Skokholm Delight!

Hello

Chris Payne and his wife Barbara were part of the Northants Ringing Group contingent to visit the Pembrokeshire island of Skokholm recently, and elected to stay on for several more days. Please find below some of the photographic highlights captured by Chris...

Regards

Neil M

Gannets at Grassholm

Grey Seal

Puffins

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Swallows just after fledging

Storm Petrel chick

Marsh Harriers!

Hello

This afternoon I spent a short time at Summer Leys Nature Reserve and witnessed a juvenile Marsh Harrier fly east through the reserve at 4.25pm, to the consternation of loafing gulls. Other birds included a Little Egret and six adult Yellow-legged Gulls.

Today at Pitsford Reservoir, Jacob Spinks saw the two Ruddy Shelduck north of the causeway plus two Green Sandpipers and an adult Yellow-legged Gull and birds by the Sailing Club this evening included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, at least three adult Yellow-legged Gulls, a Greenshank and a Dunlin.

Eleanor in the meantime saw another juvenile Marsh Harrier at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell heading towards Haselbech at about 7.15pm. Other birds present included a Barn Owl, a juvenile Cuckoo and two Whinchats.

Regards

Neil M

Green Sandpiper at Pitsford Reservoir.
A superb shot as taken by Jacob Spinks.

Harrington Airfield

Hello

Eleanor is just back in from a walk at Harrington Airfield this morning in breezy but sunny conditions. A pair of Grey Partridge with three young were a welcome sight as they are the first young game birds we have seen all season. Other birds of note included a juvenile Cuckoo, a singing Grasshopper Warbler and two Turtle Doves, the latter perched in the dead willows half way along the concrete track (a favoured resting area).

Regards

Neil M

Butterflies of Summer Leys

Hello

Neil Hasdell was at Summer Leys Local Nature Reserve today, and timed it right when a period of sunshine caused the butterflies to pose beautifully (please see below)...

Neil also noted a Peregrine and a possible Marsh Harrier flying westwards...

Regards

Neil M

All images courtesy

of Neil Hasdell

Pitsford update...

Hello

At about 2.30pm this afternoon a 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier was quartering fields between Walgrave village and Pitsford Reservoir.

Birds visible from the road causeway at Pitsford this afternoon included the pair of Ruddy Shelduck, the long-staying juvenile Shelduck, a Greenshank, a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, a Little Egret and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Regards

Neil M

Quality fishing at Pitsford!

Hello

Some ringing activity at Brixworth Sewer Treatment Works today provided some 32 birds which included 7 Pied Wagtails, 6 Grey Wagtails, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Magpies and 5 Chiffchaffs. Up to three Ravens were noted on the slope above the compound first thing.

At Pitsford Reservoir this evening, three different Ospreys were present and on view both sides of the causeway, two of them successfully catching a trout for supper! Other birds included a Raven, a Hobby, at least one adult Yellow-legged Gull and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull by the Sailing Club again.

Regards

Neil M

Ospreys
Pitsford Reservoir

Sunday ringing

Hello

A cool start to what turned out to be a warm and sunny and very enjoyable day. Ringers operating out of Stortons Gravel Pits under the leadership of John Woollett enjoyed a catch of warblers (nine Reed Warblers, six Sedge Warblers, six Blackcaps, five Whitethroats, a Willow Warbler) and resident birds, the highlight being an adult Grasshopper Warbler.

Dave Francis and Jacob Spinks were managing the Constant Effort Site nets at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, and although the catch was relatively small there was a good mixture of warblers and common birds. The highlight here was the capture and processing of a Yellow Wagtail, a species only caught in very low numbers locally. A Green Sandpiper and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were on the bund in front of the New James Fisher Hide

The Willow Warbler is a much scarcer breeding bird in Northants these days; it seems that the bulk of the population now breeds in Scotland, perhaps another example of global warming. Harrington Airfield has a small number of pairs breeding in the scrubbed up area, and these bushes also attract Willow Warblers moving through too. Five birds were caught there this morning (including a bird first ringed there in April 2015) together with a couple of Whitethroats, two Yellowhammers, a Linnet and two Green Woodpeckers in a small catch of birds. Other birds noted included a Golden Plover, a couple of Grey Partridge and a calling Raven.

