White-fronted Geese and more

Hello

This morning there was a Barn Owl hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton plus a pair of Stonechats with two Woodcock at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

At Thrapston Pits there were four Great White Egrets this morning and this afternoon a flock of ten White-fronted Geese flew south west over the complex. 

At Summer Leys LNR a single White-fronted Goose was present with a flock of thirteen others arriving this afternoon. Late this afternoon a Short-eared Owl was nearby at Wollaston Weir and then flew towards the reserve.

These White-fronted Geese sightings mirror a huge movement of this species in the UK during the last week or so.

At Hollowell Reservoir today the Great Northern Diver remained as did ten Pink-footed Geese, a Great White Egret, the Ruddy Shelduck, a Caspian Gull and two Stonechats.

Stanford Reservoir hosted the four Black-necked Grebes still plus two Whooper Swans (before being flushed) and two Bearded Tits on the Leicester bank.

Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate corralled at least six Siskins and four Woodcock this afternoon and a pair of Blackcaps were attracted to apples in a Greens Norton garden.

Regards

Neil M

White-fronted Goose courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Good numbers of Woodcock
have arrived now...amazing birds!

Little Grebe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Birds of Friday

Hello

Harrington Airfield in the mist this morning provided a flock of about seventy Golden Plovers and the usual winter thrushes, finches and buntings.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway included a Great White Egret, a Red-crested Pochard, a Kingfisher, four Stonechats and a Brambling.

Sywell Country Park was quiet today but a Water Rail showed nicely, and there were several Siskins and a Grey Wagtail. Another Grey Wagtail was seen in Maidwell village and there were two Woodcock flushed at nearby Blueberry Farm with another one at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

Ten Little Egrets were seen feeding near the River Tove, off Mill Lane, Greens Norton and birds visible alongside the River Welland in Market Harborough town centre included the Siberian Chiffchaff still, two or three Chiffchaffs, a Grey Wagtail and a confiding Kingfisher.

Regards

Neil M

A leucistic Chaffinch courtesy
of Angela Fortescue-Thomas.

Cock Pheasant courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Welland Valley birds

Hello

A rather raw, grey day with a brief hint of sunshine didn't seem to produce sightings of anything very new in the county.

Pitsford Reservoir kept hold of two Great White Egrets and a Red-crested Pochard in the Scaldwell Bay and a first year Yellow-legged Gull by the dam. Hollowell Reservoir remains good with the Great Northern Diver, seven Pink-footed Geese, two Great White Egrets and the Ruddy Shelduck.

At least three Black-necked Grebes and a Great White Egret were seen at Stanford Reservoir and Clifford Hill Pits hosted two adult White-fronted Geese and twenty Barnacle Geese. Two hundred Golden Plovers were in fields between Scaldwell and Brixworth early afternoon.

Stewart found twenty-five Crossbills at Fineshade Wood this afternoon plus seven Redpolls and two Ravens.

I took a look at the Welland Valley this afternoon where the floods had mostly receded. A Great White Egret, two Egyptian Geese and a nice selection of gulls were below Cottingham with a flock of Wigeon, two Dunlin and a hundred and fifty Lapwings between Rockingham and Gretton. A Grey Wagtail and two Ravens were at Gretton Weir with about two hundred and fifty Wigeon, smaller numbers of Teal and good numbers of Common Gulls at Harringworth.

At Laxton there was a collection of fifty-five Red Kites which was presumably a pre-roost gathering and eight Shelducks and a Kingfisher at Deene Lake.

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing.

Common Gull courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Wigeon courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Brixworth ringing

Hello

A ringing session took place at Brixworth Treatment Works today which resulted in 104 captures which included 17 Redwings, two Blackbirds, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Cetti's Warbler (only the third ringed on-site), four Goldcrests, a remarkable eighteen Wrens, a Pied Wagtail and fourteen Reed Buntings. Small numbers of Snipe and Water Rails were present plus three Grey Wagtails, a Redpoll and a small flock of Golden Plovers flew over. The Pytchley Hunt were frustrated when their wily fox quarry took refuge within the compound - which put a smile on our faces!

