More Crossbills.

Hello

Today's bird sightings were dominated by Crossbills as the summer irruption into the UK continues.

At Bucknell Wood today there were at least twenty Crossbills in the trees before being attacked by a Sparrowhawk. Smaller flocks seen subsequently may have been part of the original large flock, and a Raven was present too.

Tom had at least a dozen Crossbills in his sights in trees within the car park complex at Wakerley Wood in the north of the county and Nick had three more fly over Town Lake at Thrapston Pits (and an Osprey fly north there at 2pm).

In the meantime the two juvenile Black-necked Grebes continue to grace the Summer Leys LNR and this afternoon's steady light rain procured hundreds of Swifts and five Redshanks to appear, with a Common Sandpiper noted earlier.

Steve's daily excursion to Stanwick Pits provided views of four Cattle Egrets and a Mediterranean Gull, all on the main lake early on. A Raven infuriated the local crows at Hanging Houghton this morning!

A Naturetrek day trip to Pitsford Reservoir unfortunately coincided with some particularly wet and persistent weather but the warmth and light winds at least permitted sharp-eyed observers to find water-logged butterflies and other insects. Before we began our walk Mischa had kindly collected some moths from the traps and provided us with thirteen species to look at including Pine Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Yellowtail, Bufftip and Beautiful Hooktip. 

The weather was far from ideal in spotting small birds in the foliage but we glimpsed a family party of Spotted Flycatchers and encountered Marsh Tits at several points around the reserve. Warblers didn't put on much of a show but we saw Reed and Garden Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat sang briefly. Fourteen species of butterfly were logged including a couple of Purple Hairstreaks and a few Marbled Whites and Emerald Damselfly was the best of the odonata on show. Plenty of Common Toadlets were on the march and we had to be careful not to tread on them and Roesel's Bush-crickets were 'reeling' despite the precipitation.

Regards

Neil M

A nosy Elephant Hawk-moth

Beautiful Hooktip.

Common Blue Damselflies.

Emerald Damselfly.

Marbled White butterfly.

Small Skipper.

Essex Skipper.

All images from a wet
 Pitsford Reservoir today.

Common Tern

Hello

Some very wet weather out there today but it didn't deter the keenest of birders!

At Earls Barton Pits there were three Black-tailed Godwits at the eastern end of Hardwater Lake this morning and the two juvenile Black-necked Grebes were still on the Summer Leys LNR reserve.

Late morning and five Crossbills were in trees around the main car park at Wakerley Wood, very much a traditional stop-over site for them. 

This afternoon and there were four Cattle Egrets on the Main Lake at Stanwick and Hollowell Reservoir continued to host the female Ruddy Shelduck plus a Little Ringed Plover and a Dunlin (with an Osprey in the morning).

The adult male Common Redstart was seen again this afternoon at Harrington Airfield, moving between bushes about 50m beyond the chippings compound. Also present was a pair of Grey Partridge and a foraging Stoat.

Information relating to the colour-ringed Common Tern seen at Pitsford Reservoir on Monday (and also Saturday by Adrian) has quickly been provided by the project ringer Andy Smith. The bird was ringed as a nestling at Watermead Country Park, Leicestershire on 18th June 2017, so it's not far from it's natal area. Hitherto it had been reported twice during it's life, the first time at Seaforth, Merseyside on 14th August 2017 and then on Coquet Island, Northumberland on 18th June 2019! Terns are amazing travelers and their light but strong frame takes them all over the globe and often very quickly. 

Following its dispersal in the autumn of 2017 it no doubt traveled around quite a bit of the UK before heading off to winter in African coastal waters where in all probability it remained throughout 2018.
Clearly in the spring of 2019 it visited the NE coast of England (Coquet Island is the place in England for Roseate Tern and whilst there it would probably have been easily outnumbered by this species and Arctic Tern too). In any event this summer finds it back in the English Midlands where we might speculate as to whether it is one of the breeding birds on the tern rafts at Pitsford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

UO5 as a nestling just after
being ringed in June 2017,
image courtesy of Andy Smith.

...and this is what UO5 looks
like now, a beautiful, sleek
adult Common Tern.

The Pitsford Oystercatchers
of 2019 ( it might be the same
pair again this year) courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Ringlet butterfly courtesy
of John Tilly.

