All day birding

Hello

Yesterday (Saturday) saw Kenny Cramer and team commit to a ringing session at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes which provided a big catch of 74 new birds and 17 re-traps. This included the first Cetti's Warbler to be caught at this site plus 4 Reed Warblers, 8 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 4 Treecreepers, 5 Goldcrests, a Marsh Tit and a Kingfisher.

This morning (Sunday) saw some ringing take place in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir under the leadership of Dave Francis. Fifty-three birds were caught, the highlights being 12 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, a Chiffchaff, 5 Goldcrests, 2 Treecreepers, a Willow Tit, 2 Stock Doves, 2 Kingfishers and a Tree Pipit.

All day diurnal passage of passerines has been extremely heavy with large numbers of hirundines on the move plus wagtails, Meadow Pipits and constant numbers of Siskins.

Other birds seen or heard north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this morning included a Great White Egret, 6 Little Egrets, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Curlew, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Nuthatch and a Whinchat. An Otter was watched swimming in from the Walgrave Bay and in to the Scaldwell Bay, displacing waterfowl as it swam through the shallows and disappeared in to the Scaldwell feeder stream with prey.

Six Redstarts remained in hedging and feeding off fence posts and barbed wire between Walgrave village and Pitsford Reservoir, these birds being visible from a public footpath which is accessible from Bridle Road, Old. Other birds here today included at least one Whinchat, a Wheatear, two Spotted Flycatchers and 10+ Siskins.

Harrington Airfield provided some birds today with a Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Turtle Dove at the shooting wall off the concrete track, a Green Sandpiper on the muddy pool at the start of the concrete track, a Raven and two Whinchat on the old airstrip scrub.

Birds visible from the garden today at Hanging Houghton included 2+ Ravens, 15+ Siskins, a Brambling and 2+ Crossbills.

Blueberry Farm near Maidwell was again good for interesting migrants which included 3 Redstarts, 11 Whinchats, a Wheatear, a Tree Pipit, a Hobby and a Peregrine. A single flock of eleven Red Kites is easily the largest group recorded locally, these birds and up to twenty Common Buzzards seemingly taking advantage of some late harvesting and soil turning activity in the fields surrounding the long-term setaside complex.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher
Pitsford Reservoir

Adult Common Buzzard

Juvenile Common Buzzard

Redstart
Walgrave

Still plenty of Redstarts!

Hello

This morning a Hobby was chasing Linnets across fields at Hanging Houghton and a revisit to the hedge-line between Walgrave village and Pitsford Reservoir was again profitable with at least seven Redstarts still present, including at least three males. A number of thrushes in the same hedge included a juvenile Ring Ouzel.

A visit to the dam area at Pitsford Reservoir this morning was busy with sailing craft but it didn't put off the pair of Ruddy Shelduck, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Greenshank.

Blueberry Farm was busy with birds today including plenty of Siskins and Swallows moving in the cool northerly breeze. Other migrants included three Redstarts, ten Whinchats and six Crossbills flew over. A Short-eared Owl was flying around the most northern field (Redgrass) and other birds included two Ravens and two Hobby.

Regards

Neil M

Redstarts near Walgrave
courtesy of Eleanor

The Puddle!

Hello

When one bird starts bathing in a puddle the others just cannot resist! I'm not sure which bird started the process off but here is a series of images from Robin depicting the activity around a compelling collection of rain water...

As ever my thanks to the photographic skills of Robin Gossage...

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Blackbird, sporting
what appears to be a tick close
to the eye

Juvenile Blue Tit

Female Bullfinch

It's a soggy Great Tit

Blue Tit also becoming soggy!

Blackcap bath-time!

Male Chaffinch - thinking about it!

Juvenile Blue Tit

Here come the finches?

Hello

Yesterday (Thursday) and Eleanor saw four Redstarts still in the hedging between Walgrave village and Pitsford Reservoir. No sign of the Pied Fly or Spotted Flys though...

At Blueberry Farm there were four Whinchats and a Redstart in the northern-most field of the complex plus four Ravens over.

Today (Friday) and Eleanor's dog-walking duties provided an opportunity to see some local birds. However Harrington Airfield was again very quiet but Blueberry Farm provided birds at it's southern edge amounting to four Whinchats, a Redstart and six Ravens.

Siskins continue to filter through in small numbers but this afternoon a flock of fifteen flew south over Hanging Houghton as did a single vocal Brambling. It seems that the finches are moving very early this autumn, born out with a significant movement of Chaffinches last week-end. A cool air-stream from the north may be a significant influence, but with Siskins and Crossbills moving since June, is there a problem with food-stocks in Northern Europe?

