Fineshade - the deliberation and the decision

Hello 

Just one more day to go.  

1)  There’s a bit of a media storm. This is what we’re aware of:

Radio Northampton, live interview (Trish) tomorrow morning 07:40.

ITV Anglia are coming for an interview and to film in the woods tomorrow morning. The Wildlife Trust are also being interviewed.

BBC say they will be at the meeting tomorrow night.

An article on the Guardian website now and published in the paper tomorrow. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2015/feb/17/privatisation-uk-woodlands-happening-by-backdoor

Also Mark Avery’s blog http://markavery.info/blog/

Please send comments to Mark’s blog and also the Guardian. Tweet widely etc, etc.

There are now 147 objections on the East Northants website.

Paul Hackett's 38-degrees petition is shooting up as I write. 2362 signatures now.

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/forest-privatisation-by-the-back-door?bucket=&source=twitter-share-button

2) Tomorrow’s meeting

But let’s keep our eye on the ball: - 

what counts is how councillors vote tomorrow night

and how strong their reasons are to make it hard for FH to appeal.

Nothing else really matters much.

Here’s the details...

Meeting starts at 7pm in the council chamber in Thrapston. It’s here...  http://www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/location

There is a public gallery which holds 50 with a large overflow room with video link. 

Public entrance to the gallery is via a door from the carpark - councillors enter by another door.

While we want councillors to be aware of the depth of feeling, we don’t want them to be threatened at all. Good humoured encouragement to vote the right way will be fine. We hope that many of them will be supporting us. There will be a supply of A4-sized placards available from about 6pm if you’re a banner waver or last minute lobbier. (e.g. "The Gruffalo says NO to hot tubs in his forest”!). We hope there will be representatives of the press there who may want to hear your views.

Once the meeting starts another local planning application will be dealt with first. We are told that this is also contentious and we may not be allowed onto the public gallery at first if space is needed for supporters of the other application. When that’s been heard we’ll be able to take their places on the gallery.

During the meeting it really is important that we keep a dignified silence. It really won’t help antagonising the councillors or the Chair.

There will be 3-minute presentations by:

David Williamson, Head of Recreation at the Forestry Commission (last time he was supported on the gallery by two planning guys from Forest Holidays)

Shenagh Hackett, speaking on behalf of our Parish Council

Barrie Galpin, speaking on behalf of protesters.

And then there will be a discussion.

And then there will be a decision.

And after that it will be hard to maintain the dignified silence!

And after that, we’ll be stopping off at the Queen’s Head in Bulwick on the way home.

Barrie and Trish Galpin

Stortons Ringing

Hello

John Woollett and team were active at Stortons Gravel Pits yesterday (Sunday) and managed to catch 63 birds for research and monitoring purposes. Twenty-seven of these birds were new birds to be ringed. Ten of these were Reed Buntings and eight further individuals of this species were re-trapped making this the most common species processed.

Reed Buntings, like all British buntings, remain a species of concern and although their status is not too alarming it is another species of farmland and marginal habitat that is continuing to decline. Movements of these birds within the county during the last two winters has been interesting with several birds pitching up at a variety of feeding stations showing their ability and need to seek out fresh feeding opportunities.

A Lesser Redpoll was feeding in birches near to the feed station at Stortons. This species has only been present in the county in low numbers so far this winter but might there may be a small influx of birds starting to occur...?

Today (Monday) and our garden at Hanging Houghton attracted at least three Lesser Redpolls, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Nuthatch, a Marsh Tit and a Reed Bunting.

Regards

Neil M

Murky Sunday

Hello

Birds noted at Pitsford Reservoir today included a Great White Egret and three Shelduck north of the causeway and both Marsh Tit and Willow Tit around the feeders in Christies Copse.

Please be aware that a birder's car was broken in to today at Pitsford, the car being parked and unattended at the top of the Old Scaldwell Road. This is a rare event at this site but occurs a couple of times most years.

Birds in the garden here at Hanging Houghton today included up to five Lesser Redpolls, a couple of Reed Buntings, a Yellowhammer and a Nuthatch. 

The afternoon was spent visiting wild bird feeding stations and whilst we were doing so a Woodcock decided to fly a couple of circuits around Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate).

Regards

Neil M

Glyn Davies Wood

Hello

This morning a ringing session took place at Glyn Davies Wood, an ancient remnant of woodland in the far west of Northamptonshire. About 120 birds were captured, the majority being common tits but also included a couple of Marsh Tits and a Willow Tit. Other birds processed included a Goldcrest, a handful of Long-tailed Tits and two Nuthatches. Other birds seen/heard in the wood included a redpoll sp, 1-2 Raven and another constantly singing Willow Tit.