At Harrington Airfield this morning a Short-eared Owl was present plus two Woodcock, a Brambling, four Redpoll and several Siskins. A pair of Stonechat were still in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and three Roe Deer remained at Blueberry Farm.

The four Black-necked Grebes and a Great White Egret remained at Stanford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Cetti's Warbler courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Apparent Siberian Chiffchaff
at Market Harborough, images
courtesy of Don West.

Red Kite courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Birds of the frost

Hello

Yesterday (Monday) and Kenny's little team at Linford Lakes committed to early morning ringing which again provided some interesting species. In total there were 52 captures of twelve species, thirty-six of these birds were newly-ringed. Seven new Chiffchaffs included another Siberian Chiffchaff and thrushes included twelve Redwings, eight Blackbirds and a Song Thrush. Two Water Rails were also caught which included a re-trapped bird from October 2019 and five captured Siskins included one bearing a Norwegian ring!

'Bob' the Robin was on form again, landing on the equipment and ringers and the ring details confirmed him to be a first year bird ringed in October this year.

A return visit this morning (Tuesday) provided 17 birds which included five Blackbirds, a Redwing, a Kingfisher, two Chiffchaffs, a Reed Bunting, a Goldfinch and a re-trapped Robin not encountered since ringed as a juvenile back in 2017.

I took a walk at Harrington Airfield this morning and the hoar frost was very impressive. The birds were hungry and almost following me around as I broadcast food at the usual spots. A flock of thirty-five Golden Plovers were present. 

At Pitsford Reservoir today thirty birds were caught and processed which included seven Greenfinches, two Tree Sparrows, two Starlings, a Blackbird, a Marsh Tit and singles of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. Other birds present north of the causeway included three Great White Egrets, 200 Fieldfares, two Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail and a Brambling with an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the pontoon by the dam.

Birds in Market Harborough alongside the River Welland included an injured/sick Sparrowhawk, two nominate Chiffchaffs but no sign of the ringed Siberian Chiffchaff that has been present for a few days. The Firecrest wasn't seen but a 'crest heard calling in yews could have been it acting in a reclusive manner.

A Woodcock was at Lamport Hall this afternoon and time spent at Brixworth Water Treatment Works this afternoon provided views of a Woodcock, six Snipe, at least two Water Rails, a Grey Wagtail, about five Siskins and a roost of Reed Buntings which exceeded forty birds.

Stanford Reservoir hosted four Black-necked Grebes today and Hollowell Reservoir supported the Great Northern Diver, eleven Pink-footed Geese still, two Great White Egrets, Ruddy Shelduck, seven Crossbills and five Stonechats. Stanwick Pits still entertained the first year White-fronted Goose, a Great White Egret and two Dunlin.

Single male Blackcaps graced two gardens in Hanging Houghton today and at Priors Marston.

Regards

Neil M

A frosty morning
at Harrington Airfield.

Male Blackcap at
Hanging Houghton.

First year male
Blackbird courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Apparent Siberian Chiffchaff
courtesy of Kenny.

Siskin courtesy
of Kenny.

'Bob' the Robin
 courtesy of Kenny.

Adult male Kingfisher
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Foggy Monday

 Hello

Another cold day with reduced visibility for much of the time, although the fog and mist did move around and permitted some birding opportunities.

Yesterday (Sunday) and David Arden watched a female Blackcap coming to some apple in his garden at Spratton and today (Monday) Fiona Barclay witnessed a male Blackcap eating apple in her Hanging Houghton garden.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there was at least one Great White Egret north of the causeway, a Redshank on the causeway and a Siskin and a Kingfisher at the dam end.

