Migfest 2016

Hello

Last week-end saw the fourth annual celebration of bird migration at Spurn on the east coast of Yorkshire, known as Migfest:-

www.spurnmigfest.com/

Nine of us trundled our way north on either the Friday or Saturday and despite the continuous rain on the Saturday, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. A visit on the way to Alkborough Flats in North Lincolnshire was called for, this comparatively new and extensive reserve hosting a rare Purple Swamphen (or Purple Gallinule if you prefer). Eventually this bird put in an appearance and the shallow wetland attracted a wealth of other birds including 550 plus Avocets, large numbers of common waders, eight Spoonbills, a couple of Marsh Harriers and Peregrine and Hobby.

At Spurn the wind was really in the wrong direction for any rare passerines, but the waders put on a tremendous show and many provided excellent views including Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper and even a Kentish Plover. Passing sea-birds involved Arctic Skua, Great Skua, Manx Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, a variety of terns and ducks and plenty of Red-throated Divers.

Visible migration was very evident on the Sunday with thousands of Meadow Pipits flitting southwards supported by smaller numbers of hirundines, wagtails, Reed Buntings, Tree Pipits and others. Quality birds in the bushes included Redstart, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher and plenty of common warblers and chats.

The event celebrated migration and there were demonstrations of bird ringing, visible migration watching, moth traps and tips on sea-watching and other field work skills including art, digi-scoping and species identification. Open access was provided to all the main birdwatching sites and there was a procession of talks and presentations to support the event as well as plentiful refreshments.

Local birder Jacob Spinks was one of four young birders nationally to be recognised for their talent in birdwatching skills and during the event was presented with a trophy and a selection of quality books. Well done Jacob!

This was a Northants Bird Club event and I would like to record my thanks to Mark Williams in organising our excellent long week-end away which will surely be repeated in future years.

Regards

Neil McMahon

Convolvulus Hawk-moth
on Migfest baseball cap!

Hobby

Mediterranean Gulls were in
good numbers around the Spurn area...

A rather soggy Wheatear on the Saturday!

Juvenile Swallow.

Saturday morning birds...

Hello

A walk at Harrington Airfield in the rain this morning didn't yield very much with just a handful of Chiffchaffs, a Grey Wagtail and a Snipe.

Eleanor fared better at Blueberry Farm with three Stonechats, two Whinchats, a Wheatear and a Redstart.

A blustery Pitsford Reservoir this morning provided a few birds for Jacob Spinks with an adult Caspian Gull, two Red-crested Pochard, two Pintail, two Ravens, three Snipe, a Green Sandpiper and a Kingfisher.

Regards

Neil M

Blue Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Willow Warbler

All images courtesy of
Cathy Ryden.

Pitsford yesterday and today...

Hello

Birds visible from the Sailing Club area at Pitsford Reservoir today included the Ruddy Shelduck (it was in the Holcot Bay on Wednesday), three Yellow-legged Gulls, a Hobby chasing the House Martins, a couple of Common Sandpipers and a rather unseasonable Oystercatcher.

Two Ravens overflew Hanging Houghton village this afternoon heading north...

The images below were taken by Robin Gossage at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday...

Regards

Neil M

Yellow-legged Gull

Great White Egret

Cormorant

Grey Heron.

Red Kite

Ruff

Starling.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Pitsford Reservoir today...

Hello

The WeBS count was completed at Pitsford Reservoir today and a Great White Egret was located in the Walgrave Bay and subsequently it moved in to the Scaldwell Bay. Other birds included a dozen Little Egrets, as many as seven Kingfishers, two Ruff, five Snipe, a Pintail, two female Red-crested Pochards, the hybrid Red-crested Pochard x Ferruginous Duck still, the Ruddy Shelduck (still in wing moult) and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

This evening extra birds included two or more Common Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers, two Snipe with eight Ringed Plovers south and the gull roost included six Yellow-legged Gulls and a juvenile Little Gull.

Regards

Neil M

Roesel's Bush-cricket.

Cormorant.

Avro Lancaster. One third
of the Battle of Britain
Memorial flight which came
 over Pitsford today.

Back on line!

Hello

Our apologies for the lack of blogs recently. We completely lost our Internet connection at home but have finally been reconnected...

Last Friday (9th) saw two Redstarts between Old and Walgrave and on Saturday (10th) Harrington Airfield hosted a Turtle Dove, two Redstarts and two redpoll sp.

