For Julie

Hello

A week-end of ringing began yesterday (Saturday) with Kenny and a rather small team being completely immersed in ringing throughout the day at Linford Lakes. One hundred and eighteen birds of twenty-two species kept them stretched on a day when they couldn't connect with the winter thrushes but found just about everything else! Interesting birds included a Barn Owl, two Kingfishers, a Water Rail, a Jay, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Mute Swan, no less than eleven Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps, seven Goldfinches, a Lesser Redpoll, a Goldcrest and two Treecreepers. Other things noted included two Great White Egrets and a Great Crested Newt.

Today (Sunday) and a very special ringing session took place at Stortons Pits on the outskirts of Northampton. Earlier this year we lost a very good friend and ringing colleague - Julie Donohoe - a bubbly, caring and lovely person who we all miss enormously. Julie's ringing career began at Stortons initially under the tutelage of John Woollett but she also regularly attended other sessions managed by Northants Ringing Group members. In addition to the ringing today, Julie's husband Ken and daughter Clare and son Andrew came along to see why Julie had been getting up at stupid o' clock for years! After seeing the ringers in action and even seeing and releasing a re-trap bird that Julie had originally ringed it was time to plant a nurtured two year oak tree from an acorn collected from The Mere at Holcot. Ken duly dug the little tree in and poignant, emotive words were spoken and we recounted marvellous times with such a special person to all of us.

Oh yes and the birds didn't disappoint with captures of two Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warblers, three Redwings, several Reed Buntings and a Grey Wagtail amongst more regular fare. Other birds on-site included a second Grey Wagtail, singles of Siskin and Redpoll, several Water Rails and more Cetti's Warblers and about two thousand Starlings flying out from their roost in the reeds.

Interesting birds seen around the county included up to five Hawfinches in Cottesbrooke village, two or three Bramblings and a Raven in Hanging Houghton village, a Siskin in Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh) and two Ravens near Haselbech.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Mediterranean Gull and a Caspian Gull in the gull roost, a drake Pintail, a female Red-crested Pochard, two Kingfishers, two Water Rails and eighteen Redpolls.

A Marsh Harrier, three Great White Egrets and a possible Jack Snipe were noted from the Paul Britten hide at Summer Leys LNR.

Regards

Neil M

Members of the Northants
Ringing Group at Stortons
Pits today with Ken, Andrew
and Clare, courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Julie's oak with Ken,
Andrew and Clare, courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Jay courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Male Lesser Redpoll
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Barn Owl courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Great Crested Newt
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Finches and Pinkfeet

Hello

A day of more passage which included a movement of finches and more Pink-footed Geese.

Stanford Reservoir hosted two Caspian Gulls in the roost this evening and during the day other birds included about twenty Lesser Redpolls, a Water Rail, three Red-crested Pochard and two Kingfishers.

The Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits proved to be a good site today with eighteen Pink-footed Geese heading east there this morning, one or two Bittern(s) with birds over the Aldwincle Lake and later one on the Heronry Lake in the afternoon, at least six Great White Egrets, a Water Rail, a Shelduck, two Kingfishers, a pair of Stonechats, three Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs and hundreds of roosting Starlings.

About fifteen Bramblings were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton first thing with a Grey Wagtail in the village, four Ravens at Harrington Airfield and one at Pitsford Reservoir.

A single Pink-footed Goose was at Deene Lake this morning before flying off, and Blatherwycke hosted the female Scaup and four Red-crested Pochards on the lake and later a Hawfinch was seen adjacent to the lake from the west side of the churchyard.

Up to two Hawfinches were seen in Cottesbrooke village this afternoon, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was at Sywell Country Park this afternoon and the Earls Barton complex included a Jack Snipe visible from the Paul Britten hide on the Summer Leys LNR. The New Workings between Earls Barton and Whiston provided a Marsh Harrier, two Shelducks and a late Common Sandpiper.

More garden ringing by Chris Payne at Greens Norton provided about thirty-five Goldfinches, a male Siskin and Starlings amongst over fifty birds processed in just a couple of hours.

Regards

Neil M

The skulking Cetti's Warbler.

Male Siskin courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Starling courtesy
of Chris Payne.

More Hawfinches

Hello

A colder day of late, not unseasonal but we have become used to the mild temperatures this month!

Hawfinches continue to be seen in the county with more sites being found as these big finches exploit mature trees and particularly yew trees. One bird was seen a couple of times at Cottesbrooke village today, one or two were in the churchyard at Blatherwycke and five at Southwick Hall were viewed from the churchyard. Two were seen yesterday at St Peter's churchyard at Oundle and it seems that Northamptonshire is as good as anywhere for tracking down these big-billed nomads.