Four Ravens were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and birds visible from the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir this evening included the pair of Ruddy Shelduck, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Greenshank, three Green Sandpipers and three Ringed Plovers.

Regards

Neil M

A series of images from Jacob Spinks
after his wildlife foray in Pembrokeshire.
Images depict a Kestrel, a Gannet and an
Emerald Damselfly

A county of Buzzards!

Hello

Beautiful weather today but not much time to commit to birding. Three or four Siskins were in trees near to the Brampton Heath Golf Club building at lunch-time today and a walk adjacent to Lamport Hall this afternoon provided views of at least three Spotted Flycatchers, possibly part of a family group. As in most areas of the county currently, begging juvenile Common Buzzards were trying out their flying skills and calling away. These loud and incessant calls will be with us for some weeks to come yet - deep joy!

A further bird ringing operation will commence at Harrington Airfield again tomorrow morning (Sunday) and access will be restricted to the old scrubbed up airstrip and bunker areas. The concrete track and footpaths all remain open and are unaffected. My apologies if this affects your plans for visiting Harrington.

Regards

Neil M

The top bird exhibits a very typical plumage trait of the
Common Buzzard in the UK. However, more than any other
British raptor, the Common Buzzard comes in a number
of hues and markings. The pale bird is a resident at Pitsford
Reservoir, generally to be found on the west side of the Walgrave Bay.

Dining etiquette!

Hello

Below are some sequential images taken recently by Robin Gossage of a Grey Heron taking advantage of a Pike caught out in shallow water. Seemingly the heron spent a long time picking up and stabbing the predatory fish before it was finally convinced it had been suitably subdued and ready for consumption...

Regards

Neil M

My thanks to Robin Gossage for these
and many other images on this Blog.

Harrington Ringing

Hello

Today's ringing session at Harrington Airfield yielded 53 captures in almost perfect ringing conditions, the birds being a variety of breeding and migrant birds. Warblers included 13 Whitethroats, a Blackcap, 10 Willow Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs. Still-breeding buntings included 10 Yellowhammers (most of them juveniles) and 5 Reed Buntings and other birds included a Goldfinch, 2 Linnets and a juvenile Green Woodpecker. Butterflies eventually took to the wing and included a small influx of Painted Ladies.

Birds visible at Pitsford Reservoir from the vicinity of the Sailing Club this evening included at least 8 Yellow-legged Gulls, a Little Egret, 2 Greenshanks, a Ringed Plover and 2 Common Sandpipers.

Regards

Neil M

Painted Lady butterfly

Local bird ringing

Hello

Starting from tomorrow, it is anticipated that this week-end will be a busy one for local ringers. Tomorrow there will be a session at Harrington Airfield which restricts general access along the scrubby runway and areas around the missile bunkers. Sunday is likely to see some planned ringing at Pitsford Reservoir (Scaldwell Bay), again at Harrington Airfield and also at Stortons Gravel Pits. Presiding ringers are happy to welcome observers/helpers to these sessions which often provides a unique opportunity to see wild birds up close and personal.

A Barn Owl was espied this evening in the Brampton Valley below Lamport...

Regards

Neil M

Three-lined Soldier
Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Four barred General
Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Broad Centurion
Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Images of Scottish
Black-throated Divers.
Courtesy of John Gamble

Wednesday update...

Hello

A busy day post-Skokholm and we didn't really manage to facilitate much in the way of birding opportunities. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was by the dam this afternoon at Pitsford Reservoir and the Holcot Bay hosted a Kingfisher, two Little Egrets, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Green Sandpiper this evening. Eleanor noted a Grasshopper Warbler and a Cuckoo at Blueberry Farm this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Wheatear caught and ringed
on Skokholm.
Courtesy of Chris Payne

Swallow.
Courtesy of Cathy Ryden

Pipistrelle Bat active
during daylight.
Courtesy of Jean Dunn

Blue Tit.
Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Back to local birding!

