The journey to Islay

Hello

Yesterday (Friday), 12 Northants Bird Club members ventured north to Scotland as part of a mini expedition to Islay. Most of the day was spent travelling up the M6 and further north and some of us called in at the Caelaverock Wildfowl and Wetland reserve near Dumfries. Plenty of Barnacle Geese and Whooper Swans awaited us and other birds included Pink-footed Geese, common wildfowl and waders and five Little Egrets.

After staying overnight, today (Saturday) we travelled around dramatic scenery en-route to boarding our ferry and sailing for 90 minutes before landing at Islay at about 3.30pm. Interesting birds included Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, lots of divers including a splendid pack of 18 Black-throateds, common auks, Eider, Slavonian Grebe, Kittiwake, Gannet and a pair of Golden Eagles. Smaller fare included Grey Wagtail and Rock Pipit and Chough and the geese on Islay included lots of Barnacles, Greylags and the very handsome Greenland White-fronteds. Mammals included Harbour Porpoise, Grey and Common Seal, Red and Roe Deer and lots of Brown Hares.

We are staying on the island until Friday morning and are hopeful with catching up on many of the local wildlife specialities.

Regards

Neil M

Shoveler

Whooper Swan

Mute Swan

Brown Hare

Agility Birds !!

I spent the morning at Staverton near Daventry attempting "agility" with Tor one of my dogs. It was quite an entertaining morning by both the antics of the dogs and by the birds present !!! Firstly I nearly fell over a tub of flowers as I was busy trying to locate a suspicious looking passerine on the roof of one of the buildings. It turned out to be a Black Redstart !!!
Most folk there were oblivious to the loud cronking and other weird and wonderful noises made by a pair of resident Ravens as they demonstrated their own style of ariel agility over our heads .
Finally the morning was rounded off nicely by the evocative calls of 2 Curlew as they flew over.
It is a good job that Tor was paying attention to the instructor as my ears and eye's were everywhere else !! That's the problem with birds......they just get in the way sometimes !!
A very blustery walk at nearby Borough Hill only produced another Raven, and a quick scan at Ravensthorpe Reservoir 2 Sand Martins.
I finished the day at Blueberry where I could only locate one pair of Stonechat and 2 Barn Owls.

Regards  Eleanor

Fabulous Friday

This morning I headed to Blueberry Farm area and sat on the top of the hill to experience the "eclipse". Initially the sun was very bright but as the moon moved across it became noticeably darker and cooler and the atmosphere felt eerily different. I had company as I sat , three dogs, a pair of Stonechat and 2 Ravens, all of whom did not behave any differently, but the Black Headed Gulls feeding on a nearby ploughed field made some high pitched squealing noises for a few minutes.......definitely creepy !!
Other birds included a female Merlin chasing Fieldfares, Barn Owl, 2 Grey Partridge and 6 Lesser Redpoll.
This afternoon I walked around Sywell Reservoir and in the warm sunshine it really felt as if Spring has arrived. A pair of Smew  and a Water Rail were quite elusive whereas a Grey Wagtail and 4 Sand Martins much easier to see.
A short evening walk at Harrington Airfield produced a Barn Owl hunting against the backdrop of a beautiful red and blue sunset sky.

Regards  Eleanor

Fur versus feather

Hello

Dave Francis and Neil Hasdell were busy today checking the owl boxes at Pitsford Reservoir. Some Tawnies were in residence and an adult was caught in one box and subsequently ringed (please see an image below). A Stock Dove nest with eggs was a pleasant surprise in another box but the majority of boxes had again been taken over by Grey Squirrels and were subsequently evicted. There can be little doubt that the squirrels adversely affect nesting opportunities for the resident Tawny Owls.

Eleanor was out and about today and her daily excursion in to the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning provided views of a Wheatear, a pair of Grey Partridge, a pair of Raven and about 50 Golden Plovers. This afternoon she spent some time at Harrington Airfield which produced another Wheatear, about a 100 Golden Plovers and a 'ringtail' (probably a female) Hen Harrier hunting the rough borders adjacent to the main concrete track.

John Finlayson spends much of his time monitoring the local wildlife at Titchmarsh Local Nature Reserve near Thrapston. Always armed with a camera, below are some images of a confiding Water Rail taken on the reserve...

