Harlestone Heath etc

Hi

At Harlestone Heath this morning birds included at least 8 Spotted Flycatchers, 4+ Siskins and ca10 Crossbills.  The rough area between Harlestone Heath and Kings Heath provided 2 Redstarts and 6+ Whinchats.

Later at Harrington Airfield a Hobby was noted together with 2 Ravens, a Wheatear and 2 Redstarts, and this evening birds at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell amounted to a Barn Owl, 2-3 Hobby and 4 Whinchats.

This evening's gull roost at Pitsford Res attracted 2 Caspian Gulls (adult and 4th winter) and at least 4 adult Yellow-legged Gulls.

Regards

E & N

Harrington late morning

Hi

A tour of Harrington Airfield late this morning produced some more migrants in the shape of a Tree Pipit, a Redstart, a Wheatear and 2 Whinchats...

Regards

Eleanor

Blueberry and Pitsford

Hi

This morning birds at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell included a Tree Pipit over south, 6 Crossbills and a Siskin likewise, a Grey Wagtail moving west, 2-3 Hobby, 5 Whinchats and a light passage south east of Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails.

Scanning in to the Scaldwell Bay by the Maytrees Hide at Pitsford Res provided views of 2 drake Red-crested Pochard and 2 Pintail.

Regards

E & N

Blueberry & Harrington

Hi

The Blueberry Farm area (near Maidwell) was busy with migrants this morning with 2 Tree Pipits, a Wheatear, 7 Whinchats and plenty of Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats and other warblers including a Sedge Warbler.  The supporting cast included a Hobby, a Willow Tit and small flights of Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails moving over south-east.  This evening there was also a Barn Owl, at least one Raven and a Redstart.

Working our regular patch at Harrington Airfield this afternoon produced 3-4 Redstarts, a Wheatear and 4 Grey Partridges.

Regards

E & N

Gulls and stuff

Hi

John Woollett and his ringing team caught 154 Swallows last night (evening of 1st Sept) at Stortons GP which included three 'controlled' birds, i.e. birds ringed elsewhere.  The catch also included a few other species including Reed Warblers and Sand Martins.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was in a field with Lesser Black-backs near Arthingworth this afternoon, and at about 5pm a flock of 6 vocal Crossbills flew low south over Hanging Houghton, the first I have noted for a couple of weeks.

The gull roost at Pitsford Res this evening included a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 2 Caspian Gulls (juvenile and 4th winter), 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and 14 Common Terns.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford Feeding Station

Hi

For about ten years now we have been maintaining a feed station at Pitsford Res situated at the end of the Old Scaldwell Road and close to the Maytrees Hide.  This feed station is managed all year round for a number of species but with a particular leaning towards the Tree Sparrow.  This project and others like it seem to indicate that this species tends to be able to maintain a healthy population if there are adequate nesting sites and there is appropriate food provision (both insectivorous for nestlings and seeds/grain for fledged birds).  At Pitsford we have provided nestboxes and provide a mixture of coarse and fine seed types.  Nestlings and juveniles benefit from hatching damselflies and other insects around the water's edge.

This year the nestboxes were used successfully for the first broods but the second broods didn't really materialise.  Dave Francis supported by John Kempster and Neil Hasdell has completed two ringing sessions during the last three weeks at the feed station to try and provide further information.  Tree Sparrows totalled 46 birds, all which were juveniles and many were likely to have come from late broods (they can have as many as four broods but 2-3 is more the norm).  Like many other species it seems that the late broods may have saved the day in respect of species reproduction and resilience for this year. 

Juveniles and adults of Tree and House Sparrows undertake a complete moult at this time of the year so it was particularly important that we captured our juveniles now whilst we could age them as this year's birds! 

In total 110 different birds of a variety of species were captured and processed during these two sessions, indicating that it isn't just the Tree Sparrows that are benefiting from the feed station.

Regards

Neil M

Harrington

Hi

A walk around Harrington Airfield this morning was pleasant but mostly uneventful.  Plenty of evidence of migration on-going, the more obvious being small bands of Meadow Pipits on the move, a few wagtails overhead and quite a number of Whitethroats in the bushes.  Other warblers included Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat.  Mike Alibone located a single Tree Pipit in amongst the Meadow Pipits and a single Wheatear played hide and seek.  A pair of Grey Partridge hid in the wheat stubble.

