How cold the wind doth blow

Hello

Early morning birding ensured that Steve Fisher saw two Sandwich Terns head east through Stanwick Pits first thing! More early morning birding and vis-miging at Harrington Airfield by Jacob ensured a count of at least thirty Bramblings which came down into the bushes by the bunkers and then flew out again. This afternoon there were still several Bramblings present with other finches, Tree Sparrows and buntings plus a female Wheatear and eighteen Golden Plovers.

Birding at Pitsford Reservoir today coincided with the beginning of the fly-fishing season so many of the birds normally south of the causeway were later found in the relative calm of the reserve north of the causeway. The drake Scaup and hybrid female were initially off the dam and the Sailing Club in the morning but by late afternoon were with displaced Tufted Ducks near to Lagoon Hide north of the causeway. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were present, a single Great White Egret was seen and singles of Curlew and an unidentified 'Commic' Tern were seen heading north over the reservoir. Other birds included thirty Fieldfares, three Oystercatchers, two Snipe, sixteen Swallows and about a dozen Sand Martins.

Blackcaps seem to be arriving in numbers now - I heard singles singing at four different places today.

An Osprey was seen over Lower Barnwell Lock flood at 4.35pm heading towards Oundle and another Osprey showed this afternoon at Hollowell Reservoir.

Thrapston Pits yielded an adult Little Gull on Town Lake for much of the day with a supporting cast of two Common Terns, all three common hirundines, a fly-over Curlew and a Goosander. Summer Leys LNR recorded a Ringed Plover and a Common Tern and an evening patrol of Stanwick Pits provided four Little Ringed Plovers and two Yellow Wagtails. There were in excess of twenty Swallows at Wicksteed Park this afternoon.

Ravens included two on roadkill near Chipping Warden and a single at Moulton. Clifford Hill Pits was the place to see the first spring Garganey with two drakes and two ducks this morning - other birds included a Yellow Wagtail, a Swallow, a Ringed Plover, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Redshank.

A group of interesting big gulls on flood water alongside the A5 by DIRFT 3 near Lilbourne included a first winter Caspian Gull, a probable Caspian x Herring Gull hybrid and two Yellow-legged Gulls.

A Black Redstart chose late this evening to call and subsequently show itself in our cul-de-sac at The Croft in Hanging Houghton - perhaps just reward for popping outside after dinner in the cool wind to top up the garden feeders for the birds in the morning!

Regards

Neil M

Part of the Harrington
Brambling flock courtesy
of Jacob Spinks - you might
need a magnifying glass!

Reed Bunting at
Hanging Houghton
courtesy of Nathan Jones.

Buck Roe Deer at
Hanging Houghton
courtesy of Nathan Jones.

Last day of March

Hello

A ringing session took place at Pitsford Reservoir in the Walgrave Bay today in stunning weather conditions! Some 102 birds were processed of seventeen species with perhaps the highlights being several long-lived re-trapped individuals and warblers in the shape of a Willow Warbler, five Chiffchaffs and three Blackcaps. Other birds noted included between two and four Crossbills, six or so Siskins and a similar number of Redpolls, a Swallow, a male Peregrine, two Great White Egrets, six Ravens and a Kingfisher. Bee Flies, shield bugs, butterflies, small bats and a couple of active adult Common Toads provided a distraction from the birds. Nearby there were two Swallows and a singing Blackcap in Old village and a small group of Brown Hares too.

The Otter has shown in Abington Park, Northampton both early yesterday morning and this morning and yesterday there were four Ring-necked Parakeets near to Greens Norton where three Blackcaps were caught and ringed by local ringer Chris Payne. At least one Cetti's Warbler was located in the Nene Valley at Nassington yesterday, which is believed to be a new site and an indication that they wintered well and are looking to spread further.

The weather of the last few days has certainly provided a rush of north-bound migrants - I think today was the first day this year I didn't record a Redwing or Fieldfare - and in their stead Chiffchaffs are widespread and other early summer migrants are popping up too. A flock of four thousand Sand Martins were reported in Clyde, Scotland today!

