Winter is around the corner!

Hi

A cold but pleasant day today but with encroaching freezing fog this evening.  Hello the winter!

Today there were a couple of Bramblings in the garden here at Hanging Houghton with several Siskins and 2 Nuthatches close by.  An adult male Peregrine was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and a Barn Owl was hunting at Blueberry Farm this afternoon.

Dave Francis was ringing at Pitsford Res at the old Scaldwell Road feeding station and caught 36 new birds which included 10 Goldfinches, 4 Chaffinches, 3 Lesser Redpolls, 3 Tree Sparrows, 3 Yellowhammers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Moorhen.

Regards

Eleanor

WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) Counts

Hi

During most months of the year, volunteer birdwatchers visit key wetland sites around the country in an effort to count and record the numbers of waterbirds present.  Northamptonshire is no different with its wealth of flooded gravel pits, significant inland river systems, lakes and reservoirs attracting plenty of birds, sometimes in nationally important numbers.  The county is well-represented with counters, many stalwarts enduring a variety of conditions for many years to visit their sites and count the swans, geese, ducks, gulls, waders and Kingfisher.

Most counts are submitted on-line and there are opportunities to complete further supplementary counts in addition to core counts.  Examples might be dusk/dawn counts of Cormorant or gulls which tend to roost communally.

The WeBS process is managed by a partnership between the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Joint Nature Conservancy Committee (JNCC) and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT).

An annual report is published which provides indices of some of the more significant species counts and endeavours to summarise the year and plot the health of the relevant counted species.  Because this is a consistent process which has been in being for more than thirty years, the data and and species assessments are credible and impossible to ignore.  The latest report, which includes the data for the 2010/11 season has recently been released. 

Pitsford Reservoir attracts nationally important numbers of Little and Great Crested Grebe, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Shoveler.  Clifford Hill GP is nationally important for Mallard, which may include the numbers which are released for shooting at or near the site.  Up until recent years, Clifford Hill attracted nationally important numbers of Golden Plovers which reflected this species dependence on the Nene Valley and adjacent farmland.  Excessive disturbance has clearly affected this site's ability to now provide the effective loafing and gathering of this charismatic species and positive action is required.

Scarcer species in nationally important numbers within the county places Blatherwycke Lake on the map for Mandarin Duck and Ravensthorpe Res, Pitsford Res, Thrapston GP and Stanwick GP for Smew which now seem to enjoy the East Midlands and Cambridgeshire as their favoured wintering region within the UK.  Thrapston GP also featured for Red-crested Pochard, with a high count of 14 on one date affecting the mean average.  Ditchford GP is consistently in the top three in the country for Kingfisher, the combination of different flooded pits, the River Nene and a variety of streams providing the necessary variety for this species. 

Moorhens have seemingly suffered significant mortality during the last two cold winters and their numbers locally and nationally are depleted.  Despite this, Pitsford remains nationally important for this species (and Stanwick GP features too) and is the 10th most important for Coot.  Gadwall numbers in the county are generally high with most sites attracting this species in significant numbers.  Due in part to a very high count of 1044 in October 2010, Pitsford is currently recognised as a site of international importance for this species.  Sadly the counts have been much lower since.

The winter of 2010/2011 was the coldest for 35 years, which nationally resulted in increased numbers of Eurasian White-fronted Geese, some waders and Smew.  It also ensured that Golden Plover and Shoveler left the UK for warmer climes.  More long-term trends are worrying for some species with an international reduction in Long-tailed Ducks by at least 20% and Velvet Scoter, Pochard and Goldeneye suffering continual declines. The reasons are not proven but climate change, eutrophication and human activity pressures are the most likely.  Ringed Plover numbers continue to tumble and even Common and Lesser Black-backed Gull numbers are showing a consistent decline.  On the plus side, the Little Egret population is at least stable and may still be increasing.

Getting out there and committing to WeBS counting has its rewards!  Occasionally we find something rare or interesting and it ensures that you tend to look in every nook and cranny; it certainly improves on your local knowledge and its birds.  The bigger sites attract multiple counters so it is a great way to improve mentored identification and as strange as it sounds, bird counting skills!  If you fancy a go let us know and we can facilitate your WeBS involvement with the local coordinator.

E & N

Merlin and Barn Owl

Hi

At about 7.40am this morning a Merlin was observed in flight towards Brixworth village from the direction of the causeway at Pitsford Res.

News has come through of the origins of the hunting colour-ringed Barn Owl seen at Pitsford Res last week.  It was a juvenile from a nest at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, one of a late brood on site this year.

Regards

Neil M

Finches and things

Hi

At Pitsford Res this morning there were 4 redpoll sps, a few Siskins and a Brambling present south of the causeway.

At Blueberry Farm this afternoon there were 2 Woodcock and a hunting Barn Owl.