Hello

An evening visit to Brixworth Sewage Treatment works today provided views of 5-7 Grey Wagtails and scanning from the road causeway at Pitsford Reservoir was sufficient to see an Osprey and a Little Egret.

A Grasshopper Warbler was still singing on the south side of Blueberry Farm this morning and this site has yielded migrant Redstart, Whinchat and Wheatear during the last week. A Redstart was at Harrington Airfield on 1st Aug and another was between Walgrave village and Pitsford Res on 2nd Aug. Eleanor also noted a Peregrine at Staverton on Monday 3rd Aug plus c6 Crossbills.

Intriguingly a neighbour close to us here at Hanging Houghton reported a Wryneck feeding in their garden yesterday morning! There has been no sign since but it may still be in the village...

Regards

Neil M

Chalkhill Blue butterfly
Barnack Hills and Holes.
Courtesy of John Gamble

Poplar Hawk-moth.
Courtesy of John Gamble

Broad-bodied Chaser.
Courtesy of Cathy Ryden

Manxies and gulls...

Hello

A few more images from Skokholm below...

Chris and Barbara Payne, Kenny Cramer and Eirwen Edwards are the remaining ringers on the island from the NRG contingent and had a great catch of big gulls which was made up of 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 6 Herring Gulls. 

They have been steadily ringing more Manx Shearwaters at night as these birds crash-land amongst the vegetation on there way to nesting burrows. Over the water 'Manxies' are fast-moving birds which really know how to career quickly and low over the waves. When they fly over land at night, it is possible to hear the 'sewing machine' wing-beats (similar sound to Golden Plover). However on the ground they are ponderous and vulnerable, all the grace in the air lost as they shuffle around and struggle to take to the air again. 

It is at this time that they are caught by adult Great Black-backed Gulls which make short work of them, and effectively turn them inside out to consume all the available flesh. These and Rabbits seem to make up the staple diet of the twenty or so pairs of GBb Gulls on the island. All the corpses are counted and every morning there is fresh evidence of the nocturnal predatory habits of these huge gulls. During 2015 well over 2,000 adult 'Manxies' have been predated, a running total similar to last year's figures. This study will be analysed to establish if it is having a long term effect on the productivity of the local Manx Shearwater populations on both Skokholm and nearby Skomer.

Regards

Neil M

Ruff

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull

Adult Great Black-backed Gull
with the grisly remains of yet another
predated Manx Shearwater.
Interestingly this gull
appears to be depicting grey/dull green
 legs and feet, normally a feature of the other
big black-backed gull of the world, Kelp Gull!

Storm Petrel bonanza!

Hello

With some of the Northants Ringing Group having now left Skokholm, it remains for the remnant four individuals to enjoy 'The Island' until their anticipated return to the mainland on Thursday.

Our last nocturnal ringing escapade provided another catch of about 180 Storm Petrels plus about a dozen Manx Shearwaters. This was very much a team effort with several extracting petrels from the mist net using as little light as possible, placing each bird in to a soft cotton bag and then walking the short distance to the make-do ringing station.

Here the bird is checked over, and if it is already bearing a ring the details are recorded. Storm Petrels regularly have parts of their feet or legs missing or damaged, probably as a result of nibbling by fish when they are pattering over the water's surface. Unringed birds have a hard metal ring placed on an unaffected leg, the wing length is measured and the weight of the bird is ascertained. Because Storm Petrels regularly nest in walls, crevices and broken rocks, the metal is particularly hard to withstand wear against rock/stone. In Europe there are regular records of birds being caught in France, Norway plus regular sites on the coast in the UK and a significant cross-over of birds occurs.

They are a joy to handle as they are small and aren't capable of scratching or pecking, they have a pleasant aroma which everyone describes differently and they make a wonderful little squeaky call in the hand, something like the retro 'Sooty and Sweep' hand puppets for those old enough to remember!