Birding at Stanford Reservoir today yielded a Stonechat, a Great White Egret, a Cetti's Warbler, a Water Rail and a Barn Owl. Four Stonechats were at Sywell Country Park this afternoon.

A female Scaup was at Blatherwycke Lake today and yesterday a Bittern and four Whooper Swans were seen on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits where there was also a Starling murmuration.

At Hollowell Reservoir today there was a Stonechat, three Common Snipe and a Water Rail all on the north side of Guilsborough Bay. Birds visible from the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon included an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Redshank, a Grey Wagtail and a pre-roost gathering of about five hundred Starlings.

Three Ravens, five Grey Partridges and a Kingfisher were all seen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Either an extraordinarily pale
Lesser Black-backed Gull or
potentially a LBb x Herring Gull hybrid.

Skylark - not regularly
caught locally in mist nets.

A much quieter day

Hello

Seemingly a much quieter day in the county today but it started well with a Bittern seen at Stanwick Pits early this morning and Hawfinches being seen with three at Cottesbrooke and two along Longcroft Road, Corby near to the Iron Mountain warehouse this morning. Other birds noted at Cottesbrooke included two Egyptian Geese and two Ravens.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a Rock Pipit (a much scarcer bird in the county these days), a first year Caspian Gull, a Brambling and three Cetti's Warblers.

Two Bramblings were in Haselbech village at lunchtime and a Common Snipe and a Golden Plover were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon. Five Siskins were noted in a Scaldwell village garden.

Regards

Neil M

Singing Starling.

Little Egret.

Goldfinch.

Reed Bunting.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Ringing at Stortons Pits

Hello

A very busy ringing session at Stortons Pits today targeted the Goldfinches and Redwings on-site and proved to be successful with seventeen Goldfinches and a huge haul of seventy-one Redwings being successfully mist-netted, ringed and released. Other birds were three Wrens, a Dunnock, three Blackbirds, two Great Tits, eight Blue Tits, seven Long-tailed Tits, a Cetti's Warbler, three Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, two Chaffinches, two Greenfinches and a Reed Bunting.

Otherwise the day belonged to Hawfinches with two being seen flying over Stanford Reservoir, eight sitting up in trees at Cottesbrooke village, one at Eurohub (Corby) and four at Short Wood near to Oundle.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there was a Stonechat, a drake Pintail and a flying Dunlin in the Scaldwell Bay and this afternoon an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the roost off the dam plus a Stonechat below the dam and two Grey Wagtails.

At Stanford Reservoir other birds included an adult Caspian Gull in the gull roost, two Water Rails, a Great White Egret, eight Common Snipe, two Kingfishers and two Cetti's Warblers. Two Caspian Gulls roosted at Boddington Reservoir this evening and the Ruddy Shelduck was noted at Winwick Pools. A female-type Scaup was reported at Blatherwycke Lake.

The Glossy Ibis was again seen on the Summer Leys LNR this morning, visible from the Paul Britten hide, two Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a male Merlin was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon pursuing finches near to 'shrike hedge' which included several Bramblings and two Redpolls.

Regards

Neil M

Herring Gull.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Great White Egret.

Otter at Stortons Pits
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Stonechat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Ditchford WeBS count.

Hello

This morning was spent completing the WeBS count at Ditchford Pits which resulted in a Jack Snipe, sixteen Common Snipe, four Great White Egrets, a Pintail, two Water Rails, five Grey Wagtails, three Siskins, seven Cetti's Warblers, five Chiffchaffs and six Stonechats.

The Glossy Ibis was seen again at Summer Leys LNR this morning and other birds included at least five Great White Egrets, five Pintail, forty-five Golden Plovers and four Common Snipe.

The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was noted at Whiston Pits/Lock this morning but not subsequently and other birds included a Green Sandpiper, sixty Golden Plovers, four Redshanks, three Stonechats and a Grey Wagtail.

Kislingbury Pits again hosted the female Red-crested Pochard and two Ravens.

On a day of wild geese, a Brent Goose was at Eyebrook Reservoir and two skeins of Pink-footed Geese were sixty birds over Moulton Leys at 9.15am and about thirty flying north-east just north of Deene at about 2.40pm.

Four Hawfinches were on view at Deene Churchyard today, a male Brambling was at Hanging Houghton and an adult Caspian Gull was at Hollowell Reservoir.

