Common Cranes, Tawny Owls and incoming Blackcaps!

Hello

The Great Grey Shrike was again present from the track that leads between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke this morning.

Matt Hazleton saw two Great White Egrets at Summer Leys NR this morning plus a Green Sandpiper and a Blackcap.

Pitsford Reservoir hosted at least one Great Northern Diver today with one bird in the Pintail Bay, and a drake Red-crested Pochard was feeding off the Sailing Club. A Grey Wagtail was at Brixworth Treatment Works.

Martin Swannell saw a pair of Common Cranes thermalling over Moulton village at about 10.25am and Eleanor saw presumably the same birds soaring over Holcot village heading towards Pitsford Reservoir at midday.

Harrington Airfield provided views of a male Peregrine, a male Wheatear and four Grey Partridges. Birds at Thrapston Pits today included a Great White Egret, three Pink-footed Geese, the long-staying Whooper Swan, a Green Sandpiper, two Snipe, a Redshank and two Oystercatchers. Five Siskins were also present as were plenty of Chiffchaffs and singing Blackcaps and a Peregrine.

Deene Lake attracted an Osprey, five pairs of Shelduck, a pair of Black Swans, a flock of over a hundred Teal, three Snipe and four Green Sandpipers.

A check of the owl boxes at Pitsford Reservoir today confirmed four boxes occupied by Tawny Owls. One of these was a bird first ringed as an adult on 19th March 2015 and another was ringed as a nestling on 23rd April 2014. Other birds noted included a Raven, a couple of singing Blackcaps, four Marsh Tits on territory and Nuthatches holding territory in two areas. However the rarity for the site was a singing Cetti's Warbler in the Walgrave Bay, the first confirmed record for perhaps eighteen years!

Regards

Neil M

Common Cranes.

Tawny Owl
courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Bathing Blackcaps
courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

More lovely sunshine today compensated for the cold air and made for a smashing spring day.

The morning was spent at Ditchford Pits completing the March WeBS count. The pits west of Ditchford Lane produced a pair of Egyptian Geese, three Oystercatchers and a Shelduck and there were nine Common Snipe on marshy land east of the lane. Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers were in reasonable numbers but unusually there were no Kingfishers seen and very few Great Crested Grebes in their usual haunts.

Two egrets roosting in bushes on Delta Pit underneath the Cormorant colony proved to be a Little Egret and a part summer plumage Cattle Egret. This pit is between the old Skew Bridge pit and the Wilsons Pits complex and the birds were relatively close to a wooden viewing platform on the circular walk that surrounds the old Skew Bridge Pit and is accessible from the Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre.

Butterflies were on show in sheltered areas and included the expected Brimstones and Small Tortoiseshells but two Orange-tips seemed early. Nick Parker later located a Little Ringed Plover on the adjacent Irthlingborough Lakes reserve and Bob Bullock saw four Little Ringed Plovers at Clifford Hill Pits on pools by the river footbridge.

Summerleys NR hosted a drake Garganey today as reported by Kim Taylor and later Dave Jackson. Eric's walk at Thrapston Pits today produced records of a Kingfisher, a small flock of House Martins, two Green Sandpipers, three Little Egrets, two Great White Egrets, two Pink-footed Geese still and a pair of Shelduck. Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers were present in numbers and butterflies here included Comma and Small Tortoiseshell.

This afternoon the Great Grey Shrike was on show again from the track between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke and other birds included a Barn Owl, three Bramblings, two Corn Buntings and fifty fly-over Fieldfares.

Regards

Neil M

Great Grey Shrike this afternoon
between HH and Cottesbrooke, image
taken by Eleanor.

Sunday's spring weather birds!

Hello

A quieter day of bird activity for me today! The garden provided small numbers of Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers coming in for broadcast seed (this is a particularly critical time for buntings as they struggle to find sufficient natural seeds), and a walk around the fields nearby was sufficient to find a few lingering Fieldfares and Redwings.

Over the week-end the bird food crop in the valley below the village continues to attract hungry birds which included a hundred Yellowhammers and a flock of 40 - 50 Stock Doves. Broadcast seed by the large barn near to the Brampton Valley Way continues to attract Chaffinches and other birds, and this morning two Bramblings were again with them. Close to this area and on the other side of the track, the Great Grey Shrike was hunting from vegetation in the ditch near to a large straw/manure heap and a Wheatear was nearby.

The sunshine and cool breeze brought out all the Common Buzzards and Red Kites again today, it seemed impossible to scan around today and not see examples of both species riding the air currents.