On Sunday (11th) a Marsh Harrier was hunting fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Yesterday (Monday) and a WeBS count at Ditchford Gravel Pits was mostly quiet for birds but interesting sightings included seven Egyptian Geese, a fine drake Mandarin Duck, three Yellow-legged Gulls, a Hobby, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Ringed Plover, a Snipe, at least eight Kingfishers and small numbers of Grey Wagtails and Cetti's Warblers. There were plenty of Migrant Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies and a large unidentified Pond Turtle was the first seen at this site for a couple of years.

Today (Tuesday) and birds in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area included a juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Wheatear, two Whinchats, one or two Redstart(s) and two Grey Wagtails. Harrington Airfield attracted two Whinchats, one or two Wheatear, two Redstarts, a Spotted Flycatcher and two Hobbys.

Regards

Neil McMahon

Fishing Little Egret
at Pitsford Reservoir.

Migrant Hawkers.

Common Darter.

The migrants return...

Hello

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) and a juvenile Marsh Harrier was hunting fields at Harrington Airfield where there were also two Hobbys in attendance plus a family party of Grey Partridge.

Today and ringing sessions at Pitsford Reservoir culminated in the capture of 74 birds, perhaps the most interesting being 10 Tree Sparrows, 2 Treecreepers, a Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs and a Kingfisher. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on it's usual tree stump in the Scaldwell Bay and a Ringed Plover was heard calling whilst flying over south pre-dawn.

A walk in the early morning drizzle at Harrington Airfield this morning was good for a juvenile Ring Ouzel in bushes near to the chippings compound. Two Redstarts were on the old airstrip and a juvenile Peregrine passed over.

A walk along the footpath between Bridle Road, Old and Walgrave provided views of two more Redstarts in the regular field hedgerows plus a Spotted Flycatcher and a Whinchat. Blueberry Farm attracted two Redstarts and two Stonechats and the nearby Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton attracted a juvenile Marsh Harrier and an adult male Peregrine.

Regards

Neil M

Treecreepers caught at
Pitsford Reservoir today,
courtesy of Cathy Ryden.

Northants Bird Club Indoor Meeting Wednesday 7th Sept

Hello

A reminder to Northants Bird Club members and invitation to non-members that the next indoor meeting of the NBC will be tomorrow evening (Wednesday 7th Sept) starting at 7.30pm prompt. As usual the venue is the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir, just outside Holcot village on the Brixworth road (NN6 9SJ).

Our popular speaker is Tim Newton who will be presenting 'An Introduction to the world of Parasitic Wasps'. Anyone out and about during the summer months will see a myriad of flying insects, and looking just a little closer will identify groups or families of insects. We enjoy good numbers of these parasitic wasps locally and Tim will provide an insight in to their identification and behaviour.

The meeting will begin with notices and any announcements and then it is over to Tim to deliver his presentation.

As usual hot drinks and biscuits will be available throughout the evening. 

I hope you enjoy your evening!

Neil M

More migrants this afternoon...

Hello

A modest ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir this morning netted just 33 birds in drizzly conditions. Warblers included 7 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps and 2 Reed Warblers and more sedentary species included 2 Willow Tits, 2 Bullfinches, a Yellowhammer and 5 Greenfinches.

The hybrid female Red-crested Pochard x Ferruginous Duck remained in the Scaldwell Bay and birds near to the dam again included the Ruddy Shelduck and 4 Yellow-legged Gulls.

This afternoon the juvenile Marsh Harrier again showed in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, quartering fields over towards Brixworth. 

Blueberry Farm was much better today with a cracking male Redstart, 3 Stonechats, 6 Whinchats and a Tree Pipit all present this afternoon (none of these birds being seen in the morning). Harrington Airfield remained very quiet today...

Regards

Neil M

Yellow-legged Gulls

It seems quiet out there!

Hello

Some early morning ringing at Stortons Gravel Pits this morning provided a catch of 27 birds before 10am in sometimes blustery conditions. Warblers again dominated with 10 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 6 Reed Warblers, and a Sedge Warbler.

More ringing is contemplated at Pitsford Reservoir tomorrow morning, concentrating in the Scaldwell Bay.

A Hobby was hunting Swallows at Draughton this morning and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in a field near to the village. 