This morning two Sandwich Terns flew east at Stanford Reservoir at 8.35am, four Little Ringed Plovers were found on pools on some rough ground on the outskirts of Kettering, a Swallow was seen in Hardingstone village and a male Common Redstart was seen albeit briefly at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry. Another male Common Redstart made an appearance and then disappeared at Harrington Airfield (along the concrete track by the Shooting Wall) and other birds noted there included a pair of Grey Partridge, six Golden Plovers and about six Bramblings.

The Nene Valley provided a suite of excellent birds, which a decade ago we would have said were classic birds of early/mid April! A drake Ring-necked Duck was an excellent find by Mark Williams at Clifford Hill Pits - whether this is either of the Ditchford or Stanwick birds or a fresh individual is anyone's guess but there is an influx of them in the UK this spring. The Dark-bellied Brent Goose remains at the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadow reserve section of Ditchford Pits where today there was also a Black-necked Grebe and a Swallow.

At Summer Leys LNR there were a pair of Avocets, a Mediterranean Gull and three Black-tailed Godwits and Thrapston Pits continued to host the Glossy Ibis on the Titchmarsh reserve plus four or five Great White Egrets, a pair of Oystercatchers, a large Peregrine, two Common Terns, a Kingfisher and plenty of singing Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.

Phew and March used to be a dreary month for birding in the county!

Regards

Neil M

Otter Abington Park
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Reed Bunting courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Lewis Aaron.

Willow Warbler courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Second calendar year
male Blackcap courtesy of
Bethan Clyne.

Second calendar
year male Blackbird
courtesy of Bethan Clyne.

Butterflies, raptors and drop-in migrants

Hello

Very warm conditions today brought out plenty of butterflies and soaring raptors!

In such excellent conditions passerines would have been migrating in good numbers, but probably not staying long where they do touch down en-route to somewhere else.

At Hanging Houghton Fieldfares were on the move just after dawn but then seemed to disappear and probably moved off high to the north with a following breeze. Early birds at Pitsford Reservoir this morning included the drake Scaup just off the dam, a Wheatear was on the dam and an Osprey was intent on fishing. At the other end of the reservoir there was a Crossbill and a Redpoll at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay.

Birds at Harrington Airfield this morning included a grey Black Redstart at Bunker Two feeding with two Wheatears, a flushed Jack Snipe, two Snipe, twenty-five Golden Plovers, a singing Willow Warbler, two Swallows, a Grey Partridge and at least ten Bramblings. A Blackcap was singing at Kelmarsh Hall.

Bramblings and Siskins were still at Wakerley Wood car park today and down at Bucknell Wood there were lots of butterflies of four species, a singing Blackcap, a Redpoll and a couple of singing Siskins.

Steve's early morning jaunt at Stanwick Pits provided a sighting of the drake Ring-necked Duck on Main Lake, Alan and Nick saw the Glossy Ibis on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits and two Avocets were on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR.

At Hollowell Reservoir a Water Pipit dropped in at 11.50am but unfortunately flew off south some ten minutes later and other birds included two Snipe, a Jack Snipe and a Great White Egret. Ian clocked up a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap and a Dunlin at Clifford Hill Pits and John found two Wheatears at Polebrook Airfield today and a Cattle Egret was reported flying over Islip. March Sedge Warblers were located at Stanwick and Earls Barton Pits today.

A Hobby north over Hollowell village just after 6pm this evening is an excellent early local record.

Regards

Neil M

Male Brambling at
Wakerley Wood courtesy
of Nathan Jones.

Female Siskin at
Wakerley Wood
courtesy of Nathan
Jones.

Birding in the warmth

Hello

It took a little while to get going, but the warmth of today brought forth a rush of insects including plenty of butterflies on the wing! The next two days should also be warm before the cool air and lower temperatures return just in time for Easter!

Harrington Airfield today recorded thirty Golden Plovers, three Grey Partridges, two Wheatears, a fly-over Swallow heading north and at least four Bramblings.