Yesterday I took photographs of a male Kestrel exhibiting very clean plumage features and sporting blue/grey secondaries which is normally a trait of the much rarer Lesser Kestrel. Analysis of the images today suggests it is just a male Common Kestrel, but interestingly it was this bird's behaviour that aroused my attention as it was feeding just like the rarer species and taking insects on the ground and in flight. Oh well maybe there are some Lesser Kestrel genes in there somewhere!

Harrington Airfield today provided fly-over singles of Redpoll and Siskin but little else and Eleanor saw the usual two Ravens at Green Acres, Staverton today. The Little Owl was vocal in trees near to the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir again today and now seems to be very much on territory. Perhaps not good news for the local Tree Sparrows though!

Adrian saw the Ring-necked Duck on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston today plus a Jack Snipe too and Martin Swannel saw a Swallow at Merry Tom Lane near Chapel Brampton!

Kenny Cramer and team completed a stint of ringing at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes today and caught a good selection of birds. Ninety-one birds were processed of 14 species, 54 of which were newly-ringed birds. Totals were singles of Jay, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Blackcap and Great Spotted Woodpecker, plus two Goldcrests, two Chiffchaffs, two Reed Buntings, three Wrens, seven Chaffinches, fifteen Goldfinches, ten Greenfinches, sixteen Blue Tits and twenty-nine Great Tits. Two Snipe were seen on-site and non-avian interest included two Common Shrews and two Grass Snakes.

Regards

Neil M

Male Blackcap.

Carrion Crow.

Both images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Birds of Friday/Saturday

Hello

Yesterday (22nd) and local birds included the Great Grey Shrike and a Corn Bunting again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. A few Bramblings and Siskins were at Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh) and there were again nine Common Buzzards in one tilled field near the village. A few Siskins and the pair of Oystercatcher were at Pitsford Reservoir.

Eric's birding at Thrapston Pits provided records of the immature Whooper Swan, three Pink-footed Geese, a pair of Shelduck, two Great White Egrets, two Oystercatchers, three aggressive Kingfishers and several Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers.

Today (23rd) and a ringing session at Scotland Wood provided 69 birds of 14 species, 41 of which were new birds. They were made up of two Blackbirds, a Song Thrush, a Dunnock, two Wrens, four Robins, three Nuthatches, a Treecreeper, a Goldcrest, a Long-tailed Tit, twenty Great Tits, sixteen Blue Tits, ten Coal Tits, six Chaffinches and a Chiffchaff. Other birds seen included a Crossbill, a male Brambling and a Siskin.

The Great Grey Shrike and Corn Bunting showed up in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and again there were two Ravens in the village. This afternoon two crane sps flew from Brixworth towards Pitsford Res, they were viewed distantly from the track that runs along the Brampton Valley towards Cottesbrooke.

Elsewhere two Wheatears were at Borough Hill CP, and a Green Sandpiper and a flock of Sand Martins were at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Two Avocets graced the Summer Leys Reserve with a Little Ringed Plover also in attendance. Single Short-eared Owls were seen at Neville's Lodge and next to Lilbourne Meadows and Nick Parker again relocated the Ring-necked Duck at Thrapston Pits on the Titchmarsh reserve this afternoon at about 4pm. A male Peregrine was near Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Wren.

Treecreeper.

Song Thrush.

Long-tailed Tit.

Nuthatch.

Blue Tit with deformed
upper mandible.

All images by John Tilly at
Scotland Wood.

Spring wildlife

Hello

For a couple of hours yesterday afternoon and for much of the morning today, a ringing session was undertaken at Pitsford Reservoir around the main feed station at the Old Scaldwell Road. Eighty-eight birds were processed with singles of Mute Swan, Wren, Goldfinch, Robin and a Common Snipe, two Blackbirds, three Meadow Pipits, four Chaffinches, four Blue Tits, six Great Tits, twelve Tree Sparrows, fourteen Reed Buntings and thirty-eight Yellowhammers all being assessed.

A Little Owl paid the ringing site a visit, a drake Red-crested Pochard was again present in the Scaldwell Bay and an Otter was being mobbed by Great Black-backed Gulls near to the causeway.
Later Pete Gilbert saw two Curlews overfly the reservoir and Jacob confirmed the continued presence of the two Great Northern Divers north of the dam this afternoon.

A little further north and Rutland Water apparently now has five Ospreys back at the reservoir!

Nick Parker came up trumps in the county today, locating a drake Ring-necked Duck at Thrapston Pits at 3pm this afternoon, the bird showing on Aldwincle Lake from Kirby Hide. Other birds located in the county today included a Jack Snipe at Stortons Pits, a single Snipe at Harrington Airfield and two Short-eared Owls still at Neville's Lodge, Finedon (courtesy of Tom Green).