Regards

Neil M

Tawny Owl
Pitsford Reservoir

Courtesy of Neil Hasdell

Water Rail
Titchmarsh LNR

Courtesy of John Finlayson

More spring migrants

Hello

Early afternoon today saw us dropping in to Summer Leys Local Nature Reserve for a quick look around. Kim Taylor had earlier seen an adult Mediterranean Gull and went on to see a Great White Egret. Birds visible from the Pioneer Hide included a drake Pintail, two Little Egrets, a pair of Oystercatcher, a pair of Redshank and a Shelduck. A calling Water Pipit dropped in to waterside vegetation (to the LHS of the hide as you approach) at about 1.15pm. At least one Chiffchaff was present.

A good walk around Blueberry Farm this afternoon provided views of a Wheatear, lots of Meadow Pipits, two Woodcock and two Barn Owls. Birds at Brixworth Sewer Works included a Snipe and a Chiffchaff.

Scanning through the gulls at the roost at Pitsford Reservoir this evening produced a second winter Caspian Gull.

Chris Payne spent some time ringing at Bradden again today catching both new and re-trap birds of several species - tits and common finches dominating. A couple of Nuthatch were the highlights.

Regards

Neil M

Bathing Blackbird

Eleanor McMahon

Rook

Spring lambs!

Nuthatch

Courtesy of Chris Payne

Information from ringing

Hello

Some wild bird ringing took place at Pitsford Reservoir today, the venue again being the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station. Some 32 birds were caught of 12 species which included Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Goldcrest and Willow Tit. A re-trap Blue Tit was 6 years and 10 months old, very old for this species.

Some Great Tits are beginning to show signs of an avian disease causing swellings around their head and often affecting their eyes. In previous years some birds of this species have suffered quite horrific growths and lesions so we will continue to monitor this latest development.

Local ringers are reporting catching small numbers of continental Chaffinches currently, the males at least of which are subtly distinct. They tend to be marginally larger than our birds and in the hand routinely have long wing lengths. The breast/belly is often a pale and bright pink, rather than the brick-red pink of more local birds, or a combination of the two. These birds are often 6-7 grams heavier than local birds and examination in the hand provides useful clues with the high amount of fat amassed around the breast. This serves as on-board flight fuel as they prepare to migrate back from where they originated.

An all-time high of at least ten Reed Buntings feeding in our garden this afternoon was very pleasing and made up for the lack of interesting gulls in the gull roost at Pitsford Res this evening - a third winter Yellow-legged Gull being about the best.

Regards

Neil M

Chaffinch and Great Tit

Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Wren

Courtesy of John Finlayson

Ditchford WeBS

Hello

This morning a hike around Borough Hill Country Park at Daventry provided lots of cows but not too many birds - two Ravens and plenty of Skylarks were about the best. Similarly a walk around Blueberry Farm provided plenty of common birds but with just a single Woodcock being the only noteworthy item.

This afternoon was taken up completing a belated WeBS count at Ditchford Gravel Pits. As usual the pits west of Ditchford Lane were the more interesting and attracted two Great White Egrets (together some of the time), a Little Egret, 3-4 Egyptian Geese, an Oystercatcher and a first year female Peregrine. Other birds noted on the overall complex included another Little Egret, just one Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, six Sand Martins, at least eleven Chiffchaffs, 4+ Cetti's Warblers, two Water Rails and three Shelduck.

Birds attracted to our garden at Hanging Houghton today included a gang of Reed Buntings still plus a Marsh Tit, and a Raven flew through the village last thing this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Tufted Duck

First year female Peregrine

Forest of Dean

Hello

Ten members of the Northants Bird Club travelled down to the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire today to see some of the bird specialities of the area.

The first venue was the village location of Parkend, and we quickly located small numbers of Hawfinches in trees and bushes near to the church and also under yews by the cricket pitch. Dave Jackson managed some fine images of the birds feeding under the yew trees.

A Dipper showed on the stream in the village and three Crossbills perched up on bushes by the church. Siskins were everywhere and other birds included Nuthatch and Grey Wagtail.

Our next location was the look-out at New Fancy View and although the conditions were far from ideal, two Goshawks were on view. A male flew past a couple of times and a big female sat perched distantly in a larch tree. Siskins continued to show well and numerous Ravens careered past. A Hawfinch flew below the look-out a few times.