In the north of the county the car park at Wakerley Wood remains good with about ten Crossbills today plus at least three Bramblings, about a dozen Lesser Redpolls and small numbers of Siskins.

A Peregrine was soaring over Hanging Houghton at 1pm today, two Swallows were seen at Boddington Reservoir and John Friendship-Taylor found an excellent nine Wheatears at Hinton Airfield this evening.

Over at Thrapston Pits the Glossy Ibis was present on the Titchmarsh Reserve after flying from the horse field and there were two Great White Egrets too and a Common Tern again on Town Lake. Four House Martins were at Islip this evening.

Elsewhere in the Nene Valley there were four Wheatears at Clifford Hill Pits, three Mediterranean Gulls at Summer Leys LNR and two Avocets re-appeared at Otter Lake on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve and remained for much of the day, with four Cattle Egrets flying through there.

Reservoir birding provided an Osprey at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this afternoon, two - four Crossbills at Hollowell Reservoir this morning and the drake Scaup and female friend off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir plus some Siskins in the Walgrave Bay.

Regards

Neil M

Siskins courtesy of
Beth Clyne.

Swallow.

Brown Hare.

The migrants keep coming

Hello

A grey, cool and breezy day hopefully precedes a couple of nice warm days to come!

The first Willow Warblers of the spring were found in Northampton and Corby today, perhaps seeking the relative comfort of suburbia!

Rare county birds remained on show today with the Glossy Ibis seen at Thrapston Pits (both on the Titchmarsh reserve and the horse field by the A605 layby) and the drake Ring-necked Duck was seen again on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits.

A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was in the copse near to Beck Dairy, Cottesbrooke this morning, there were several Bramblings still at Harrington Airfield and a Woodcock was flushed from the Brampton Valley Way near the Kelmarsh Tunnels.

Other birds at Thrapston Pits included a Great White Egret, a pair of Oystercatchers, over a hundred Sand Martins, two Swallows and a Wheatear in a field next to the complex. Stanwick Pits also attracted a drake Smew on the north pits plus a Little Ringed Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit and two adult Mediterranean Gulls. Just down the road and Summer Leys LNR provided sightings of two Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Ringed Plover and a Black-tailed Godwit.

Over at Woodford Halse a flock of about one hundred and eighty Golden Plovers were disturbed from a bean field.

Hopefully a reduction in the wind and some rising temperatures during the next two days may provide more migrant opportunities.

Regards

Neil M

Black-tailed Godwit.

Summer plumage
Golden Plover of the
northern form.

Redshank.

Willow Warbler.

Incoming from the south - Chiffchaffs, Wheatears and Sand Martins...

Hello

An Osprey was on the roam today being seen at a number of locations including Pitsford, Ravensthorpe and Hollowell Reservoirs with a different individual being seen over Ecton Lakes.

Other birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included a Great White Egret, fifty Golden Plovers, a second calendar year female Peregrine, ten Sand Martins, twenty-seven Chiffchaffs, nineteen Goldcrests and four Siskins with northward movements of Meadow Pipits and Fieldfares.

Harrington Airfield hosted a male Wheatear at Bunker Two and a minimum of four Bramblings were present too. Two Mediterranean Gulls were located with Black-headed Gulls at Isebridge south of Burton Latimer, an area of the county that seems to be poorly covered by active birders.

The Nene Valley below Earls Barton was utilised by significant flocks of Sand Martins today and Little Ringed Plovers were located at a couple of spots too plus a White Wagtail and two Green Sandpipers. Summer Leys LNR attracted a Black-tailed Godwit and three Mediterranean Gulls and Clifford Hill Pits pulled in four Wheatears and a Little Ringed Plover. Another Wheatear was at Chelveston Airfield, the Glossy Ibis was reported again in it's field next to Thrapston Pits and the drake Smew was seen again on Delta Lake at Ditchford Pits.

