Here come the warblers!

Hello

Birds in the county for yesterday (Thursday) included two Spotted Redshanks, two Greenshanks, a Little Ringed Plover and a Reeve all at Lower Barnwell Lock floods.

Harrington Airfield attracted a fine male Ring Ouzel which showed next to the old shooting wall off the concrete track and other birds on-site included a 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler, two Wheatears and still over a hundred migrant Fieldfares.

Pitsford Reservoir yesterday hosted two adult Little Gulls and six Arctic Terns north of the causeway early in the afternoon and by the evening the dynamics had changed to nine Little Gulls, five Arctic Terns and two Common Terns.

Today (Friday) and after a cold start this morning the sun shone all day! Birds at Barnwell this morning courtesy of John Hunt included a Bar-tailed Godwit and two Greenshanks.

Incoming migrants seen in the county today included a Hobby at Bozeat, Swifts, more House Martins and a variety of warblers included the first wave of Garden Warblers and Reed Warblers and lots more Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats and a few Grasshopper Warblers too.

Regards

Neil M

Willow Warbler.

Garden Warbler.

A female hoverfly with the scientific name of
helophilus pendulus as kindly identified by
 Fiona Barclay.

Speckled Wood butterfly.

Lady's Smock.

Lockdown - sites to peruse

Hello

If you have time on your hands and would like to look at digital images taken by some of our talented local wildlife photographers here are a couple of sites for your perusal...

https://www.paulcrotty.co.uk/

http:/tillyweb.biz/gallery/natureindex.htm

http://Simonwantlingphotography.co.uk

http://naturaltreks.co.uk/

https://youpic.com/photographer/MartinSwannell

...and if you want to see some nocturnal Storm Petrel action from Skokholm -

https://youtu.be/zmJF2-kFTnw

A daily blog is completed by the wardens on Skokholm (Pembrokeshire) and can be found at:-

skokholm.blogspot.com

..and of course there is the Northants Bird Club site with last year's best images from the photograph competition displayed at:-

https//northantsbirdclub.blogspot.co.uk/

Regards

Neil M

Honey Buzzard.

Raven.

More garden snaps

Hello

Yesterday (Tuesday) evening and David Arden again saw an Osprey north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir plus an Arctic Tern.

This morning (Wednesday) and John Hunt found two Spotted Redshanks at the flooded area near Barnwell plus a Greenshank. Birds at Stanwick Pits this morning included the Garganey and Bar-tailed Godwit still, plus a Mediterranean Gull, a Green Sandpiper and two Shelduck.

Stewart again found his Ring Ouzel near Clopton this morning and this evening Adrian saw a drake Garganey at Summer Leys and a Common Sandpiper and a White Wagtail. David Arden's evening foray at Pitsford Reservoir provided five Arctic Terns and Tom Green located a Little Ringed Plover on a pool at Sidegate Lane Landfill.

I connected with my first Lesser Whitethroats of the year today and an addition to the April 'from the garden list' was a fly-over Tree Sparrow.

Regards

Neil M

Sunflower hearts-loving
Collared Dove.

Male House Sparrows
just coming into summer
plumage with extended bibs
and breast markings.

Female Pied Wagtail now
almost as tame as the male!

The Swallows are already
inspecting last year's nests!

Birds of the breeze and sun

Hello

Another bright and breezy day but nothing new for the garden list today!

Yesterday (Monday) evening and David Arden saw a fishing Osprey at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway plus an adult Little Gull and about fifteen Arctic Terns.

Today and Steve Fisher's early morning visit to his local patch of Stanwick Pits provided a bumper number of about 170 Arctic Terns, a Bar-tailed Godwit, two Common Sandpipers and a drake Garganey.

Stewart was able to locate his male Ring Ouzel near Clopton again this morning and a visit to Harrington Airfield this morning provided 3-4 Wheatears, a pair of Grey Partridge and a singing Grasshopper Warbler which eventually showed well.

