Black Terns

Hi,

Thirteen Black Terns were visible from the feed station at Pitsford on Tuesday morning.  The birds were very mobile feeding up and down the Scaldwell Bay, occasionally rising skyward in a group before returning to feeding.



The moth traps were again quiet with a few of the catch illustrated below.







On the butterfly front Small Coppers were evident as well as the first Common Blue I have seen on the reserve this year.  Sadly it wouldn't settle for me to photograph, the Small Copper however posed nicely.

Regards,

          Neil H.



Brampton Valley birds

Hi

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today included a male Peregrine, a Barn Owl and 2 Golden Plovers but no passerines of note...

Regards

Eleanor

Difficult birding!

Hi

It has been hard work today to find much of note, despite covering quite a bit of ground.

At Pitsford Res this morning there were 5 Swifts and 3 Spotted Flycatchers visible from the yacht club, plus at least one Yellow-legged Gull.

Harrington Airfield seemed quiet with very few migrant passerines.  The best was a single Lesser Whitethroat and a juvenile Turtle Dove on the scant cover crop between the concrete track and the old airstrip. 

The Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton was pretty devoid of migrants this morning; all in all suggesting a considerable move-out last night of many birds in this area of the county.

At Pitsford Res this afternoon, a hint of change with a dapper juvenile Arctic Tern fraternising with the Common Terns north of the causeway (still present at 4pm), and both a Hobby and a male Peregrine hunting there.

Regards

E & N

Blueberry Redstarts

Hi

This afternoon there were 2 Redstarts with a mobile group of Whitethroats at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, in the northern-most field with the central ditch system.   Also present at this site was a Barn Owl, 2 Hobby and a Wheatear.

Birds visible from the yacht club at Pitsford Res this evening included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls and at least one Spotted Flycatcher.

Regards

E & N

Brampton Valley birds

Good morning!

Birding in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke this morning in a rather stiff easterly breeze provided a Corn Bunting, a Tree Pipit, a Golden Plover and a Reed Warbler.  The pipit was associating with Meadow Pipits in fields adjacent to the southern-most Blueberry Farm field and the bunting was in much the same place.  A pair of Whitethroats were watched still busily feeding young in the nest there.

Regards

Neil M

Harrington

Hi

A walk at Harrington Airfield this afternoon produced at least one Redstart on the old airstrip in the vicinity of the first bunker.  What sounded like another bird was calling from deep cover, audible from the main concrete track.  There was also a Hobby present and a Turtle Dove on the old airstrip between the second and third bunkers.

E & N

Bits and pieces

Hi

Birds in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke this morning included 2 Whinchats and a number of other passage migrants.  There were 4 Kingfishers at the brook by the track.

Nearby, birds over the garden at Hanging Houghton involved 2 Crossbills, 2 Siskins and 2 Hobby with a Nuthatch nearby.

The Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Res attracted a Greenshank, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a Nuthatch.

Regards

Birds of the margins

Hi

Birds in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Res today included two drake Red-crested Pochards, a Green Sandpiper and a somewhat surprising Water Rail.

Up to six Spotted Flycatchers were visible at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

A wander around the Nene Barrage at Clifford Hill GP this evening failed to locate the Sacred Ibis present earlier.  The off-road motorcycles and quad bikes beat us to it!

Regards

E & N

Pitsford Moths

Hi,

A few nice moths were present in the reservoir moth traps this morning including Buff Arches lots of Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings and an immigrant Silver Y, as well as the usual Dark Arches.

A nice selection of Prominents (Pale, Swallow, Lesser Swallow and Pebble) were trapped as well. 

A walk in the Walgrave Bay after I had finished at the traps was quite quiet with 2 eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard and a Green Sandpiper being the only birds of note, no sign of the Marsh Harrier or any Ospreys.

Plenty of Ruddy Darters are on the wing at present as well as Four-spotted Chasers in the Walgrave pond.

The Buddleas at the Lodge are proving an irresistible draw to butterflies at the moment with a selection of Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral and various White's in attendance.

      TTFN

         Neil H.

Chats about

Hi

Yesterday evening (Thursday 9th) a Redstart was located in a hedge in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton.  This morning it wasn't located but 2 Wheatears, a Reed Warbler and a Hobby were in the same area...

Regards

E & N

The chats have arrived!

Hi

This morning there were 6 Whinchats and 2 Wheatears in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke.  There were also 2 more Whinchats on the Brampton Valley Way near Brixworth.

A CES ringing session took place at Pitsford Res this morning with over 40 passerines being caught in the Scaldwell Bay.  Local juvenile Wrens and migrant Willow Warblers, in all probability from northern Britain, were the dominant species.

Other birds noted included 2 Ospreys over at 11.40am, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and a Nuthatch.

The warm weather brought out plenty of butterflies and other insects which included many Essex Skippers, Ruddy Darters and hover-flies; also with singles of Southern and Migrant Hawker.