As I'm typing this a Raven has just 'croaked' over and the Nuthatches are again attracted to the garden feeders.

Regards

Neil M

Canine birding

Hi

No time for pure birding or ringing today; the only birds recorded were whilst conducting chores or dog minding!  An early morning run with the dogs around Harlestone Heath and the rough area between there and Kings Heath produced no unusual birds, perhaps the best being Willow Warbler and Nuthatch.

A Raven flew north west over the garden at Hanging Houghton late morning and 2 Nuthatches were around the garden on and off for much of the day.  An early afternoon dog walk provided 3 Spotted Flycatchers and a Little Owl at Lamport Hall plus the resident Nuthatch.  The final dog walk today was late this evening at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and yielded 3 Whinchats and 2 Barn Owls.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford gulls

Hi

The gull roost at Pitsford Res off the yacht club this evening included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull (moulting to 1st winter), the 4th year Caspian Gull again, at least 5 Yellow-legged Gulls, plus 4 Curlews which headed off west and a drake Red-crested Pochard.

Regards

Neil M

Migrants, migrants, migrants!

Hi

Early this morning a good walk around Harrington Airfield provided 4-5 Redstarts, a Wheatear, 2 Whinchats, a Tree Pipit, a Garden Warbler (most appear to have gone now) and perhaps most surprising of all, a Nuthatch!  The Redstarts were well scattered but included the usual male by the first bunker, 1-2 at the third bunker, the female again just off the concrete track by the sparse wild bird cover and one at the roadside between the compound and the start of the concrete track.  Grey Partridges comprised of a pair plus a small covey.

Birds in hedging by the side of the most southerly Blueberry Farm field included a Redstart and 2-3 Whinchats (SP 728745), with 2 Hobby closer to Hanging Houghton.

Birds noted in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Res this morning included a Tree Pipit, 2 Nuthatch (one caught and ringed), a Kingfisher, a Water Rail and a Spotted Flycatcher.  Small numbers of Yellow Wagtails and the first few migrant Meadow Pipits were noted moving south.

Regards

E & N

Evening birds

Hi

Two Whinchats remained in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening, exploiting the vegetation alongside the brook to the south of the track.  Two Ravens flew up towards the village.

At Pitsford Res the 4th year Caspian Gull was again on a buoy off the yacht club and an Osprey fished 'The Narrows' which is between Catwalk Bay and The Pines.

Regards

E & N

Hi

Neil H was out on the Summer Leys reserve at Earls Barton GP this morning and saw the below Sacred Ibis fly over.  Other birds included yet another Marsh Harrier, a probable Wood Sandpiper in flight, a Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, and a Peregrine was reported.

Neil M

Whinchats

Hi

This morning there were 3 Whinchats in brambles/weed stems adjacent to the track that runs alongside the southern-most Blueberry Farm field between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke (SP 730744).

Regards

Neil M

Reservoir birding

Hi

This afternoon, inbetween the showers, birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included 2 Whinchats, a Hobby and 2 Kingfishers.

Scanning from the causeway at Ravensthorpe Res revealed a pair of Red-crested Pochard, a Goldeneye, 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and 2 Swifts.

On next to Hollowell Res which produced 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpipers, ca9 Yellow Wagtails and 12 Common Terns.

Finally a late visit to the gull roost at Pitsford Res attracted 2 Mediterranean Gulls (2nd winter and a juvenile moulting to 1st winter), 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, 9 Common Terns and a Curlew flying over moving south.

E & N

Little Ringed Plover

'alba' Wagtail

Mallard and Shoveler

Gadwall and Mallard and Teal and Shoveler

Harrington Airfield

Hi

This morning it seemed rather quiet for birds at Harrington Airfield but there were 2 Redstarts present (one in bushes by the first bunker walking from the chippings compound and the other in bushes just off the concrete track by the wild bird feed cover).

Regards

E & N

Harrington & Stortons

Hi

Birds at Harrington Airfield this morning included a male Redstart, a Wheatear and 2 Turtle Doves.