Eleanor's daily venture into the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning again yielded the Great Grey Shrike plus a Corn Bunting, a Barn Owl and three Bramblings (two cracking males) on seed by the large barn.

Regards

Neil M

Barn Owl.

Weasels!

All images courtesy
of John Gamble.

Nice spring weather!

Hello

Some birders active very early this morning included Dave Jackson at Pitsford Reservoir where he saw a Great Northern Diver not far from the car park just south of the causeway, and a Merlin and a Curlew.

Eleanor was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and saw the Great Grey Shrike again (but it went absent again this afternoon), two Corn Buntings, a Brambling and a Wheatear.

Ben noted two Ravens over Lamport, Phil Jackman saw a Green Sandpiper and seven Redshank on the main lake at Stanwick and John Moon located a Black-tailed Godwit and a Great White Egret at Summer Leys NR.

Over at Thrapston Pits, Eric located all three Pink-footed Geese, three Great White Egrets, a female Goosander, plenty of Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers and Peacock and Brimstone butterflies.

Gary Pullen noted a hybrid gull (Glaucous x Herring) at Daventry Reservoir this morning, these birds sometimes being called 'Nelson's Gull' or 'Viking Gull' - unfortunately the bird didn't linger.

A Jack Snipe and forty plus Snipe were north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and there were a couple of Sand Martins buzzing about too.

Regards

Neil M

Great Northern Diver
at Pitsford Reservoir courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Siskins, Reed Warblers and buntings.

Hello

The Great Grey Shrike was again visible from the track that connects the villages of Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke, initially this morning and still present late this afternoon. It's new favoured area appears to be a small plantation on top of the hill, off to the left hand side travelling from Hanging Houghton. In addition two Bramblings were on seed by the large barn near to the Brampton Valley Way below HH, a Barn Owl was ranging widely and two Corn Buntings joined the Yellowhammers again at the wild bird feed crop.

A heavy passage of Meadow Pipits was evident today, still with good numbers moving this afternoon over Harrington Airfield where there was also a pair of Grey Partridge.

Alan Coles saw the two Great Northern Divers at Pitsford Reservoir today, again close to the causeway car park and Steve Fisher saw a Black-tailed Godwit and nine Redshanks at Stanwick Pits this morning.

A few Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers visited seed in our garden today and two Siskins spent a short time on the niger feeder.

Some ringing recoveries have been received of two juvenile Reed Warblers ringed at Stanwick Pits. S214415 relates to a bird ringed on 5th August 2016 and was again recorded on 6th May 2018 when caught by a ringer operating at Laguna de Negrillos, Leon, Spain (639 days later and 1186km from Stanwick). S750867 refers to a bird ringed on 16th July 2017 and assessed as an adult when caught again by a ringer working at Lagunas de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain on 2nd September 2018 (413 days later and 1127km from Stanwick).

Regards

Neil M

Siskin.

Reed Warbler.

Pitsford WeBS and the one that got away!

Hello

Much of today was spent completing the March WeBS count at Pitsford Reservoir, the last such count of the season.

The two Great Northern Divers were between the dam and the causeway and by early afternoon were close in to the Brixworth bank by the car park. A drake Red-crested Pochard was in the Scaldwell Bay and waders included a Jack Snipe, forty-eight Snipe and a pair of Oystercatcher. A big hatch of flies in pleasant, warmer conditions provided plenty of food for a variety of birds including many small gulls hawking over the water.

Summer migrants included ten Sand Martins and about sixteen Chiffchaffs on-site, a Wheatear near to the Pintail Bay and an overflying north-bound Osprey which flew over the adjacent Brixworth Country Park. An interesting kite also flew north which resembled a Black Kite, the bird was pretty tatty and missing primary feathers on both wings and unfortunately flew over north without being identified for certain.

Other birds included in excess of a dozen Siskins, three Kingfishers and nearly a hundred Cormorants (with about 39 occupied nests in the Walgrave Bay).

Lots of aircraft airborne over the reservoir today included three giant B52s, a Hercules, a Spitfire, the Blades Aerobatics team and an unidentified WW2 American fighter (maybe a Grumman Hellcat?)!

This afternoon the Great Grey Shrike between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke was located in a hilltop plantation visible from the track and was still present up to about 5.50pm. In the same area birds included a Barn Owl, eleven Golden Plovers flying west, a Brambling and a decent flock of Yellowhammers (but one less due to a marauding Sparrowhawk).

Regards

Neil M

Oystercatchers.

Furtive Fox!

Muntjacs.

Chiffchaff.

The Blades and friend!

Carrion Crow.

All images taken at
Pitsford Reservoir today.

Spring birds squeezing through!

