Speyside

Hello

Apologies for the lack of updates over the last few days.  Our Internet connection now appears to be finally resolved!

On Sunday 18th May it was an early 4.30am start as we motored over to Loch Garten.  As expected no Capercallies were on show (apparently it has been a very poor season for them showing this year), but we were privileged to witness (with the assistance of a high definition camera), the first-hatched Osprey chick take it's very first feed from mother!  The egg hatched overnight but the female brooded the nestling before finally offering it some carefully manipulated slithers of best trout as acquired by the male bird called Odin.

A pair of Redstart were busy in a nest-box right in front of the visitor centre, the female already brooding a clutch of eggs.  A couple of Red Squirrels showed and a scat on the track outside the centre showed that a Pine Marten had been about while we were in there, but no-one saw it!

Next was a walk through the Abernethy Forest and in to Nethybridge.  Crossbills were heard calling and the deep tones suggested they were not of the Common variety.  As with much of the woodland up here at this time of the year, the trees played host to incredible numbers of singing Willow Warblers and good numbers of Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Siskin, and with plenty of Tree Pipits singing in the glades and edges.   Quite different to the English Midlands where such sounds are pretty isolated and the populations fragmented.  Cuckoos too are a common sound here, frequently on the moorland and woodland edge.  Both Grey Wagtail and Dipper were on territory at Nethybridge.

After a well-deserved brunch at the excellent Rothiemurchus Estate cafe, we next birded an area close to Aviemore.  A couple of singing Wood Warblers included an apparently unmated male singing and vibrating his heart out plus more Tree Pipits and Spotted Flycatchers.  A female Peregrine remained well-concealed on her clutch of eggs.

We finished the day at an old favourite venue of ours which is the very extensive Insh Marshes, which is made all the more accessible due to the Bradenoch Way footpath.  The RSPB manage the area and there is an excellent viewpoint which provides a commanding view over a section of the marsh.  Large numbers of Roe Deer are always on view, the aquatic habitat with it's lush vegetation much to their liking.  Breeding waders include Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank and Snipe.  Redstarts and Tree Pipits sing from the birch-covered slopes and resident raptors include Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.  It is thought that this area represents one of the key sites in the UK for breeding Spotted Crake, but it is another thing seeing one!

We finished the day with an Osprey, common woodland birds and a Large Red Damselfly, and providing some food on the grass by our woodland cabin induced the local wildlife to banquet, including a couple of Badgers.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Tree Pipit

Highland Toad!

Many of the adult male
Chaffinches in this part
of the world are incredibly
bright.

Spotted Flycatcher trying
out a possible new home!

Bird of the Day - a stunning
Wood Warbler

Ruthven Barracks standing
proud before the Insh Marshes

'Peanuts are OK but is
there any more jam sandwiches?'

Perth and Tay

Hello

After a very pleasant guesthouse accommodation in the village of Luncarty north of Perth, we spent the day exploring the fabulous landscapes and habitat west of the A9 and Pitlochry.  Before leaving Luncarty we noticed Tree Sparrows on the adjacent farm-land and coming to the guesthouse bird feeders.  We visited a number of venues including Loch of the Lowes, Tumnel Bridge and a couple of Forestry Commission woodlands, but the best venue was certainly the single-track road along Glen Quaich which almost borders Loch Freuchie.

Unlike further south, the weather in this region was dull during the morning with low cloud, and first drizzle and then light rain settled in for much of the afternoon.

Nevertheless there were birds to be found and we duly notched up Red Grouse, Black Grouse, Goosander, Osprey, Red Kite, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, lots of common waders, Wheatear, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Wood Warbler and Crossbill.

After tearing ourselves away from this very picturesque area we drove north to Newtonmore, purchased some provisions and found our self-catering cabin in the village of Insh, Speyside.  And tomorrow is a whole new day!

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

A herd of Fallow Deer
included a cream-white individual.

Swallow - including one
with nesting material

These black-faced variety
of Sheep are common in the
Perth area and all look
particularly clean-looking.

Brown Hare

The drive north...

Hello

Early this morning the McMahon clan drove north to Scotland, as part of a short break centred around Speyside.

Our first venue after three hours solid driving was the excellent Westmoorland Tebay Services off the M6 in the Lake District.  Not only was the cooked breakfast excellent but there were some birds there as well, which included 'bubbling' Curlew on the adjacent moorland, nine Crossbills and singing Willow Warblers, Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher.  On next to the outskirts of Edingburgh, where a committed animal lover took in our physically disabled foster dog Theo for a week.  With our friend Diane taking in the other foster dog Joseph and Eleanor's parents looking after Bobsie, it left just Tor and Bazra with us to explore Scotland!

