Birds of mid Feb

Hello

I'm just back from a birding trip in Jamaica where of course it was warm and humid. The weather here today seemed pleasant but a little cooler than I'm used to!

Eric paid a visit to Blatherwycke Lake today and notched up three Black Swans, ten pairs of Mandarin Ducks, a flotilla of thirty Little Grebes as well as the usual Red Kites. Nearby at Deene Lake there are still over a hundred Teal, a pair of Black Swans and four pairs of Shelduck.

I saw a Raven at Harrington Airfield this afternoon (but nothing else of note) and Eleanor saw the Great Grey Shrike distantly between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke this morning plus a Barn Owl and a Corn Bunting. The regular Merlin chasing the small birds had been replaced by a Sparrowhawk today!

Both the wintering drake Ring-necked Ducks in the county were seen today, Alan Coles seeing the Pitsford Reservoir bird in the Pintail Bay and Mike Alibone finding the Nene Valley bird on Grendon Main Lake just off the clubhouse. Other bits and pieces seen today included eight Crossbills at Irchester Country Park (attracted to a puddle and larches between the main entrance and the playground), a Great White Egret at Summer Leys NR, two Oystercatchers already back at Stanwick Pits and a Peregrine over Balmoral Road, Kingsthorpe, Northampton.

Regards

Neil M

Oystercatcher.

Black Swans.

Crossbill.

The weather today, wet and windy, was not the best for birding, however the dogs didn't care and still wanted their walks.
The Great Grey Shrike was perched up on a hedge early this morning. Sadly it was quite distant and was located more over towards Blueberry.
As soon as the rain stopped I headed off to Harrington Airfield [ early pm] where a female Peregrine put on a fantastic acrobatic display as she hunted a small flock of Golden Plover. I don't think she caught anything.  Once I'd recovered from this I continued my walk on the rough area and around the bunkers and flushed a Short Eared Owl and 2 Woodcock.
Because of the weather I spent more time watching the birds in the garden and we still have a few Bramblings, Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers visiting.

Regards Eleanor

Bits and Bobs

The Great Grey Shrike is still present between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find. It seems to be exploring hedgerows further away from the weedy field and requires much patience and persistent scanning to locate it.
The weedy field remains attractive to large numbers of Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Linnets and Skylarks as well as smaller numbers of Tree Sparrows, Brambling and at least 2 Corn Bunting.  A Barn Owl and Merlin are daily visitors.
A small number of Brambling continue to feed with the Chaffinches in front of the old cattle shed.

Over at Titchmarsh a Whitefronted Goose, Pink Footed Goose, 5 Great White Egret and 5 Goosander were present a couple of days ago [Eric].

Whilst at Staverton agility training a pair of Raven were very vocal and very active collecting nesting material . A super female Peregrine Falcon came through the area at a very low height which caused a commotion.


As mentioned in my previous blog it was the members photographic competition at the Northants Birdclub.  A very good evening with excellent images of birds, other wildlife and habitat.  

The winning image was taken by new Bird Club member Matt Hazleton from the British Birds category.

Sanderling by Matt Hazleton.

The judge said, a unique and comical moment captured in great light and from a good viewpoint. The main individual is well placed between the out of focus background birds that they don't distract from the subject.

A very Well done to Matt.

Quiet Times

A visit to Titchmarsh Reserve by Eric and Nick a few hours apart produced 5 Great White Egret, Peregrine Falcon, 3 Goosander, 3 Pink Footed Geese, 19 Little Egret and a Whooper Swan.
Meanwhile I was walking/running the area between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke.  The Great Grey Shrike was hard work today and I only saw it briefly on two occasions . At least 2 Corn Buntings remain and the Merlin put in an appearance.
I couldn't locate any Brambling at the cattle shed and there wasn't any visiting our garden today, so not sure if they have moved on.

Tomorrow is a whole new day .....

A reminder that the Northamptonshire Bird Club meet tomorrow evening at 7.30pm at the Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir.  It is one of the highlights of the year , the " Photographic Competition". 
Please come along if you simply enjoy looking at bird, wildlife, insect and landscape images.  Everyone is welcome. Tea/coffee and biscuits provided.      See you there .

