Black-tailed Godwits

Hello

Well it seems that Black-tailed Godwits were the migrant of the day in the county with an initial single seen at Summer Leys first thing (together with two Mandarin Ducks and singles of Green and Common Sandpiper), followed by another single at Stanwick Pits (plus three Mediterranean Gulls, a Cattle Egret and two Little Ringed Plovers) and then five on Dragonfly Lake on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadow reserve.

This afternoon and there were three Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape at Summer Leys and then an excellent record of about forty flying into Stanwick Pits just after 6pm. Most of this flock moved on leaving five birds in situ.

This afternoon the Ruddy Shelduck was reported again at Hollowell Reservoir with a Great White Egret present too.

Yesterday (Wednesday) evening and I went back to Market Harborough to look for Otters. At 9.35pm (when it was raining and dark) an Otter materialised and gave good close views for about fifteen minutes at the confluence of two channels near to the railway station. Although the Otter is not seen every evening, there is a small group of local naturalists who are there most evenings hoping to see this animal (it seemingly often appears at about 9.30pm).

Today and a small band of ringers completed a session at Stortons Pits where there were 65 captures recorded including good numbers of warblers. One re-trapped Reed Warbler was first ringed in 2011 and another was a bird ringed elsewhere. There was also eight Sedge Warblers, two Lesser Whitethroats, three Cetti's Warblers, a token Willow Warbler and good numbers of Reed Buntings.

A lengthy ringing session at Harrington Airfield today provided 130 captures of twenty species, 108 of these were newly-ringed birds. Highlights included a young Green Woodpecker, two Lesser Whitethroats, nine Common Whitethroats, two Garden Warblers, eleven Willow Warblers, twenty-three Yellowhammers and plenty of common finches. No birds of particular interest were seen on-site but there were still small numbers of Marbled White butterflies checking out the clover flowers.

Regards

Neil M

Otter at Market
Harborough yesterday
evening.

Lesser Whitethroat.

Robin.

Sedge Warbler.

Song Thrush.

All above bird images taken
by Chris Payne at Stortons Pits
this morning.

Young male Green Woodpecker
at Harrington Airfield today.

Mid-way 2020

Hello

Yesterday evening (Tuesday) a revisit to the River Welland at Market Harborough didn't produce an Otter sighting. Speaking with some of the local naturalists on-site it seems there is a reasonably healthy population of Water Voles along this section and sure enough I did see one. Sadly though a Grey Heron had seen it first and my only view of the adult vole was it struggling in vain in the heron's bill, before being doused in the water, subdued and swallowed!

Also yesterday evening an excellent count of 15 Common Sandpipers (plus three Oystercatchers) was made at Stanford Reservoir, a high number of returning (and presumed failed breeding) birds so early in the season.

This morning (Wednesday) and a walk at Harrington Airfield produced a distantly calling Quail (audible to the west of the concrete track), a Barn Owl, a couple of Siskins and the Common Redstart again (this time some 300m north of the chippings compound towards Bunker One). There will be some ringing on-site tomorrow morning during which time access to the old airstrip and bunkers will be restricted. Another ringing session is planned for Stortons Pits tomorrow morning with likely a short session at Pitsford Reservoir on Friday morning. In due time we are hoping to be able to invite observers to these sessions but at the moment the Covid -19 conditions necessitates restrictions on attendees.

Steve Fisher's efforts at Stanwick Pits this morning provided views of a Cattle Egret, three Mediterranean Gulls, three Little Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks, a Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper. The usual third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull was off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

A few more ringing recoveries have been received as follows:-

1. A Long-tailed Tit that was ringed at Brixworth on 24th January 2019 found a mist net again at Stanford Reservoir on 7th June this year, 500 days later with the bird having travelled 17km in a NW direction;

2.  A first year female Blackbird was ringed on the outskirts of Northampton on 20th December 2017 and was found dead (believed to be a road casualty) at Weston Favell, Northampton on 12th June this year, 905 days later and about 4km from where first ringed;

3.  A juvenile Garden Warbler was caught and ringed at Beachy Head, East Sussex on 23rd July 2019 (presumably as a departing bird beginning it's journey to Africa). This bird was extracted from a mist net at Chase Park Farm, Yardley Chase on 19th June this year when assessed as a breeding female. This is not the first county Garden Warbler to have used Beachy Head as a stop-over site, which is about 176km SSE of Chase Park.

Finally Neil Hasdell is currently working on adding further birding location maps to the Birdwatching Site Maps Tab/Page on this blog and we'll be reviewing the current maps to see if they need to be amended.

Regards

Neil M

Long-tailed Tit.

Female Blackbird.

Garden Warbler.