After being processed they are given time to compose themselves and once again become accustomed to the dark. This normally takes less than a minute and they flutter of in to the night breeze like little feathery bats.

Other birds on the island included lingering waders in the shape of a couple of Ruff, a couple of Green Sandpipers, a Dunlin and three Whimbrel, all of which are attracted to the recently refurbished North Pond which is towards the centre of the island. Three Peregrines performed well in the strong breeze, hanging in the air and 'playing' with any other birds that dared come close enough!

Regards

Neil M

Skokholm adventure...

Hello

Saturday today but the days and nights are merging in to one as the ringing and birding activities continue on the Pembrokeshire island of Skokholm...

Due to a change in the forecast, the petrel ringing session planned for last night was put back a night and we went out looking for Manx Shearwaters, with a small number caught. Prior to that, some pleasant sunny conditions allowed us to enjoy insects whizzing around the island and fresh migrants included a Little Egret and a handful of common waders.

The ringing of passerines continued with small numbers of birds being processed and a Herring Gull was caught and ringed.

Today (Saturday), and the conditions are a touch greyer but with some warm sunny interludes. Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and Wheatear were all caught and ringed this morning and we await calmer conditions this afternoon to see what new migrants arrive...

Regards

Neil M

Emperor Dragonfly
laying eggs in a small
pond by The Wheelhouse,
Skokholm.
Courtesy of Jacob Spinks

Chough

Storm Petrels - no time for sleep!

Hello

Yesterday (Thursday) was a full day on the island of Skokholm with the 16 strong members of the Northants Ringing Group (including helpers and friends) committing to a number of different strategies for catching and ringing wild birds on the island. The weather helped as we woke to a sunny day and with a breeze which later dwindled.

The night before we had roamed the island and managed to catch a small number of Manx Shearwaters which were a new species for some. However the almost full-moon conditions meant it wasn't conducive to catch large numbers of 'Manxies' so we enjoyed a relatively easy night and were bedded down by 2.30am in the morning. After the luxury of two hours kip, some of us were up at 5am and managed to catch a couple of roosting Jackdaws before moving on to smaller fare.

During the day we deployed spring-traps, mist nets and Heligoland cages and caught small numbers of passerines which were a mixture of migrants and island breeders. Willow Warbler was the most common bird caught but the supporting cast included Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear and Reed Bunting.

A passage day for waders provided us with views of Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Ruff and Whimbrel and quality island regulars came in the form of Chough, Raven, Peregrine and common sea-birds.

In the afternoon nine of us elected to take a RIB cruise to the island of Grassholm, with its renown Gannet colony dominating the island. Grassholm is usually visible from Skokholm but is some six miles further west. Here we enjoyed the spectacle of thousands of Gannets milling around us. the cliffs supported small numbers of common seabirds including auks and Kittiwakes and we spotted a gaggle of waders which included three Purple Sandpipers.

Thursday evening/early Friday morning was relatively calm and tranquil, normally ideal conditions for mist-netting Storm Petrels, However the almost full moon made the two nets look more obvious than normal so the catch was probably reduced. Nevertheless we worked solidly from 11pm to 4am, catching some 180 'Stormies' and all members of the team were able to partake in extraction, ringing and releasing techniques. These gorgeous little ocean wanderers are a joy to handle and everyone felt privileged to play a small part in their world.

With the danger of significant sleep deprivation already upon us, we retired from the field at about 5.30am to 6am, with a view to starting the diurnal activities by 9am. And with a further petrel ringing session planned for tonight, we will be very tired by dawn tomorrow!

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Most birds on
the island are adults or juveniles, but there are
a few of other ages too

No not a rare bunting, just a
juvenile Reed Bunting in moult!

Skokholm is reputed to be home
to the largest Slow Worms in the
UK.

Nick Wood, Mark Spinks and Helen
Franklin enjoying the sunshine!

Gannet

Grey Seal