Regards Eleanor

This morning the Great Grey Shrike was perched on its usual hedge watching the world wake up around it.  As I stood and watched, the hedgerows and weedy field soon became alive with the sound and sight of Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Linnets, Skylarks, Tree Sparrows and several Corn Buntings. These birds were literally flying in from all directions which in turn proved to be a magnet for a super male Merlin who gave them all a fright. 
The regular Barn Owl also put in an appearance and this was all before breakfast !!
Early afternoon I visited the dam/ pintail bay area at Pitsford Reservoir. By this time the weather was stunning, blue skies and sunshine and warm enough to ditch the fleece and gloves. There was a surprisingly large amount of insect life about.   On the water there were 3 drake and 1 female Red Crested Pochard and a Great Northern Diver.
Late afternoon I returned to the valley where the Great Grey Shrike had moved further around the fields but at dusk it had returned to its favourite hedge.  The Barn Owl put in an appearance again and there was a noticable increase in the number of Skylarks present.

Regards Eleanor

Fabulous winter weather

Hello

Another stunning winter's day with cold temperatures but fabulous sunshine.

Efforts at catching and ringing thrushes down at Milton Keynes proved successful today, Kenny and his team caught 62 birds of which 48 were newly ringed, made up of 10 Redwings, an amazing 32 Blackbirds, 10 Fieldfares, 3 Robins, a Woodpigeon, a Magpie, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Great Tits and 2 Blue Tits. Interestingly two of the Redwings and ten of the Blackbirds were birds caught in previous weeks so they have clearly made Milton Keynes their winter home!

Thrapston Pits was the place to be again today with the Bittern showing well on the ice this morning and a drake Smew was found on Aldwincle Lake this afternoon. Three Great White Egrets were counted at Summer Leys reserve and here at home four Bramblings came to visit the garden. 

A Raven seen twice was all I saw of note at Harrington Airfield today and two or three Short-eared Owls and the first year 'ringtail' Hen Harrier showed at Neville's Lodge this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Short-eared Owl.

Blackbird.

Goldeneye.

Drake Smew.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

NBC Photographic Competition

Hello

On Wednesday 6th Feb the Northants Bird Club hosts it's members annual photographic competition. Members are invited to submit images of wildlife and scenery taken in the preceding twelve months for the perusal of all, and the images are collated into a variety of wildlife discipline categories with a bias towards birds.

Images taken both locally and across the world will be offered up and members will be asked to select their favourites. The overall winner is presented with the Graham Soden Shield.

The meeting commences at 7.30pm at the usual venue of the Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir and hot drinks and biscuits will be available all evening.

All welcome!

Neil M

Northern Wheatear
courtesy of Clive Bowley.

Mountain Hare
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Kestrel
courtesy of Dave Thomas.

Saturday's sightings

Hello

The Great Grey Shrike in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke proved particularly elusive today but showed to people who were very patient! The first year male Merlin also put in an appearance early on (the adult male seems to have moved on) as did a/the Barn Owl. A Great White Egret flew over there this afternoon heading west, and is the third egret species to be seen in this effectively dry area over the last few years!

At Pitsford Reservoir today the drake Ring-necked Duck was again reported from the Pintail Bay, Neil Hasdell saw the two Great Northern Divers and six Red-crested Pochard south of the causeway and the Redshank was north of the causeway where four Great White Egrets were reported.

At Thrapston Pits today the Bittern was seen again as were the three Pink-footed Geese and the adult White-fronted Goose materialised at dusk. Four Great White Egrets remain and seven Goosanders were present too.

Other birds reported today included a Great White Egret at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits, another at Thorpe Malsor Reservoir and six Mandarin Ducks were at Blatherwycke Lake. The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier showed up again at Neville's Lodge late this afternoon and Ravensthorpe Reservoir hosted a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper, good numbers of Gadwall, a Grey Wagtail and four Siskins. Two Ravens were at Staverton and two more presented at Borough Hill Country Park this afternoon. Small numbers of Bramblings persist in and around Hanging Houghton often visiting gardens.