Harrington Airfield

Hello

I spent a bit of time at Harrington Airfield today, initially with a walk this morning to feed the birds when I encountered the male Common Redstart from two days ago, about 200m from the Chippings Compound towards Bunker One. This bird is still in good plumage but I fully expect it to stay around for a while whilst it undergoes the moult process.

This afternoon there were plenty of active insects, particularly when the sun came out and a few Marbled Whites were probably the best on view. Martin Swannell and I watched as an Osprey overfly the disused airfield heading roughly WSW. Prior to that I disturbed a Stoat on one of the tracks carrying something. It dropped it's prey and ran off. It had obviously raided a nest as the prey was a fledgling Linnet. Guessing it would come back I waited and the warning calls of birds became louder as they tracked something on the ground under the bushes and sure enough the Stoat popped out, grabbed the dead Linnet and ran off, all too quick for me and my camera!

Please note that there will be no access to the old airstrip and bunkers on Thursday due to ringing operations - the concrete track and footpaths will be unaffected.

A first summer Yellow-legged Gull was off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and birds at Hollowell Reservoir included the Ruddy Shelduck and a Green Sandpiper. Two Black-tailed Godwits and a Common Sandpiper and six Little Ringed Plovers were on the Summer Leys LNR with a Common Sandpiper on nearby Hardwater Lake.

Regards

Neil M

This Stoat was photographed
at Harrington Airfield in 2017,
a Rabbit being the prize on
that occasion.

Little Ringed Plover
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

A pair of Ruddy Shelduck at
Pitsford Reservoir way back
in 2014!

Hobbies, Grey Wagtails and Cattle Egrets.

Hello

I popped up the road to Market Harborough this morning and watched the summering Peregrine that is treating the spire of St Dionysius' Church as home. This bird is a large first summer female but she wasn't very photogenic today, mostly asleep or preening almost at the very highest part of the spire. All the locals seemed to be aware of her presence and were happy to see her.

A wander up and down the upper reaches of the River Welland in the town in the hope of coming across an Otter was less successful but I did find a few signs suggesting there is still one present. A cracking male Grey Wagtail was the best bird but locals regularly see a Kingfisher.

At least two Grey Wagtails were at Brixworth today and a female Red-crested Pochard was in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir. Hollowell Reservoir continued to host the Ruddy Shelduck today and also two Egyptian Geese, an Osprey, two hundred Swifts and 1-2 Hobbies. Hunting Hobbies were also at Hanging Houghton and Maidwell today and at the latter location a female Blackcap is coming to a garden feeder and taking food away to feed it's young - a further development to how this species is adapting to being a garden bird all year around.

Cattle Egrets in the Nene Valley included one at Stanwick Pits flying through at 5.40pm and four birds at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Black-backed Gull
at Pitsford Reservoir.

Purple Loosestrife at
Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of John Warner.

Privet Hawk-moth courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Ringlet butterfly
courtesy of Eleanor.

Summer storms

Hello

A very blustery day with periods of sunshine and some showers. The birds in the village have been on high alert throughout the day with several forays from the local Sparrowhawk and Hobby, the fledged Swallows being successfully targeted by both raptors.

Harrington Airfield yielded a male Common Redstart between the Chipping Compound and Bunker One with the more secluded spots in the scrubby areas presenting a mosaic of purples, pinks and yellows of clover, Bugle, orchids and other flowers which in turn housed Small Heath, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Marbled White butterflies. A Barn Owl also showed nicely early morning.

In the Nene Valley Eric Graham has spent both days of the week-end patrolling the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits locating up to three Little Egrets, five Oystercatchers, a Redshank, a Cuckoo and plenty of warblers, Swifts and hirundines. At Stanwick Pits this morning and Steve Fisher could see two juvenile and one adult Mediterranean Gull, two Green Sandpipers and a Peregrine. Four juvenile Cattle Egrets were reported at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits today.

Adrian's visit to Hollowell Reservoir confirmed the continued presence of the Ruddy Shelduck and a fly-over Osprey was already carrying a fish, perhaps from nearby Ravensthorpe Reservoir. A single Turtle Dove maintains a lonely presence again at one site in the county. A pair of Spotted Flycatchers at Pitsford Reservoir are now feeding young in the nest.

For the lepidopderists among us, Purple Emperors were on view in small numbers in the Fermyn Wood complex and the now common Silver-washed Fritillaries in our larger woods contained the variant female 'valezina' types at both Weekley Hall Woods and Bucknell Wood today.

The Osprey photographed at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday was confirmed as a Rutland project bird, apparently a male hatched in 2016 which last year spent much of it's time in the Oundle area.

Regards

Neil M

Summer views taken yesterday
of the Brampton Valley
from Merry Tom Lane.