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Cranes, grebes and Siskins

Hello

It seemed a much quieter day for sightings in the county today, well that was until this afternoon when Stuart Munday witnessed two Common Cranes fly over his house in Duston, Northampton towards Sixfields! Unfortunately they weren't reported again.

The two juvenile Black-necked Grebes were still at Summer Leys LNR today as was a single Common Sandpiper.

The southern end of Pitsford Reservoir attracted four Yellow-legged Gulls at lunchtime with a fifth north of the causeway later. There was also a Spotted Flycatcher and a Grey Wagtail next to the Sailing Club and there were four Grey Wagtails in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

Four Siskins flew over our Hanging Houghton garden this morning and at Stanwick Pits this afternoon there were four Mediterranean Gulls, three Common Sandpipers and thirteen Siskins.

A ringing session near Greens Norton this morning demonstrated pre-planning with an excellent catch of 112 birds of eleven species made up of 39 Great Tits, 28 Blue Tits, 7 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 7 Wrens, 5 Treecreepers, 3 Blackbirds, 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs and 2 Bullfinches. At a few sites in the county this year, nest box usage by Great Tits has been more numerous than Blue Tits. This could be simply due to the larger Great Tit out-competing the Blue Tit for a prime nesting site or in some areas the Great Tit is now the more numerous of the two. However in our garden the ratio is about ten juvenile Blue Tits to one juvenile Great Tit!

Also this year I have been noticing a lack of Dunnocks with none currently in our garden and a couple of places which normally have a concentration of pairs where there are now only a few. Sadly Bullfinches have been reducing slowly during the last ten years and the population seems to have plateaued out at a new reduced level of birds - a scenario duplicated by quite a few passerines in Northamptonshire during the last three decades. On the plus side we now have more Goldfinches, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Cetti's Warblers and Robin and Wren populations are doing well following a recent run of mild winters.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Great Spotted
Woodpecker courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Banded General Soldierfly
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Black and Yellow Longhorn
Beetle courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Jumping Spider
Satticus scenicus.

...and with a rather large
prey item!

 Images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Eventful Monday

Hello

A Sunday evening visit back to the River Welland at Market Harborough provided close views of an Otter, albeit at dusk in challenging light conditions.

Another blustery day (Monday) with squalls and sharp showers gave way to lovely sunshine but still a strong wind and a beautiful evening.

Matt Hazleton was on the ball at Summer Leys LNR this morning, locating two juvenile Black-necked Grebes off Round Island, a very early 'autumn' dispersal record. Later observers enjoyed these birds plus a party of up to twenty-three Black-tailed Godwits and a fly-over Curlew.

Steve's morning visit to Stanwick provided views of four Mediterranean Gulls, a Green Sandpiper and two Barnacle Geese. And Chris Hubbard's continual birding at Stanford Reservoir paid off again with a Little Tern over the dam that flew off west just after 8am.

An Osprey put in an appearance at Hollowell Reservoir again this evening and two Turtle Doves together were seen at a site in the county this afternoon.

Pitsford Reservoir has plenty of waterbirds on show in the Scaldwell Bay currently and in among them were eight splendid adult Black-tailed Godwits on the shoreline between the Maytrees and Bird Club hides. A party of six migrant adult Redshanks were resting on one of the tern rafts, pretty much ignoring the hustle and bustle all around them! The drake Red-crested Pochard was loosely associated with the Gadwall flock there. A colour-ringed Common Tern was photographed and I await details of where it originates.

Although I have suspected it for some time, today was the first time I have actually witnessed a Cormorant predate another waterbird - a well-grown (three quarter size) juvenile Great Crested Grebe was the unfortunate victim with the adults helpless to intervene. The Cormorant drowned the grebe and then swallowed it whole - they are capable of swallowing large fish but this probably didn't slide down so easily!

The non-avian highlights of a stroll and bird feeding expedition to Harrington Airfield was a Grass Snake, Blue Emperor dragonflies and of course Marbled White butterflies. The best birds at Hanging Houghton was a Hobby and a couple of Siskins.

This evening a Quail was calling from a barley field between Cottesbrooke and Blueberry Farm (at about SP 720753) and a male Peregrine was nearby.

Regards

Neil M

Otter at Market
Harborough.

Just-fledged Spotted Flycatcher.

Black-tailed Godwits
at Pitsford Reservoir.

Distant image of a Cormorant
swallowing a Great Crested Grebe.