The Whinchat was again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and local information indicates that at least one Barn Owl is flying around fields and adjacent gardens on a daily basis in the village of Scaldwell.

Birdguides information recorded a Montagu's Harrier overflying Cottingham this morning and a record of three possible Eurasian Bee-eaters heard calling over Islip this afternoon (about 4.15pm).

Regards

Neil M

Life is a tussle if you
are a cock Pheasant!

Caterpillar of the Scarlet
Tiger moth in our Hanging
Houghton garden.

One of the Wheatears at
Harrington Airfield today.
The large size, pot-bellied
stature and plumage would
suggest this is an adult female
of the large 'Greenland' race.
Amazingly these stoic migrants
really do migrate from Africa all
the way to Greenland and even the
Canadian mainland...and the only
way is to cross the Atlantic with
 no stops!

Bluebells

Hello

A blustery wind and some strong sunshine but not a lot of new birds found locally today.

At long last a Song Thrush struck up a ballad a couple of gardens away and finally made it on to the April 'from the garden' list! Two Bar-tailed Godwits flew low over the garden just before midday and this species not surprisingly was also an addition to the said list!

The Black Redstart and Common Redstart couldn't be found at Blueberry Farm today but a Grasshopper Warbler was singing nearby and a flock of about two hundred Fieldfares were in the paddocks there. 

The Whinchat was present in the valley below Hanging Houghton for it's fifth day and this afternoon it was joined by a Wheatear.

Regards

Neil M

Kelmarsh Estate woodland.

Badger Sett Kelmarsh Estate.

Bluebells Kelmarsh Estate.

Ring Ouzels and more...

Hello

Plenty of migrant activity today in sometimes blustery conditions but with plenty of sunshine from mid-morning.

John Hunt kicked off proceedings at Lower Barnwell Lock flood with three Whimbrel and a Greenshank, and then located nine Wheatears in a sheep field between Benefield and Deenethorpe.

Stewart checked up on his Ring Ouzel this morning and he was still present near barns along the Clopton to Bythorn road.

Harrington Airfield finally attracted a spring Ring Ouzel with a female near Bunker One at about 8am, and there were 5/6 Wheatears, a Raven and a pair of Grey Partridge also present. Nearby an adult male Black Redstart was at Blueberry Farm buildings (Maidwell) at about 9.30am but was not seen subsequently. Other birds included a female Common Redstart in hedging nearby, two Yellow Wagtails and ten Fieldfares. The Whinchat remains on his haystack in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

An addition to our April 'seen from the garden' list was an Osprey that spiraled NW over the garden just before 3pm. A Barn Owl was alongside the A508 at Hanging Houghton early this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Very much a 'record shot'
of the Ring Ouzel at
Harrington this morning!

Swallows at Blueberry Farm today.

Osprey overhead at
Hanging Houghton
this afternoon.

A rather tatty Common Buzzard
over the garden at Hanging
 Houghton this afternoon.

Garden male Sparrowhawk
courtesy of Chris Payne.

April showers

Hello

A reasonable amount of rain overnight and this morning is the first substantial drop for some time and is likely to be partly responsible for some of the passage migrants seen in the county today.

The male Ring Ouzel is near Clopton for it's third day, and a Lesser Whitethroat was also there today. Near Oundle at Barnwell Lock floods, John Hunt found a Garganey this morning plus a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank and a Yellow Wagtail. Two Oystercatchers overhead at Barton Seagrave heading towards Wicksteed Park was a good 'seen from the garden' bird!

Eleanor's run out this morning provided a male Common Redstart in roadside hedging at Drummerboy Lake (between Cottesbrooke and Brixworth) and a calling Cuckoo.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there was a fishing Osprey, a hunting Barn Owl, the usual Yellow-legged Gull and a Common Sandpiper.

Much of the week ahead looks to be breezy but sunny and no doubt more summer migrants will be arriving each day...