Two Avocets were on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve and the drake Ring-necked Duck was seen again on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits, this latter site still providing provision for four Cattle Egrets.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir provided some migration respite for at least ten House Martins and fifty Sand Martins and Hollowell Reservoir continues to house a flock of at least five Crossbills and a Jack Snipe.

Regards

Neil M

Mediterranean Gull.

Cattle Egret.

Wheatear courtesy of
Jacob Spinks.

Kestrel courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Sand Martins in numbers at last

Hello

Plenty of gusty and at times cool conditions today with rain and brief snarls of hail thrown in for good measure!

Pitsford Reservoir was quite inhospitable at times, particularly south of the causeway in the late morning rain. Birds appeared though in the shape of a second calendar year Peregrine, the drake Scaup and hybrid female, a Kingfisher, a Great White Egret, at least eighty Sand Martins including a flock of sixty-two in the Scaldwell Bay this afternoon and a mobile flock of about three hundred Golden Plovers over in the direction of Sywell Airfield.

Harrington Airfield this afternoon hosted at least four Bramblings and five Grey Partridges and Desborough Airfield was good for another flock of three hundred Golden Plovers and a flock of fifty Meadow Pipits on sodden stubble.

Clifford Hill Pits attracted a Wheatear, a Little Ringed Plover and a Sand Martin and there were at least fifty Sand Martins over the new workings at Earls Barton Pits.

An Avocet was a good find at Otter Lake on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve at Ditchford Pits, and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose was reported from there too.

Birds at Thrapston Pits included the Glossy Ibis in the horse field again, a Common Tern on Town Lake and a Swallow and about fifty Sand Martins around Islip Water Treatment Works. Another Swallow was in Hollowell village today.

Roadkill mammals included a Polecat on the road between Brixworth and the Pitsford causeway with what may have been a Ferret/Polecat cross dead yesterday at the side of the A508 between Pitsford and Boughton villages. 

Regards

Neil M

Sand Martin courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Dunnock at Harrington
Airfield courtesy of 
Paul Crotty.

Male Yellowhammer at
Harrington Airfield courtesy
of Paul Crotty.

Nesting Rooks at Sywell
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Ring-necked Parakeets at 
Abington Park today courtesy
of Jim Dunkley. Apparently the
Otter was on show there at 7.30am
 this morning.

More arrivals from the south...

Hello

An Osprey at Hollowell Reservoir early this morning and one later in the day at both Ravensthorpe and Pitsford Reservoirs could refer to the same bird as more of these big raptors infiltrate the UK from the south - they are most welcome!

Thrapston Pits today included the now long-staying Glossy Ibis still feeding in the horse field which I'm assuming is rich in worms and other invertebrates, Sand Martins over Town Lake, a Swallow over Islip Water Treatment Works, three Great White Egrets, two singing Blackcaps and rather more singing Chiffchaffs and Cetti's Warblers.

Two Mediterranean Gulls were at Stanwick Pits and Summer Leys LNR sported an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Black-tailed Godwit and thirty-four Snipe. There were six Snipe, a Cetti's Warbler and a Grey Wagtail at Barnes Meadow LNR. The drake Ring-necked Duck was reported from Big Lake at Ditchford Pits this afternoon.

An afternoon walk at Harrington Airfield provided sightings of four Ravens, a pair of Grey Partridges, four Golden Plovers and at least two Bramblings. Two more Ravens were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today and Pitsford Reservoir also provided sightings of the drake Scaup and hybrid female off the dam, the pair of Oystercatchers, a Great White Egret and a Yellow-legged Gull with a flock of ca300 Golden Plovers circling over Scaldwell village this afternoon.

The immature White-fronted Goose was seen with Greylags at Stanford Reservoir this morning before flying off towards South Kilworth. A first winter Caspian Gull was reported from Boddington Reservoir late morning.

A pair of Blackcaps are still visiting a Wollaston garden and two were singing at Sixfields, Northampton and a Peregrine was observed chasing pigeons at Whitworths, Wellingborough.

