Saturday on Skokholm

Hello

A strong south-easterly wind dominated much of the day on Skokholm today, but then this dwindled in the afternoon and the wind direction switched.  New migrants were low in number but included the usual species and also the Black Redstart from yesterday.  Another nocturnal Manx Shearwater catching session during the night of the 2nd/3rd May provided another sixty-five birds.

A Whinchat materialised in the afternoon and was also trapped and ringed and the Puffins, Razorbills and Guillemots spent much of the afternoon flocking to their burrows and ledges to start commencing house-keeping for the new season.  Off-shore Kittiwakes and Gannets ambled past and the island population of Grey Seals lounged in bays and inlets.

Lesser-Black-backed Gulls are the most common breeding gulls on the island and today in particular there was a great deal of noise from bickering neighbours, mating pairs and strife with their Herring and Great Black-backed Gull cousins.

The flowers on Skokholm are close to coming in to their best with Bluebells, Wild Pansies, Sorrel, Forget-me Not, Thrift and Red Campion among others.

Regards

Neil M

Male Wheatear

Grassholm Gannet colony

Herring Gull

Puffins

'Greenland' Wheatear

All images courtesy of Nick Woods

Friday on Skokholm

Hello

Mostly a warm and sunny day on Skokholm today with new migrants on the island first thing and another small arrival in the early afternoon.  Small numbers of in-coming warblers included Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler and the bird of the day was a Black Redstart caught and ringed after being found in the Wheelhouse Net.  Efforts with spring-traps yielded a fine female Greenland Wheatear and another one of these migrants was among the breeding nominate types.

The Chough were vocal on the island today and the island Ravens include a nest containing four young. Small numbers of waders included regular Whimbrel, Curlew and four Ringed Plovers with a fly-over Green Sandpiper too.

Regards

Neil M

Skokholm again...

Hello

For the third consecutive night we walked the transect in our nocturnal catching of Manx Shearwaters, this time catching 97 birds.

We had anticipated a small fall of migrants today but that didn't materialise but the ringing catch was made up of quality rather than quantity with singles of Wheatear, Rock Pipit and Grasshopper Warbler being the pick of the bunch.

It became a touch exciting when at about 11.10am a Collared Pratincole flew in from the south and the length of the island before leaving to the north.  Unfortunately not many people managed to see this wanderer.

Regards

Neil M

Grasshopper Warbler
Chris Payne

Gannet
Chris Payne

Northants Ringing Group shortly
after arrival on Skokholm.
Chris Payne

Puffin
Chris Payne

Fulmar

Herring Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Skokholm migrants

Hello

A lively day today on Skokholm which despite quite strong breezes and periods of sunshine and rain produced plenty of incoming migrants with just under fifty new birds being caught.   Willow Warblers made up the majority but were supported by small numbers of Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcap. Efforts at catching large gulls failed and we will have to consider a different strategy for the next couple of days!

I cooked tonight so there is every chance that there might be repercussions for the stomachs of the Northants Ringing Group!

Regards

Neil M

Odds and Ends

Although I have been out and about in the past few days checking the bean fields below Hanging Houghton, feeding the birds at Harrington Airfield and checking for migrants at Pitsford and Sywell Reservoirs , my bird list is pretty poor.
The bean fields look really good, but there has been a distinct lack of birds. These fields have been sprayed and fertilized in close succession recently so I wonder if this is significant.  Today the remaining straw bales were removed , so I expect the Wheatears will move on.
This morning at Harrington there was a Whinchat and a male Common Redstart around the second bunker, otherwise it was quiet.
I always find Sywell Reservoir an interesting spot, but today the only birds of note were several singing Sedge Warblers.
Today I have heard a Cuckoo everywhere I've been.....unless it is the same one following me around !!!