Next on to Cannop Ponds and an excellent show of Mandarin Ducks were probably the birds of the day as they displayed and called right in front of us. More Siskins here too and Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Grey Wagtail were all very showy.

A bit of a drive to Symonds Yat Rock always provides dramatic views over the River Wye, and we enjoyed good close views of acrobatic Ravens, a pair of Peregrines and with the supporting cast of more Mandarins, a Hawfinch and Nuthatches chiseling out a nest-box.

The last venue was the open landscape of Crabtree Ridge yielded Woodlarks for some but alas no sign of the wintering Great Grey Shrike. Crossbills, Bramblings and plenty of redpolls and Siskins ensured that finches dominated here and 13 Goosanders were on the nearby lake.

Regards

Neil M

Hawfinch

Courtesy of Dave Jackson

Hawfinch

Crossbill

Mandarin Duck

Birds of a cool north-easterly

Hello

A varied day today with plenty of time outside in quite cool and breezy conditions but it remained essentially dry.

A Barn Owl was hunting around the outskirts of Scaldwell village first thing, and a flock of about 125 Golden Plovers flew west there at 5.30pm.

Birds noted at Blueberry Farm today included 2 Barn Owls, 2 Woodcock and two pairs of Stonechat.

A sustained period of ringing at Kelmarsh Hall today provided 126 recorded captures of 14 species. At least three Siskins were on-site and two were caught and ringed, four Nuthatch were caught as were two Marsh Tits and two Grey Wagtails caught included a bird originally ringed elsewhere.

Eleanor paid a brief visit to Ravensthorpe Reservoir and saw two Smew (one drake and one 'redhead') and also saw a pair of Raven at Staverton near Daventry.

With a cold, blocking north-easterly air-stream and after seeing a significant movement of gulls all day, it seemed to make sense to survey the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir. For once it paid off with a stunning adult Mediterranean Gull early-on and later a classic adult Iceland Gull arrived and settled on the water.

Regards

Neil M

Adult male Siskin
Kelmarsh Hall

Courtesy of Jacob Spinks

Subtle Spring migration

Hello

Yesterday evening (Thursday), an adult Yellow-legged Gull was present in the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir (but no sign of any Meds).

Today Neil H visited Summer Leys Nature Reserve at Earls Barton and notched up a Peregrine, 3-4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck, 2 Grey Wagtails, 3 Chiffchaffs and a Cetti's Warbler.

Birds in our garden at Hanging Houghton today included now 8 Reed Buntings, 2 Yellowhammers, a Tree Sparrow, a Marsh Tit and a Chiffchaff. Lots of Meadow Pipits and winter thrushes and Starlings were visibly on the move over the NN6 area today.

The Kelmarsh Estate provided a Raven and two Grey Wagtails at Kelmarsh Hall and a Woodcock at Sunderland Wood and birds at nearby Harrington Airfield included 2 Ravens, 2 Grey Partridges and ca50 Golden Plovers.

Blueberry Farm provided the best birds this afternoon with an adult male Merlin, a Short-eared Owl (Hill Field), 2 Barn Owls, 3 Woodcock and 6 Stonechats.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Chris Payne and team committed to a ringing session at Bradden in South Northants today and caught something like 78 birds. The catch included Treecreeper, Nuthatch and eight Chaffinches, at least one of which showed characteristics of continental origin.

Two Ravens were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton again today and there were two Barn Owls and two Stonechats at Blueberry Farm.

Some of the day was taken up completing a WeBS count at Pitsford Reservoir, which was mostly quiet for wetland birds. The three White-fronted Geese were still present north of the causeway and two Ravens were south of the causeway. Waders included 2 Jack Snipe, 34 Snipe, 2 Oystercatchers and a Green Sandpiper. A pair of Nuthatch were present in the Holcot Bay.

Regards

Neil M

Treecreeper

Courtesy of Chris Payne

Oystercatcher

White-fronted Geese

Mute Swan

Greylag Geese

Rook

Pitsford Ringing

Hello

A busy and productive ringing session at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir this morning provided 73 new birds and 26 re-traps of 17 species. Dave Francis and Neil Hasdell were the ringers on-site and among others they processed a Marsh Tit, 10 Tree Sparrows, 8 Reed Buntings, 41 Yellowhammers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Starlings and 2 Moorhens. Generally sunny conditions make it more difficult to catch birds with mist nets but clearly the plentiful food was a significant lure and distracted them from the pretty obvious and partly sun-lit nets!