Regards

Neil M

Yellowhammer.
Courtesy of John Tilly.

Fieldfare.
Courtesy of John Tilly.

Common Buzzard.
This bird was perched
on a road sign next to the
A508 pointing to the
Hanging Houghton turn!

Robin.
Scotland Wood,
Kelmarsh Estate.

Cold and windy but the snow has gone!

Hello

Plenty of wild bird feed stations to keep up to scratch today in this cold weather with an opportunity for a little birding too.

The Great Grey Shrike was again present in hedges between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke this morning but was much more elusive this afternoon. Three Corn Buntings and several Bramblings were attracted to the wild bird crop in the same area and two Woodcock were flushed up at nearby Blueberry Farm. This afternoon a first year male ('ringtail') Hen Harrier flew low but rapidly west near to the shrike site.

At Pitsford Reservoir this morning there were a pair of Red-crested Pochard and two Yellow-legged Gulls (second cy and fourth cy) visible from the Sailing Club and a Stoat showed itself briefly.

Thrapston Pits hosted interesting birds again today, the star bird being a Bittern visible on the north section of Aldwincle Lake, initially showing well from North Hide and latterly at more distance from Kirby Hide. Three Pink-footed Geese were present near to Elinor Lake, it seems that the identification of two Bean Goose from yesterday and this morning was erroneous. Other birds included four Great White Egrets, four Little Egrets, a Water Rail and five or six Goosanders.

A male Blackcap was present in a Moulton garden this morning, the same garden hosting a female yesterday, and our garden continues to attract small numbers of Bramblings.

Regards

Neil M

Wigeon.

Marsh Tit.

Winter sunset.

Tawny Owl.
Image courtesy
of Sarah Gibbs.

Cold weather birds

Hello

Following a very cold and still night, this morning was very icy, so much so that most of the water north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir was frozen. This clearly displaced the wintering waterfowl and six Great White Egrets were standing together on the ice. The drake Ring-necked Duck was reported later from the Pintail Bay again.

The Great Grey Shrike was again in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke, using a variety of hedges as look out for prey. Two or three Corn Buntings and lots of small birds included Tree Sparrows and Bramblings were busy in the wild bird crop and a covey of ten Grey Partridge also presented themselves.

A couple of Bramblings joined the other birds in our garden which included Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers.

A response to hard weather was presumably the reason why two Tundra Bean Geese, a Pink-footed Goose and a White-fronted Goose were discovered at Thrapston Pits today, fraternising with the Greylags near to Lake Elinor.

A pair of Red-crested Pochard were at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows on Dragonfly Lake and two Short-eared Owls were present at Neville's Lodge, Finedon late this afternoon into dusk. A Common Buzzard was seen feeding on a Golden Plover at Sywell Airfield - and there were also about ten live Golden Plovers there too...

Regards

Neil M

Drake American Wigeon.

Jack Snipe.
All above images taken
 recently at Rutland Water
 courtesy of John Gamble.

A rather different image
 of a male Sparrowhawk
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

East Carlton images

Hello

A small team braved the cold this morning and carried out some ringing at Stortons Pits catching an excellent total of 94 birds. These were made up of 31 Blue Tits, 24 Great Tits, a Long-tailed Tit, 8 Greenfinches, 3 Chaffinches, 15 Reed Buntings, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Treecreeper, a Robin, 2 Wrens and 4 Dunnocks. Other birds seen there included a Snipe and two Jack Snipe.

The Great Grey Shrike was showing again this morning in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke and other birds in the immediate area included a first year male Merlin, a Barn Owl and two Corn Buntings and a small flock of eight Golden Plovers. Several Bramblings continue to visit gardens in Hanging Houghton and also the seed by the barn in the Brampton Valley.

Liam Andrews located a Waxwing at the Plens Nature Reserve at Desborough early this afternoon which then subsequently flew north west. Tom Green saw a Short-eared Owl between Neville's Lodge, Finedon and the nearby now redundant landfill plus two Ravens, 100+ Lapwing and 100+ Golden Plovers.