The birds at Stanford Reservoir amounted to two adult Caspian Gulls in the roost, two Jack Snipe, seven Common Snipe, two Red-crested Pochard, a Raven, five Redpolls and a Siskin.

Regards

Neil M

Pink-footed Geese.

Jack Snipe.

Great White Egret.

Pitsford WeBS count.

Hello

A WeBS count was completed at Pitsford Reservoir today in very pleasant weather conditions with two Stonechats, fifteen Siskins and thirty-five Goldeneye south of the causeway with a Great White Egret also straying to the north of the causeway. On the reserve section there was a drake Red-crested Pochard, a Raven, a Kingfisher and a Peregrine in the Walgrave Bay and a Stonechat and at least twenty-one Common Snipe and a Yellow-legged Gull in the Scaldwell Bay.

A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon, initially near to 'shrike hedge' and later briefly at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was still present in the Nene Valley between Cogenhoe and Earls Barton and is proving a photographers favourite! Two Peregrines were on pylons near there this morning. The Glossy Ibis was in a field behind the Sand Martin bank at Summer Leys LNR early this afternoon.

Two Hawfinches were again in Cottesbrooke village this morning and wildfowl at Stanford Reservoir today included two Red-crested Pochard, an Egyptian Goose and a Ruddy Shelduck, and also a Barn Owl was seen. 

A significant Starling murmuration was reported from Stortons Pits this afternoon and at Kislingbury Pits today there was a female Red-crested Pochard and two Stonechats.

Regards

Neil M

Hedgehog in the garden
this afternoon.

Goldfinch.

Red-crested Pochard.

Reed Bunting.

Above three images
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Quality November birding.

Hello

Another very grey day in the county provided much the same birds as the last week and further proof that November can be a very rewarding time for birding inland.

The two Bearded Tits were seen at Stanwick Pits again this morning and nearby at the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve there were eight Cattle Egrets, a Goosander and a Knot. A Turnstone was at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon.

Harriers in the Nene Valley between Cogenhoe and Earls Barton included a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier and a Marsh Harrier and other birds included five Stonechats at Whiston Lock with a Pink-footed Goose with Greylags at the New Workings near Whiston. An adult male Hen Harrier was seen in the Catesby/Staverton area early this afternoon, on the county border with Warwickshire and the male Hen Harrier was again near Bozenham Mill flying towards Ashton this morning. A Green Sandpiper was seen there too.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Mediterranean Gull, a Caspian Gull, two Red-crested Pochards, a Great White Egret, two Water Rails, two Cetti's Warblers, a Stonechat, a Peregrine and a Raven.

The late Swallow remained at Station Cottages, Brixworth and up to four Hawfinches were in Cottesbrooke village, generally mobile around the village hall.

A Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton with at least one Raven in the village. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

Starling roosts of about a thousand were noted at Titchmarsh reserve, Thrapston Pits and with about eight hundred in the Pintail Bay at Pitsford Reservoir with larger murmurations reported recently from Earls Barton Pits and Stortons Pits.

A Red Kite pre-roost gathering of over seventy birds were noted yesterday at Roundhay Farm with the likely roost site being Sane Copse on the county border with Bedfordshire.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Herons courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Stonechat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Frog. With the current
mild temperatures many amphibians
and creatures due to hibernate are
remaining active this month.

Ringing and birding in the grey month of the year

Hello

A ringing session on Thursday at Woodford Halse provided ninety-eight birds with Blue Tits and Great Tits providing the bulk of the captures, but other birds amongst the fourteen species processed included three Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, two Treecreepers, two Nuthatches, three Chaffinches, four Blackbirds, a Redwing, a Woodpigeon, two Grey Wagtails and a Kingfisher.

Today and a similar number of birds were processed by ringers operating at Linford Lakes on the outskirts of Milton Keynes with the highlights being a Blackcap, a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, a number of Redwings, a Song Thrush, a couple of Blackbirds, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a Barn Owl. A couple of Great White Egrets were about and flights of Cormorants, Siskins and Fieldfares were regularly flying over.

Birds seen in the county included a Hawfinch at Lamport Hall and Blatherwycke churchyard, three Hawfinches at Cottesbrooke, the late Swallow still at Brixworth, eight Whooper Swans and two drake Red-crested Pochard on Blatherwycke Lake and a pair of Bearded Tits were still at Stanwick Lakes near to the main car park.

In the Nene Valley a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier and two Marsh Harriers were in the Whiston Lock area with a Whooper Swan flying over and a Grey Plover with Golden Plovers there plus a Stonechat. Nearby the Glossy Ibis and a Marsh Harrier were still at Summer Leys LNR and the Whooper Swan flew over there too. In the Bozenham Mill area a male Hen Harrier flew towards Ashton this morning.