Sadly I noticed a dead Barn Owl next to A45 carriageway at Wootton this morning, but Eleanor managed to locate live specimens this morning at Blueberry Farm and also near Hanging Houghton. Other birds at Blueberry Farm included a significant arrival of Meadow Pipits and four Stonechats. This afternoon there were about 300 Golden Plovers on fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton (probably yesterday's birds from Harrington). Undoubtedly Eleanor's best bird of the day was an Osprey flying steadily north over Harrington Airfield at about 10.50am.

Regards

Neil M

Monday update

Hello

Birds at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning included a Barn Owl, 2 Ravens, 6+ Snipe and 6 Stonechats. A flock of about 280 Golden Plovers were on the top fields and visible from the roads at Harrington Airfield this morning and a Raven was mobile there too. The three White-fronted Geese were also still present at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, still in waterside vegetation with other geese just north of the causeway towards the Old Scaldwell Road.

Regards

Neil M

Golden Plovers
Harrington Airfield

Barn Owls and more...

Hello

Yesterday Chris Payne espied a female Peregrine over the South Northants village of Greens Norton.

Today there was a ringing session held at Stortons Gravel Pits, and although not many birds were caught a couple of House Sparrows were a welcome surprise! Good informative re-traps included birds from 2010 and 2011.

A further ringing operation was performed at Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today, before the rain arrived. Some 46 captures were recorded, the highlights perhaps being a pair of Nuthatch, a Treecreeper and a Goldcrest. One or two Woodcock were seen flying around the wood.

An increasing trend among the Chaffinch population has been the incidence of a crumbling disease of the legs which initially causes the loss of claws and then the loss of toes and eventually feet as well. The birds tend to remain in good condition throughout all this and eventually are left with stumps for legs, and it is assumed succumb sometime thereafter as they are unable to land and perch properly. This is particularly acute during ringing activities as we are able to examine the birds properly, to the point that many are released straightaway as it is not viable or even possible to safely ring them.

Barn Owls are fairly high profile at the moment and today there were 3-4 noted at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, another in the Brampton Valley between Brixworth and Hanging Houghton, another alongside the A508 between Lamport and Maidwell and finally another near to Scaldwell village.

Regards

Neil M

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Courtesy of John Finlayson

Pair of Nuthatch at
Sunderland Wood

Courtesy of Neil Hasdell

Woodcock and Butterfly wood

Hello

A ringing session at Sunderland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) today provided 58 captures of nine species which included two Blackbirds, a Nuthatch, two Coal Tits and five Chaffinches. Other birds noted in the wood included 1-2 Woodcock and butterflies included Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell in the early spring sunshine.

A walk at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon yielded six Stonechats, a Short-eared Owl and three Barn Owls.

At Pitsford Res this afternoon, birds in the vicinity of the dam included a male Stonechat, two Grey Wagtails, a Green Sandpiper and the two Ruddy Shelduck flew in just before dusk.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Teal
Pitsford Res

Lesser Black-backed Gull
Pitsford Res

Maidwell Birding

Hello

A good yomp this morning around Maidwell Dales, Blueberry Farm and back to Hanging Houghton in relatively warm temperatures was enjoyable. The most notable birds were a pair of Grey Partridge, five Stonechats, three Woodcock and a Grey Wagtail. A little later and both Marsh and Willow Tit were seen at Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate).

Regards

Neil M

Birds of South Northants (2)!

Hello

A further ringing session today at Bradden in South Northants provided 71 captures, perhaps the choice birds being a Treecreeper and a Goldfinch among the many Blue Tits and Chaffinches. The local male Sparrowhawk kept the birds on their toes and a Raven flew over.

This afternoon there were three mobile Barn Owls hunting at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell...

Regards

Neil M

Birds of South Northants

Hello

A bird ringing session was held at Bradden village (South Northants) today resulting in 51 captures of six common species, with Blue Tits dominating!  Among the birds two re-traps (a Chaffinch and a Blue Tit) had been ringed at Greens Norton last year, travelling about 3km from the original ringing area.