Colour-ringed Common Tern.

Gusty Sunday

Hello

A very windy but bright day hasn't yielded much in the way of local bird sightings.

Eric spent some time at the Titchmarsh Reserve over the weekend and found both Gadwall and Tufted Duck broods on the reserve. A Pyramidal Orchid was found near Palmer Hide.

Adrian visited Hollowell Reservoir again today and saw the female Ruddy Shelduck, a Great White Egret, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and two Common Sandpipers. Eleanor found another pair of Grey Partridges in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and they were looking after eight small chicks.

A Hobby has been dramatically chasing the Swallows again around the village and a visit to Pitsford Reservoir this morning provided sightings of an Osprey and a party of five Ravens over the Scaldwell Bay. The insects were corralled in sheltered areas behind vegetation and included a good range of common butterflies and small numbers of dragonflies and rather more damselflies. This evening the eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard was visible again from the Bird Club hide.

Tom managed to find a Dark Green Fritillary hanging on just south of Old Sulehay.

Regards

Neil M 

Fly-by Raven.

Small White butterfly.

Seven spot Ladybird and
Common Green Capsid.

Black-tailed Skimmer.

Comma butterfly.

Gatekeeper.

Mallard family. This female
has done extremely well and
raised nine almost full-sized
ducklings!

Marbled White butterfly.

All images taken at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Super Saturday?

Hello

A grey and windy day in the county with the odd blustery shower and occasional glimpse of sunshine.

This morning Spotted Flycatchers were still in New Covert, Kelmarsh but were difficult to see due to the foliage and nearby along the Brampton Valley Way there were quite extensive clumps of fabulous Field Scabious - unfortunately it was too dull for the butterflies to come and enjoy one of their favourite nectar-infused flowers. A pair of Grey Partridge were with two young in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Hobby was vocal.

An afternoon foray up to Harrington Airfield was a breezy affair but still with Marbled Whites and other butterflies active in the sheltered areas. A pair of Grey Partridge were present and an Osprey flew over low to the west.

Early morning birding at Stanwick Pits brought rewards with the Bittern seen in flight again, plus up to five Mediterranean Gulls on view and a Yellow-legged Gull. Summer Leys LNR attracted a Dunlin and a Green Sandpiper.

Hollowell Reservoir is on form currently with the Ruddy Shelduck present (and presumably moulting), a Great White Egret, a fishing Osprey and at least one calling Crossbill by the Sailing Club.

This afternoon an adult male Peregrine was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Field Scabious.

The off-white version of
Common Spotted Orchid
(Harrington Airfield).

Marbled White courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Six-belted Clearwing moth
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Hornet Clearwing moth
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Bits and bobs at Pitsford

Hello

The planned ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir was cancelled due to the high winds but there was still an opportunity for some birding there today. 

A summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit (injured leg) was on the shoreline between the Maytrees and Bird Club hide this morning but appeared to fly off and an eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard was visible from the Bird Club hide. A female Tufted Duck showed off her just-hatched brood of nine ducklings!

This afternoon at the southern end of the reservoir an Osprey flew in and began patrolling the water and after several aborted dives and three immersions he finally picked up his trout prize and flew off. The usual third calendar year Yellow-legged Gull was there, escorting the Osprey for a while, a Whimbrel flew south at 4.30pm and a Hobby and a Common Sandpiper were present too.

At Hollowell Reservoir Jonathan notched up the Ruddy Shelduck and Great White Egret again and Richard located the Common Redstart at Harrington Airfield this morning in the usual place.

Stanwick Pits was an eventful place again today with a Bittern seen in flight, two adult Cattle Egrets, three Mediterranean Gulls, a Black-tailed Godwit and singles of Green and Common Sandpiper. Two juvenile Cattle Egrets were still at Kinewell  Lake, Ringstead Pits and the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits hosted a Hobby and a Green Sandpiper.

This evening there was a Dunlin and a Black-tailed Godwit with a damaged leg (presumably the Pitsford bird) at Summer Leys LNR.

Barn Owls have been active the last few days at Hanging Houghton, Lamport and near Hellidon.

Regards

Neil M

Birds are not the only things
attracted to the seed distributed
at the Pitsford feeding stations.
The female Muntjac has an unusually
shaped left ear which should aid
 identification to the future!

Common Terns.
It's a long wing to preen!

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!