Regards

E & N

Raven Heaven!

Hi

This morning saw us venture to the Daventry area and our first venue was Borough Hill Country Park.  It was murky and drizzly, sometimes ideal conditions for locating downed migrants, but not today!  There were no birds of note, the nature highlight perhaps being the fabulous swathes of Harebells which grow liberally amongst the rough pasture here.

A walk next around Daventry Country Park and a similar story again.  Like many reservoirs at this time of the year, viewing the water and margins is difficult due to the extensive vegetation, and apart from a Nuthatch and very good numbers of Cormorants and Common Terns, no birds of note were seen.

Next then to Catesby, a rural location between the villages of Staverton and Hellidon which is surely the best place in the county to see Raven.  We were not disappointed with at least 23 very active and vocal birds showing well.  They played out the traditional game of  'annoy/intimidate the local Common Buzzards' and rolled and 'cronked' in their usual manner.  Also present was a Hobby, a Little Owl and 1-2 Kingfisher(s).

Fawsley Park hosted a family party of Spotted Flycatcher, a Little Owl, a Green Sandpiper and a calling Water Rail.

A  brief stop at Ravensthorpe Res this afternoon was sufficient to see a female Red-crested Pochard and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.  Nearby at Hollowell Res, the water is beginning to recede and provided just enough in the way of muddy margins to attract an Oystercatcher and a Common Sandpiper.

On returning home we found our buddleias alive with freshly-emerged Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, no doubt they will enjoy the next forecast period of sunny and warm weather!

Regards

E & N (pics below)

Adult Black-headed Gull in post-breeding moult

Ravens!

Red-crested Pochard

Grasshopper sp

August wildlife

Hi

Birds at Pitsford Res today were much as the last week or so.  A juvenile Marsh Harrier hunted north of the causeway from 3pm, even harrying waterfowl out in the open water.  This bird exhibited a bright cream crown with a similarly coloured throat and paleness extending a little on to the leading edge of the wing.  Although they were hidden for much of the day, 2 drake Red-crested Pochard showed briefly in the Walgrave Bay.  There were at least 6 nomadic Crossbills, a Kingfisher, a Common Sandpiper and a Nuthatch also present on the reserve.  Please see images of Pitsford wildlife below...

This evening there was a juvenile Marsh Harrier over Clint Hill at Hanging Houghton and a Barn Owl deeper in the valley.  A single Grey Partridge near Hanging Houghton was chaperoning 2 half-grown young.

Regards

E & N

Great Crested Grebes with their little 'striped humbugs'

Common Blue Damselfly

Juvenile Marsh Harrier with Common Tern escort!

Small Copper

Gatekeeper

Roselle's Bush-cricket

Autumn birding

Hi

This morning birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Red Kite, a juvenile Peregrine, 2 Golden Plovers and 2 Ravens.

At 7.35pm this evening a juvenile Marsh Harrier was hunting over cereal fields between the village of Old and Pitsford Res.  This bird appeared different to the original Pitsford bird inasmuch that its crown seemed much duller and the bird itself seemed broader-winged and potentially a little larger.

A few birds noted at Pitsford Res in the vicinity of the yacht club this evening included a Yellow-legged Gull, about 4 Common Sandpipers and a Greenshank.

Regards

E & N

A bit of a blank day!

Hi

Today was one of those days which didn't go quite right!  I skilfully avoided seeing three good raptors at Pitsford (Marsh Harrier and 2 Ospreys) and was unable to find much different locally.  Birds noted at Pitsford Res included the three Red-crested Pochards (still in Walgrave Bay), a 4th year Yellow-legged Gull, a Dunlin and 2 Oystercatchers.  I think the highlight was witnessing three juvenile Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat and a Blackcap in our small back garden before the big showers hit.

Regards

Neil

Local update

Hi

An Osprey and 1-2 juvenile Marsh Harrier(s) were north of the causeway at Pitsford Res this morning.  Only one harrier was seen at any one time but it seems that there is variation in head markings (one duller than the other).  Hopefully someone will see the two together to confirm...

Two Ravens 'played' with Common Buzzards over Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and a number of Spotted Flyctachers seen included two family parties at Dale Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

E & N

Back Garden Wildlife

Sometimes the back garden is all it needs to soak up some local wildlife...

Comma



Small Tortoiseshell

House Sparrows

Pitsford update

Hi

Birds in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Res this morning included the juvenile Marsh Harrier which attempted to take young Coots in the margins by Christies Copse. Other birds noted included 2 Ravens over, 2+ Crossbills and a Kingfisher.

A short ringing session included the capture of a juvenile Carrion Crow (please see below).

This morning, at about 7.15am, what was presumably a different juvenile Marsh Harrier was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil

Pitsford Portrait

Hi

Some good coverage at Pitsford Res today by several birders produced a few birds of note.  The juvenile Marsh Harrier appeared north of the causeway at 1.45pm and showed on and off during the afternoon, spending much of its time in the Walgrave Bay.  An Osprey arrived at 2.05pm and disappeared some 15 minutes later, mobbed at one stage by the harrier.  The three Red-crested Pochard remain in the Walgrave Bay.  Other birds included 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Kingfishers, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull.