Hello

Less wind today but still stronger than I expected. Some nice sunshine but cool and some wintry showers.

Good numbers of Meadow Pipits on the move today and also Linnets and other finches noted moving north, particularly over Harrington Airfield.

The Great Grey Shrike was in hedging between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke this morning but always keeping it's distance. The Yellowhammer flock was still present in the wild bird crop plus plenty of Reed Buntings, common finches and a couple of Corn Buntings. Other birds included two Ravens, a Barn Owl and at least one Brambling.

Ravens were again a feature today with two in the village at Hanging Houghton, a single at Lamport church and three near Mawsley.

A Green Sandpiper was on a pond near Weedon and Ian Dobson's feed station at Woodford Halse attracted eight Bramblings, ten Tree Sparrows, thirty plus Yellowhammers, twenty-six Chaffinches, a Greenfinch and a Reed Bunting. Three Reed Buntings were in our garden at Hanging Houghton and a Chiffchaff was singing first thing.

A Chiffchaff was also noted at Stanwick Lakes today and birds at Thrapston Pits included the long-staying Whooper Swan, three Pink-footed Geese, a Great White Egret and five Sand Martins.

Nine Common Buzzards 'worming' in one field near Kelmarsh was quite a sight today!

Regards

Neil M

A bit of a speck, but the Great
Grey Shrike in a hedge near Hanging
Houghton today, a Blackbird is just
below it!

Common Buzzard.

Two Corn Buntings near
Hanging Houghton today...

Storm Gareth - the last day I hope!

Hello

Strong gales again today and with heavy rain this evening which has initiated plenty of amphibian activity.

Despite spending much of the day out and about it was a struggle to find anything new. The most obvious passage birds were plenty of gulls and small numbers of Meadow Pipits and wagtails.

Two Ravens were at Staverton today and singles were noted at Hanging Houghton and between Spratton and Teeton. Most paired female Ravens will be on eggs in the nest now, the males foraging for them both.

A Woodcock was flushed at Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) and one of the Great Northern Divers was visible at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, north of the dam by 'The Holly Tree'. The usual second calendar year Yellow-legged Gull was also just north of the dam.

Regards

Neil M

Raven.

Storm Gareth - day four!

Hello

The Great Grey Shrike appeared again on hedging this morning between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke but this bird is spending long periods away from the usual site and presumably the high winds are causing it to keep a low profile. A Barn Owl was hunting in the same area this afternoon, another bird that has probably struggled with the extremes of Storm Gareth.

Alan Coles located two Great White Egrets and two Ravens at Summer Leys NR today and Eric's regular exploration at Thrapston Pits provided views of three Great White Egrets, a Pink-footed Goose, a pair of Oystercatcher and a few sheltering Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Great Grey Shrike
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Barn Owl.

Storm Gareth - day three!

Hello

More powerful gusts and some sudden showers interspersed with nice periods of sunshine today and it actually went calm for a time this evening!

Four Brown Hares in a field next to Pitsford Reservoir was good to see this morning, and a calling Little Owl was a very welcome sign as they have thinned out significantly in recent years. Good numbers of Tree Sparrows, Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers continue to visit the main feed station at the bottom of the Old Scaldwell Road although there is quite a range of birds refuelling on what is on offer there.

At the other end of the reservoir, the two young Great Northern Divers looked fabulous in the afternoon light as they sat on the water together, roll-preening and spending a great deal of time re-arranging feathers and wing flapping. And the strong winds don't suppress the activities of big birds such as gulls, Red Kites and Common Buzzards which were all busy carving their way through the strong westerlies. The first Osprey was back at Rutland Water today, another big bird that isn't easily daunted by gale force conditions!

Three Reed Buntings were feeding in our garden today, a pair of Grey Wagtail were on the dam at Welford Reservoir and the best sighting at Sunderland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) at lunchtime was a fine buck Roe Deer!

Regards

Neil M

Brown Hare
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Roe Deer.

Osprey
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Red Kite.

Jamaica

Hello

In February I was most fortunate to be able to visit the island of Jamaica in the West Indies with a view to seeing some of the endemic and near endemic birds of the island. During the eight days or so we managed to at least glimpse all of the 28 or so recognised endemic bird species and quite a number which are range restricted within the region. In addition I very much enjoyed trying to find and identify North American migrants wintering in Jamaica and simply enjoying the resident species too. I found photography particularly challenging but managed a few images of the more iconic species...

Regards

Neil M

Northern Potoo.

Loggerhead Kingbird.

American Redstart.

Little Blue Heron.

Displaying male Red-billed Streamertail.
.

Jamaican Owl.

Jamaican Tody.

American Royal Tern.