Birding in the afternoon was quiet, but we popped in to Boddington Reservoir and saw seven Goosanders and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir we noted a couple of Kingfishers and six Golden Plovers flying over. Despite plenty of searching we couldn't find anything of note at the Pitsford Res gull roost this afternoon but the three White-fronted Geese were again by the Fishing Lodge this morning.

Harrington Airfield provided 15 Golden Plovers and a pair of Grey Partridge, and one of the pairs of Stonechat was visible at Blueberry Farm; a Barn Owl was near Spratton early morning.

Regards

Neil M

Carrion Crow

Marsh Tit and Willow Tit are notoriously
difficult to tell from each other, and sometimes
it is not much easier in the hand! For the record
the bird on the left is a Marsh Tit and the bird on the
right is a Willow Tit - honest!

Some of the features are not obvious in these images but
the shape and colour of the cheeks and crown, the shape
and markings of the bills and the extent of the chin spot
all help. The wing length of these two birds was identical
but in British birds the Marsh Tit generally has the longer
wing and although it's not obvious in these images the
Marsh Tit in the British race is colder-toned that the creamy
and warm tones of the British race Willow Tit. Both species
are much colder-toned in North Europe and the Willow Tit on the
continent is the colder-toned bird. The secondary feathers
of Willow Tits tend to show pale edging which produces a
panelling effect but this can also be exhibited to a lesser
extent by the Marsh Tit. Other features are more subtle or
only possible to see in the hand and without doubt a calling
or singing bird is the easiest way to identify this tricky duo!

Pitsford WeBS Count

Hello

The WeBS count for Pitsford Reservoir was completed today, and although wildfowl numbers were very low, interesting birds were about and visible. The three White-fronted Geese were generally showing well in the area of the causeway and on the shoreline by the Fishing Lodge, 3-4 Smew (one drake) were present, a first winter Mediterranean Gull was on the water in the Holcot Bay, an adult male Peregrine was in hunting mode and waders included an Oystercatcher, two Jack Snipe, 59 Snipe and three fly-over Golden Plovers.

In addition the female Stonechat was in the Scaldwell Bay, a large passerine flock near the Old Walgrave Road in a stubble field included well over a hundred Chaffinches and two Ravens were around the Walgrave Bay.

Birds in the garden here at Hanging Houghton in the early afternoon included two Lesser Redpolls on feeders, two Reed Buntings and a Nuthatch.

Eleanor's visit to Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) this afternoon provided views of two Ravens, a Barn Owl and two pairs of Stonechat.

A visit to Market Harborough this afternoon failed to locate any Otters on the River Welland, but a Kingfisher and 2-3 Grey Wagtails were still present.

Regards

Neil M

White-fronted Geese
Courtesy of Pete Gilbert

White-fronted Goose
Courtesy of  Pete Gilbert

Peregrine
Courtesy of Pete Gilbert

Lapwing
Courtesy of Pete Gilbert

White-fronted Geese
Courtesy of Helen Franklin

Mist net surprises!

Hello

Chris Payne and Kim Robinson were ringing at Bradden again today and witnessed a Great Tit inspecting a nest-box erected only a few days ago. They caught about thirty birds which included a Blue Tit first ringed at Astcote in December 2013. A male Goldcrest was the highlight of the session but it would have been the Common Buzzard that was found in a 60' net, but unfortunately the raptor flapped it's way to freedom prior to the ringers reaching it.

News came through today of a Goldfinch first ringed at Astcote in February 2014, which was then found dead in October 2014 as far north as Cumbria. There is a general acceptance that many Goldfinches that breed in north England and Scotland then winter no further south than the southern half of England where there are now plenty of supplementary garden feeders, and this recovery may well help to support this theory.

Regards

Neil M

Little to report!

Hello

Very little to report today. I spent a short time ringing common birds in the garden and out and about maintaining feed stations but didn't manage to find anything of note.

Eleanor paid a visit to Harrington Airfield and located a flock of about sixty Skylarks on the top fields, a pair of Grey Partridge and good numbers of Yellowhammers, Chaffinches etc coming down to the feed.

Regards

Neil M

Otters by torchlight!