A general reconnoitre west of Bradden successfully located a pair of Raven with a nest.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford birds

Hello

Birds noted north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today (as noted by Neil Hasdell and Jacob Spinks) include the three White-fronted Geese, four Goosanders, a female Stonechat and a Nuthatch.

Regards

Neil M

Displaying Goosanders

Courtesy of Jacob Spinks

Spring's nearly here...honest!

Hello

Some wintry showers today and a strong cold wind. Eleanor witnessed a Common Buzzard plucking a just-taken Moorhen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning, an event which I think takes place on an occasional basis at Pitsford Reservoir judging from the several piles of feathers on the grassy tracks recently.

A pair of Stonechat were still present in the Small/Large Redgrass field at Blueberry Farm at lunch-time.

At Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, a Green Sandpiper was on the muddy pools below the dam and an adult Mediterranean Gull was in the gull roost off the yacht club (not quite in full summer plumage). At least one Oystercatcher was heard calling as was a redpoll sp, and the regular Grey Wagtail was still present.

Regards

Neil M

North county birding

Hello

This morning there was a Barn Owl and two Ravens in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A visit to Blatherwycke Churchyard this morning provided good views of plenty of common birds but alas no Hawfinches. Blatherwycke Lake hosted four Mandarin Ducks, a Black Swan, two Chinese Geese, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail and three Oystercatchers.

Nearby Deene Lake held fifteen Shelduck and a variety of common wildfowl plus a Grey Wagtail.

All day the Common Buzzards and Red Kites were up and about in the bright and breezy conditions as we toured some birding locations in the north of the county.

We spent some time looking for the Great Grey Shrike near Deenethorpe but drew a blank in very windy conditions. A male Brambling was consorting with a flock of Chaffinches and Yellowhammers around nearby barns and a small plantation.

Scanning from a couple of areas included from the roadside near Lyveden New Bield provided distant views of a small herd of Fallow Deer and a number of single Brown Hares were presumably preparing themselves for a hectic month?

Fermyn Woods Country Park was quiet and short term visits to Fineshade and Wakerley Woods provided few species of note. A walk around the disused Harringworth Airfield provided views of a Snipe and a Woodcock. Areas of the Welland Valley were flooded and two Oystercatchers were present in the valley below Cottingham. We finished the day looking over a rough area off Wire Lane, East Carlton village where one or two Barn Owl(s) were hunting.

Nothing scarce or rare seen today but it was good to notch up over 80 species in a different area of the county.

Regards

Neil M

Fallow Deer

Red Kite

Barn Owl

An old friend...

Hello

Despite the drizzle and light rain, I decided to try one of my favourite short walks which I haven't completed in ages. So this morning I took a circular walk around Harlestone village and Harlestone Lake which resulted in good numbers of common birds, many of them in full song. Grey Wagtail and Little Owl were perhaps the pick of the species and sadly I didn't detect a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, this venue used to be a traditional site for this diminutive and now very rare woodpecker. The habitat hasn't seemingly changed much over the years but the status of the bird has.

Eleanor was over at Staverton near Daventry this afternoon and noted a pair of very noisy Raven, clearly intent on breeding in tall conifers there.

It was a warm welcome to an old friend today when male Blue Tit X669693 turned up in a mist net in our garden today. He was first ringed as a juvenile in July 2010, caught again in August of that year and re-trapped again in 2011 but not recorded since...  During that time his wing-length had increased by two millimeters and today he was in excellent condition. Blue Tits don't live very long and their work-rate when feeding young is phenomenal to the point that they must be absolutely shattered when they finally let their fledged young wander off on their own. This bird has also endured the two cold, hard winters of 2010/2011 and 2011/12 and no doubt dodged countless attacks from predators. How far has he wandered in that time and what other life experiences can we guess at?

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford update...

Hello

The three White-fronted Geese were still present at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, just north of the causeway in waterside vegetation towards the Scaldwell Bay.

The wintering female Stonechat has managed to attract a passing male so now a pair again can be found by the water's edge anywhere between the Bird Club Hide and the causeway.

Moderate numbers of passerines remain attracted to the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station, perhaps the main attraction being the Tree Sparrows and bright Yellowhammers.

A pair of Grey Partridge were again noted at Hanging Houghton today.

Regards

Neil M

It's not just birds
that are attracted to
the feeding station seed!
Muntjac Deer continue
to habitually pop out
to feed at two of the
Pitsford feeding stations.