Regards

Neil M

Redstarts galore!

Hello

Another day of Redstarts today, this species is becoming increasingly more common on passage each year...

An amazing flock of passage migrants in ancient hedging made up of Elder and Hawthorn between Pitsford Reservoir and Walgrave village today provided at least 10 Redstarts including six males, a Pied Flycatcher, 6+ Spotted Flycatchers and numerous Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Willow Warblers. A juvenile Marsh Harrier was quartering over the Pitsford Res Walgrave Bay (all EKMcM).

Blueberry Farm near Maidwell still held 2-3 Redstarts, 2+ Whinchats and a Wheatear today.

In contrast, Harrington Airfield seemed quiet with just a Hobby noted...

Regards

Neil M

Redstarts

Limited birding today

Common Sandpiper

Hello

A quick visit to the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this evening was sufficient to see singles of Common Sandpiper and Spotted Flycatcher and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. A Hobby was hunting Swallows at Harrington Airfield just before dusk.

Birds at the south end of Blueberry Farm today again included a Redstart, 2 Whinchats and a Wheatear...

Regards

Neil M

Spotted Flycatcher
Courtesy of Robin Gossage

Yellow-legged Gull

Another rainy day!

Leaden Spider Wasp
pompilus cinereus
Courtesy of Pete Gilbert

Trichrysis cyanea
Courtesy of Pete Gilbert

Brood of nestling Swallows courtesy
of Chris Payne. Many Swallows have already
left the country and on their way to Africa - others
haven't even fledged yet!

Hello

After the rain today birds came out to feed and Eleanor located 2-3 Redstarts at Blueberry Farm this afternoon at the southern end of the complex, plus 6 Whinchats and a Wheatear.

At Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon three juvenile Shelduck were north of the causeway and the sky was full of hirundines, particularly House Martins. At the dam-end of the reservoir birds included the pair of Ruddy Shelduck, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, two Hobbies successfully intercepting hirundines over the water, a male Peregine and 2-3 Dunlin.

Regards

Neil M

Sparrowhawk
Courtesy of Pete Gilbert

Bird Club Indoor Meeting

Hello

This Wednesday evening (2nd September) sees the start of the next period of Northants Bird Club indoor meetings. As usual our venue will be the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir which is found off the Brixworth road just outside the village of Holcot (NN6 9SJ), and we commence proceedings at 7.30pm.

Our speaker for the evening will be Dr Mark Avery who will continue with his theme from the January meeting associated with conflict in the uplands of Britain associated with grouse shooting and linked economical and environmental interests. Mark has recently released two more books and it is likely that these will be on sale during the evening, one book entitled 'Inglorious' which is associated with his presentation.

As usual hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the evening, car-parking is free around the lodge with an overflow facility to park down by the fishing boats or on the road causeway. Members and non-members are welcome and we hope to see as many people as possible at our first meeting of the new period!

Regards

Neil M

Red Grouse
Courtesy of  Dave Jackson.

Migrants in the rain!

Hello

At Harrington Airfield this morning birds included a Tree Pipit, a Grey Wagtail, a Redstart, 2+ Ravens, several Siskins and a pair of Grey Partridge.

The Blueberry Farm area continued to retain migrants in the shape of a Marsh Harrier, a Grasshopper Warbler, 1-2 Redstart(s), 2 Whinchats and a Wheatear. This evening a Redstart was in hedging at Lamport Hall at a spot which has proved a traditional stop-over area for a number of years.

Some ringing at Brixworth Sewer Works today provided some 43 captures which included seven Pied Wagtails, ten Swallows, ten Blackcaps, a Whitethroat, six Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers and a Magpie. At least six Grey Wagtails were also present.

Regards

Neil M

Intense Migration!

Hello

The county ringers from the Northants Ringing Group were busy today and were split in to teams for operations at Stortons Gravel Pits, Pitsford Reservoir and Harrington Airfield.

John Woollett presided at Stortons where the team were responsible for catching 140 birds, over a hundred of which were warblers. A staggering fifty-seven of the total were Blackcaps and other warblers consisted of six Garden Warblers, twenty Reed Warblers, six Whitethroats, three Cetti's Warblers, three Willow Warblers and seven Chiffchaffs. Other birds included a re-trap Kingfisher from last year and two Sparrowhawks enlivened the day!

