New arrivals and old friends...

Hello

A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall this morning provided 84 captures of 13 species made up of a Blackbird, 4 Robins, 5 Dunnocks, 2 Treecreepers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Nuthatch, 28 Blue Tits, 5 Coal Tits, 11 Great Tits, 9 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Greenfinches, 6 Chaffinches and 9 Goldfinches. One of the Blue Tits was a bird bearing a ring from elsewhere (classed as a 'control') and one of the Goldfinches was first ringed at the same site in December 2012, being aged as an adult then. This means that this small finch will be at least five years old this year.

Other birds noted at Kelmarsh Hall included a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, a Siskin and a Raven.

Eleanor noted the pair of Raven at Staverton again today and watched six Goosanders at Daventry Country Park.

Birds in our small garden at Hanging Houghton this afternoon included an influx of 12 Reed Buntings plus two male Bramblings and two Yellowhammers.

A peruse of the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon identified a big influx of Herring Gulls and in amongst them was a striking first year Glaucous Gull, which from the size was perhaps a female. A near-adult Caspian Gull was also present in the biting north-easterly breeze and a Green Sandpiper was again on the pools below the dam.

Regards

Neil M

Can you spot the two Ruff
in the Black-tailed Godwit flock?

Bewick's Swan

These images are the last from
the Slimbridge trip of last Sunday...

Yellow Buntings!

Hello

Another ringing session at Orton today provided forty captures, using a stubble field as our catching area. We caught another 24 stunning Yellowhammers, 9 Reed Buntings and a few common finches. The field was holding up to 120 Yellowhammers at a time but it seemed that birds were continually coming and going so it is likely that the true number utilising the field is much higher. A Barn Owl was present first thing and fly-overs included a Siskin...

Regards

Neil M

The vivid yellow of
a male Yellowhammer

Singing Robin.

Although Robins have been singing
for much of the winter, now is the time to see them
at their best. Not only are they maintaining territories
but pairs are becoming established and existing bonds
reinforced and of course the lack of leaves and other
foliage ensure we can see them in their full glory.

Common Buzzard.

The cool breeze and sunny conditions
of the past week has provided ideal conditions for local
Common Buzzards to confirm territories. Aerial disputes
often occur at high altitude but this bird was more intent on
finding something to eat I think!

Birds in the cold air

Hello

Bits and pieces from yesterday (Wednesday) that I forgot to mention included a pair of Grey Partridge and ca40 Golden Plovers at Harrington Airfield and an adult Caspian Gull in the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir (but not the regular bird). In addition John Woollett conducted some ringing in his garden at Astcote yesterday and the catch included 10 new Goldfinches, 4 Siskins and a Yellowhammer. With cooler temperatures, particularly at night, and reduced natural food available, fresh birds are seeking out our gardens.

Yesterday's ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir included the processing of a Blue Tit with an old ring. Dave Francis has checked back through the records and this individual was first ringed as a juvenile at Pitsford in June 2008. This makes this little blue sprite over seven and a half years old!

Chris Payne was ringing down at Bradden again today and was kind enough to report the capture of 66 birds which included four Goldcrests, three Robins, three Greenfinches and nine Goldfinches. He noted two Tree Sparrows nearby, the first he has seen in that area...

Cathy Ryden noted six Goosanders visible from the aptly-named Goosander Hide at Pitsford Reservoir today; Eleanor saw four Stonechats at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and a single Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A quick visit to the Brixworth Sewage Treatment Works today was sufficient to see two Chiffchaffs and three Grey Wagtails and a Raven was heard.

Regards

Neil M

Rook

Goldcrest

Common Cranes, Canada Goose
and Barnacle Geese at Slimbridge.

Goldcrest at Bradden today
Courtesy of Chris Payne

Pitsford ringing

Hello

Dave Francis presided over a very successful ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir, finishing at lunch-time today. Again the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station was the venue and Dave and Lynne Barnett processed 106 birds between them of 16 species. 

Sixty-nine of these were new birds and the bigger birds included two Mallard, a Coot and a Tufted Duck. Smaller captures included 45 Yellowhammers, 7 Reed Buntings, 6 Tree Sparrows, 3 Goldfinches, 8 Chaffinches, 3 Greenfinches, a Treecreeper, a Redwing and 2 Starlings. This brings the new Yellowhammer total for this year at this location to 148 birds, and with plenty of individuals from previous years still being attracted to the broadcast seed it is possible that we may be supporting between 200 - 300 birds of this threatened farmland bunting.