Images courtesy of
Neil Hasdell

Garden birding

Hello

Little to report today I'm afraid. Visiting and replenishing the local feed stations in the rain wasn't that much fun this morning, although I managed to avoid most of the really heavy stuff! Still the locals were pleased to see me with Robins singing at me and by my feet at all five locations and a Marsh Tit almost perched on my shoulder he was so impatient to get on to the feeder!

The garden was busy with birds with an impressive eight Lesser Redpolls first thing and six Reed Buntings together in the afternoon. I drew another blank at the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon - this roost now has very few large gulls visiting and even the usual wintering adult Med Gull seems to be absent.

Ah well some more garden birding then with a coffee to sup!

Regards

Neil M

Interesting Ringing Recoveries

Hello

Chris Payne completed some bird ringing at his busy Bradden site this morning which provided 74 captures including 6 Chaffinches, 4 Robins, 2 Reed Buntings, a control Blue Tit (a bird ringed from elsewhere) and a fine female Sparrowhawk which no doubt produced a little rush of adrenalin!

Chris went on to erect and fix nest boxes at sites in South Northants in preparation of the forth-coming breeding season.

Eleanor spent some time in the NN6 district of the county but was only able to locate birds which have been in situ for much of the winter, namely two Ravens in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Barn Owl and two pairs of Stonechat at Blueberry Farm.

In recent days we have received details of recovered ringed birds associated with the county as follows...

1. LE85055 refers to a Starling ringed at Astcote near Towcester on 7th March 2014 and then re-captured by a ringer operating at Six House Bank, Lincolnshire on 29th December 2014, some 297 days later and 89KM in a north-east direction. Presumably very much a nomadic bird and possibly a wintering bird from the continent;

2. J614475 refers to a Great Tit ringed at Pillerton Hersey, Warwickshire on 10th November 2010 and re-captured by ringers operating in Glyn Davies Wood, Northants on 17th December 2014. This female originally hatched in 2010 so is a good age for this species and a distance of 17KM between sites is a reasonable distance too;

3. 1ET23138 refers to a Chaffinch first ringed on 26th August 2012 in Sweden at a place called Inre Fjarden near Gavleborg. It was re-captured at Stortons Gravel Pits on 17th February 2013, some 1452KM from it's ringing site. A clear example of a Scandanavian finch wintering in the warmer climes of the UK;

4. LE85059 refers to a Blackbird first caught and ringed at Stortons GP on 16th March 2014 and then found dead near Shustoke, Warwickshire on 18th January 2015, some 59KM in a westnorthwest direction;

5. LE50561 refers to a Blackbird caught and ringed in our garden at Hanging Houghton on 29th January 2013 and then being found dead on 2nd January this year at Cottingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire north of Hull. Again probably a wintering bird from the continent;

6. 7512659 refers to a Blackbird first ringed on 18th March 2014 at Bardshaugen, Skei, Surnadal, More og Romsdal, Norway and then re-captured by ringers operating at Pitsford Reservoir on 10th November 2014;

7. XP98752 refers to a Great Spotted Woodpecker first ringed on 12th May 2014 in Wormley Wood, Hertfordshire which also had colour rings attached to both legs. Robert Cave saw and photographed this bird visiting garden feeders in Crick, Northants in November 2014. British birds are thought to be sedentary but this female re-located 99KM to rural Northamptonshire - who knows what stimulated her to do this!

Neil Hasdell visited Market Harborough today in an effort to see the Otters on the River Welland but couldn't find them (there was quite a bit of disturbance).

Regards

Neil M

Cormorant
Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Female Sparrowhawk
Courtesy of Chris Payne

Pitsford Smew

Hello

A visit to Pitsford Reservoir this morning in pleasant sunshine provided views of between 3-5 Smew north of the causeway. Initially there was a drake and two 'redheads' near to the Lagoon Hide and later there was a single 'redhead' and then a single drake in the back of the Holcot Bay. A Nuthatch is holding territory near to the Fishing Lodge and in the Holcot Bay, the first time I think this has ever happened on the reserve.

Blueberry Farm near Maidwell continued to host two pairs of Stonechat and a Barn Owl this afternoon.

Yesterday, Robin and Wendy Gossage espied a Reeve's Pheasant on the roadside at Holdenby village. We are not sure if this is an escapee or a deliberate local release.