Platyrhinus resinous.

Platystomos albinus.

Both weevil images
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Sightings for Saturday.

Hello

There was no sign of the Avocet at Pitsford Reservoir today and there didn't seem to be much new in the Scaldwell Bay albeit that the Gadwall flock has now reached one hundred and fifty.

At the other end of the reservoir three Yellow-legged Gulls included a new bird joining the two regulars and perhaps signified the start of the traditional summer immigration of this species. A Spotted Flycatcher was in the trees next to the Sailing Club, a Hobby worried the House Martins and this afternoon an Osprey flapped steadily into the strong head wind as it scoured the waters below for a fish snack. The blue plastic ring confirms this as a bird from the Rutland Osprey scheme. 

Birds for perusal at Stanwick Pits included the pair of Mediterranean Gulls now with two juveniles, a Cattle Egret, twelve Black-tailed Godwits, two Curlews, a Common Sandpiper, two Barnacle Geese and four Siskins and five Crossbills passing over.

Down the road at Earls Barton Pits a Black-tailed Godwit was on Hardwater Lake and Summer Leys harboured a Greenshank, a Dunlin, two Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper.

The female Ruddy Shelduck was again at Hollowell Reservoir this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Collared Dove courtesy of
John Tilly.

Osprey at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Yellow-legged Gull at
Pitsford Reservoir today.

A pair of Swifts with
two young courtesy of
John Hunt.

Hot Friday

Hello

Another hot day out there today with an increasingly strong breeze during the afternoon.

Summer Leys LNR today attracted returning waders in the shape of a Wood Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Redshank, a Greenshank and five Black-tailed Godwits.

The Fermyn Wood/Park complex today attracted large numbers of Marbled Whites, approximately fifteen White Admirals, Silver-washed Fritillaries in profusion and up to seven Purple Emperors (including Lady and Souther Wood). More common butterflies included some fresh Commas and Red Admirals. At least one Crossbill was heard calling at Lady Wood where there were also two Siskins and two Ravens.

Small numbers of Marbled Whites and a large hatch of Ringlets were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon and Bradlaugh Fields was alive with Marbled Whites and Small and Essex Skippers.

Spotted Flycatchers were at Cannons Ashby today and a Birdguides report suggests that the Ruddy Shelduck was still present at Hollowell Reservoir and a Great White Egret was there briefly.

Regards

Neil M

Yesterday's Avocet at
Pitsford Reservoir, at one
point being pursued by a
Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Pink-footed Goose at Pitsford
Reservoir yesterday evening.

Blue sky Woodpigeon!

Heatwave wildlife

Hello

A very hot day and birds in Hanging Houghton village included the singing Spotted Flycatcher and a Siskin with a Grey Wagtail and a Kingfisher at the brook in the Brampton Valley (and large numbers of Banded Demoiselles).

A Broad-bodied Chaser, a Comma and still plenty of Scarlet Tiger moths were the best of the insects in the garden.

A flock of 14 nomadic Crossbills were seen at Harlestone Heath today as they flew over the clearing next to the saw mills and Steve Fisher was able to report a pair of Mediterranean Gulls with a juvenile on the Layby Pits at Stanwick Pits, together with the Red-crested Pochard and a Common Sandpiper.

Jonathan's visit to Hollowell Reservoir this evening provided views of two Great White Egrets, a Ruddy Shelduck and a Green Sandpiper.

On the butterfly front there were four Purple Emperors at Bucknell Wood this morning and good numbers of White Admiral too and Purple Emperors were showing at Fermyn Wood this afternoon too. A wander of the meadows between Short and Southwick woods was good for large numbers of Marbled Whites (these have really spread in the county during the last decade) with White Admirals actually in Short Wood.

A very pleasant evening in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir brought a surprise in the shape of an Avocet plus the Pink-footed Goose again and a fly-over Curlew. The Avocet remained until dusk, favouring the shoreline between the Bird Club and Maytrees hides and often swimming out on the open water.

Regards

Neil M

Male Reed Bunting at
Stortons Pits courtesy
of Paul Crotty.

Reed Bunting nest
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Marbled White at Stortons
Pits in evening sunshine
courtesy of Gary Burrows.

Kestrel nest near Astcote
containing three young
courtesy of John Boland.

This nest was evident when
a large branch of the tree came
away and the nest cavity was
completely exposed. The decision
was made to not intervene and
despite heavy rain and a very hot
sun to date these fluffy youngsters
have survived and thrived and now
have the beginning of their first
feathers!

Let there be sun, birds and butterflies!