Hello

Chris Payne was active this morning down in the Bradden area in South Northants. Plenty of nest-boxes going up in preparation for the new season and some ringing too with nearly 40 birds captured which included a 'new' flock of 10 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Robins and a couple of Dunnocks. One Blue Tit was a 'Control' which means it was already ringed and from another area as yet to be ascertained. Chris reports that the Nuthatches were very vocal and the Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming well. I'm sure we'll have some cold weather to come, but there is plenty of evidence that the new season is not too far away now!

On Sunday evening Jim Dunkley again tried for the Otters at Market Harborough and this time he had considerable success with an active romp of a female and three pups on the River Welland not far from the railway station. Jim has been speaking with the locals and although the Otters can show at any time, and anywhere along the river, the early morning and evening seems to be their particularly active periods. Watching them by torchlight in the evening apparently doesn't put them off! The Harborough Mail newspaper is also reporting regular sightings too during the last week or so...

Eleanor was out and about at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this evening and saw two pairs of Stonechat and a hunting Barn Owl. Yesterday evening saw a roadside Barn Owl near Spratton too.

Regards

Neil M

Rook with deformed bill.
A species that seems particularly
susceptible to bill and feet deformities.

A hand-fed Robin.
Meal-worms can make
 such birds very tame!

Grey Wagtail
River Welland
Market Harborough

All images courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

Birds in winter sunshine

Hello

John Woollett and team committed to some ringing at Stortons Gravel Pits yesterday (Sunday) and caught a good number of birds, some attracted to the feeders there. Reed Bunting was the most common bird caught, with plenty of new birds, some re-traps from previous years and a bird bearing a ring from elsewhere (not sure where yet). A marauding Sparrowhawk hit the nets but bounced out and wasn't captured.

John Gamble was up at Deenethorpe yesterday afternoon and captured some fine shots of a/the wintering Great Grey Shrike present there (please see images below).

Some ringing around the main feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday afternoon and this morning provided 49 captures which included 31 new birds. These were made up of 9 Yellowhammers, 2 Reed Buntings, 6 Tree Sparrows, 3 Chaffinches, 6 Greenfinches, 3 Goldfinches and 2 Starlings. The female Stonechat is still present in the Scaldwell Bay (the male disappeared in late December), and a singing Willow Tit was again present around the Fishing Lodge.

Regards

Neil M

Great Grey Shrike
at Deenethorpe

Courtesy of John Gamble

A sunny day in February

Hello

An improvement in the weather today with plenty of long sunny spells bringing forth plenty of bird song. Two Ravens were noted at Haselbech Hill this morning.

A visit to Brixworth Water Treatment Works provided at least a couple of Grey Wagtails and a Chiffchaff and the filter beds were busy with plenty of Pied Wagtails.

Birds noted at Pitsford Reservoir today included the three White-fronted Geese and two Ruddy Shelduck in the Pintail Bay (about 11am), a Willow Tit in trees next to the Fishing Lodge and a Woodcock at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay.

The day finished with a fabulous sunset and a calling Grey Partridge in a hillside field at Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

A selection of Pied Wagtail images from today

Ringing at Kelmarsh

Hello

Today a period of bird ringing took place at Kelmarsh Hall in slightly milder conditions of late. A total of 98 birds were captured which included plenty of typical woodland birds, perhaps highlighted by a male Sparrowhawk, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, three Nuthatch and a sprightly male Goldcrest. A pair of Raven were very vocal.

This afternoon a wander around in Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate provided a selection of common woodland birds including three Woodcock.

Regards

Neil M

Male Sparrowhawk at Kelmarsh Hall
today, judged to be a bird now in its
third calendar year.

Images courtesy of Jacob Spinks
 and Neil Hasdell.

Ditchford WeBS Count

Hello

This morning people representing DEFRA were again at Pitsford Reservoir, hellbent on destroying the very last male Ruddy Duck on site. So with boats and shooters all south of the causeway and access prevented to the reserve for visitors, yet again all the local wildlife was disturbed to execute what I consider a completely misguided policy. I guess they killed the innocent duck and it and I will never understand the justification when there are far more important environmental issues to tackle. I rarely enter the political world to make my comments publicly, but this whole process has made my blood boil and I know I'm not alone.

Much of the day was taken up completing the February WeBS count at Ditchford Gravel Pits. Plenty of ice on the pits but very, very muddy around the edges! In pleasant weather, the birding was quiet with the highlights being two Great White Egrets (one west of Ditchford Lane and another on the main pit between Higham Ferrers and Irthlingborough), 16 Egyptian Geese (on and around the Watersport Pit west of Ditchford Lane) and a couple of mobile Goosander. Other birds included four Kingfishers, a Little Egret, just one Chiffchaff, three Cetti's Warblers and a Water Rail.