A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall today was productive with 118 birds caught, 68 of which were new.  Birds caught included a Brambling (with small numbers of others present), 11 Siskins, 8 Lesser Redpolls, 23 Goldfinches, 2 Nuthatches and 2 Marsh Tits.  A selection of images are below.  A vocal Raven was present for much of the afternoon.

E & N

Siskin

A selection of Lesser Redpolls

Goldfinch

Brambling

Great Tit

Blue Tit

                                Nuthatch

Siskins, but not much else!

Hi

A visit to Sywell CP today provided about 30 Siskins and at least a dozen 'redpolls'.  The strong wind meant these birds were being tossed around in the small trees and observations were difficult.

About half a dozen Siskins were at both Sunderland Wood and Kelmarsh Hall this afternoon, with small numbers of Lesser Redpolls at the latter.

At Pitsford Res this evening the only different bird on view off the yacht club was a single Redshank, a species which has been very scarce this autumn/winter.

Regards

E & N

Harlestone Heath

Hi

I took a walk around Harlestone Heath this afternoon but didn't find much that was any different.  Finches included 40 Siskins, 2-3 Bramblings (by the saw mills) and half a dozen unidentified redpolls.  No sign of any Crossbills or Waxwings but a few Nuthatches are currently in residence.

Regards

Eleanor

Pitsford birds (what few there are)!

Hi

This morning the Black-necked Grebe and Kingfisher were again off the yacht club at Pitsford Res.  At the old Scaldwell Road feeding station, birds included a Lesser Redpoll and a Water Rail.

At 12.30pm today there were 3 Bramblings visible amongst other birds on the seed at Harrington Airfield, on the concrete track just inside the metal barrier off the Draughton Road.

Regards

Neil M

Mediterranean Gull

Hi

Despite being out for much of the day in flooded Northamptonshire, we collectively saw very little today.

There was probably about half a dozen each of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin at Kelmarsh Hall this afternoon.

The Pitsford Res gull roost provided the opportunity of seeing an adult Mediterranean Gull again, in all probability the same individual that has wintered in this immediate area for quite a number of years now.  There was a Kingfisher near to the Yacht Club and a Barn Owl was again hunting near the dam at dusk.

Regards

Neil M

Ringing at Pitsford

Hi

Dave Francis and John Kempster were ringing at Pitsford Res this morning and yesterday afternoon, concentrating on the old Scaldwell Road feeding station.  A colour-ringed Barn Owl was hunting the Scaldwell Meadow yesterday evening.

Birds caught included 13 Long-tailed Tits, 7 Chaffinches, 5 Tree Sparrows (which included a bird still in juvenile plumge), 5 Blackbirds, a Fieldfare, 4 Yellowhammers and a Lesser Redpoll.

N & E

Ringing Kelmarsh Hall

Hi

A short ringing session took place at Kelmarsh Hall this morning which provided 78 captures, mostly of tits and common finches.  Scarcer birds included a fine Grey Wagtail, 2 Lesser Redpolls and 2 Goldcrests.

Other birds noted included a single Waxwing which flew north at 9.44am, several Siskins and other Lesser Redpolls and the usual routine woodland birds.

Rergards

Neil M

 

Grey Wagtail

 

Lesser Redpoll (or 'Goldpoll'!)

Not much to report...

Hi

A couple of Ravens were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and at Harrington Airfield this afternoon there were 4 Bramblings on the seed, a single Raven and a Short-eared Owl.

Regards

Eleanor

Pitsford & Harrington

Hi

A WeBS census was completed at Pitsford Res today in increasingly windy conditions, but at least the rain held off!

It seemed quiet with only modest numbers of waterbirds and little that was out of the ordinary.  The Black-necked Grebe was sheltering in the yacht bay at dusk, a few Crossbills and a Nuthatch were heard calling in the Walgrave Bay early this morning and a Little Egret flew over the causeway.  Other birds included eleven unidentified and flighty redpolls, forty Snipe and there were three drake Pintail in the Scaldwell Bay.

At Harrington Airfield this morning the female Merlin was present with prey and up to seven Bramblings were feeding on the seed by the concrete track entrance.

Regards

E & N

What weather!

Hi

With the somewhat challenging weather conditions today it wasn't a day that was easy to go birdwatching!  So a day of chores and restocking the wild bird feeding stations which meant we both managed to become drenched a couple of times!

At the gull roost at Pitsford Res this afternoon, there were two Mediterranean Gulls on show - an adult and a 1st Winter.

Regards

N & E

Mediterranean Gull

Hi

The only bird of note today was a Mediterranean Gull in the gull roost at Pitsford Res this afternoon.  It was either a second winter or adult bird.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher tab

Hi

I recommend a look at the above Kingfisher at Work tab, courtesy of John Boland...

Our thanks to John's skill and patience!

Regards

Neil M