At least two Black-necked Grebes were visible at Stanford Reservoir which also provisioned for a Great White Egret and a likely 'ringtail' Hen Harrier.

A first year White-fronted Goose was with Greylags on fields at the north-east end of Stanwick Pits today and five Goosanders were on the Ski Pits at Ditchford.

A Woodcock was flushed at Harrington Airfield this morning and at least one Golden Plover was heard calling in the fog and this afternoon there were two Woodcock at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a pair of Stonechat in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Another Stonechat was seen on a weedy area off Sandy Lane, Moulton.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Yellowlegs as 
seen at Wiveton, Norfolk
 on Saturday, courtesy
of Bethan Clyne.

A one-legged Marsh Tit
is visiting a Spratton garden
currently, image courtesy of
John Hunt.

Male Blackcap.

A day in the north of the county

Hello

A day to the north of the county in cold, wintery conditions provided plenty of wildlife.

We arrived at Fineshade Woods just after dawn and birds located included a flock of twenty-five Crossbills (Westhay Woods complex), two Woodcock, a Peregrine, twelve plus Redpolls and about twenty Siskins.

We then spent a fair chunk of the day at Wakerley Woods but the Crossbills remained mobile and difficult to see in and around the mature larch plantation near to the car park (but small parties in other parts of the wood too) and couldn't confirm the presence of the Parrot Crossbill. There were about thirty Common Crossbills present. Just a few Siskins and Redpolls were in the wood with two Woodcock and a couple of Fallow Deer on the rough section of Harringworth Airfield. A small flock of Pink-footed Geese were heard flying over Wakerley Wood but not seen.

Blatherwycke Lake was next and the geese were well spread and with many birds obscured behind trees. The Mandarin Duck flock numbered only sixteen birds and a pair of noisy Egyptian Geese were present too. The best creature was an Otter which swam the length of the lake and then showed closely at the southern end where there was also a Kingfisher.

Deene Lake hosted three adult Whooper Swans (presumably the same birds from Blatherwycke last week), yet more hundreds of Greylags plus an Egyptian Goose, two Kingfishers and a Stonechat.

The extensive flooding in the Welland Valley was the most water I've seen in the valley for decades with floodwater from Rockingham to Wakerley - we didn't have sufficient daylight to appreciate what the floods had attracted but there were flocks of Wigeon, Lapwing, gulls and some geese.

Other birds reported in the county today included two Great White Egrets and an adult Yellow-legged Gull at Pitsford Reservoir and a Crossbill heard calling in Badby Wood.

Hollowell Reservoir continues to cater for the long-staying Great Northern Diver, two Great White Egrets, the female Ruddy Shelduck and at one stage eleven Pink-footed Geese with four briefly alighting to join the original flock of seven.

Stanford Reservoir continues to harbour four Black-necked Grebes, two Bearded Tits and a Great White Egret.

Regards

Neil M

A rather cold-looking
Robin warming up in
the sun at Fineshade Wood.

Fallow Deer Harringworth Airfield.

Otter at Blatherwycke Lake.

Some much better images
of yesterday's Iceland Gull
courtesy of Bethan Clyne.

A day in Norfolk

Hello

A day out in Norfolk today began at Weybourne where a dead Sperm Whale washed up recently was nevertheless spectacular even in death. Interesting birds there included a juvenile Iceland Gull, Velvet and Common Scoters, Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Water Pipit and migrating geese.

We went on to briefly visit Cley and Wiveton before walking out to the sea at Titchwell and finishing at Lady Anne's Drive at Holkham.

Mammals included Common and Grey Seals and Muntjac, Roe and Chinese Water Deer and the best of the birds were a Lesser Yellowlegs on flooded meadows at Wiveton, geese of seven species, a Bewick's Swan, four more Water Pipits, lots of Marsh Harriers including calling and part-displaying birds, Spotted Redshank and an excellent variety of waders, Bearded Tits and waterfowl.