Regards

Neil M

This Cetti's Warbler was photographed by David
 Arden in scrub adjacent to Pitsford Reservoir a
 couple of days ago.

A small herd of British White Cattle
are managed at Kelmarsh Hall and the
next generation are now enjoying the
lush green grass of spring.

Female Starling.

Mid-April migrants

Hello

A cool north easterly breeze looks like it might be set in for some time and may provide an opportunity for a flurry of terns and Little Gulls (and maybe Kittiwake) at some of our more substantial waters during the next week or so.

Plenty of migrants and other good birds were reported in the county today, some of which were as follows:-

Three Cattle Egrets were at Stanwick Pits this morning and Clifford Hill Pits attracted three Little Gulls, four Common Terns, a Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover. A White-tailed Eagle was reported as flying over Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits this morning (no more details known).

Harrington Airfield today was good for an adult male Merlin, six Wheatears, a Raven and a pair of Grey Partridge. The Ring Ouzel was again off the Clopton to Bythorn road on the Cambridgeshire border. The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton held on to yesterday's Whinchat, plus three Wheatears, a Cuckoo, a Grasshopper Warbler, a flock of eight Yellow Wagtails and a Peregrine.

A Wheatear was at Farndish, near Irchester and hirundines over Ashton Sewer Works were made up of twelve House Martins and fifteen Swallows.

Regards

Neil M

Northern Wheatear courtesy
of Jacob Spinks.

Male Yellow Wagtail.

White-tailed Eagles.
With now at least four reports
in the county this spring, is there
still a chance for the rest of us to
catch up with one?

North and west bound birds...

Hello

Eleanor's morning walk took her to Blueberry Farm today where a male Ring Ouzel was foraging on grass alongside one of the hedgerows and two Wheatears were on the hill. About forty Fieldfares and a Raven were nearby.

Sarah Gibbs was in Wicksteed Park, Kettering this morning and watched a Carrion Crow 'anting' itself. This is well documented behaviour whereby birds 'bathe' in ants, secreting the acid and chemicals from the ants to enhance the skin and feathers. Although well known it is not in my experience commonly seen in the UK...

Birds in and over the garden today were not remarkable but in the Brampton Valley below the village this afternoon there was a fine singing Whinchat and a male Greenland Wheatear.

Elsewhere and Stewart Short saw a singing male Ring Ouzel near Clopton and heard a Cuckoo nearby. A Cuckoo was also heard at Chase Park Farm, Yardley Chase this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Male Whinchat.

Male Ring Ouzel.

Garden Snaps

Hello

A stunning day's weather today with a cool air but loads of gorgeous sunshine and just a very light breeze.

Fiona Barclay found a flock of ten Yellow Wagtails in a field near Lamport - they seem to be coming through in good numbers rather early this year. I didn't hear or see any winter thrushes today, the first day for a long while without the chatter of a Fieldfare or call of a Redwing overhead. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs are in good numbers locally and Willow Warblers will be a mixture of local breeders and birds en-route to Scotland.

Two Cattle Egrets were seen near Irthlingborough Lock today and a drake Garganey was on North Lake on the eastern section of Ditchford Pits. A Peregrine was seen over Far Cotton, Northampton.

Birds over our garden included the usual four species of raptor and Raven but Ian Pretty had a very large raptor pass over Grange Park, Northampton this afternoon - was it the return of the eagle? The bird was seen heading north-east...

Nearby we found a couple of pairs of Grey Partridge and a solitary Yellow Wagtail and this afternoon I took some images of common birds in the garden...

Regards

Neil M

Woodpigeon.

Collared Dove.

Second calendar year male
Blackbird. This bird was hatched
last year but is already collecting
food for it's own brood!

A couple of the garden
Robins like the 'Flutter
Butter' - bird safe peanut butter!

First there were Goldfinches
on the feeder...

...then it was Greenfinches!

Red Kite perched up
near Sywell today courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Eagle overhead!

