A slower day today!

Hello

A period of bird ringing at Harrington Airfield this morning provided a modest catch of just 31 birds. Not many migrants were present and the numbers were made up of a good total of 12 Linnets, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Chaffinches, a Reed Bunting, a Yellowhammer, a Wren, a Dunnock, a Green Woodpecker and 4 Willow Warblers. Other birds noted on-site included a Hobby or two successfully hunting Swallows, Turtle Dove and Grey Partridge. We hope for some better ringing returns tomorrow when the ringing site will again be closed to the public.

Jacob Spinks spent some time at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and north of the causeway he notched up the two Ruddy Shelduck, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpipers and a Ruff. He also located a migrant Redstart close to the village of Scaldwell.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Whitethroat
Harrington Airfield

Migration underway!

Hello

An experimental ringing session at Brixworth Sewer Treatment Works took place today, often in drizzly but mostly still and even humid conditions. Some eighty-five birds were caught involving very few re-traps. Highlights included 20 Pied Wagtails, 5 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Grey Wagtails, 12 Starlings, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 5 Swallows and singles of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler. However without doubt the most exciting bird to enter a mist net was a fine adult Hobby! Please see images below.

On both Saturday and Sunday this week-end there will be some further bird ringing at Harrington Airfield and access is restricted. The concrete track and footpaths remain unaffected, but the scrubbed-up airstrip and bunker areas will not be available for general access. My apologies if this affects your plans this week-end.

Eleanor visited Harrington Airfield this morning and witnessed three 'trilling' Whimbrel flying over south at 9.10am and saw singles of Grey Wagtail, Wheatear and Redstart. Whitethroats and Willow Warblers were present in good numbers and other migrants included 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Whinchats and 2+ Crossbills flying over.

A Barn Owl was present at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Hobby

Courtesy of Neil Hasdell

Pitsford weather watch

Hello

This evening I spent an hour or so scanning from the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir as the weather deteriorated. At about 6.20pm a flock of 13 Black Terns accompanied by 2 juvenile Arctic Terns arrived north of the causeway and then disappeared southwards. Some ten minutes later, 12 Black Terns reappeared and spent time flying around the reserve.

At about 7pm an Osprey arrived from the south and was still present north of the causeway at 7.30pm on a look-out for a fish...

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford waders

Hello

Eleanor came across another juvenile Marsh Harrier this morning in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. It flew towards Blueberry Farm at 8.15am...

In the meantime a small collection of waders were located near the dam at Pitsford Reservoir consisting of a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, eight Dunlin and eight Ringed Plovers. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was present too...

Regards

Neil M

Dunlin and Ringed Plover
Pitsford Reservoir

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