Birds seen and heard by the roadside included plenty of gulls and corvids, Common Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Oystercatchers and a Wood Warbler.  We motored over the impressive Firth of Forth bridge and on to Loch Leven, a large freshwater loch near Kinross.  Here the RSPB maintain the Vane Farm nature reserve.

Siskins and Blackcaps were in good voice on our arrival, and other warblers included Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.  Some chattering Tree Sparrows was a sound from sunny Northants, and some of the birds visible from the hides was very much Nene Valley-like, with a drake Garganey, a pair or two of Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank,a Pink-footed Goose, Black-headed Gull colony etc.  A Glossy Ibis feeding close to a flock of Greylags sadly does not reflect the current Northants scene however!

A Temminck's Stint had been seen earlier in the day but couldn't be found by us or those there in the latter part of the afternoon, but a Red Squirrel coming to bird feeders in the shadow of the foliage will hopefully be the first of many on this trip!

Regards

Neil M

Loch Leven

'C'mon Mum, when
are we going for a run?'

On-territory Lapwing

Red Squirrel

Pitsford CES

Hello

Dave Francis completed another Constant Effort Site (CES) ringing session in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res this morning.  This produced a good total of 56 birds of which 23 were re-traps, some of these re-traps being trans-Saharan warblers.

Perhaps the most noteworthy birds were 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler, 3 juvenile Robins and a Linnet.  As the bay and other areas of the reserve become more established with secondary woodland, the scrub and low-foilage species such as Whitethroat and Willow Warbler become less numerous.  However the on-going woodland management of the plantations provides glades and opportunities for re-growth of ground-hugging plants, thus the birds of scrub still occur in low numbers.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford Nest-boxes

Hello

I spent much of the day at Pitsford Res today as part of a team monitoring nest-boxes on the reserve.  We managed to check the majority of the big boxes and some selected small boxes.  Dave Francis has designed a Treecreeper nest-box with a high take-up rate and several of these boxes are erected in the plantations. Pictures of a first-brood are as below.

We checked on a pair of Marsh Tits using a nest-box in the Scaldwell Bay and they had successfully hatched eight young from eight eggs and were busy feeding them while we were nearby.

Most of the bigger boxes were rather disappointing with Grey Squirrels inhabiting many of them.  None of the first breeding efforts of Stock Doves and Jackdaws in the boxes had succeeded but we did find a Jackdaw nest in a natural site which contained two young.

Four pairs of Tawny Owls have used the nest-boxes at Pitsford this year, with the latest of the nests being visited today.  The adult female owl sat tight to protect her single nestling.  Cached food for the owlet included Brown Rat and Wood Mouse.

Other birds noted on our way around included at least one Oystercatcher, Cuckoo and plenty of Common Terns.

Regards

Neil M

Nestling Treecreepers

Tawny Owl nestling

Adult female Tawny Owl

All pictures courtesy of Chris Payne.

Tuesday afternoon...

Hello

Eleanor was able to spend some time out and about today, trying to dodge the showers but not always being successful!  At 2pm what must be a summering Osprey again flew in to the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, heading in the direction of Haselbech. An evening walk at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell located just a singing Grasshopper Warbler of note...

Regards

Neil M

Illegal slaughter of migrants in Cyprus

Hello

Please take time to read the below introduction from local naturalist John Boland concerning the slaughter of migrant birds in Cyprus:-

'I've started the petition "Ministry of Defence: Stop the illegal bird trapping on MOD land in the UK sovereign Dhekelia base at Cape Pyla Cyprus" and need your help to get it off the ground.

If we send this email to all our contacts, hopefully we can convince the MOD to stop this activity on UK soil.

It will not remove the problem totally but will make a big difference to the migrating populations.  A lot of the birds are just pulled out of the nets to die.  The Blackcap is the most lucrative catch, six Blackcaps sell for €80 Euro in restaurants.

Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here's the link: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ministry-of-defence-stop-the-illegal-bird-trapping-on-mod-land-in-the-uk-sovereign-dhekelia-base-at-cape-pyla-cyprus?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition_created

Here's why it's important:

This is illegal bird trapping on MOD land netting criminal gangs millions of pounds a year. It is estimated 500.000 birds were trapped last year and sold for £4 per bird. This level of trapping is unsustainable, all the trapped birds are migrants using Cyprus as a rest area on their migration route.

The MOD is allowing illegal activity on sovereign property for the benefit of mainly Russian mafia gangs.

The practice can be halted instantly by cutting down the rows of Acacia trees planted illegally on this site. This is an MOD site totally controlled by the Ministry of Defence who in my opinion should not stand by and ignore this practice.