Hello

This morning dawned still, cool and then sunny and remained so all day. I committed to a little garden ringing first thing for a couple of hours but visible migration seemed to be virtually nil and there was little new that found the mist nets. The main task for today was shopping (for several households post Easter) and then following grocery distribution we settled at home.

The Starlings, Pied Wagtails and Reed Buntings were constantly coming in for food and are now becoming rather tame and often approach quite closely when we are sitting out in the garden. The usual raptors and Raven performed their respective fly-overs but nothing out of the ordinary was seen.

A far cry from Irthlingborough in East Northants where Steve Fisher witnessed a juvenile White-tailed Eagle drift north-east over his garden at 1pm, with the bird then reported from Barnwell a little while later! It is understood to be one of the Isle of Wight introduced birds and is presumably being tracked. Never mind its provenance, to see any eagle in the skies of Northamptonshire is really quite something. With us all sitting in our gardens and looking up I suspect there will be some very interesting large birds seen flying over the county this spring - bring it on!

Regards

Neil M

Robin nestlings by Chris
Payne. These birds fledged
successfully yesterday.

Male Kestrel over the
garden today. No it's not
an eagle but you have to
start somewhere!

Pied Wagtail in the garden,
he's becoming tamer by the day!

Easter Monday

Hello

With a big change in the weather beginning yesterday afternoon, a cold and strong wind developed with some rain overnight. As today went on the wind gradually dropped and the sun came out once more but it still remained a much cooler day than of recent.

I took the opportunity to catch up on plenty of admin work, mostly documenting and inputting Common Bird Census and Wetland Bird Survey data, so I didn't see very much today - it's much more enjoyable carrying out the surveys than adding up the figures, creating the tables and inputting!

A couple of Ravens have been overflying the village today, the birds cramming their beaks and throat pouches with food en-route to active nests nearby. A wander around the fields towards Scaldwell provided a Yellow Wagtail and the southern hedges/treeline of Lamport Hall held lots of small birds in the lee of the northerly wind which included Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests.

A few Fieldfares were about the village and a couple of pairs of Long-tailed Tits were busy finishing off their complex moss and feather domed nests.

Regards

Neil M

Lamport Hall. The magnificent
Sweet Chestnut on the right is some
way behind the leaf burst of the Oak
on the left.

Long-tailed Tit courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Raven courtesy of
Jacob Spinks.

Easter Sunday

Hello

Very little to report from our end today with much of it spent in the garden, mostly looking at all the tasks that need doing rather than actually doing many of them!

Nevertheless the April 'birds from the garden list' went up by a couple with the addition of Canada Goose and Bullfinch, but still Song Thrush hasn't materialized. There have been some very still and quiet nights during the last week and most nights I have been able to hear several Tawny Owls, a Little Owl and a Barn Owl. Moorhens have passed over at night twice during the last week too.

Our Yellowhammer flock has thinned out and mostly gone now but small numbers of Reed Buntings are persistent visitors still.

As far as I can tell we have no birds nesting in the garden this year, at least not yet. I suppose with us and the dogs spending so much time in the garden we may have put them off?

Our exercise regime took in Harrington Airfield this morning first thing but the Black Redstart wasn't seen in a brief search. There were two male Wheatears on Bunker Three, as many as ten singing Willow Warblers and two singing Common Whitethroats plus at least two Ravens. Some of the male Linnets up there are beginning to look good with their scarlet breasts coming through.

Regards

Neil M

We don't attract large numbers
of Starlings in our garden at
this time of the year but dried
mealworms is definitely a favourite
of theirs! In the summer we can have
 good numbers of fledged juveniles coming
 in for the same food.

The top image depicts
a female in breeding plumage and the
 bottom bird is a male. The female has a
 pink-based mandible and often shows a pale ring
 in the eye, the male has a blue-based
 mandible and the eye tends to be liquid black.
Already both birds are wearing off the pale
spots which they begin the breeding
season with, and by the end all the spots
will have worn away.