Overnight sound recordings at Scaldwell picked up three flocks of migrating Common Scoters made up of at least seven birds, a Little Grebe, five Common Gulls, a Song Thrush and five Redwings.

Clifford Hill Pits incorporating Abington Meadows and the Nene Barrage has been added to the Birdwatching Site Maps tab, coutesy of Neil Hasdell.

Regards

Neil M

Oystercatchers at Pitsford
Reservoir today courtesy of
Beth Clyne.

Osprey with trout.

Scarce county birds in March

Hello

Eric's visit to the car park at Wakerley Wood this morning provided an opportunity to watch a pair of Crossbills and with the feeders there attracting several Bramblings, ten Redpolls and four Siskins. Nearby an Osprey flew over the road near Bulwick and Deene Lake hosted two Green Sandpipers, lots of Teal and three pairs of Shelduck.

A Black Redstart was a good local find at Ashton Water Treatment Works but unfortunately it wasn't seen after the initial sighting. This record fits in with quite a number being found nationally today with groups of up to seven.

Another good find was a Common Crane seen flying north over the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston - hopefully the first of several this spring as their numbers continue to increase in the UK. The Glossy Ibis was still in the horse field off the A605 layby today.

The Ring-necked Duck was reported at Stanwick Pits today and the long-staying drake at Ditchford Pits was reportedly still present too (presumably on Big Lake), seemingly confirming two different drakes in the Nene Valley. The Dark-bellied Brent Goose remained next to Otter Lake on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve, sticking close to two Canada Geese.

At Summer Leys LNR today a Great White Egret was seen plus two Little Ringed Plovers, a Black-tailed Godwit, nineteen Snipe, a Pintail and a Mediterranean Gull.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included the drake Scaup and hybrid female, a fly-over Curlew, a Shelduck, two Oystercatchers, a Snipe and a Great White Egret with a Redpoll in a nearby Scaldwell garden.

Harrington Airfield continued to hold common buntings and finches including about a dozen Bramblings with Ravens there, at Lamport and Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

An immature White-fronted Goose was at Stanford Reservoir after being found there initially yesterday evening and a flock of fifty Sand Martins at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this afternoon was the first large number seen so far this spring.

Bucknell Wood and the Hazelborough Forest area has been added to the Birdwatching Site maps tab courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Regards

Neil M

The beginnings of a tit nest
at Scotland Wood today, courtesy
of Lynne Barnett.

A nest of Wood Mice at Scotland Wood
today, courtesy of Lynne Barnett.

Male House Sparrow courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

A Common Buzzard attempting
to hunt very quick Rabbits!
Image courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Nene Valley birding

Hello

Last night's nocturnal sound recordings over Scaldwell village logged a Pink-footed Goose over at 9.15pm. Other birds passing over included six Wigeon, a Teal, a Little Grebe, a Water Rail and three Moorhens. Stationary birds included a Barn Owl and two Tawny Owls.

Visible migration at Harrington Airfield this morning included forty-eight Meadow Pipits, thirty-nine Fieldfares and a Dunnock north with nine Golden Plovers flying east. Sixteen Bramblings were feeding on the seed with an additional male in nearby Draughton village. A female Stonechat was also present at Harrington Airfield.

A few each of Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings were in our garden today and a Chiffchaff visited too.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included the drake Scaup and the hybrid Scaup x Tufted Duck just off the dam, a drake Mandarin Duck was in the Catwalk Bay, two Dunlin were on the dam first thing and there were brief visits from four Sand Martins. Hollowell Reservoir attracted an adult Caspian Gull, a Crossbill and a Jack Snipe and a Peregrine was on the communications tower at St Peter's Way, Northampton.

The Nene Valley was responsible for the majority of other reported sightings which included five Black-tailed Godwits on the Lower Barnwell Lock flooded field, and the Glossy Ibis was on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits together with four Great White Egrets, a pair of Oystercatchers, a Kingfisher and plenty of Cetti's Warblers and Chiffchaffs.