We have until September to prevent this mass killing taking place again, as the European-bred birds, travel south for the winter.

Please sign up to stop it now 

You can sign my petition by clicking here.

If you Google maps and type in Cape Pyla Cyprus zoom in and you will see the rows of Acacia tress quite clearly.

Thank-you'

John Boland

P.S. If the link doesn't work direct from this blog, please cut and paste and enter in to your favoured search engine.

Afternoon update...

Hello

A follow-up visit to Cottesbrooke this afternoon (1.40pm) failed to locate the singing Wood Warbler.  Two Hobby high up over the village were seen instead.

Eleanor noted a few birds of note at Harrington Airfield this afternoon the best being a pair of Grey Partridge, a Turtle Dove and a Grasshopper Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Clive Bowley Wildlife Images

Local photographer Clive Bowley has kindly provided wildlife images over the last six months or so, and now he has his own Tab on this blog-site.  Enjoy!

Carrion Crow

Cream-streaked Lady-bird

Adder

Wood Warbler

Hello

Well Eleanor has just arrived in from a lengthy two hour run with Tor the hound!  She spent some time running around the Cottesbrooke/Haselbech/Blueberry Farm area in search of the wandering White Stork but no luck!  However a trilling (and thrilling!) Wood Warbler was in full song in Cottesbrooke village (at about 11am), in trees on the opposite side of the road to the church, and a Spotted Flycatcher was by the stream bridge on the Brixworth Road in the village.

Regards

Neil M

Another Windswept Walkies!!

Another day spent trekking around the bean fields and the Blueberry Farm complex, whilst competing with the strong wind and trying to dodge the showers, not very successfully.
The bean fields were quiet and I'm sure the beans have grown inches overnight as even the Lapwing were more difficult to locate.
Around Blueberry there was at least one singing Grasshopper Warbler and a Reed Warbler.  A newly fledged party of Long Tailed Tits were vocal , as were 2 Curlew as they flew over.  As I neared the highest point of the big field, battling against the wind I saw a Turtle Dove doing likewise. 
It is actually well worth the climb to this highest point as the views across the countryside are stunning and it is a good game to identify some famous landmarks, eg Cottesbrooke Hall, Express Lifts Tower and Borough Hill. If you are feeling weary then have a rest on the old garden furniture kindly placed there by Mr Mrs Knowles for all to enjoy.  It is a good place to watch for raptors as so much sky to look at, and again today there was Osprey, Red Kites, Kestrel, Hobby and Common Buzzard.


Regards  Eleanor

Long Day Count SP54

Hello

Today Mike Pollard (heartofenglandnature.blogspot.com) and I completed a BOS Long Day Count in SP54 which is in the south west of Northamptonshire.  From our 5am start it was a very strong wind all day, sometimes with light showers, but also occasionally with some intermittent brighter periods.

Our first birding venue was in the Thenford area, a couple of lakes here attracting some common water birds and also a migrant Common Sandpiper.  Broken woodland was sufficient to attract Nuthatch and the traditional Lapwing breeding fields contained at least three birds struggling to cope with the fast-growing wheat crop. Field edges and margins and the village sewer works near to Middleton Cheney claimed some additional species which included Grey Wagtail and the locally scarce Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler.  A fast-moving Hobby was the pick of the birds at Farthinghoe Local Nature Reserve.

We explored some minimal aquatic and wet woodland on the outskirts of Marston St Lawrence, and were rewarded with a pair of Mandarin Duck, a pair of Marsh Tits, plus another territorial male Grey Wagtail and a Sparrowhawk.  Two Ravens at Thenford, Farthinghoe and at Marston were presumed to be the same far-ranging birds.

A couple of hours in the afternoon wandering a mixture of habitat at Edgcote and Trafford Bridge and Trafford Marsh was rewarding with an adult Grey Heron on a nest, Raven, one or two Kingfisher, further singles of Sparrowhawk and Hobby and a fabulous cute huddle of just-fledged Long-tailed Tits!  Yet another on-territory Grey Wagtail was located and a single Yellow Wagtail was seen in flight and it took us nearly twelve hours to finally locate a single Pied Wagtail in the 10k square!

An inspired visit to Moreton Pinkney, one of Mike's local patches, yielded breeding Tree Sparrow, a pair of Raven with three fledged young and a super Tawny Owl.  This demonstrated the value of Mike's excellent local knowledge, in addition without which we would not have seen a subsequent and only Garden Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Long Day Count SP55

Hello

Today was spent completing the Banbury Ornithological Society Long Day Count in the 10km square of SP55 south of Daventry. Helen Franklin joined me for a wet exploration of Fawsley Park from 5am, and a less wet trundle around Badby Woods afterwards, in our efforts to see as many species of birds as possible. 

