??

I have spent quite a bit of time out and about,  mainly at Blueberry area, Harrington Airfield , Lamport area and Pitsford Reservoir,  but have very little to show for it. My best birds have been Barn Owl,  Turtle Dove, Grasshopper Warbler and Grey Partridge.   Other folk have reported Greenshanks and Hobbies at Summer Leys,  Goosander at Hardingstone Lake,  Spotted Flycatcher at Towcester,  Osprey at Hollowell and Brackley and Cuckoo at Ravensthorpe,  Walgrave,  Hartwell and Stortons GP. 

Despite the slightly warmer weather butterfly records have also been sparce. Green Hairstreak,  Grizzled and Dingy  Skipper have been on the wing at Ditchford Lakes and Tywell Hills and Dale's.  I have just been bumping into the common butterflies,  Brimstone,  Peacock,  Orange Tip, Common Blue, Small Copper,  G V White, and Speckled Wood. 

The week ahead looks warmer and more settled which will be nice. Perhaps we might get a few interesting birds,  who knows? Have a good week. 

Regards Eleanor 

Day Tour Rectory Farm/Eyebrook WildBird Foods

Hello

Today was a Naturetrek Day Tour at Rectory Farm, Great Easton the home of the Johnson family and Eyebrook Wildbird Foods.

The breeze was still quite cool at times but some lovely sunshine ensured there was plenty of warmth too.

After meeting at the farm buildings, Fay and Phil provided some information about the history of the farm and aspects of modern-day farming and we went for a walk around the award winning 900 acre complex.

Brown Hares were plentiful but the growing spurt of the crops in recent days meant that sometimes all we saw were the ears! A few Rabbits were about too and there is a real exultation of singing Skylarks wherever you walk! Yellowhammers, Linnets and Red-legged Partridges were next and big birds in the sky included many Red Kites, Common Buzzards, a Kestrel, a Hobby and a family party of Ravens.

Leverets indicated successful breeding in the hare population but we saw one very small animal subject of an argument between a pair of Carrion Crows and a Red Kite with the crows eventually winning and caching the unfortunate lagomorph.

Insects on the wing included Large White, Small White, Orange-tip, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, several Silver Y moths, many teneral damselflies and a super Broad-bodied Chaser. Common Whitethroats were the most common warbler with singing Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat too. A few Yellow Wagtails were in the bean fields and an overflying Meadow Pipit seemed unusual.

After our walk there was an opportunity to talk about the production of wheat, including the provision of quality grain to Weetabix, check out a very busy Badger Sett and shown the mixing room where the bird foods are mixed and bagged. And then it was time for a cuppa and Sue's home-made scones and Victoria Sponge - you can see why I like this particular Naturetrek tour!

We finished the day overlooking Eyebrook Reservoir where the best of the birds were an Osprey, Common Terns, a pair of Stonechats, a drake Teal and a pair of Wigeon (and of course more Brown Hares)!

Back in the county and Nick saw a White Stork flying low over Wicksteed Park, Barton Seagrave at 2.30pm which then headed north-east.

Regards

Neil M

Rectory Farm sheep.

Brown Hare.

Raven.

Small Tortoiseshell.

Brown Hare leveret.

Broad-bodied Chaser.

All images from Rectory Farm,
Great Easton today.

Ospreys

Hello

An Osprey ably photographed by Lee Willcocks at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits on 8th May this spring was colour-ringed. Research shows that this bird was ringed as a nestling at a confidential site near Eidsberg, Ostfold in south east Norway on 7th July 2021. It was one of a brood of two and Lee's sighting is the first report of it since it's initial migration. It is speculated that it may be on it's way to it's natal area in Norway.

Another Osprey, Blue 079, was ringed as a nestling at a nest in Northamptonshire on 5th July 2021. This male bird was the only bird raised from that nest and he fledged on 16th July and then migrated on 23rd August that autumn. Blue 079 wasn't seen again until 2nd February 2023 when he was sighted at Parque Natural Bahia de Cadiz in Spain suggesting he probably wintered in Spain rather than continuing on to Africa. There is a growing trend among UK Ospreys to do this and it probably reduces the risk of migration mortality. On 8th May 2023 this bird was at Farmoor in Oxfordshire, not far from it's natal area.

My thanks to Lee Willcocks and Tim Mackrill for this information.

Ten Hobbies were again at Summer Leys LNR today and at Thrapston Pits the Titchmarsh reserve attracted nine Hobbies and thirty-two Black-tailed Godwits (the godwits flew SE by 12.40pm).

A Cuckoo was near Hardwick this evening and a calling Cuckoo remains at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway with a Kingfisher and a Raven family present too.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included five Hobbies, a Common Sandpiper, an Oystercatcher, a Common Snipe, two Cuckoos and three Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

The Norwegian Osprey
photographed by Lee
Willcocks on 8th May 2023.

The Walgrave Bay, Pitsford Reservoir
this evening courtesy of Jane Neil.

Tawny Owl at Pitsford Reservoir
this evening courtesy of 
Jane Neil.

 This mature bird was first
ringed on the reserve as an adult
on 26th March 2019, and was
assessed as an adult female following
  a re-capture on 13th May 2021.