A far more modest ringing session at Orton this morning provided just 33 captures which included 27 Yellowhammers from a flock of at least a hundred birds present in untreated stubble fields and supplemented with artificial feeding.

Birds visible from the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir this evening included an adult Caspian Gull, one or two first year Mediterranean Gull(s), the regular Ruddy Shelduck and a Grey Wagtail.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Bufflehead

Drake Redhead

Female Lesser Scaup

Drake Ring-necked Duck

Female Canvasback

Images of  captive near-arctic ducks
from Slimbridge. This is possibly the
best time of year to check out our local
wildfowl for a vagrant from across 'The
Pond', so no harm in a reminder of
what they look like!

More images from Slimbridge...

Hello

Little opportunity for birding today, but I did manage to pop down to Pitsford Reservoir in the vicinity of the dam this evening. A Green Sandpiper was on the pools below the dam and the Ruddy Shelduck and a Grey Wagtail were in the vicinity of the Sailing Club.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kite

It's all gone!

Above two images courtesy
of Jim Dunkley

Drake Pochard

Drake Tufted Duck

Jackdaw

Coot

Moorhen

Captive 'redhead' Smew

Above images taken
at Slimbridge on Sunday.

Monday's birds

Hello

Plenty of birds in the garden again today which included two male Bramblings, a male Yellowhammer, a Tree Sparrow and a couple of Reed Buntings. There were also two Bramblings along the Brampton Valley Way near to Merry Tom Lane. Two Snipe were flushed at Harrington Airfield this morning and a Woodcock flushed up at Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate).

Neil Hasdell was at Summer Leys Local Nature Reserve again today and birds clocked up included the female Scaup again, a female Goosander, 3 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shelducks, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, just 3 Golden Plovers, 3 Little Egrets and 30+ Siskins.

Regards

Neil M

Linnet

Goldfinch

Long-tailed Tit

All images courtesy
of Cathy Ryden.

Northants Bird Club car trip

Hello

Six members of the Northants Bird Club ventured south to Gloucestershire today, our first venue being a roadside flood pond on the outskirts of Gloucester. Here we eventually enjoyed prolonged views of two Penduline Tits which appear to be wintering at this site. Tiny birds, they were often difficult to see as they fed amongst the reed mace.

Low cloud and very grey conditions over the Forest of Dean called for Plan B, so we spent the remainder of the day at the splendid Wildfowl and Wetlands reserve at Slimbridge. Here there is an opportunity of watching wild birds in suitable habitat, plenty of captive wildfowl and similar and a number of Common Cranes feeding in the fields as part of the reintroduction scheme. With a mix of small birds, some raptors and a good number of waders too, we always had something to admire...

A few images from the day today, hopefully some more to follow during the next few days...

Regards

Neil M

Leucistic Woodpigeon

Rook

Bewick's Swan

A few bits and pieces...

Hello

Eleanor was over at Staverton again today and saw the usual pair of Raven. A subsequent visit to Daventry Country Park provided views of 8 Pintail, 12 Goosanders, 15 Lesser Redpolls and 25+ Siskins. Two Otters were visible from the causeway at Ravensthorpe Res today (about 1.30pm) and a drake Smew was present too.

The Ruddy Shelduck was present near to the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, as was a Redshank. Three Teal were caught and ringed there today...

A Chiffchaff and three Grey Wagtails were at Brixworth STW this morning and the Firecrest was reported. A Siskin was in full song at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate and 1-2 Snipe were noted at Harrington Airfield.

Regards

Neil M

Robin
Courtesy of Jacob Spinks.

Long-tailed Tit
Summer Leys LNR

Stonechat
Summer Leys LNR

Teal at Pitsford Reservoir

Above images courtesy
of Neil Hasdell

Nene Valley Birding

Hello

A WeBS count at Ditchford Gravel Pits today was muddy and quiet for birds. The only birds of note were three Great White Egrets, two on the Viaduct Pit west of Ditchford Lane and another one on pits east of Ditchford Lane. Other birds included a Little Egret, an Oystercatcher, two drake Goosanders, three Cetti's Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Grey Wagtail and a couple of Siskins.

Neil Hasdell was again at Summer Leys Local Nature Reserve today, spotting the female Scaup again, a Great White Egret, three Oystercatchers, the female Stonechat and two Peregrines.