Calling Tawny Owls were one of our first birds and there were several each of both Sedge and Reed Warbler singing during the grey cloud dawn.  Fawsley also provided Nuthatch and a singing Spotted Flycatcher as well as reasonable numbers of common birds.

Dripping Badby Woods with its impressive carpet of Bluebells was as stunning as ever despite the scudding storm clouds overhead.  As we left the wood the weather broke to provide blue skies and sunshine.  Raven and more Nuthatches were the birding highlights.

On then to Catesby and Hellidon which yielded a Hobby and another Raven.  A pair of Marsh Tits collecting food at Byfield Pool were a treat and the first of our Yellow Wagtails flew over calling.  Things really slowed up in the afternoon and we finished with a low total of 63 species located in the 12 hours!

Must re-charge the batteries for another go in SP54 tomorrow... !

Regards

Neil M

Windswept Walkies !!

I must admit that the thought of wet and muddy dogs did not fill me with much enthusiasm this morning, but the dogs were keen to go out. Anyway the rain soon stopped and we were quickly dried out by the ever increasing wind.
The bean fields below Hanging Houghton continue to "look good" so I covered quite an extensive circuit. I feel as if I know each bean plant intimately !!!, but all I could find was a rather splendid male Northern Wheatear and a couple of pairs of Lapwing.
As I reached Blueberry Farm I picked up a large bird flying away from me, typical, but thankfully it banked and circled around before heading off towards Cottesbrooke. It was a White Stork. It was flying quite low when I initially saw it, which makes me wonder whether it had been on the ground.
I continued to wander around the Blueberry Farm area and saw a Whinchat and two singing Grasshopper Warblers.  When I reached the highest point at Blueberry I stood for a while and scanned the skies, much to the dogs relief as they were glad of a rest, and it wasn't long before I picked up Osprey, Hobby, Red Kites and numerous Common Buzzard clearly enjoying the bright and breezy conditions.


Regards Eleanor

More wet weather to come...

Hello

My apologies for the lack of blogs over the last two days. Numerous commitments for us both have ensured that birding opportunities were minimal.  The wet and cooler temperatures of the last few days is causing problems with the earlier broods of tits in nest boxes, as demonstrated today with a dead brood of Great Tits at Pitsford Res.  Tits still at the egg stage will be faring better, but this wet weather comes at a time when Long-tailed Tits are feeding youngsters in the nest with the very earliest broods even at the fledging stage. Dave Francis and Lynne Barnett were checking boxes there today but on a happier note were able to confirm another brood of Tawny Owls on-site.  So far this year, we have located four pairs of Tawny Owls using the boxes there, at least three of which have owlets.  However, lengthy spells of rain severely reduces the ability of adults to find sufficient food so we hope they manage their way through what is forecast a very wet week-end.

Visits to the Brampton Valley and Harrington Airfield over the last couple of days have failed to locate any birds of note.  Locally I am concerned at the apparent low numbers of Swallows, House Martins and Yellow Wagtails at their usual breeding haunts and just hope that some more individuals have yet to arrive.  Most of the warblers seem to be in reasonable or good numbers.

This week-end I am destined to commit to Banbury Ornithological Society Long Day Counts down in the south of the county and I think by this time tomorrow I might be a touch water-logged!

Regards

Neil M

Wednesday update...

Hello

This morning Eleanor completed her customary perusal of the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and extending up towards Blueberry Farm and the fields adjacent.  An Osprey again flew up from the valley heading towards Pitsford Res at about 7.40am.  Two Curlew were flying around and calling and passerines on the ground included a Whinchat on the Blueberry Farm complex and two Wheatears again on the bean fields.

Later this morning a Quail was audible from a wheat field adjacent to the Brampton Valley Way at Draughton Crossing.

In the meantime a small team of us spent the morning putting up large nest boxes at Pitsford Res for the 2015 season and taking down/repairing those that have seen a number of years service.  We didn't notice any birds of note but the Common Tern community is slowly increasing in number with birds loafing on the rafts in the Scaldwell Bay.  A pair of Marsh Tits are utilizing a nest box on-site this year, and we netted a 10 year old female Tawny Owl from a nest-box, being first ringed as a nestling on the reserve way back in 2004.

Regards

Neil M

Post Skokholm

Hello

On Sunday evening the Northants Ringing Group contingent left Skokholm and set off back home to sunny Northants.  We had travelled down in three cars and one contingent decided to stay overnight in Wales and complete some birding in the Forest of Dean on the way home.