A visit to East Carlton Country Park this afternoon didn't provide any particular birds of note but some close views of common birds were possible as much of the wildlife there is so used to people, dogs etc.

Regards

Neil M

Blackbird.

Grey Squirrels.

Moorhen.

Drake Mallard.

Common Buzzard.

Blue Tit.

Redwing.

All images taken at East Carlton Country Park
this afternoon.

Before the snow...

Hello

Chris Payne conducted a couple of hours ringing at Bradden today catching 49 birds made up of 24 Blue Tits, four Great Tits, a Coal Tit, eight Long-tailed Tits, five Goldfinches, four Greenfinches, two Chaffinches and a Dunnock. One of the re-trapped Goldfinches was a bird ringed at Bradden back in 2016 which then turned up at Greens Norton in 2017 but obviously then re-bounded back to Bradden!

A Peregrine was showing on the steeple of Kettering Parish Church today and Sarah Gibbs and I spent the day at Pitsford Reservoir clearing out the twenty-two owl boxes in preparation for the next breeding season (and evicting Grey Squirrels at the same time)!

The Great Grey Shrike was again present in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke and other birds included a first year male Merlin and two or three Corn Buntings. The bird flocks seem to still be growing in number on this wild bird seed crop which included Bramblings.

A Blackcap was in a garden at Scaldwell, a Nordic Jackdaw was seen at Stanwick Lakes by the main lake and our garden attracted Bramblings, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Today was all about trying to count the water birds at Pitsford Reservoir as part of our monthly WeBS count.

Headline birds were made up of the two Great Northern Divers, four or five Great White Egrets, twenty-three Red-crested Pochards, a pair of Pintail, a Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, two Jack Snipe and thirty-seven Snipe. Other birds included a pair of Raven, two Stonechats, six Siskins and two Grey Wagtails. Small groups of large gulls periodically passed over the reservoir heading in a westerly direction and the first encountered group contained a large first year Glaucous Gull.

Birds in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton today included the Great Grey Shrike, two Corn Buntings, several Bramblings and a Barn Owl. The Lapland Bunting was looked for this afternoon but not located.

A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was again seen at Neville's Lodge, Finedon this afternoon and a Short-eared Owl was there too. Birds noted at Thrapston Pits today were the Whooper Swan still, two Great White Egrets, two male Goosanders and an excellent flock of 278 Pochard. Blatherwycke Lake was visited by Eric Graham today and he saw a pair of Black Swans, eight pairs of Mandarin Duck and a flock of over 200 Greylag Geese. Nearby birds at Deene Lake included another pair of Black Swans, nearly a hundred Teal, six Shelduck, two Snipe and two Green Sandpipers.

The Southfield Estate in South Northants attracted a large flock of finches to a sunflower wildlife plot today made up of 60+ Goldfinches, 20+ Linnets, 30+ Chaffinches, 12 Greenfinches and two Bramblings.

Regards

Neil McMahon

Red Kite in the
early morning light...

Cormorants are already
back on their nests at Pitsford!

Wildlife of St Lucia

Hello

With overnight rain concluding at dawn, the day started with some pleasant sunshine but the wind increased and made birding a rather cold and challenging affair!

The Great Grey Shrike was present on and off all day between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke, the strong wind ensuring the bird kept a lower profile than usual. It was difficult to properly hear and see the birds visiting the seed bank but there were plenty of Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Linnets, Skylarks and smaller numbers of Brambling, Goldfinch and Tree Sparrow. Two Corn Buntings were still present and showed occasionally and the adult male Merlin visited the area twice in quick succession this morning. A small covey of Grey Partridge were still present too.

Four or five Bramblings visited our garden today and birds at Pitsford Reservoir were relatively static with two Great Northern Divers, the first year male Scaup and a Yellow-legged Gull visible from the dam and Sailing Club this afternoon with the Ring-necked Duck reported for the Pintail Bay again.

The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier showed again at Neville's Lodge (Finedon) this afternoon and birds at Thrapston Pits included as many as six Great White Egrets plus the wintering Whooper Swan and Summer Leys LNR continued to host two Great White Egrets.