Ringing in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford was managed by Dave Francis and seventy-nine birds were caught of 23 species. A Kingfisher was a control from elsewhere and the pick of the rest included 10 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 4 Tree Sparrows, a Yellowhammer, a Willow Tit, a Marsh Tit, a Green Woodpecker, 3 Mallard, 3 Pied Wagtails and 4 Treecreepers.

Harrington Airfield provided 57 captures and where a flock of Chaffinches arrived from somewhere resulting in 15 being caught and ringed. Other finches included 7 Linnets and a Goldfinch but warblers were restricted to 5 Whitethroats, a Blackcap and a Willow Warbler. Seven Yellowhammers and four Reed Buntings also hit the nets and a new Green Woodpecker was the seventh to be ringed at this site during 2015. The ringing highlights for most of the ringers however was a single Tree Pipit and two Redstarts. Other birds noted at Harrington included a Hobby, a juvenile Whinchat, an additional fly-over Tree Pipit, a couple of Siskins and following the harvesting of the wheat crop the local raptors congregated and included several each of Red Kite, Common Buzzard and Kestrel gleaning what they could from the fields.

Migrants were moving through the garden at Hanging Houghton this morning, mostly Blackcaps and Willow Warblers, and overhead a couple of Siskins, four Crossbills and two Ravens flew over.

The same theme continued with Blueberry Farm providing views of five Ravens, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Redstart and several Siskins and a single Wheatear. This evening a small pocket of migrants in field hedging between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell included two Redstarts and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Regards

Neil M

Sparrowhawks at Stortons GP
Courtesy of Chris Payne

Tree Pipit

Redstarts at
Harrington Airfield.

Migrants galore!

Hello

A visit to Harrington Airfield this morning to prepare for the week-end ringing proved timely when a Wryneck jumped up in to a bush not far from the chippings compound. The bird seemed intent on spending time looking for ants on the trodden path but was soon displaced as further birders arrived trying to see it. Two vocal Redstarts were quite elusive again just south of the first bunker.

Ringing operations at the weekend causes the old airstrip and bunkers (all private land) to be out of bounds but the concrete track and linked footpaths are unaffected. My apologies if this affects your plans for Saturday and Sunday.

Other migrants located today included three Redstarts in field hedging between Walgrave village and Pitsford Reservoir, a Wheatear in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and two juvenile Marsh Harriers at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell (at 3.30pm).

Regards

Neil M

Wryneck at Harrington Airfield
Courtesy of Bob Bullock

'Tis the time for chats and Redstarts!

Hello

This morning a quick check of the dam area at Pitsford Reservoir provided views of the two Ruddy Shelduck, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Swift.

This afternoon the Brampton Valley directly below the village of Hanging Houghton hosted a Redstart, a Wheatear and two Whinchats. At Harrington Airfield this evening there were two Redstarts in bushes just south of the first bunker.

Ringing sessions are planned for Stortons Gravel Pits, Pitsford Reservoir (Scaldwell Bay) and Harrington Airfield this coming Saturday should anyone like to come along and observe. All these operations are weather dependent and just like bird-watching there is no guarantee of catching birds or of any particular species! In respect of the Harrington site, observers can only be catered for if pre-arranged as this is on private land and with restricted access.

Regards

Neil M

It's migrant time!

Hello

The changeable weather conditions today definitely had an effect on migrants endeavouring to fly over our fair county or stopping for a breather and refreshments before going on again.

Pitsford was again the place to be with a Great White Egret and plenty of common waders on show in the morning, which were then eclipsed when David Arden and Jacob Spinks espied a migrant Pied Flycatcher next to the Bird Club hide in the Scaldwell Bay.

This evening the birds on offer there included seven Red-crested Pochard, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, three Ruff, a Snipe, eight Common Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers, a Wood Sandpiper, four Dunlin, two Hobbies, two Ravens and two Swifts

A certain hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton but close to the southern perimeter of Blueberry Farm can be a real migrant trap and so it proved again this afternoon with a large number of common warblers present plus at least two Redstarts, six Whinchats and two Wheatears in the drizzly rain.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Cathy Ryden

Siskin courtesy of  David Arden.

This bird was feeding on natural food from a
garden Silver Birch, but already
migrant summer Siskins arriving from
this June have been seen on garden
feeders. This year their summer
movements have been mirroring
that of Common Crossbill.

Pitsford birds

Hello

Eleanor spent a short time at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and noted an Osprey fishing south of the causeway at about 10.30am. Other birds included 2 Ruff and 4 Common Sandpipers. I spent some time by the dam in fairly inclement conditions this evening but the only birds of note I saw was a single Swift and 2 Black Terns.

Regards

Neil M