Redwings and more

Hello

The first couple of hours at Harrington Airfield this morning saw a remarkable passage of Redwings with about 700 moving SW and a further 181 a little later. A few hundred Fieldfares were caught up in the same movement. Other birds included about seventy Golden Plovers, good numbers of Yellowhammers and five Ravens.

Birds at Hanging Houghton included a Raven a Siskin and a Grey Wagtail with two pairs of Stonechat and a Barn Owl in the valley below the village in the afternoon. There were several Siskins and a Redpoll at Scotland Wood.

Elsewhere and the Hollowell Reservoir Great Northern Diver remained on view today plus the Ruddy Shelduck, ten Pink-footed Geese, two Great White Egrets and four Crossbills. Stanford Reservoir continued to host at least one Black-necked Grebe plus a 'redhead' Smew today.

In the Nene Valley the influx of White-fronted Geese continues with nine opposite to the entrance to the Summer Leys LNR and seven on the north-east pit of Stanwick Pits (plus one Great White Egret).

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret.

Great Crested Grebe
with a Perch.

Male Stonechat.

Ravens.

A gallery of local images
courtesy of Bethan Clyne.

Birds of Scotland Wood

Hello

The day began with a pre-dawn visit to Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate where we were watching plenty of shooting stars and a passing satellite as well as trying to count the in-coming Woodcock as they flew in from their nocturnal feeding. With some birds flying around for some time we could only deduce that there were 'several'! 

The subsequent ringing session in the wood provided one hundred and fifty-five birds processed of thirteen species. There was plenty of evidence of a significant passage of winter thrushes and forty-eight Redwings were caught and ringed.

More typical woodland birds were made up of nineteen Great Tits, fifty-one Blue Tits, eighteen Coal Tits, three Marsh Tits, two Long-tailed Tits, five Goldcrests, three Chaffinches. a Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Other birds noted there included a pair of Raven, half a dozen Siskins and three Redpolls.

Not too far away the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton was good today with a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier flying north, a female Merlin chasing passerines, two pairs of Stonechats and a Barn Owl (all this afternoon).

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were three Great White Egrets, a Red-crested Pochard and two pairs of Stonechat and Blatherwycke Lake hosted over forty Mandarin Ducks, a pair of Egyptian Geese, a Black Swan and two Kingfishers. Two female Blackcaps have been visiting David Arden's garden recently at Spratton.

Wildfowl were well represented in the Nene Valley today - two White-fronted Geese were at the eastern end of Clifford Hill Pits, six Goosanders were on Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits, seven White-fronted Geese were at the east end of Stanwick Pits (looking NW from a black bridge) and Thrapston Pits supported two Barnacle Geese between Aldwincle and North Lake and four Great White Egrets. Summer Leys LNR had three Great White Egrets today and there were two Ravens at Walgrave village.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing.

Drake Goosander.

Coal Tit.

A rainy day!

Hello

A quite awful day's weather today with rain for much of it but the weather forecast tomorrow looks quite different with breeze and sunshine.

A Barn Owl again hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton first thing this morning was a nice surprise, with a pair of Stonechats there again this afternoon.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today showed little change with two Great White Egrets, the leucistic drake Red-crested Pochard and a pair of Stonechat in the Scaldwell Bay and six Marsh Tits between the Scaldwell and Maytrees Hides. A first year Yellow-legged Gull was off the dam this afternoon.

Three Marsh Tits, including the one legged bird are visiting John Hunt's garden at Spratton together with a pair of Blackcaps.

A Cetti's Warbler, a Water Rail and up to thirty Magpies were at Brixworth Treatment Works this afternoon with neighbouring fields attracting good numbers of Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and common finches.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Tit.

First year Yellow-legged Gull.

Great Crested Grebe
consuming a small
Bream courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

A Cormorant with a large
Perch courtesy of Robin Gossage.

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.