Regards

Neil M

Tree Sparrow at
Pitsford Reservoir
Courtesy of Lynne Barnett

Displaying Great
Crested Grebes
Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Coot running on water!
Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Ringing before the rain...

Hello

John Finlayson was at Summer Leys Nature Reserve at Earls Barton GP this morning and saw a couple of striking-looking Cormorants in nuptial plumage. He obtained an excellent photo of one (please see below)...

John Woollett and ringing team were at Stortons Gravel Pits today and managed a meaningful session before the wind curtailed mist-netting activities. Seventeen Reed Buntings caught included eleven new birds and a re-trap bird first ringed in 2010. Two Smew were also noted on-site.

At Kelmarsh Hall today an ongoing ringing project on the estate provided 110 captures, half of which were new birds. Eleven species were caught which included Great Spotted Woodpecker (4), a Nuthatch, Goldfinch (17), Chaffinch (4) and plenty of common tits. Other birds noted at this location included singles of Raven and Siskin.

Regards

Neil M

Cormorant
Courtesy of John Finlayson

Birds of the breeze and winter sun

Hello

A breezy, cool but often sunny day in the NN6 district of Northants today, and just the odd winter shower thrown in for good measure!

A Raven was cruising about over Kelmarsh village at lunch-time and a flock of about 65 Golden Plovers were flying around over wet fields adjacent to Scotland Wood this afternoon. A male Peregrine caused a little consternation among the local corvids and pigeons as it cruised over the garden here at Hanging Houghton this afternoon and the Common Buzzards have been riding the air currents and calling loudly.

The bright sunny conditions seemed to initiate some overhead movement with flocks of Starlings, winter thrushes and Goldfinches passing in good numbers and the garden here continues to attract at least three Lesser Redpolls plus the usual fare.

Regards

Neil M

Ruddy Duck no longer...

Hello

On Wednesday the DEFRA-paid personnel returned to Pitsford Reservoir and apparently eradicated the very last male Ruddy Duck on-site. A sad end to an era which might mean we don't see this charismatic species locally in the wild again.

Today at Pitsford Res the three White-fronted Geese were just north of the causeway in waterside vegetation towards the Old Scaldwell Road and a flock of about 65 Golden Plovers were present on the top fields at Harrington Airfield.

Our garden continues to attract interesting birds and today a couple of Lesser Redpoll were on the feeders which also attracted two Nuthatches and a Marsh Tit whilst food sprinkled on the ground brought in a couple of Reed Buntings and a Yellowhammer. This is the critical time to provide food for our seed-dependent species and when gardens come in to their own.

At Blueberry Farm this afternoon Eleanor notched up two Woodcock, two pairs of Stonechat and a Barn Owl.

Regards

Neil M

Long-tailed Tit from
the ringing session at
Scotland Wood on
Wednesday.
Courtesy of Helen Franklin

Fineshade Wood post victory

Hello

It’s been brilliant to hear from so many of you this morning - as you can imagine there’s been quite a buzz!

I promised more details of yesterday’s meeting but I really can’t do better than direct you to Mark Avery’s account  which is here:  http://markavery.info/2015/02/19/perfectly-fineshade-8/#comment

We know this battle has been won because we’ve been able to all pull together, both those of us who live here and the many, many folks who visit Fineshade and value it for what it is.  We all deserve a bit of a celebration!

But what’s next? Will Forest Holidays appeal? Will they come back with another application in a different part of the wood? There are two bits of information that make us wonder today...

1) A black executive car accompanied by a Forestry Commission vehicle was deep in the wood this morning.

2) Forest Holidays have appealed against Eric Pickles' decision refusing their development in Delamere Forest in Cheshire. They don’t like losing.

So there may be more battles to fight ahead of us and, while enjoying this moment, we need to think ahead.

Here’s some things we're thinking we might do on both those counts. What do you think of these ideas?

•  The next fine weekend we could have a guided walk round the wood. Who knows we may be able to find some souvenirs to take home!

•  Have a get together/party of some kind at Top Lodge - for supporters and as many of the local FC folks as would like to come.

•  Form a group (Friends of Fineshade Wood?) using this email list as a basis . If the worst happens, we can be a bit better prepared next time.

Do please let us know what you think of these ideas - but once again….. 

                    …… thank you!

Barrie and Trish Galpin