A few images (please see below) from the recent trip to St Lucia...

Regards

Neil M

Scaly naped Pigeon.

Zenaida Dove.

Pan tropical Spotted Dolphin.

Sperm Whale.

Purple throated Carib.

Ringing, Waxwings and the shrike still!

Hello

A bird ringing session at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate provided 121 captures made up of a Sparrowhawk, four Blackbirds, three Robins, a Dunnock, three Chaffinches, forty-one Blue Tits, thirty-eight Great Tits, nineteen Coal Tits, four Marsh Tits, two Long-tailed Tits, a Goldcrest, three Treecreepers and a Nuthatch. Other birds on-site included several Siskins, a Redpoll and a Woodcock.

Eleanor's dog agility training at Staverton suffered the distraction of six Waxwings which were flying around and calling and perched up in hedgerows for about thirty minutes. They eventually flew off into the village but weren't relocated after a quick search. The usual two Ravens were also present.

A quick perusal at Ravensthorpe Reservoir from the causeway provided views of a Great White Egret and two Green Sandpipers.

Birds noted at Pitsford Reservoir today included the usual suspects with three Great White Egrets, the mobile drake Ring-necked Duck, at least one first year Scaup, at least seventeen Red-crested Pochard and the two Great Northern Divers. More Great White Egrets included a couple at Wilsons Pits (Ditchford Pits complex) and other birds are now three Short-eared Owls at Neville's Lodge (Finedon) and the first year Hen Harrier was reported there too.

The Great Grey Shrike was again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and despite reports to the contrary was still showing at dusk. The Barn Owl was also there this morning, four Corn Buntings were seen and there are still small numbers of Bramblings in the immediate area. It is likely that the Lapland Bunting is still present with the Skylark flock but it doesn't seem to have been reported today...

Regards

Neil M

Blue Tit.

Great Tit.

Marsh Tit.
Above images courtesy
of John Tilly.

First year female
Sparrowhawk.

Quality winter birding continues...!

Hello

Eric's birds at Thrapston Pits/Titchmarsh LNR today included up to five Great White Egrets, the first year Whooper Swan still, three Goosanders, three Water Rails, 200+ Pochard, a juvenile Peregrine and four calling Cetti's Warblers.

Helen Franklin and Chris Payne conducted some ringing at Woodford Halse today with 35 captures made up of two Blackbirds, five Dunnocks, twenty Blue Tits, six Great Tits and two Long-tailed Tits.

Stuart Munday spotted a Waxwing at Hardwick Road, East Hunsbury, Northampton today but it unfortunately flew off south and wasn't relocated. Jacob saw a Merlin zapping over buildings at Moulton College today, scattering Redwings in it's wake!

Today the Brampton Valley birds between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke included the Great Grey Shrike, a Barn Owl, two Corn Buntings and the rather hard to see Lapland Bunting still. About fifteen Bramblings are scattered and mobile between three sub sites - the bird feed crop, the seed by the large barn near to the brook next to the Brampton Valley Way and visiting gardens in the village at Hanging Houghton.

Due to the mud and potholes it is recommended that any visiting birders to the Brampton Valley to see these birds park cars on the hardcore apron next to the large barn or at the small parking area next to the Brampton Valley Way. It is then half a mile walk along the council-maintained track towards Cottesbrooke, a large traffic cone next to the track indicates a recommended initial viewing area.

Regards

Neil M

Water Rail courtesy
of John Tilly.

Corn Bunting.

Lapland Bunting - this image
taken on the Scillies in 2018.
The bird currently in the Brampton
Valley sadly doesn't show like this
bird did! Apart from listening to the
distinctive  'tickety -tic-tic' (much 'dryer' than
 Yellowhammer) and loud musical 'tiu' contact calls,
 watch for a large, 'long' and cold coloured bunting
 flying with the Skylarks with a flight action
and wing shape reminiscent of Snow
Bunting. As far as I know no one
has managed to see this bird perched up
or on the ground (it flies into cover each
time), so a flight view is likely to be the
only view possible in the short term.