Regards

Neil M

Fineshade Wood update and request...

Hello again

Last Friday we had some disappointing news: our legal request to Eric Pickle’s department to enforce an Environmental Impact Assessment was rejected. This means that there is now nothing to hold East Northants Council back from making a decision.  This will be on 18^thFebruary.

We have also learned that members of the council’s Development Control Committee, the councillors who actually decide Fineshade’s future, have paid a visit to Forest Holiday’s existing site at Sherwood Pines and some of them were impressed by it. On the same day they were brought here and shown parts of the Fineshade site. It was an unpleasant January day, they were not taken to key positions to see, for example, the proximity of the proposed Retreat complex to the walking track. The Forestry Commission hosted this, no local residents were allowed anywhere near them.

All this may mean that the councillors who spoke strongly against the development at the previous meeting in November may well feel differently now.

So please could we have your strong support again in a final attempt to save Fineshade Wood from this exploitation?  There is no doubt that last time councillors had been very influenced by the number and quality of the individual communications that they had received through the post. Some spoke of “all the lovely letters” they had received, which had made them aware of just how strongly Fineshade is valued by local visitors and those from further afield, as well as local residents.  Councillors know that it is much easier to fire off an email than it is to write a letter so they tend to be more influenced by things that drop onto their doormat. Could you please spare the time to write to three, five, more (or all!) members of the planning committee now?

Timing is very important! Letters need to be sent so that they arrive ideally between Friday 13^th and Tuesday 17^th  February. There are suggestions as to what you could say below.  We believe it is best to keep to one issue and develop that strongly in your own words (even though you may feel strongly about many of the issues). Names and addresses of councillors are in the attached file. Some councillors do not often check their council email accounts.

Please help us to send some more “lovely letters”. We’ll be in touch again nearer the time advising about emails you could send later.  Thanks so much for your support.

On behalf of Fineshade Residents

!! STOP PRESS !! We have just heard that local labour MP Andy Sawford will be coming to visit on Friday 13th February between 10 and 11 am. We hope local press and television will be here. If you live locally please can you come along to help make clear the depth of local opposition to this development. More details later.

Ideas for letters

Address the councillor by name. Refer to planning application 14/01704/FUL, 70 Holiday cabins in Fineshade Wood. Give your name, address and perhaps phone number. Say that you have already filed a formal objection but want to bring a particular issue to their attention.

Possible issues: Choose one to develop with passion!  Don’t forget to use different words from these!

a) Loss of your amenity.  You visit Fineshade for its tranquillity  (see point d below), because it’s a great place to come with the family/walk the dog/cycle and that you value it as it is now. (It won’t help to say that you preferred it as it was a few years ago!). Make it as personal and touching as possible. The new development will turn a large part of Fineshade into effectively a holiday camp, you’ll be able to see the buildings through the trees, there will be cars moving through the woodland night and day, noise of children playing, noise from heat source pumps, hundreds of people (352 bed-spaces)

b) Wildlife. There are very special, but elusive, species such as Dormice, Great-crested Newts, Nightjars, Adders and other reptiles, rare butterflies, that have retreated away from the visitors into the large undisturbed area that is now to be changed into what’s effectively a housing estate. All the expert wildlife agencies agree this should not happen. The Council’s own ecology advisors (the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants) have produced the very strongest possible objection to the scheme. You do not believe that Forest Holidays will keep to their own wildlife surveyor’s very restrictive statements in their planning application e.g  She says: “Where access tracks and buildings are positioned in woodland areas unsuitable for reptiles, a fingertip search must be carried out for Amphibians prior to the commencement of works” and “Tree felling works must avoid the Crossbill and other bird nesting seasons (January through to end August).” Will East Northants be able to enforce that these necessary restrictions are carried out by this predatory applicant, who is in such a hurry? They will not.

c) Road issues. Despite the wishy-washy, non committal comment from Northants Highways, you know that the A43 junction is really dangerous (because….), that the single track lane up to the Visitor Centre is already at full capacity at peak times (because….), that the junction in front of the visitor centre is already confusing and dangerous, that running a new access route through the existing FC car park is foolhardy in the extreme, that there is an alternative access route around the Forest Road to the north of the site, that the proposed emergency access route using Duddington Lane has not been properly assessed or surveyed. (More details? see objection by Barrie Galpin on behalf of Fineshade residents.)