A Brambling remained here at Hanging Houghton, a Kingfisher was at Kelmarsh Hall and the Pitsford Reservoir gull roost provided views of an adult Mediterranean Gull.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret

Common Buzzard

Male Sparrowhawk

Some breeze and spring sunshine
following rain is always good for the
local raptor population to air their wings.

Sunny Thursday!

Hello

Chris Payne took advantage of the pleasant weather this morning and completed a fairly hectic ringing session down at Bradden in rustic South Northants. He processed 78 birds made up of 36 Blue Tits, 17 Great Tits, 4 Coal Tits, a Marsh Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 3 Nuthatches, 2 Robins, a Blackbird, a Dunnock, a Greenfinch, 5 Chaffinches and 4 Goldfinches. Other birds in the near vicinity included two Ravens sparring with the local Common Buzzards.

Neil Hasdell was over at Summer Leys Local Nature Reserve at Earls Barton and connected with a female Scaup near Gull Island, a drake Goosander, the wintering female Stonechat still, a Cetti's Warbler, two Shelduck, three Egyptian Geese, two Redshank and two Peregrines.

A male Brambling was in our garden at Hanging Houghton again today and Cathy Ryden enjoyed watching a male Siskin for it's second day in her garden at Guilsborough. At this time of the year garden feeders can expect to attract scarcer birds as natural food is virtually spent. Redpolls and Siskins should join the garden Goldfinches and Reed Buntings and the odd Yellowhammer can begin joining in with the more regular Chaffinches and sparrows (if you are lucky enough to have sparrows). Niger seed and sunflower hearts in suspended feeders attracts the smaller finches, Chaffinches like mixed seed broadcast on the ground, Reed Buntings take small seeds on the ground (with a particular liking for Red Millet) and Yellowhammers tend to like bigger seeds and grain also presented on the ground or in grain hoppers.

Jacob Spinks saw a drake Smew in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning (plus some Siskins) and later in the day he enjoyed an excursion over to Daventry Country Park where he spotted the drake Green-winged Teal that has been present for a little while, plus two Kingfishers, more Siskins and a small flotilla of Goosanders.

The lone Ruddy Shelduck was in the vicinity of the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir this evening, and just a single Little Egret was by the causeway.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Tit at Bradden

Courtesy of Chris Payne

Coot on sunlit water
Hollowel Reservoir

Coot versus Moorhen...

Pied Wagtail

Adult male Blackbird.
The all black glossy plumage,
broad tail feathers, bright orange bill and
eye-ring all help to age this as a
bird hatched sometime before 2015.

Adult male Chaffinch. This bird too
was hatched before 2015. The tertial
feathers are broad and rounded with a
thick chestnut band to the edges, the primary
and secondary tips show little or no
wear, the black of the primary coverts
are almost as dark as the greater coverts
and the tail feathers are well-rounded and
in good condition. Continental male
Chaffinches tend to be pinker on the
underside (like this one) whereas more local
birds tend to be a brick red/pink, but
there is much variation.

The above five images are all
courtesy of Cathy Ryden.

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

The early onset of rain today caused the monthly WeBS count at Pitsford Reservoir to be a little more challenging! However very few birds to count and very little of note to report...

The Ruddy Shelduck was by the Sailing Club and other birds south of the causeway included the wintering male Stonechat by 'The Holly Tree', a few Siskin and redpoll sp, a Kingfisher, a couple of Raven and a Green Sandpiper. Common Snipe were flushed up at a number of locations around the reservoir, numbering some forty birds.

Birds in the garden here at Hanging Houghton included four Reed Buntings and a male Siskin.

Regards

Neil M

Common Snipe

Pitsford ringing

Hello

Some further ringing took place at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, utilising two different sub-sites at the reservoir. 

A total of 126 birds of 17 species were caught in the near vicinity of two of the feed stations, giving an indication of some of the number of birds relying on the food we put out for them...

36 Yellowhammers
15 Greenfinches
12 Blue Tits
11 Goldfinches
10 Reed Buntings
9 Dunnocks
8 Chaffinches
8 Robins
5 Great Tits
4 Tree Sparrows
2 Goldcrests
and singles of Moorhen, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing, Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit.

Other birds noted at the reservoir included a Ruddy Shelduck, two drake Smew, a first year male Peregrine, a Raven, a Redshank, a Grey Wagtail, a Chiffchaff and a couple of Siskins.

Birds noted subsequently at Brixworth Sewer Treatment Works included two Chiffchaffs and two Grey Wagtails.

Regards

Neil M