'Tis the nesting season

Hello

Plenty of migrants about today, even if the morning started off cool and dull.

The owl boxes were checked at Pitsford Reservoir today, and of the three pairs of Tawny Owls initially utilising the nest-boxes only one pair remain with three eggs ready to hatch. Dave Francis and Lynne Barnett checked the boxes today and found Grey Squirrels again in most of them. The squirrels had ousted two of the female Tawnies and their abandoned eggs remained in the nest-boxes. It seems that the Grey Squirrels are seriously affecting the potential breeding success of our most common owl. However a pair of Stock Doves have managed to hatch and rear two youngsters almost to the fledgling stage in one of the nest-boxes already.

Eleanor visited Harrington Airfield first this morning and espied a male Ring Ouzel at the shooting wall just off the concrete track. Two Wheatears were also present plus 20 Golden Plovers and a pair of Grey Partridge. A female Merlin was hunting across the top fields and summer migrants included Yellow Wagtails and Willow Warblers.

An Osprey was noted flying towards Pitsford Reservoir from Brixworth at about 2pm and Blueberry Farm again hosted two hunting Barn Owls this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Tawny Owl clutch
Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Lynne Barnett

Open-fronted nest-box
in ivy as suitable for birds
such as the Robin...

...and a clutch of Robin eggs
to prove it!
Pictures courtesy of Chris Payne

Hercules transport aircraft
over Blueberry Farm, Maidwell
Courtesy of Eleanor McMahon

Peregrine

Hello

Little to report today apart from Eleanor seeing an adult male Peregrine this morning in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, the bird disappearing off towards Blueberry Farm...

Our small garden here at Hanging Houghton continues to attract small numbers of Reed Buntings and a couple of Tree Sparrows but the Marsh Tit and Nuthatches have been absent for a couple of weeks now and the continental Chaffinches also seem to have moved on. However there are still a few new Goldfinches popping in to fuel up before continuing their journeys north.

Regards

Neil M

Blustery Sunday

Hello

The first Common Bird Census for the season at Pitsford Reservoir took place today. It was initially just three degrees centigrade when we commenced at 6.15am but it soon warmed up in the spring sunshine before becoming very blustery. Plenty of singing Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were on-site and scarcer migrants included an Arctic Tern and a Yellow Wagtail first thing and a White Wagtail later on the causeway. At least one pair of Oystercatcher remain.  Mammals were very much in evidence with nine Muntjac counted on the way around the reserve plus a couple each of Red Fox and Brown Hare and a small number of common butterflies in more sheltered areas.

Also early on this morning, four Yellow Wagtails and a Cuckoo were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, but without doubt the most unexpected bird of the day was a female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Blueberry Farm in small hedgerow trees between the two farmhouses, the first record locally for many years. A hunting Barn Owl there was far more predictable!

A ringing session at Stortons Gravel Pits this morning included a catch of an early Sedge Warbler, a re-trap from a couple of years ago.

Regards

Neil M

Brown Hare
Pitsford Reservoir

Red Kite
Pitsford Reservoir

White Wagtail
Pitsford Reservoir

Sedge Warbler
Stortons Gravel Pits
Courtesy of Chris Payne

Cool wind migrants

Hello

A wander around Harrington Airfield in the rain this morning did little for the soul or the day bird list!

A visit to the water treatment works near Brixworth during the afternoon provided my first two House Martins of the year. They were with a dozen Swallows, the old-style filter beds attracting insects for these aerial hunters even in the cool wind.

Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps are now pretty widespread in the centre of the county although there are clearly many more individuals yet to arrive.

An evening visit to Summer Leys Nature Reserve in bright but cool conditions provided views of a single Little Ringed Plover, a Ruff, 2-3 Oystercatchers, a pair of Shelduck and other fairly standard fare. The feed station there is currently providing excellent views of common birds including Bullfinch, Reed Bunting and today a Marsh Tit too...

Regards

Neil M

The spring migrants are arriving!

Hello

A few more Willow Warblers had arrived this morning with individuals singing on the Kelmarsh Estate in a couple of places. Also this morning a male Redstart was showing at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, along a fence-line between the two farm-houses.

This afternoon and a Yellow Wagtail flew south over Hanging Houghton and birds at Harrington Airfield during the late afternoon include a Wheatear and two Grey Partridges...

Regards

Neil M

Spring warming up

Hello

Not much to report today but Eleanor noted a single Wheatear and a pair of Grey Partridge at Harrington Airfield this morning and two singing Willow Warblers were along the Brampton Valley Way between Brixworth and Hanging Houghton.