d) Planning policy is against this development. Refer to the detailed objection by Louise Duggan on behalf of Fineshade residents which uses the NPPF and existing local policy documents CSS, RNOTP etc.) Then point out that the new policy document which is currently out for consultation, the Joint Core Strategy 2011-2031 opposes the development. Policy 3 states that the development should preserve tranquillity within the newly recognised King’s Cliffe Hills and Valleys Landscape Character Area of which Fineshade is a part. National planning policy says there must be a presumption in favour of sustainable development… but this is not sustainable (For more detail see objection from Paul Hackett)

e) Comparison with FH Sherwood. Point out that, although they might have been impressed by Sherwood Pines, it is in old-style FC conifer woodland (the clue is in the name!). Fineshade is a mix of Ancient Woodland with naturally regenerating broadleaved woodland of very high landscape and biodiversity values. It’s a Local Wildlife Site which Sherwood certainly was not. There may be a place for such developments in low-grade plantation woodland but not here in East Northants’ wildlife gem. Also point out that once the initial Sherwood site was approved (60 cabins) there was a succession of further application and many more cabins squeezed in (now 86). Councillors will have seen that there are a lot of vehicles at the Sherwood site! You might also like to point to severe environmental problems at some of Forest Holidays other sites such as their most recent one in Norfolk. (see point f)

f) Sewage (and hot tub) problems. Refer to the way in which FH have slipped in a plan to install a Package Treatment Plant for sewage. Make a reference to the recent objection on website from Shirley Martin and in particular the photo showing industrial-scale excavation when one was installed at another FH site, the stench, the flies etc. At Fineshade the plans show that this will go in a currently unsurveyed area of coppiced woodland, thick with hazel, brambles and thick vegetation – the very best area for dormice but nobody knows if there are any there, as its almost impenetrable.  See also Mrs Martin’s most recent objection re discharge of chlorinated water from over 60 Hot tubs!

g) Fineshade Site Visit.  Point out the deficiency of their official Fineshade site visit and suggest they come to visit the site with you and/or residents. They are allowed to make "informal site visits" to properly see for themselves the problems.

h) Site of retreat. This will be immediately adjacent to one of the most used walking areas - now that there are no leaves on the hedgerows you can see its site and that of the adjacent large carpark and play area very easily indeed. Many large oaks will be felled. Prime butterfly habitat lost, close to houses etc. (More details, see objection from Tricia Galpin on behalf of Fineshade Residents)

Thank-you

Barrie Galpin

Dog-walking birds

Hello

Some incidental birding while I was out maintaining feed stations this morning provided a Raven in Kelmarsh village and a Willow Tit singing briefly at Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate).

Exercising the dogs and jogging around Pitsford Reservoir south of the causeway late morning provided views of the pair of Ruddy Shelduck with Canada Geese in a grass field near to Pintail Bay. Two Snipe and two Jack Snipe were flushed and a Grey Wagtail noted.

More dog walking around Harlestone Heath this afternoon provided views of a Raven but little else of note.

Regards

Neil M

Raven
Harlestone Heath

Smew Portrait

Hello

Robin Gossage has kindly forwarded some images of three Smew at Pitsford Reservoir today (of four present). 

Pitsford is a regular winter venue for this striking 'sawbill' duck but regular birds are currently being reported at nearby Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Stanwick Lakes with a single bird at Stortons GP and a few being seen at Sywell Country Park too.

Relatively small numbers of Smew winter in the UK and Northamptonshire is an important area with both Pitsford and Ravensthorpe being ranked as nationally important for this scarce species.

Adult drakes sport the white elongated crest and are effectively known as 'white nuns' with their plumage combination and patterns of white, black and silver. The females and young males are known as 'redheads' and they display a rich chestnut crown and nape which dulls and is replaced in males as they moult in to nuptial plumage. 

Smew do not breed in the UK, probably the closest breeding area being Belarus, and occupy similar breeding habitat as the Goldeneye.

Regards

Neil M

Smew at Pitsford Reservoir
Courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Bramblings!

Hello

Yesterday Eleanor saw two Bramblings flying around at Harrington Airfield and 38 Blackbirds emerged from the bushes to feast on the distributed seed and other offerings!  This morning there was a female Brambling down on the seed by the concrete track entrance.

This morning a female Brambling visited us in the front garden here at Hanging Houghton, so it seems that small numbers of this species may be moving in response to some cold weather further to the north and east.

Regards

Neil M

The value of ringing re-traps

Hello

A ringing session took place at Brixworth Water Treatment Works today which resulted in a relatively modest catch of birds. This included six new Pied Wagtails, four Meadow Pipits and a re-trap Grey Wagtail.