Hello

A modest ringing session was undertaken in Christies Copse at Pitsford Reservoir this morning after setting up yesterday evening and provided just 26 captures (plus a Mallard in the duck trap). In the absence of quantity, quality birds included two Willow Warblers, two juvenile Marsh Tits, three Treecreepers. a re-trap Green Woodpecker and two re-trap Garden Warblers both of which are five or more years old.

A male Crossbill was there first thing and narrowly missed being captured and a Brown Hawker was another odonata species not seen yesterday.

Kenny in the meantime continued with his Cuckoo quest at Linford Lakes and caught and ringed his eleventh of the year this morning!

A small but merry ringing team at Stortons Pits this morning enjoyed a great session before the heat brought proceedings to a halt with an excellent 86 birds caught on the south side of the pits. Only 13 of these birds had been previously encountered on-site. Highlights included a Lesser Whitethroat and a juvenile Grasshopper Warbler, and there were good numbers of Blackcaps and Whitethroats.

Bucknell Woods proved a popular venue today and Martin Dove saw a flock of 16 Crossbills there which then flew west. A Purple Emperor delighted and landed on his trousers briefly and other butterflies on show there today included White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary, Wood White, Comma and a single White Letter Hairstreak. Two Purple Emperors were seen on the north side of Salcey Forest today and about six more were reported at Lady Wood.

Two Siskins flew south west over our garden at Hanging Houghton this afternoon and adult Swallows remained pensive with a Hobby lingering. A late May Bug (Cockchafer) in flight was quickly intercepted by a House Sparrow.

At Summer Leys LNR, two Black-tailed Godwits and a Green Sandpiper were on the scrape and Adrian's urban Wellingborough garden list is on the rise again after a flock of nine Crossbills flew over south-west at lunchtime. At Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon, Jonathan Cook saw an Osprey and a Common Sandpiper.

Regards

Neil M

Dark Green Fritillary
Ring Haw yesterday
courtesy of David Arden.

Silver-washed Fritillary
courtesy of David Arden.

Pyramidal Orchid
courtesy of David
Arden.

Juvenile Grasshopper Warbler
Stortons Pits today courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Adult female Green
Woodpecker Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Pitsford's birds and insects

Hello

I spent most of the day at Pitsford Reservoir today, completing a Common Bird Census on the reserve this morning and back again this evening to set up for a ringing session there tomorrow morning.

It was an early start this morning and there were so many wildlife distractions that it took me an age to walk around the reserve (plus I'm getting older)! Bird highlights included a Curlew calling as it flew south and at about 8am four Crossbills were flying low around Christies Copse. Some fifteen minutes later and a nice male bird was seen flying around on his own, I'm not sure if he was in the original group or not but I didn't see any of them again after that.

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers are breeding on the reserve and waterbirds are faring well with several broods of Mute Swan and Great Crested Grebes. The summering Lapwing flock is over fifty birds strong now, the Gadwall are up to one hundred and twenty and the Pochard increased to seventeen birds today. One of the drake Wigeon is still present as is the pair of Oystercatcher which still seem intent on breeding.

Other birds today included a couple of Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail and just one pair of Willow Warblers on territory this year. Although we have lost breeding birds such as Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler, there are now breeding Red Kites and Nuthatches.

Insects were in profusion in the sunny, warm conditions and dragonflies included Blue Emperor, Southern Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser and Broad-bodied Chaser, plus a couple of Beautiful Demoiselles. Lots of butterflies included a good number of Marbled Whites between the Maytrees Hide and the causeway, Purple Hairstreaks in the oaks and two White-letter Hairstreaks near to The Point.

Elsewhere and Fiona found hitherto unknown colonies of Marbled White and Purple Hairstreaks in the triangle of land between Brixworth, Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell villages. Other good butterflies seen today included a Purple Emperor in Titchmarsh Wood and still three late Black Hairstreaks at Souther Wood. Fermyn Wood hosted a Purple Emperor, nine White Admirals and five Silver-washed Fritillaries. A colony of Marbled Whites near Gayton numbered 50/60 individuals. A Dark Green Fritillary was at Ring Haw, Old Sulehay today and a Silver-washed Fritillary was at Glapthorne Cow Pastures

Kenny's efforts at Linford Lakes this evening provided an opportunity of catching and ringing the tenth Cuckoo there this year!

Regards

Neil M

A shoal of about twenty-five
large trout were circulating in 
the water in the causeway tunnel
at Pitsford today...

Small Skipper.

Great Crested Grebe with
her two chicks.

Female Gadwall.

Four-spotted Chaser.

Common Tern selecting
and catching the correct
size fish for it's young. One
bird was actually seen with a
tiny Pike in it's bill!

Male Beautiful Demoiselle.

All images from Pitsford
Reservoir today...