This evening a single Corn Bunting was located with Yellowhammers in fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.  Two Red Kites joined the Common Buzzards in gleaning the harvested oil see rape fields for morsels there.

Below are some images from Pitsford today.  My apologies for the distant shots of the best birds (they wouldn't come any closer)!

Coot in the rain!

Osprey

Greylag Goose

Drake Tufted Duck in eclipse

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier

Common Tern

Mallard with ducklings

Great Crested Grebe

Courtesy of Neil Hasdell

Very low big bird!

Even lower (white tip at the bottom

of the image is a yacht sail)!

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Autumn is here!

Hi

This afternoon there was a steady passag of birds moving in to the SW head wind over Hanging Houghton.  An assortment of gulls were perhaps the most obvious, but also with Swifts, Sand Martins and Swallows moving continually in small numbers in the same direction.  It was pleasing to locate a pair of Grey Partridge with 5 half-grown young on Clint Hill at HH.

The increase in gull numbers on the move provided a larger gull roost at Pitsford this evening, the highlights being a 3rd Summer Caspian Gull and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull.

Although dull for much of the day where I was, short sunny periods at Pitsford Res this morning provided the opportunity to watch Essex Skippers, lots of Common and Ruddy Darters and an opportunity for listening to the first of the Roselle's Bush-crickets of the new season.

Regards

A little wander towards the East!

Hi

Eleanor spent some today off her normal patch and saw a few bits and pieces as follows...

First to Twywell Hills and Vales which hosted a juvenile Cuckoo and an adult Turtle Dove.  Then on to Thrapston GP which provided a drake Common Scoter on the Barclaycard Pit, a female Shoveler with three ducklings, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Hobby, a Kingfisher and a Cetti's Warbler.  Eleanor finished at Stanwick GP and located 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 3 Oystercatchers, 13 Little Egrets and 2 more Hobby...

Regards

Neil

All White!

Hi

A few comparable images of some of the 'small white' butterflies available in the county...

Wood White Yardley Chase

Green-veined White Hanging Houghton

Courtesy of Neil Hasdell (Pitsford Res)

CES Ringing at Pitsford

Hi

Under the leadership of Dave Francis, this morning was taken up completing a Constant Effort Site ringing session in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res.  Nearly 70 birds were captured and released and it was with some relief that we at last saw reasonable numbers of juveniles.  Clearly the week or so of good weather last month was just the tonic to provide an opportunity for later broods of young to succeed.

The juvenile Marsh Harrier put in a couple of brief appearances (in the Scaldwell Bay) at about 7.30am.

Juvenile Kingfisher

Marsh Harrier still...

Hi

Birds at Pitsford Res this morning included a Kingfisher below the dam and a 3rd year Yellow-legged Gull just south of the causeway.  This evening, the juvenile Marsh Harrier was still present north of the causeway.  Between 5.30pm and 7pm it hunted both the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays, showing a preference for the west bank of the Walgrave Bay (between The Point and Christies Copse).  Other birds present in the Walgrave Bay included a Kingfisher, 3 Red-crested Pochard, a Hobby and ca8 Crossbills.

Regards

Neil

There are birds out there!

Hi

Today quite a number of birds were on show locally, the best perhaps being the juvenile Marsh Harrier at Pitsford Res.  It was seen on and off for about an hour by Neil Hasdell et al, hunting in the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays from about 11.20am (see record shot below from Neil H).

At Ravensthorpe Res the pair of Red-crested Pochard were showing on the small side visible from the causeway.  At nearby Hollowell Res, raptors included an Osprey and a female Peregrine, and a pair of Raven were on show.  Four Crossbills were in Harlestone Heath in the close vicinity and visible from the garden centre just off the A428.
Regards


Eleanor and Neil

Bits and pieces

Hi

Birds today included a pair of Raven over Lamport Hall this afternoon and a Nuthatch visiting the feeders in our garden (which it has been doing irregularly for the past three weeks now).  A stomp around Harrington Airfield this morning failed to find anything of note and in fact there was no obvious evidence of visible migration.  However the Linnets are flocking up nicely already.  The gull roost at Pitsford is still very small (about 450 birds) and this evening included 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, one of which was a juvenile.  It always amazes me how quickly juvenile birds (big and small) can rapidly cover huge distances shortly after fledging and becoming independent.

On a separate note, today I witnessed my fourth dead Polecat on local roads in four days, all of them probably young animals.  Clearly they are numerous in the county but I have still only managed to see three live ones since they became so.

Neil Hasdell has kindly provided me with some Ruddy Darter images taken at Pitsford today and these can be found towards the bottom of this page.

TTFN

Neil