At Harrington Airfield a Peregrine, a Common Snipe and eight hundred plus Fieldfares were present this afternoon and two Knot were at Eyebrook Reservoir.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was an adult Mediterranean Gull, an adult Caspian Gull, two Red-crested Pochards, two Pintail, a Great White Egret, two Water Rails and two Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Barn Owl.

Kingfisher.

Water Rail.

Harriers and Hawfinches

Over the last couple of days there have been plenty of "Harrier and Hawfinch" sightings in the county, with both species being fairly easy to see.  The area around Whiston Lock ( East of footpath from Whiston Road to Whiston Lock) continues to attract a Ringtail Hen Harrier.  Today there was a male Hen Harrier south of Bozenham Mill near Grafton Regis, a male Hen Harrier near Ashton and a Ringtail Hen Harrier at Harrington Airfield.  A Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys.                                                        The Hawfinches seem to be in groups of three !! With 3 birds being present in Cottesbrooke Village,  Blatherwycke Churchyard and St Peters Churchyard Deene. 

Plenty of other birds around too. Bearded Tits(2), 8 Cattle Egrets and 2 Red Crested Pochards at Stanwick GP,  Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys, 6  Red Crested Pochards at Stanford Reservoir , 5 Red Crested Pochards at Stortons GP and a single bird at Boddington Reservoir.  A Knot was at Clifford Hill GP yesterday and today one was reported from Dragonfly Lake at Ditchford GP which may be the same bird moving around.  The Black Redstart was again reported from a private site at Braunston.                                  The gull roost at Boddington Reservoir is regularly attracting Mediterranean,  Caspian and Yellow Legged Gulls.  I'm sure that it's only a matter of time before it attracts something special.                                                             An interesting record of a late Barn Swallow perched in a treetop near Station Cottages just outside Brixworth.             It's getting to that time of year when the Starling murmurations begin  as they gather pre roost giving wonderful and dramatic aerial displays.  It was estimated that up to 20,000 birds gathered this evening at Summer Leys. 

I have been out and about but my birding coincided with dog walking.  Yesterday morning whilst out running I heard a few Siskins and Brambling.  Then a detour to Cottesbrooke where I saw at least one Hawfinch, possibly two.  In the afternoon I decided to visit Harrington Airfield where I came across a Short Eared Owl and Woodcock as I meandered slowly around the rough area. However peace was soon shattered with loud gunshot coming from behind the conifer belt which runs parallel with the rough area. Then it was all a bit surreal as it was literally " raining Pheasants " as these birds flew through and over the conifers in their panic and landed all around me. My hound Tor thought that all his birthdays and Christmases had come at once as Pheasants landed at his feet!!                           This afternoon I took the dogs on a long walk around Blueberry but the only bird of note was a Green Sandpiper. I was going to call it a day but after a cup of tea I made a spur of the moment decision to go back out and visit Harrington Airfield.  I'm so glad that I did as a Ringtail Hen Harrier and Short Eared Owl were flying around in the gloom on the rough area. A good end to the day. 

Regards Eleanor 

More ringing in the county

Hello

Kenny and team enjoyed processing one hundred birds during a ringing session at Linford Lakes on Sunday. Seventy-one of these birds were new to ringing and included forty-one Redwings, a Fieldfare and two Song Thrushes. Two Cetti's Warblers included a re-trap bird and other birds providing diversity included a Starling, a Water Rail, a re-trap Kingfisher, two Lesser Redpolls and seven Greenfinches.

Chris Payne continued his quality garden ringing at Greens Norton today with captures of forty-five Goldfinches, three Greenfinches, twenty-six Blue Tits, two Great Tits, five Starlings, six Blackbirds, a Redwing and a Dunnock

Regards

Neil M

Cetti's Warbler.

Fieldfare.

Lesser Redpoll.

Starling.

Above images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Redwing courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Another good day

Whilst it has been a rather dull and dreary November day there have certainly been plenty of good birds around. So far November is shaping up to be a busy month. It is just a shame that the days are so short.                                                This morning it was a toss up between Blueberry and Harrington Airfield.  I chose Blueberry but it was extremely quiet. It was the wrong choice as a Short Eared Owl was flying around the bunkers at Harrington Airfield.                  When I got home I sat in the field with my breakfast,  binoculars and Rouzel.  She is recovering from surgery and can't walk, so to relieve the boredom of her crate I took her into field so that she could watch the world go by.  It was whilst I was in the field that I heard a Hawfinch calling.  After the initial moment of panic  I managed to get my binoculars onto it as it came from the direction of Lamport and headed south.  I'd no sooner sat down again to finish my breakfast when two more Hawfinches came over on the same flight path. 