Three adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Stanwick Pits and at Ditchford Pits a dark-bellied Brent Goose was a great find on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve (plus a White Wagtail and a Sand Martin). A Mediterranean Gull was also seen on the Summer Leys LNR and Clifford Hill Pits also came up trumps with a lingering Avocet on the main barrage lake.

Regards

Neil M

Yesterday's Wheatear at
Wigsthorpe courtesy of
Tom Green.

Nestling Robins in Chris
Payne's garden!

'Surrounded!' courtesy
of Robin Gossage!

Water Rail courtesy
of Laurence Arnold.

Finally...the Wheatears have arrived!

Hello

A period of ringing was undertaken at Kelmarsh Hall today which resulted in 153 birds of fifteen species being caught and processed, the majority being common tits. In addition there were two Siskins caught and ringed plus Goldfinches, Chaffinches, two Redwings and a couple of Nuthatches. Up to three Ravens and a pair of Grey Wagtails were noted on-site.

Birds at Harrington Airfield today included the Short-eared Owl, the female Merlin and several Bramblings and there was one or two Brambling(s) in our garden at Hanging Houghton with two Ravens overhead.

There seemed to be a movement of Wheatears this afternoon with birds making landfall near Wigsthorpe, on top of Blueberry Hill and the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, the first I have heard of in the county this spring.

At Pitsford Reservoir the drake Scaup and hybrid female were again off the dam and north of the causeway there was at least one Great White Egret (third hand report of four individuals), a Snipe and two Oystercatchers with a Barn Owl between Old village and the reserve perimeter.

Summer Leys LNR was the venue for a Mediterranean Gull, a Black-tailed Godwit, twenty plus Snipe, four Dunlin, two Redshanks, two Oystercatchers and two Great White Egrets. The Glossy Ibis was again in the horse field next to Tharpston Pits near to the A605 layby.

Birds sound recorded over Scaldwell last night included two Little Grebes, a Moorhen, a Coot, two Black-headed Gulls, twenty-three Common Gulls and nine Redwings.

Regards

Neil M

Siskin courtesy of Lewis Aaron

Nuthatch courtesy of
Lewis Aaron.

Cock Pheasant.

Otter in Abington Park,
Northampton courtesy of
Dave Jackson. This animal
is showing regularly in the lakes
at the park with most observations
being early in the morning and again
late in the afternoon.

Migrants on the move

Hello

A much quieter ringing session at Harrington Airfield this morning provided fifty-three captures of ten species which included four Fieldfares, twenty-seven Yellowhammers, a Meadow Pipit and a number of finches including Linnets, Goldfinches and Chaffinches. The northerly airstream activated significant passerine migration with over three hundred Meadow Pipits moving over north plus 'alba' wagtails which included two Whites and winter thrushes. Up to a dozen Bramblings were a combination of birds moving overhead or singing in the bushes. Other birds present included about two hundred Golden Plovers and a Brimstone butterfly was on the wing when it was sunny.

An Osprey flew high north over Spratton village at 2pm (there are already three now back at Rutland Water) and birds at Pitsford Reservoir included the two Oystercatchers, two Barnacle Geese, a Great White Egret and a Chiffchaff.

An assessment of the nocmig recordings over Scaldwell village last night included a Water Rail, two Moorhens, a Coot, three Common Gulls, a Little Grebe, two Wigeon, a Grey Heron and thirty-one Redwings.

This morning and a drake Ring-necked Duck was found on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits and a Rock Pipit was there briefly before moving off east. The Glossy Ibis again spent some time in the horse field alongside Thrapston Pits near to the A605 layby and a Mediterranean Gulls and a small selection of common waders were on the Summer Leys LNR. A Jack Snipe was located at Clifford Hill Pits and three Peregrines were visible near to the church at Higham Ferrers. Five Crossbills maintained a presence at Hollowell Reservoir again today and a House Martin was seen at Raunds.

Regards

Neil M

Fieldfare courtesy
of Beth Clyne.

Brambling courtesy of
Lynne Barnett.

Meadow Pipit courtesy
of Beth Clyne.