Other birds noted on-site included 1-2 Chiffchaff, up to 3/4 Grey Wagtails, 2 Snipe and a Golden Plover flew over.

The ringed Grey Wagtail was first ringed there as a juvenile male on 26th August 2013 and a re-trap Long-tailed Tit was first ringed here at Hanging Houghton on 5th November 2011. 

Most Meadow Pipits that we notice moving through the county in the autumn seem to linger for a few days and then move on. An adult re-trapped today was first ringed at the same place in October 2014 and re-trapped again in December 2014. Clearly this bird is wintering successfully in and around the treatment works!

We have been fortunate to catch and ring good numbers of Pied Wagtails at this site during the winter months and await with interest any recoveries from these efforts. It is generally accepted that the southern half of the UK provides wintering quarters for Pied Wagtails that breed in northern England and Scotland.  The turn-over of birds is clearly significant to the degree that we have yet to re-trap a single individual.

Eleanor enjoyed a spectacle in the garden this afternoon when two Red Kites were attracted to some food put out for the local Jackdaws. A second helping including raw chicken ensured that one of the kites actually landed in our small enclosed garden, the first time we have actually seen one 'on the deck'!

Regards

Neil M

White-tailed Marsh Tit

Hello

Despite being out and about nearly all day today, neither Eleanor or I saw anything of note.

Andrew Tyrrell was out birding at the week-end and saw the four Pink-footed Geese at Blatherwycke Lake yesterday. A female Brambling and a male Blackcap have been visiting his Wootton garden recently on a regular basis, the Brambling was still there yesterday.

This afternoon Andrew was at Pitsford Reservoir and saw the three White-fronted Geese and a male Merlin, all the birds roughly half way between the causeway and dam.

The below images refer to a Marsh Tit caught yesterday at Pitsford Reservoir exhibiting a white tail (courtesy of Jacob Spinks).

Regards

Neil M

Bird Club Photographic Competition

Hello

This coming Wednesday evening (4th Feb) sees the annual Northants Bird Club photographic competition being held at the Pitsford Reservoir Fishing Lodge (NN6 9SJ), our usual venue for indoor meetings. John Showers has kindly received and indexed all the entries and Robin Gossage has been busy judging them. Please come along and savour the photographic skills of our members! It's not just birds as there are a number of wildlife categories of subjects photographed both locally and abroad during 2014.

As usual, tea, coffee and biscuits will be available as well as an opportunity to have a good natter! This meeting is available to both members and non-members of the Northants Bird Club. Please come and join us!

Regards

Neil M

Stonechat Portrait

Hello

Simon Hales has kindly forwarded some images of a couple of Stonechats currently on-site at Ditchford Gravel Pits...

Regards

Neil M

Ringing at Pitsford Reservoir

Hello

Some bird ringing took place at Pitsford Reservoir today resulting in 96 captures, the majority being common tits. A large proportion of the tits were adults and re-traps from previous years. Two Marsh Tits were re-trapped, one of them displaying a white tail, and six Coal Tits featured within the total.

Other birds included five new Chaffinches and a couple of Robins, three re-trap Moorhens, a Yellowhammer, a Fieldfare and seven Blackbirds. One of the Blackbirds was a re-trap, first being ringed at Harrington Airfield in November 2014.

Other birds noted were two Woodcock at Christies Copse and a pair of Grey Partridge near to Rectory Farm (close to the reservoir border). The gull roost off the yacht club provided views of a first winter Mediterranean Gull and two Ruddy Shelduck were discovered at dusk.

Regards

Neil M

Narnia Re-visited !

Late afternoon I retraced some of my steps from this morning's walk. By now much of the snow had melted leaving behind saturated muddy fields which were attractive to good numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing, Skylark and a few Meadow Pipits, all busy feeding.  In turn, these birds attracted a male Merlin who flew low over the field causing the birds to scatter and then he went off in pursuit of one of the smaller passerines. I've no idea whether he was successful as the hedgerow got in my way !!!

It would seem that the Otters are still being seen regularly along the River Welland in Market Harborough town centre. The local paper [Harborough Mail] has published a lovely photograph of an adult otter and two cubs taken on 16th January by a local resident. The paper also states that "their" own reporter has camped out for three days and as yet have failed to see the otters  !!. So although the otters are frequenting the stretch of river running through the town centre it is as with wildlife watching ,a case of being in the right place at the right time.  Good luck !

Regards Eleanor

Nania!