Two Barn Owls were hunting at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford Ringing

Hello

A morning ringing session in sunny conditions in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir provided a catch of 81 birds. Of these 48 were re-traps and 33 were new birds which were subsequently ringed.

For many the highlight was a re-trapped Tawny Owl which flew in to a mist net. This bird was initially ringed as an adult in the Walgrave Bay on 5th June 2010. A re-trap male Blackcap was also interesting inasmuch that it was first ringed as an adult in the Scaldwell Bay on 6th May 2011 and then subsequently re-trapped that year and again in 2012. This migrant will be at least five years old this year.

The remainder of the catch included a Chiffchaff, a Marsh Tit, two Treecreepers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 25 Blue Tits, 29 Great Tits including a controlled bird from elsewhere, and 15 Chaffinches (13 new).

Other birds noted on-site included a male Brambling, a redpoll sp, a constant but light passage of Swallows and Meadow Pipits and a plethora of Common Buzzards wheeling about in the spring thermals.

David Sharp noted a Willow Warbler at Orlingbury this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Easter in pictures

Hello

A ringing session was held at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, centred on the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station. Three ringers processed 80 birds, made up of 51 new birds and 29 re-traps. The total included 14 Tree Sparrows, 10 Reed Buntings, 40 Yellowhammers, 4 Chaffinches, a Goldfinch, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker and a Moorhen.

Eleanor saw plenty of Swallows about today after the early morning fog and heavy dew had subsided, with birds mostly on the move but also with some on-site in local villages. Two or three Barn Owls were again at Blueberry Farm this evening and Paddy Jackson (local Barn Owl guru) has already come back to us on details of the colour-ringed Barn Owl noted there yesterday (see images on yesterday's blog). The photographed individual was the youngest of a brood of five ringed in the nest at Blueberry Farm on 16th June last year, and is believed to be a female.

Plenty of local naturalists were clicking away with their cameras over the Easter week-end and have generously forwarded their efforts for our perusal (please see below)...

Regards

Neil M

Robin in song at Pitsford Res

Courtesy of Simon Hales

Male Yellowhammer at
Harrington Airfield

Courtesy of Simon Hales

Cetti's Warbler at Thrapston Gravel Pits

Courtesy of John Finlayson

Second summer Mediterranean Gull
at Summer Leys Nature Reserve

Courtesy of Dave Jackson

Spring sunshine!

Barn Owl

Hello

With increasingly better weather as the Easter long week-end progressed, it at last felt like a proper spring day today with plenty of sunshine and insects on the wing. Migrants aside, it is clearly spring as yesterday I was listening to the young Rooks, Grey Heron nestlings and baby Cormorants all clamouring for food from within their respective colonies at Pitsford Reservoir.

A Blackcap was in full song at Hanging Houghton this morning and Kelmarsh village hosted a pair of Raven and three Swallows.

This afternoon a wander around Blueberry Farm, Maidwell provided views of a hunting Barn Owl (there were two in the morning) and a gathering of Common Buzzards. As reported before, it seems to be the migration of amphibians coming away from a large pond in the centre of the complex which attracts them at this time of the year. Today it was Common Toads on the move.

Other birds noted including several small flocks of Sand Martins and Swallows moving over, small numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing still, a few Tree Sparrows and a couple of Grey Partridge.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard

Common Toad

Quality migrants

Hello

Eleanor scouted out Harrington Airfield first thing this morning and came across a male Ring Ouzel in roadside hawthorns. Unfortunately the bird flew upwards and high and flew out of sight and wasn't seen again. It was tempting to think that it had roosted in the bushes overnight and was continuing on its way. Two Wheatears were around the bunkers plus a pair of Grey Partridge.

A Raven flew through at Hanging Houghton this morning and a vocal Curlew was flying around Pitsford Reservoir for quite some time late morning.

Blueberry Farm this afternoon again attracted Eleanor and three hunting Barn Owls but there was no sign of yesterday's Hen Harrier. However the best bird waited until just after 7pm when a Common Crane flew south from Blueberry Farm and over Gamboro' Plantation towards Cottesbrooke. 

Today Chris Payne conducted some ringing in his garden at Greens Norton, capturing a male Sparrowhawk and eight new Goldfinches and six Reed Buntings among others.

Regards

Neil M

Sparrowhawk

Courtesy of Chris Payne

Greenfinch

Male and female Bullfinch

Water Vole

Above five images courtesy
of  Robin Gossage

Barn Owls and more...

Hello

A ringing session took place down at Milton Keynes today at the Linford Lakes Nature Reserve which provided small numbers of captures but of a high variety. Perhaps the most interesting birds were singles of Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Bullfinch, Green Woodpecker and Kingfisher. Other birds on-site included five Swallows, a Cetti's Warbler, a Blackcap, three Oystercatchers, a couple of Little Egrets and first thing there were up to four Barn Owls hunting the rough pasture alongside the reserve. A small heronry in the trees there was very noisy!