Regards Eleanor

Skokholm

Hello

On Sunday myself and six other Northants Ringers journeyed down to Pembrokeshire for a week's expedition on the island of Skokholm.  The first site en-route was to the watch-point at Symonds Yat in Gloucestershire where the birds included large numbers of Common Buzzards, several Ravens, a couple of Sparrowhawks and of course Peregrines.  Other observations included several Mandarin Ducks, Goosander, Nuthatch and Siskin before we moved on to the Wildlife and Wetlands site at Llanelli. This was a new venue for me and very much like Slimbridge but on a smaller scale.

Wild birds included singles of Glossy Ibis and Spoonbill and Peregrine plus a couple each of Mediterranean Gull and Little Egret.  Waders were made up of Curlew, Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank.

The last birding of the evening was at St Anne's Head on the Pembrokeshire coast where Manx Shearwaters were rafting off-shore and both Chough and Peregrine appeared overhead.

Yesterday morning (Monday), and we successfully boated over to Skokholm and made ourselves ready for our birding and ringing experience.  We quickly began making use of the Heligoland Traps and mist-nets and began to catch migrants which included Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat.  Swallows whizzed overhead, Whimbrel trilled and stalked the island, Raven and Chough skirmished with Jackdaw and Carrion Crow and a pair of Peregrine terrorised the island.  Small birds hopping along the short turf included Pied Wagtail, Wheatear, Meadow and Rock Pipit.  In the late evening we made our first efforts at the nocturnal catching of Manx Shearwater, with some twenty-eight birds being captured and providing the first opportunity for many of the team in handling these fabulous birds.

Today (Tuesday) and the weather was very nice but there was minimal migration visible on the island. Despite the paucity of migrants, quality birds caught included several species of warbler including a Grasshopper Warbler and a couple of very smart Wheatears.  We took the opportunity of taking a RIB to the island of Grassholm which houses a colony of 85,000 Gannets which was pretty spectacular!

Regards

Neil M

Razorbill

Herring Gull

Gannet

Strange Sunday !

I started the day with an early morning walk at Harrington Airfield and it was disappointingly quiet with no birds of note.
Late morning found me walking around the bean fields below Hanging Houghton. These fields look perfect for a "goodie", but there are an awful lot of bean fields to cover. !!  I decided to walk to the highest point of the fields as there is a fantastic view .  It was here that I had a total unexpected  group of 9 Whimbrel and a Golden Plover sp feeding!!!.  I say Golden Plover sp as I had a small Golden Plover type with an unusual call a couple of days ago and I've been trying to relocate it ever since. After watching it today, I am still not sure.  I really needed my scope, so I took the dogs back home, picked up my scope and went back.......of course those birds were nowhere to be seen, but there were 2 Wheatears. This evening I trekked around more of the bean fields with my 4 legged companions who think that I've "really lost the plot", but could not relocate these birds, but saw 2 Grey Partridge, Barn Owl and had a Cuckoo singing well.
Oh well there is always tomorrow.


Regards  Eleanor

Recent ringing data

Hello

Some interesting information has been forthcoming from local ringing as follows:-

An adult Stock Dove was caught at Pitsford Res on Wednesday. This bird was bearing a ring and had been ringed as a nestling in a nest-box in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford in May 2012.  This bird was captured exiting a nest-box in the Scaldwell Bay where there were two very young nestlings.  The indications were that this bird was a female and after being reared successfully herself on the reserve she had chosen to breed on the same site albeit in a different bay and nest-box.

In addition two adult female Tawny Owls breeding in the nest-boxes were also caught and these were bearing rings.  One bird was first ringed in 2005 when she was an incubating female and the other was first ringed in 2008 when she also was an incubating female.  Clearly these matriarchs are very site-faithful as well as attaining a good age and continuing to produce owls for the next generation.

A Goldfinch caught and ringed at Greens Norton on 18th November 2013 was recovered dead at a place called Prosperous, Nass in County Kildare (Eire) on 1st April 2014.  This suggests that it wintered in the UK or was on passage and that it was intent on breeding in Eire.  The two locations are 406 km apart.

Finally a Blackbird that was first ringed in Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate in February 2012 was found dead 575 km away at a place called Sandhorst, Weser-Ems in Germany in February 2014. This suggests that this bird was of a continental origin but successfully overstayed in the UK or passed through during the cold winter of 2011/2012.