Hello

Fabulous winter weather this morning with a decent snowfall overnight. Eleanor spent some time in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning, walking up to and around the Blueberry Farm complex. Birds included two pairs of Stonechat and a Barn Owl and the usual two Ravens plus fifteen mobile Golden Plovers.

Birds in the garden this morning attracted to the food included a Fieldfare and the regular Marsh Tit.

Regards

Neil M

Smeagol's circuit!

Hello

Cool and wintry out there today but it didn't stop Eleanor running around the southern side of Pitsford Reservoir this morning with her faithful companions Tor and Smeagol (yep that's the name of the latest canine family member)! The three White-fronted Geese were by The Holly Tree and two Jack Snipe also flushed up. Other birds of interest were restricted to a Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher.

The ringing demonstration at Stanwick Lakes back on 18th January provided an opportunity of catching some birds previously ringed there from previous years. Ian Wrisdale who led the session and regularly rings at Stanwick has provided some interesting data concerning these birds, proving that some small birds are surviving well at this site.

A male Great Spotted Woodpecker caught was over five years old and two re-trap Long-tailed Tits were each over four and six years old respectively. A Great Tit was proven to be over six years old and a re-trap Reed Bunting was confirmed as being over five years old.

Regards

Neil M

Back home to the cold...

Hello

Neil H and I are just back from a week's birding in The Gambia which was very good, and my thanks to Eleanor for keeping the blog updated whilst we dodged those awful African sun rays! And yes it does seem a touch cold here after some very warm temperatures in near tropical conditions.

Today I noted a Nordic Jackdaw or at least a bird showing those features in the garden here at Hanging Houghton this morning. It was contained within the local Jackdaw flock and may be the same individual that has appeared in the village now for it's third winter.

John Finlayson maintains a wild bird feeding station at Grafton Park Wood in the north of the county. Like many of us he enjoys assisting birds during the cold hunger months, February to April probably being the critical months when there is very little natural food out there for our avian neighbours to exploit. Please see John's Nuthatch pictures below, an individual clearly benefiting from regular hand-outs.

The road causeway that passes over Pitsford Reservoir between Brixworth and Holcot is a favoured location for local bird photographers. Lapwings often loaf along the causeway parapets and water margins and Simon Hales has snapped the below picture for our benefit.

Regards

Neil M

Nuthatch
Courtesy of John Finlayson

Lapwing
Simon Hales

Quiet days

Another couple of "quiet" days. I have seen a Barn Owl at Blueberry but not the Stonechats.  The feeding area at Harrington remains frequently disturbed, muddy and smelly and indeed the airfield devoid of birds. I haven't faired much better at Pitsford although I did see a pair of Smew and the 3 White Fronted Geese today.  
At Sywell reservoir there were a handful of Siskins and Lesser Redpoll and a good walk around Salcey Forest failed to produce anything different, just the typical woodland birds, Nuthatch, Marsh Tit and Siskin.  The highlight of my visit here was a lovely lunch at the Forest Cafe, highly recommended.
Birds in/over the garden include 2 Raven, Marsh Tit, 2 Nuthatch and a Lesser Redpoll.

Regards Eleanor

Weekend Round Up

During the course of the weekend I have visited Blueberry area on several occasions. No new birds to report. At least one pair of Stonechat remain, along with 2 Barn Owls and frequent "fly overs" of a couple of vocal Ravens.
The feeding area at Harrington Airfield remains covered in thick mud and regularly disturbed by the steady stream of lorries which are continuing to bring lots of very smelly muck which will be spread onto the fields at a later date.  So birding here severely curtailed due to this disturbance and because the dogs are drawn to this muck like magnets !! yuk.
At Pitsford Reservoir this morning there were a pair of Smew and a Great White Egret north of the causeway and the 3 White Fronted Geese remain south of the causeway but very mobile.
I spoke to a local birder yesterday and he told me that he has a female Brambling and Blackcap in his garden at the moment, infact he had taken pictures of the Brambling.
Often I'm in and out throughout the day so perhaps do not appreciate the birds in my garden as much as I should, but as with so many folk this is where and how my passion for birds started.......by watching the birds visiting the garden.
I managed to spend a few hours tidying the garden today with my binoculars close at hand and by the end of the afternoon had notched up a good variety including Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Siskins, Grey Wagtail, Red Kite and Buzzard. Infact one of the Common Buzzards came through the garden literally a few feet from the ground. I could see why people might get worried that the Buzzard was going to take their cat or child.  A few minutes before the Buzzard did this low fly through I had been playing and training the dogs and I wonder whether it had spotted a discarded treat.
Whilst reading the local Harborough Mail newspaper I noted that up to 4 Otters have been reported last week along the town centre stretch of the river. The newspaper has also published a photograph of a Peregrine Falcon sitting on the roof of St Dionysius Church which is also in the town centre. So keep your eye's peeled if you are visiting Market Harborough.