At Stortons GP this evening a Swift briefly joined the pre-roost gathering of about 300 Swallows.  A couple of mist nets were sufficient to catch some 90 birds, the majority of which were Swallows.

Neil M

Brampton Valley migrants and CES

Hi

This morning there were 2 Whinchats, a Wheatear and a Redstart in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke, all in hedging close to the southern outskirts of the Blueberry Farm complex.  There was also a Marsh Harrier between Blueberry Farm and Maidwell village.

Also this morning the last Constant Effort Scheme ringing session of the season took place in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res.  Only low numbers of birds were captured but it did include a Tawny Owl and a Kingfisher (please see images below).

Adult Tawny Owls regularly keep their eyes mostly closed when being handled so no images of those fabulous liquid black eyes I'm afraid.  Kingfishers generally horizontally swivel their heads from side to side in slow motion when being handled in an almost mechanical fashion, and many will simply remain motionless in the palm of your hand when placed on their back!  The owl is an adult, first ringed some years ago at Pitsford (please note the variation in colours of its flight feathers indicating their differing ages).  The Kingfisher is a juvenile.

Regards

E & N

Whinchats

Hi

A wander around the fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening was pleasant but quiet for birds.  However there were 3 Whinchats in vegetation alongside the brook to the south of the track.

Regards

E & N

Pied Fly

Hi 

Nick and Michael Wood were ringing near to Chase Park Farm, Yardley Hastings this morning which is one of their regular ringing sites. They were both surprised and delighted when they found a Pied Flycatcher in the mist net (please find images below courtesy of Michael).

The bird was in the area near to the old railway line reached by Chase Park Road and then progressing past the farm (near to where the Great Grey Shrike was earlier in the year).

In the meantime I was down in Hertfordshire this morning ringing at Hillfield Reservoir where a Redstart graced the nets (please see below images).  It was judged to be an adult female...

Hi

At about 1pm this afternoon a juvenile Marsh Harrier was hunting in the back of the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res.

At Harrington Airfield this afternoon the first year male Redstart was again present along the old airstrip between the compound and the first bunker, plus a Wheatear and 9 Yellow Wagtails.

Monitoring the gull roost at Pitsford Res this evening was worthwhile with the arrival of at least 3 Caspian Gulls (a juvenile, the regular 4th year and an adult), and at least 5 Yellow-legged Gulls.

The last few weeks has seen a leucistic Collared Dove in our garden at Hanging Houghton (please see below courtesy of Neil H)

Regards

Neil M

More Swallows

Hi

A further ringing session took place this evening at Stortons GP, targeting the roosting Swallows.  Probably 3-400 gathered to roost in the reeds accompanied by small numbers of Sand Martins.  A late Swift joined the swarm for a short time whilst the hirundines were flying high.  In time the birds swept down to roost in the reeds and in excess of 100 birds were caught, the majority being Swallows, but with about a dozen Sand Martins and a handful of warblers too.  A few resident Cetti's Warblers and Water Rails were audible from the phragmites.

Regards

Neil M

Harrington

Hi

A two hour hike around the Blueberry Farm/Brampton Valley area yesterday evening in stunning light was incredibly quiet for birds and we failed to find the rather tatty male Marsh Harrier from the previous evening.

This morning (23rd) and a walk around the usual circuit at Harrington Airfield provided a migrant Tree Pipit which arrived at about 10.15am, flew around several times and then seemed to depart to the south.  Also still present was the first year male Redstart in bushes along the old airstrip between the chippings compound and the first bunker.  This is likely to be the elusive bird first seen at the end of July.  Today it was much more showy and calling well.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford

Hi

Yesterday afternoon (21st) and this morning (22nd) saw the first ringing session of the season at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station at Pitsford Res.  The main target was Tree Sparrows and 28 juveniles were caught and ringed.  The majority did not show post-juvenile moult which indicates that they were late brood birds from not far away.  Previous ringing data on Tree Sparrows occurring at the feed station has recorded at least two movements of birds linked to the East Yorkshire coast. Some 61 birds were caught in total which did include some common warblers too.