Regards

Neil M

Another one that got away?

Hello

Yesterday afternoon (Friday), Eleanor saw and heard an interesting summer plumage 'Golden Plover' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.  Sadly the observation only lasted a short time as the bird was flying.  The bird seemed very slim and issued a 'shuwee' like call.  The exact colour and shade of the auxillaries was not determined, but it seems possible that this was either an American or Pacific Golden Plover.  The bird appeared to pitch down but wasn't seen again yesterday evening and despite a good scour of the fields today seemingly still remains absent.

Two Wheatears in the fields next to the straw-stacks were the only birds of note in the valley this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Early morning murk!

Hello

A pad around at Harrington Airfield this morning in the low cloud and drizzle produced just a single male Wheatear as the only obvious staging migrant.

A male Redstart was in the edge of a copse in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning, and four Wheatears were in nearby bean fields

Eleanor and Neil

This afternoon...

Hello

This afternoon's birds included a male Ring Ouzel at Harrington Airfield (second bunker) and four Wheatears, with another four Wheatears in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

At 5pm the drake Scaup was visible just south of the road causeway at Pitsford Res and a Raven flew over. Andrew Tyrrell has kindly communicated to state that the Egyptian Goose is still present at the Nene Barrage/N'pton Washlands this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

All beak and no trousers!

Hello

For much of the day, Neil Hasdell and I checked the large nest-boxes on the reserve at Pitsford Res and found three of them occupied by Tawny Owls with others occupied by Jackdaws, Stock Doves and Grey Squirrels!  Below are some images of a Tawny Owl chick and it's parent.

Other birds noted on the reserve today included a drake Scaup in the Holcot Bay (first seen by Robin Gossage on Saturday), two Common Terns, two Oystercatchers and two Goldeneye.

Eleanor located six Wheatears at Harrington Airfield - please see images below by Dave Jackson.

In the meantime, John Woollett, Chris Payne and John Boland managed to access a Raven nest in the south of the county and ringed the absolutely beautiful occupants!

Regards

Neil M

Tawny Owls at Pitsford Res
courtesy of Neil Hasdell

Wheatear at Harrington Airfield
courtesy of Dave Jackson

All beak and no trousers!
That's the Ravens not you Chris!

Tuesday late morning...

Hello

Further checks of the bean fields below Hanging Houghton late morning indicates that the majority of the migrants including the Black Redstart have already moved on as it has warmed up.

Brief visits to Pitsford Res causeway and dam succeeded only in locating a single Swift and a couple of Oystercatchers.

Regards

Neil M

Tuesday am

Hello

An early morning jaunt to Harrington Airfield this morning provided views of two male Ring Ouzels at the second bunker, which subsequently flew towards the third bunker at 7.15am.  Two Wheatears were also present, generally between the first and second bunkers.

Eleanor in the meantime continued her methodical checking of the bean fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.  The best bird was an adult male Black Redstart with other passerines at about SP737734.  Other birds in these collection of fields included four Wheatears, at least a dozen Yellow Wagtails, plenty of Skylarks and half a dozen Golden Plovers.  However, no Dotterel as yet!

Regards

Neil M

Firecrest

Hello

A visit to Harrington Airfield this afternoon provided a view of an adult male Ring Ouzel and four Wheatears.

David Arden is to be congratulated on finding a Firecrest at Pitsford Res this morning, the bird was located in the Scaldwell Bay in larches near to the New James Fisher Hide.  This evening birds noted north of the causeway at Pitsford included the Ross's Goose still, a Goldeneye and at least one Oystercatcher.

Regards

Neil M

Harrington Ouzels

I decided that I would start the day with an early morning walk at Harrington Airfield.  First job was to feed the birds, even though it would appear that the Bramblings have moved off there are still plenty of birds enjoying the seed.  There were good numbers of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Chaffinch. A single Tree Sparrow and 2 Lesser Redpoll made a brief appearance.
There were 2 Grey Partridge, 4 Wheatears and a Cuckoo on the rough area.

