Ditchford

Hi

Despite spending much of the day at Ditchford GP today completing a WeBS count, I struggled to see much out of the ordinary.  A pair of Red-crested Pochard were on the main lake between Irthlingborough and Higham Ferrers and ca4 juvenile Hobbies were adeptly catching dragonflies on the more sheltered pits.  There were 4 Yellow-legged Gulls in fields next to the viaduct pit, 4 Little Egrets, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 1-2 Siskin(s) and 2-3 Kingfishers present too.  Calling Cetti's Warblers numbered only six birds.  A terrapin sp looked quite at home!

A quick visit to Stanwick GP this evening failed to locate the Spotted Crake, but I finally managed to see the Sacred Ibis.

Regards

Neil M

Mediocre birding

Hi

A run around the Harlestone Heath area this morning was sufficient to note about 4 Crossbills by the A428 entrance and small numbers of Siskins throughout the wood.

Ravensthorpe Res seemed quiet apart from the long-staying Goldeneye and a Kingfisher.  The adjacent Hollowell Res held an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Hobby and 2 Yellow Wagtails.  At least 10 Common Buzzards were on show over the ridge.

Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway remains uninspiring with birds noted this evening comprising of the two drake Red-crested Pochard still, a Goldeneye, a Kingfisher and a Siskin.

Two Whinchats and a Wheatear were present at the south end of the Blueberry Farm complex this evening.

Regards

E & N

Garden and gull roost

Hi

Well it was decidedly cooler and wetter this afternoon than of late and was perhaps an afternoon to be doing some chores around the house.  The local male Sparrowhawk raided the garden twice, and was successful at least on the second attempt (a House Sparrow was the apparent prey item).  Two Ravens unnerved the local Carrion Crows for a while, at least one Nuthatch was visiting the feeders and a couple of Siskins zapped over.

Later at the Pitsford Res gull roost the now regular Caspian Gull made a late arrival and spent much of its time washing detritus from around its beak and face.  Other gulls included 3-4 Yellow-legged Gulls and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.

Regards

Neil M

A quick recce

Hi

A quick foray out this morning provided 5 Crossbills flying south over the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Res at 9.25am, and Blueberry Farm attracting 2 fly-over Grey Wagtails, a Short-eared Owl and 2 Whinchats, 2 Ravens and a Red Kite...

Regards

E & N

Pitsford

Hi

Birds noted north of the causeway at Pitsford Res today included a Raven, 2 Common Sandpipers and the two drake Red-crested Pochard (the latter in the Walgrave Bay).

Regards

Eleanor

Just chats!

Hi

A trundle around Harrington Airfield this morning provided 2 Wheatears but little else of note.  Two Whinchats were still in the most southerly field at Blueberry Farm late morning.  So pretty quiet but as I'm typing this Eleanor is slipping out the door with a pair of binoculars in hand....!

Regards

Neil M

Bits and pieces

Hi

Birds today included a hungry-looking male Peregrine in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning that was definitely on the hunt.

At Blueberry Farm today there was a Red Kite, 2 Hobbies and 2 Whinchats.

Despite a great deal of disturbance, the 4th year Caspian Gull defied the sailboards at Pitsford Res and resolutely stood his ground!  However the remainder of the gulls were distant and it wasn't possible to identify anything further.

Regards

E & N

Harrington & Blueberry

Hi

Harrington Airfield seemed quiet for passerines this morning.  The best birds were a male Peregrine, a Hobby, 2 Ravens and 5 Crossbills.

A subsequent visit to the south section of Blueberry Farm provided 2 Hobby, a Curlew flying over and at least 4 Whinchats.

Regards

Eleanor

Blueberry Farm

Hi

Birds at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today included a Red Kite, a Hobby, a Barn Owl, 4 Whinchats and a Wheatear.

Regards

Eleanor

Pitsford am

Hi

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Res this morning included the two drake Red-crested Pochard still in the Scaldwell Bay, with a south-bound movement of passerines overhead which included a Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails, a few Yellow Wagtails and a Siskin.

Ringing in the Walgrave Bay was quite productive with several Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Blackcaps amongst the more routine fare...

Regards

Neil M

 

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

 

Male Goldcrest

Return of a SeOwl?

Hi

Just after midday today the two drake Red-crested Pochard were visible in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res this morning.

At Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this evening there was the welcome sight of a Short-eared Owl hunting the rough grassland.  It would be interesting to know if it was a returning bird from last winter.  Also present was a Barn Owl, a Hobby and a Wheatear.

Regards

E & N

Harrington am 7th Sept

Hi

It was one of those rare but special mornings at Harrington Airfield that makes it one of those exciting places to witness visible inland migration.  There were birds everywhere and one of those mornings where I just knew I was missing more than I was seeing!

The willow bushes along the concrete track were alive this morning with 4 Spotted Flycatchers, a Garden Warbler, a Redstart and many other birds in a large active flock.  A group of hirundines were working the airspace along the conifers that parallel the track (to the LHS) and a pair of Hobby were screaming around and were vocally very excited.

A small flock of six Crossbills flew over a couple of times and seemed to make their way to the conifers alongside the B576.  On the rough areas associated with the old airstrip there was a Redstart, 2 Wheatears, 2 Whinchats and a Turtle Dove.  The area abounded with Linnets and Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails were moving overhead for much of the time. 

I just love this time of the year!

Regards

Eleanor

North Norfolk coast

Hi

A little bit different today with an excursion to the North Norfolk coast with the four dogs!  Managed to squeeze a little birdwatching inbetween playing with the dogs on beaches at Holkham and Titchwell!

The juvenile Barred Warbler showed in elder bushes at Burnham Overy dunes and Titchwell was busy with good numbers of waders, gulls and Spoonbills!

Pleasant sunshine but a keen cool wind kept the temperatures in check...

Sanderling

Common Gull

Sandwich Tern

 

Whimbrel

 

Shelduck

 

Black-tailed Godwit

 

Shoveler

 

Egyptian Geese

 

Lapwing

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