Also this morning a WeBS count was completed at Pitsford.  It was very quiet for both waterbirds and migrants.  The most notable birds were the two drake Red-crested Pochard which today were back in the Scaldwell Bay, a Goldeneye (Walgrave Bay) and any number of mobile Common Sandpipers (somewhere between 5-12).  Marsh and Willow Tits and Nuthatch remain on-site in small numbers on the reserve section.

Regards

E & N

Evening birds

Hi

This evening a worn adult male Marsh Harrier appeared in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and sauntered off towards Cottesbrooke (7pm).

At Pitsford Res this afternoon a 4th year Caspian Gull and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull were visible north of the causeway, and both later re-appeared off the yacht club in the evening.  A Common Sandpiper was using the artificial islands outside Maytrees Hide.

Regards

E & N

Bits and pieces

Hi

Forgot to mention that yesterday afternoon (Monday 20th Aug), a brief stop on the causeway at Ravensthorpe Res was sufficient to confirm the continued presence of the female Red-crested Pochard, plus an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Green Sandpiper.

A short ringing session in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Res this morning produced a modest catch of both migrant and resident birds.  Birds noted but not captured included several Yellow Wagtails and 3 Tree Pipits heading south overhead early morning, the two drake Red-crested Pochard, a Kingfisher and a Water Rail.

Birds at Harrington Airfield this morning included a juvenile Marsh Harrier (10am), between the end of the concrete track and the A14, and 2 Turtle Doves on the old (and now overgrown!) shooting wall on the LHS from the concrete track.

Regards

E & N

Swallows

Hi

A short ringing session took place at Stortons GP this evening.  A couple of days ago John Woollett witnessed a roost of 4 - 500 Swallows in the reedbed so this evening was all about trying to catch and ring some of these birds.  Some 50 birds were caught under John's stewardship, together with several reed-loving warblers which included a fine Cetti's.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford Ringing

Hi

This morning a CES ringing session took place in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res.  Sixty-four birds were captured, a juvenile Spotted Flycatcher perhaps being the scarcest bird caught and ringed.  The improvement in numbers is presumably due to successful later broods of breeding birds and immigrant warblers.

Other birds noted included a single Crossbill and two Nuthatch.

Below is a couple of images of an adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker that was caught.  The wing picture hopefully depicts the unusual moult strategy with the browner primary coverts and primaries and secondaries being replaced with blacker feathers.  Although it is not easy to see, this birds was moulting its secondaries inwards from both the inner and outer secondaries at the same time.  The adults of most smaller birds commence their moult strategy following the exodus of their young or at whatever stage their breeding cycle concludes for the year.

Ditchford

Hi

Not long in from completing a very warm WeBS count at Ditchford GP!  Masses of insects on the wing in this very warm weather but not much in the way of birds.  I guess the best was a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank, 28 Snipe, just a single Kingfisher (most years we would expect double figures at this time), 4 Cetti's Warblers and three broods of Tufted Ducks.

Dragonflies were very conspicuous with large numbers of Brown Hawker, Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer, Ruddy Darter and Migrant Hawker, with just a couple of Southern Hawker.  Large numbers of Banded Demoiselle were on the wing with even more Common Blue and Red-eyed Damselflies and smaller numbers of Blue-tailed Damselfly.  Plenty of butterflies too and even a Common Blue butterfly which are exceptionally scarce this year.

At Pitsford Res this afternoon, birds visible from the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station included a Black Tern, two drake Red-crested Pochard and a Goldeneye.

Regards

E & N

Evening update

Hi

Further birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening involved a particularly dark juvenile Marsh Harrier, a male Peregrine and a Green Sandpiper.

Birds visible from the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station at Pitsford Res during the early evening included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 2 drake Red-crested Pochard (in the Scaldwell Bay for a change), a Goldeneye and a Common Sandpiper.

Regards

N & E

Harrington birds

Hi

This morning the Turtle Dove was again at Harrington Airfield in the sparse wild bird cover just off the concrete track (on the RHS and behind the bunker next to the concrete track).  Also present in the same area was a Redstart and a Hobby.

This morning there were 2 Kingfishers along the brook in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and Linnets and Skylarks were flocking up on the harvested oil seed rape fields there.

Regards

E