So on Monday afternoon, three of us found ourselves enjoying a sandwich and cake at the cafe at Symonds Yat (again) in Gloucestershire.  We then waddled to the rock itself and scanned over the River Wye and surrounding countryside to espy Peregrine, Common Buzzard and Red Kite.  Nuthatch and Siskin provided views and we then left to take a short but enjoyable walk around the RSPB reserve at Nagshead which is deeper in the forest.  Here six elusive male Pied Flycatchers proclaimed their territories and a singing Redstart showed briefly.  Plenty of Nuthatches and Treecreepers were a good indication of the health of this veteran forest.  Three Hawfinches were heard calling but remained hidden. A couple of brief stops at Parkend and New Fancy View was sufficient to see common woodland birds and we then travelled east to the rose of the shires and home.

Today (Tuesday) and some time at Pitsford Res yielded a Ruddy Shelduck in the grounds of the yacht club, a Little Ringed Plover on the shingle near Catwalk Bay and a half a dozen Common Terns south of the causeway.

Please be aware that if you are contemplating walking/running/cycling around the area between the dam and the causeway, the access track along the dam is currently closed for maintenance.  This section will remain closed until 21st May and prevents the opportunity of a typical circular route between the dam and causeway.  The reserve to the north of the causeway is unaffected.

Eleanor saw four Wheatears in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning but didn't see anything of note at Harrington Airfield this afternoon (apart from lots of dog-walkers).

Provisional numbers of birds captured and processed by the Northants Ringing Group on Skokholm for the six days we were there were as follows:-

403 Manx Shearwaters
1 Herring Gull
25 Chiffchaffs
63 Willow Warblers
22 Sedge Warblers
7 Blackcaps
10 Whitethroats
2 Grasshopper Warblers
4 Wheatears
1 Whinchat
6 Wrens
1 Dunnock
1 Black Redstart
3 Meadow Pipits
1 Rock Pipit
2 Reed Buntings
1 Blackbird
1 Goldfinch

Regards

Neil M

Whinchat - Skokholm
Courtesy of Chris Payne

Northants Bird Club meeting

Hello

This is a reminder to Bird Club members and an invite to non-members that on Wednesday evening (tomorrow) we meet for an indoor meeting at The Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir (on the Brixworth Road just outside Holcot).  John Showers will be providing us with a presentation on Hoverflies and I will be providing an illustrated bird quiz to conclude the evening. 

Hopefully we will have an opportunity to chat and nibble some biscuits and sip some hot drinks afterwards!  Ideally please meet at 7.30pm for a 7.45pm start, parking in the car park at The Fishing Lodge.  There are a couple of parking places by the entrance if it becomes full, with a further overflow option being parking on the causeway and taking a short stroll back to the Fishing Lodge.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Neil M

Sunday continued

For me, it has been a lean time for birds and until today I had failed to connect with anything of note.
This morning at 07.30hrs an Osprey flew over my head as I neared Blueberry and appeared to be heading towards Pitsford Reservoir, probably in search of breakfast.  
I've continued to check as many bean fields as I can. There appears to be 2 pairs of Lapwing taking an interest in one of the fields.  It was whilst checking more of these fields early afternoon that I saw a female Black Redstart and 2 male Northern Wheatears gradually work their way up the field and simply melt away !   As I was scanning the skies I watched 2 Hobby flying around together and give a short display.  Plenty of other raptors enjoying the sunshine and breeze, namely Red Kites and Common Buzzard.
A slow walk at Harrington produced a single Whinchat, but nil else.
A walk at dusk around Blueberry was quiet apart from a Barn Owl


Regards Eleanor

Sunny Sunday on Skokholm

Hello

The sunshine has finally broken through here on Skokholm and the visibility is excellent with clear views possible of the mainland and the islands of Skomer, Grassholm and Ramsay.

The migrants were a little slow this morning but new arrivals included small numbers of common warblers, and another Wheatear was trapped and ringed.

Aerial skirmishes between big gulls, corvids, Common Buzzard and Peregrine continue all the time, with Oystercatchers piping and shrilling at all of them!

Puffins are flying in small swarms as they master the strong head-wind and avoid the hunting male Peregrine, and the cliff edges and vegetated areas are the constant haunt of singing Rock and Meadow Pipits.

The Pembrokeshire islands at their best!

Regards

Neil M

Hand-caught Manx
Shearwater  by Lynne Barnett!

Northants Ringing Group
contingent on Skokholm

Heligoland Bird-trap

NRG catering logistics meeting!