Early afternoon found a break-away group visiting the Nene Barrage at Clifford Hill Gravel Pits to see the Avocet found earlier in the day. This bird was busy feeding when we arrived but sleeping soundly when we left! Birds at nearby Weston Mill included a Grey Wagtail, a Blackcap and a Cetti's Warbler.

On next to the Summer Leys reserve with the second summer Mediterranean Gull still showing well but little else that was new. Shelducks had increased to four and there was still two Oystercatchers, two Redshank, four Little Egrets and a Grey Wagtail.

Late this afternoon Eleanor admired a splendid adult male Hen Harrier hunting at Blueberry Farm, close to the farm buildings plus three Barn Owls and a pair of Grey Partridge. Another Barn Owl was near Scaldwell this afternoon with a further individual in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Sadly on my travels today I saw two dead Barn Owls lying at the side of our ever-busy roads.

Regards

Neil M

A Kingfisher, judged to be an adult
male, taking it easy after being ringed!
For some reason this species will simply
remain in position if unrestrained and
placed on it's back...

Image courtesy of Jacob Spinks

A first year Blue Tit with a
deformed bill, this bird frequenting
an Olney garden.

Image courtesy of Nick Wood

Meadow Pipit

Images courtesy of Chris Payne

Mediterranean Gull at Summer Leys

Images courtesy of Robin Gossage

Male Reed Bunting

Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Robin

Courtesy of Robin G!

Summer Leys

Hello

An early start this morning and I was at Summer Leys Nature Reserve at dawn. Twenty minutes later and an Otter showed as seen from the Pioneer Hide, fishing out on one of the pits. It disappeared after about five minutes but then showed twice more during the next hour. A Fox came wandering past the hide but unfortunately the awful light and drizzle means that the images are pretty dire (please see below).

The second summer Mediterranean Gull flew in at 6.35am and very much held territory on Rotary Island, calling, displaying and getting physical with nearby Black-headed Gulls. A thoroughly good-looking gull although I am biased because 'the Med' is definitely one of my favourite gulls, particularly as I was fortunate to find the first one ever in the county many moons ago.

Two White Wagtails were visible from the Screen Hide for a short time and a pair of Red-crested Pochard flew on to the reserve. A Swallow over Mary's Lake was my first of the year. Standard fare included three Oystercatchers, two Redshank, a pair of mobile Shelduck, plenty of Shoveler and Goldeneye and three singing Cetti's Warblers.

A subsequent visit to Pitsford Res suggested this site was quiet with just four Shelduck and a pair of Oystercatcher to show for my deliberations. A couple of hours ringing in the garden provided almost 40 captures, including a dozen new Goldfinches and singles of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer.

During a short reprieve in the rain this afternoon, Eleanor saw two hunting Barn Owls at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Red Fox

Very much a record
shot of an Otter!

Responsible for much of the
noise during a dawn chorus-
the Song Thrush

Second summer
Mediterranean Gull

Migrants please!

Hello

Little in the way of significant change in the centre of the county these last few days but as always there are subtle movements all the time. Fieldfares, Starlings and Golden Plovers are quietly gathering and moving about in small flocks, some slipping away to the north and others lingering to feed up before doing likewise.

In the garden, new Goldfinches have been arriving, feeding up and departing as they also fly to summer in the north of England and Scotland and I'm still catching new first year Blue Tits in the garden suggesting that they also are wandering around trying to find breeding opportunities which includes a mate for the first time and suitable habitat. 

Small numbers of Linnets, Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and similar fare are also slipping over almost unnoticed, maybe a flight contact call or watching the disappearance of small undulating flock to the distant horizon being the only indication.

The weather conditions for tomorrow, rain and dull conditions combined with a south easterly air-stream, should technically produce a pulse of fresh birds but much of it depends on the conditions much further to the south of us. Anyway I shall be out there in the rain trying to find some migrants!

The below images have been kindly forwarded by Clive Bowley...

Regards

Neil M

Goldfinch
Summer Leys LNR

Mallard
Sywell Country Park

Kingfisher
Abington Park

All images courtesy
of Clive Bowley

Robin's Red Squirrels!

Hello

No significant local birds to report today so I thought I would devote this blog to the Red Squirrel!

Robin Gossage recently visited the Highland area of Scotland on a short photographic trip with Dave Thomas, Bob Bullock and Dave Jackson, and the below images depict action shots of our only native squirrel...

Regards

Neil M

Red Squirrel

Courtesy of Robin Gossage.