Regards Eleanor

Quiet Day

My birding today was confined to a couple of visits to Blueberry Farm area. Nothing new to report. Two Barn Owls, pair of Stonechat and a Raven.

Regards Eleanor

Frustrating Day!

My day started on a good note with a Barn Owl and pair of Stonechat at Blueberry Farm . It went downhill thereafter.
I decided to run around the big side at Pitsford Reservoir with Tor and notched up 2 Grey Wagtail, a Kingfisher and 2 Goosander [first one's I've seen at Pitsford for a while]. There was at least one Smew although I didn't see it myself.  
I was aware that there was a tractor hedge cutting or rather to my eye's murdering the hedge as chunks of sharp branches etc were flying off in all directions leaving the hedge scarred and ugly. I was none too pleased when I trod on one of these sharp pieces....ouch.
I intended to spend some time birding the small side but this was not possible today as the Ruddy Duck cull was in progress!! . There were several boats secreted in the reeds/bushes each containing folk with riffles as well as folk with binoculars/radio's at various points along the shoreline. Consequently most of the wildfowl had vacated the area.  I really do have to question the cost of this project, how much does each Ruddy Duck death cost ?  and for myself it begs the question as to why this is allowed on a nature reserve ? !!
After I had calmed down I went to Harrington to feed the birds. More frustration as I was greeted by a very muddy feeding area and a constant stream of lorries bringing some extremely smelly muck which they have deposited half way along the track. The birds couldn't really feed at the entrance so I put some food further along the track hoping that they would at least be able to feed.  So if you intend visiting Harrington at the moment be prepared for mud and the famous "Harrington aroma".   The only birds of note were 2 Raven and approx 100 Golden Plover.

Birding will be limited tomorrow. Many of us knew Rodney Ingram who sadly died earlier this month.  Tomorrow there will be a service at the parish church , Ecton at 2pm to celebrate and give thanks for Rodney's life. Rod touched so many of us in a huge variety of ways. He was instrumental in starting up from scratch the Northamptonshire Bird Club and for many years served on the committee and remained supportive of the club. He was an extremely talented artist and used this gift to illustrate the birds in the Northamptonshire Bird Report and Christmas cards for the Rspb. He was passionate about all aspects of birds, but he was also one of life's true "gentlemen" and I believe left his mark on many of our live's and his legacy will continue.  Thanks Rod.

Regards Eleanor

The North !!

Today I headed north !! For weeks I have been promising myself a visit to the "north" of the county and today was the day it happened. Although the weather forecast was not good it was my only free day for a while.
First stop was Burn Coppice just outside Deenethorpe village, an area which I haven't visited for a while. I spent over an hour wandering along the bridle track whilst scanning the hedgerows and trees. This is a good area for viewing Red Kites and today was no exception. Despite the light rain and gloomy light these birds brightened the day with their graceful flight and evocative calls.
The air was filled with another favourite call of mine as a flock of 9 Pink Footed Geese flew over heading northwards.
I was almost back to my car when I realised that the Chaffinches were not happy birds and on scanning the hedgerow I could see the cause of this......the Great Grey Shrike, which sat up briefly before disappearing behind the hedge !  I never saw it again.
My next venue was Blatherwyke churchyard. What an amazing area and I was staggered by the amount of birds around the churchyard. Plenty of common species, notably winter thrushes, tits and finches. As I walked towards the church I saw the distinctive shape of two Hawfinch which were perched on the treetops against the skyline. It is such a pity that it was such a dull day as it was difficult to appreciate their colour. The churchyard itself was carpeted in snowdrops and gives a different vantage point for looking at the lake itself.
There were at least 14 Mandarin Duck visible around the edge of the lake, 2 Egyptian Geese, a few Siskin and of course plenty of Red Kite.
I then went to Wakerley Wood where a good walk around produced very little. It was extremely quiet. Great Spotted Woodpeckers were vocal with their drumming as were the Long Tailed Tits with their chattering as they moved through the trees. There just seemed to be the "odd" Siskin and Redpoll flying about. My highlight was two Roe Deer and a Fox !.
I finished my day out with a good walk around Fineshade Wood where I covered a lot of ground but saw very little. Again it was very quiet with the highlight being 4 Ravens .

Regards Eleanor