Scanning at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway this afternoon yielded an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a good scattering of Little Egrets. Common wildfowl were present in good numbers but otherwise it did seem particularly uninspiring for migrants and Lapwing was the only wader seen!

Birding the Brampton Valley, Blueberry Farm, the fields between Old and Walgrave and Harrington Airfield provided no birds of note today. We hope for another new pulse of birds very soon!

Regards

Neil M

Golden Eagle

Gannet

Otter

Red Deer

Some more images from
the Ardnamurchan Peninsular...

Sunflowers!

Hello

Not a lot to report from the Brampton Valley and Blueberry Farm today in a mix of weather; a visit to Pitsford Reservoir in the evening provided views of the Ruddy Shelduck, at least five Yellow-legged Gulls and a first winter Mediterranean Gull.

Regards

Neil M

Sunflowers and nectar-bearing
flowers planted in the Brampton
Valley below Hanging Houghton.
Images provided by Eleanor.

Dunlin at Hollowell
Reservoir courtesy of
Cathy Ryden.

Little Stint and friends

Hello

Visits today to the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, Harrington Airfield and the hedgerows between Old and Walgrave all drew a blank for interesting migrants. Either they were keeping a low profile or have moved on.

Birds viewable from the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon included the Ruddy Shelduck and three Yellow-legged Gulls.

Blueberry Farm emerged out of the doldrums this evening and provided views of a juvenile Marsh Harrier, three Stonechats and two Whinchats.

Cathy Ryden confirmed the presence of a juvenile Little Stint at Hollowell Reservoir yesterday (Thursday) evening. Please see images below...

Regards

Neil M

Little Stint with Dunlin
at Hollowell Reservoir
courtesy of Cathy Ryden.

Local bird ringing

Hello

Some more ringing locally included a session at Stortons Gravel Pits on Sunday where John Woollett and Chris Payne caught 31 birds which included 3 Garden Warblers, 9 Blackcaps, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Chiffchaff and 3 Bullfinches.

A small team of ringers at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday (Monday) completed the last Constant Effort Site session for the year and captured 40 birds. The more interesting were 3 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Marsh Tit, 2 Willow Tits and 2 Kingfishers.

Regards

Neil M

Angla Shades moth

Canary-shouldered Thorn moth

Above images courtesy of
John Gamble.

Painted Lady.

Swallow.

Jackdaw

Above images courtesy
of Cathy Ryden.

Early morning birding ....

I was up and out at Harrington Airfield early this morning. Again a beautiful morning with blue skies and sunshine, yet with that hint of "Autumn" ever present.
There was a large mixed flock of Linnet, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting feeding in the weeds/flowers along the rough strip.  Plenty of Whitethroats in clambering about in the bushes and at least 2 families of Grey Partridge remain although the large family has reduced in size to approx 8 birds. A Common Redstart and Whinchat were around the first bunker.
As I walked down the strip which connects the rough area to the main track I could see a bird sitting like a sentinel on top of the straw bales......it was a Black Redstart. There were quite a few birds around these bales including 2 Turtle Doves in their favourite dead trees.  The Black Redstart showed well despite being constantly chased around by a Robin.
There was another Common Redstart in the bushes by the shooting wall and a Cream Crowned Marsh Harrier quartering the fields near to the entrance where I had parked,
A short walk in the valley below Hanging Houghton produced a Common Redstart, Whinchat and Hobby.

Regards Eleanor

Catch Up

 After a rather soggy weekend it was nice to return to a lovely Autumnal day. Early this morning there was a Little Egret, Barn Owl, Wheatear and Common Redstart in the valley below Hanging Houghton.
This afternoon I took the "gammy" legged collies plus spaniel for a walk across the fields from Walgrave to the hedgerow which has been productive for Common Redstart.  By the time we reached the hedgerow I had already come across 2 Whinchat and a Common Redstart . Whilst the dogs rested I checked the hedge and today there were at least 3 Common Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher and another Whinchat.
I spent late afternoon/early evening walking around Blueberry and sitting at the top of Blueberry Hill field watching the world go by as well as the birds going over , which included Tree Pipit, Golden Plover and Crossbill.  Birds seen in the area included 3 Stonechat, Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Common Restart and 2 Whinchat.
During the past couple of days I have visited Harrington Airfield a few times. It has been fairly quiet, just a couple of Common Redstart, 2 Turtle Doves and a Cream Crowned Marsh Harrier. 

Regards Eleanor