I didn't see any other birds of note during the day.  I visited Harlestone Firs and walked my usual circuit, but it was really quiet.  Infact the silence in the woods was deafening. The only noise was that of the heavy machinery working to clear the area for a new road and housing.  So sad to witness the devastation and loss of habitat.              

There have been lots of birds reported today.  Obviously a bit of a movement of Short Eared Owls with birds seen at Harrington,  Clifford Hill GP and Stanford Reservoir.       Two Bearded Tits were located at Stanwick GP and showing well in a small pool at the eastern end of the car park.     2 Hawfinches were again in Cottesbrooke village and at Blatherwycke Church Yard.   Both male and Ringtail Hen Harrier was seen at Earls Barton GP new workings and Whiston Lock area.   Red Crested Pochards were seen  at Blatherwycke Lake, Clifford Hill GP, Pitsford and Stanford Reservoirs.                                                                                       It has been a good autumn for Yellow Browed Warblers and today one was reported from Broadway in Kettering, which just goes to show that they can turn up absolutely anywhere.  So it's worth keeping your eyes and ears open wherever you happen to be. 

I wonder what the rest of the week will bring?

Regards Eleanor 

Whooper Swan.

Goldeneye.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

A good start to the week

It has certainly been a good start to the week if you managed to catch up with the birds at Clifford Hill GP. The star birds being a dark bellied Brent Goose,  a Knot and 5 Avocets. Not bad for a dreary November day in the county. 

Whilst at Summer Leys the long staying Glossy Ibis remains and continues to show well.  Nearby at Earls Barton GP the Ringtail Hen Harrier was again present before heading off towards Whiston.   2 Bitterns and 6 Red Crested Pochards were reported from Stanwick GP and a Woodcock from Stortons GP. 

Away from the Nene Valley there was Mediterranean Gull,  Caspian Gull,  4 Stonechats and a Cettis Warbler at Hollowell Reservoir.  A Black Redstart was present at a private area near Braunston.   Plenty of Gulls in the roost at Boddington Reservoir including an adult and two 2nd winter Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Caspian Gulls and 12+ Yellow Legged Gulls.  Earlier in the day 9 Hawfinches flew through heading south. 

I made an early morning visit to Harrington Airfield and there was obviously a heavy movement of birds over. Lots of Skylarks and large numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares.  But the  largest numbers on the move were Wood Pigeons. For a while there were hundreds of Wood Pigeons going over, heading south. I've no idea where they had all come from or where they were heading,  but this is something that I have witnessed many times.    Other birds seen were a male Merlin hurtling over the fields,  Woodcock , 2 Bramblings,  60 Golden Plovers and the usual Ravens. 

The Northamptonshire Bird Club will be meeting on Wednesday evening 7.30pm at the Lodge, Pitsford Water.  Everyone welcome. 

Regards Eleanor  

Kestrel courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Greylag Geese
courtesy of John Tilly.

Brown Hare.

Great autumn birding

Hello

Another still and grey day was still good for migration with thrushes and finches moving for much of the day.

Plenty of birds at Stanford Reservoir included a rare visitor to the site in the shape of a Knot which flew around and off this morning, a Mediterranean Gull, a Caspian Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, six Red-crested Pochards, two Goosanders, a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, an estimated thousand Redwings, six Golden Plovers, two Cetti's Warblers and a Brambling.

At Earls Barton Pits, the 'ringtail' Hen Harrier again showed at the new workings section of the complex and the Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys LNR plus a hundred Golden Plovers and a female Stonechat. At Stanwick Pits, eight Cattle Egrets flew over the Main Lake this morning and a Pink-footed Goose was with a goose flock which flew over north-east.

Hawfinches were seen again today with two at Cottesbrooke visible from Station Road/playing field area and two were seen briefly at Blatherwycke churchyard but with a single seen again later. A Crossbill was seen flying over Cottesbrooke and other finches at Blatherwycke were three Bramblings and a Redpoll with a drake Red-crested Pochard on the lake. A Crossbill was over Hollowell village this afternoon and a Brambling was at Hanging Houghton.

With a Booted Eagle being seen in counties to the south over successive days, keep looking up!

Regards

Neil M

Yellow-legged Gull.

Blackbird.

Red Kite.