In the county today Hollowell Reservoir continued to host the Great Northern Diver, a Ruddy Shelduck, two Great White Egrets, seven Pink-footed Geese and four Crossbills. Four Black-necked Grebes were at Stanford Reservoir and Clifford Hill Pits attracted two adult White-fronted Geese, twenty Barnacle Geese, six Goosanders and a Peregrine.

A Marsh Harrier was seen flying east at Otter Lakes below Irthlingborough (eastern end of Ditchford Pits) and Wakerley Wood provided a refuge for twelve Crossbills near the car park with neighbouring Fineshade Wood also attracting a flock of Crossbills and two Ravens.

Regards

Neil M

Dead Sperm Whale.

Common Scoters.

Iceland Gull.

Redshank.

Birds of another cold, wet day...

Hello

A thoroughly horrible day's weather for most people in the county today but the forecast for the week-end looks much better.

An excursion up to Harrington Airfield before first light was pretty windy but not too wet, much of the rain coming later. A Woodcock was flushed and there were about a hundred Golden Plovers, about two hundred Fieldfares and over a hundred Redwings on the top fields with a Barn Owl disturbed from hedging towards the Brampton Valley Way.

Two Ravens were again at Hanging Houghton with two pairs of Stonechats in the Brampton Valley below the village. The four Black-necked Grebes were again at Stanford Reservoir and a Great White Egret was at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits.

At Pitsford Reservoir this morning four Bewick's Swans were located on the water in the Scaldwell Bay but unfortunately flew off in a north-westerly just a few minutes later. Three Great White Egrets were also visible in the bay.

Regards

Neil M

Golden Plover.

Bewick's Swan.

Wigeon.

Little Bunting...another
overdue species yet to
be confirmed in the county!

Wet and cold Thursday

Hello

A cold and wet winter's day and very dull and dank this afternoon.

Just outside of the county a Firecrest showed up at Market Harborough - feeding alongside the River Welland in ivy-clad trees in the town centre opposite Argos and Wilkinson and between the two foot bridges over the river. The first year female Peregrine was still on the nearby church spire.

Jacob and Bethan spent time at a very wet and water-logged Harrington Airfield where many of the winter thrushes present were worming in the fields with estimated counts of 850 Fieldfares and 350 Redwings.

The Great Northern Diver and two Great White Egrets were still at Hollowell Reservoir today and the four Black-necked Grebes were still at Stanford Reservoir.

The very small gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon provided an opportunity to read the details of a colour-ringed Black-headed Gull and a first year Yellow-legged Gull was there for a time.

It might be cold and wintery out there but we are still receiving visits from hedgehogs in our garden each night.

Regards

Neil M

Firecrest.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Birds of early December

Hello

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included a Water Pipit at dawn which seemingly didn't linger, four Great White Egrets, a leucistic drake Red-crested Pochard, eight Pintail, a Green Sandpiper, three Snipe and three Kingfishers. Jacob estimated the dispersing roosts of corvids and counted 990 Rooks and an amazing 6,100 Jackdaws and a post roost dispersal of 3,000 Starlings from elsewhere which flew high over the reservoir.

Ringing on site provided eighty captures of small birds which included ten Tree Sparrows (a reserve conservation priority species) and a pleasantly surprising total of twenty-five Greenfinches which is quite a number by modern day standards. Nearby a Blackcap was seen in Scaldwell village and a small number of Golden Plovers remain at Harrington Airfield.

Down at Greens Norton Chris and team completed another ringing session which provided 74 captures with thirty Redwings and four Lesser Redpolls within the total. A Woodcock was seen on-site.

Deene Lake hosted over two hundred Teal today plus four pairs of Shelduck, a pair of Egyptian Geese and a pair of Black Swans.

The four Black-necked Grebes were seen again at Stanford Reservoir and a Green Sandpiper was noted at Ashton Water Treatment Works.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpolls courtesy
of Chris Payne.