As I loitered around the second bunker I could hear at least 2 Ring Ouzel "chacking" away and one of these birds, a super male, perched on top of a bush and started to sing and he was really showing off. It is certainly the best view which I've had of these birds.  Another male, not so well marked broke cover and perched out in the open on the concrete bunker and I could still hear another bird calling, so pretty sure 3 birds remain.

Regards Eleanor

A quiet Easter Sunday

Hello

Yesterday evening (Saturday) saw me padding around parts of the Blueberry Farm complex at Maidwell, but the only birds a little different included a single Wheatear and a pair of Grey Partridge.

With a blocking north-easterly breeze and Arctic Terns on the move in the UK today, I fully expected to see some evidence of visible migration at Pitsford Res.  Two visitations failed to find much of anything new - and it seems that yesterday's Black-necked Grebes have already moved on.

A quick circuit at Harrington Airfield early afternoon was also a quiet affair with a single male Wheatear being the highlight. Eleanor managed to find two Wheatears on the extensive bean fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and I finally caught up with my first singing Sedge Warbler of the year near Brixworth.

Regards

Neil M

Great Crested Grebe
Pitsford Res

Adult Grey Heron
Pitsford Res

Pitsford CBC

Hello

It's that time of the year again  - the Common Bird Census at Pitsford Res!  Starting at 6am this morning on a cold and frosty morning, there was a surprising number of avian songsters despite the initial grey conditions.  By way of example there were six singing Song Thrushes in the Holcot Bay banging out their repeated volleys of musical noise!

Most birds noted were very much the norm, with plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs on territory and some Willow Warblers too.  An early Reed Warbler had to do with some Blackthorn to sing from and it will be some weeks yet before any reeds have grown up!  On territory Marsh Tits were in two areas and a couple of Lesser Redpolls were buzzing about.  One pair of Oystercatcher had doubled to two pairs.  Other birders noted a Garden Warbler and Peregrine.

Just as I was about to leave, a last scan with the binoculars revealed a summer plumage Black-necked Grebe near to the Lagoon Hide. Subsequently two more appeared from underneath waterside willows and all three were watched as they dived and took insects off the surface of the water.

Regards

Neil M

Orange-tip Butterfly

Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower

Mallard with ducklings

Harrington am

This morning at Harrington Airfield there was a Ring Ouzel favouring the area between the first and second bunkers.  Sometimes the bird was on full show, but more often than not was seen in flight before disappearing into the bushes. With a bit of patience I'm sure you will see this bird and who knows what might drop in as you wait ?.  There were several Wheatear around the bunkers.
I fed the birds by the entrance and when I returned to the car I could hear the familiar harsh "chack" of a Ring Ouzel and there was a stunning male sitting on top of a roadside bush !! As it dropped out of the bush I was aware that another similar size bird was also lower down in the bush, but I didn't see this clearly enough , but probably another one.


Regards Eleanor

Ringing at Harrington

Hello

Despite often quite bright sunshine and a cool northerly breeze, the planned ringing session at Harrington Airfield took place this morning.  My thanks to those visiting birders who changed their plans on arriving at this disused airfield this morning, enabling us to catch 24 birds safely.  Seven Willow Warblers were among the catch, we assume a combination of birds intending to breed on the old airstrip but also migrants aiming for more northern climes.

What was probably the same individual Ring Ouzel was seen a number of times, often elusive and very mobile around the site.  For a short time there was a group of seven Wheatears, but they were disturbed and hadn't returned by the time we left.  Other birds included a mobile Yellow Wagtail, singing Lesser and Common Whitethroats and a Raven.  There was no sign of yesterday's Stone Curlew.

The leaves of Common Spotted Orchid were visible and Grizzled Skipper was the pick of the butterflies on the wing there today.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon included a dozen Golden Plovers and four Wheatears on the bean fields.

Regards

Neil M

Yellowhammer at Harrington
Airfield, courtesy of Clive Bowley.

Record shot of yesterday's
Stone Curlew at Harrington Airfield.