Bigger garden birds

Hello

A rather dull but not unpleasant day today in the county, but not enough in the way of sunshine to inspire much insect movement. Again it was the garden birds that provided most of the entertainment for me - first brood juvenile Starlings arguing with adults at the feeders - the latter now working hard to feed second broods. Plenty of adult Jackdaws are actively seeking suitable food for their young and descend into the garden at first light making quite a racket! A few advanced youngsters are with them but the majority have yet to fledge or are in the process of doing so - a particularly vulnerable time for them when Carrion Crows and other predators take advantage.

Stock Doves, Collared Doves and Woodpigeons jostle for position on our lawn and young tits in the garden included Coal, Blue and Great this morning. The local pair of Nuthatches are working hard and it sounded like their young possibly fledged today. Anyone who watches Blackbirds will know how hard they work in trying to raise young and already some of the adults are looking pretty tired and with broken or absent feathers. We used to have large numbers of juvenile House Sparrows in the garden from mid-June onwards but the numbers are much lower now and have been since an old farm with stables etc in the village was converted into small cottages.

We are fortunate to still have Greenfinches and today about three family parties came in to feed on the sunflower hearts. Plenty of Goldfinches do likewise, the juveniles quite quickly leaving the adults once they work out how to take hearts from the portholes for themselves. A few juvenile Chaffinches have appeared but already there are individuals suffering from the horrific leg diseases so prevalent in this species and which they clearly had even before fledging.

A Rosy Starling was reported on a bird feeder at Grange Park, Northampton this morning but hasn't been since. In reality these wandering birds could be seen anywhere but they are attracted to gatherings of Starlings and also have a particular taste for soft fruit and cherries. A Caspian Gull was found on pools off the A5 near the DIRFT 3 complex not far from Lilbourne again today.

Regards

Neil M

Jackdaw.

Magpie.

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Juvenile Starling already showing
signs of post-juvenile moult.

All images courtesy of John Tilly.

A very wet Friday!

Hello

Pretty much a complete day of rain probably kept most wildlife watchers inside all day. The birds in the garden have been busy with almost constant visitations from Jackdaws, Stock Doves, Blackbirds, Starlings, several Great Spotted Woodpeckers and plenty of small birds with still one pair of Yellowhammers coming for seed throughout the day. The tits have had a tough season already and this rain will wash off many of the remaining caterpillers and make it doubly difficult for the adults to sustain just-fledged broods. However the parched ground which has soaked up much of the rain will now be easier to work for the Rooks, Carrion Crows and thrushes that have found invertebrate prey hard to come by during the last week or so (many fledged Carrion Crows have been found starved to death locally).

Today the orchids and other flowers at Harringhton Airfield looked much better after the liquid refreshments - a pair of Grey Partridge were present and I surprised a buck Roe Deer in one of the rides. Even in the heavy rain, Yellowhammers and Willow Warblers continued to sing!

Regards

Neil M

Willow Warbler.

Goldfinch.

Yellowhammer.

Roe Deer.

A brood of Great Tit nestlings
 including a single Blue Tit
 nestling too!

 Image from Lamport
Hall courtesy of Bill Draper.

Owls, a Quail and an Otter.

Hello

Yesterday (Wednesday) evening provided a very vocal Quail in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton which showed well on the track near to Shrike Hedge and the field of pink campion. It's tempting to think this may be a fresh bird after three days of no sight or sound of a Quail despite plenty of coverage. A Barn Owl and a Little Owl were out hunting at the same time.

Chris Payne has been checking Barn Owl boxes in South Northants and yesterday ringed ten nestlings in three boxes. In recent years Barn Owls have regularly nested rather late, waiting for the vole poulation to recover from cold and wet winters and springs. This year looks much the same and anecdotal evidence suggest that voles are now back in reasonable numbers.

Some time at Pitsford Reservoir today confirmed the continued presence of the Pink-footed Goose in the Scaldwell Bay with two Yellow-legged Gulls on the buoys not far from Maytrees Hide. Insects in the Scaldwell Meadow included big hatches of Chimney Sweeper moths and Meadow Brown butterflies with smaller numbers of Large Skippers, Common Blues and Small Heaths and Cinnabar moths.

The below trail camera footage relates to a local Otter active at night.

Regards

Neil M

Nestling Barn Owls
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Ardnamurchan Video Clips

These video clips originate from a trail camera recently set up at the Ardnamurchan Bunkhouse in the West Highlands of Scotland and depict Pine Marten, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Jay...

Regards

Neil M

Mid-June insects and birds

Hello

There were only negative reports from Clifford Hill Pits today regarding the Rosy Starling so it may already have moved on.

Eric's visit to Thrapston Pits today was much the same as yesterday but with the addition of a fishing Osprey on Elinor Lake and a Peregrine on a pylon by the river.

A little ringing at Pitsford Reservoir this morning by Dave and Lewis provided a few more Black-headed Gull chicks, the first Common Tern chicks and Mallard, Carrion Crow and Jackdaws from the main duck trap. Black-headed Gulls have for the first time produced chicks from nests positioned on the waterside willow stumps, and a Common Tern is sitting on a nest on one of the stumps too.

Birds in the Scaldwell Bay there this evening included a Pink-footed Goose, an eclipse drake Mandarin Duck and a fly-over Peregrine. Common grassland butterflies in the Scaldwell Meadow included Common Blue, Small Heath and Large Skipper.

I saw plenty of Red Admiral butterflies today plus a couple of Painted Ladies. Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies seem to be visiting gardens widely at the moment and very smart clearwing moths also found in gardens over the last few days locally have included Currant, Red-tipped and Red-belted.

Regards

Neil M

Black-headed Gulls
at Pitsford Reservoir.

Male Beautiful Demoiselle.

Large Skipper.

Small Heath.

Flaming June

Hello

The Rosy Starling put in irregular appearances at Clifford Hill Pits today or at least was irregularly reported!

Some good news received about a pair of Peregrines in the east of the county that have successfully fledged four young from the nest. Peregrines can be seen all year around in the county these days with regular summering birds but breeding success has to date been rather limited so it's great to see a pair doing so well. Nationally it seems that urban Peregrines that have often adopted some of the more iconic buildings in our cities and towns appear to be very successful but birds in islolated rural areas and traditional cliff sites are faring badly. Here they are more susceptible to persection from people intent on their destruction or taking the young to enhance blood lines in the falconry world. There may also be other factors at play not currently known. In any event a hunting Peregrine always makes an exciting day wherever you are.

The heat of the last few days has certainly increased the numbers of insects and by way of example there were numerous Blue Emperors and Beautiful Demoiselles whizzing around at Pitsford Reservoir.

Eric's visit to Thrapston Pits today provided sightings of a Hobby, two pairs of Oystercatchers, a Little Egret and a calling Cuckoo. A Barn Owl is still a regular feature hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

I've added some Pages or Tabs to the blog (which can be found under the blog header picture) with the intention of showcasing the recent Naturetrek tours to the West Highlands of Scotland which I was priviliged to lead.

Regards 

Neil M

Swift courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Goldfinch courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Grass Snake courtesy
of David Arden.

Lesser Whitethroat courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Rosy Starling

Hello

A very hot day so I started with a gentle walk at Harrington Airfield this morning. A Marsh Tit wasn't anticipated but otherwise the birds were as expected. It was a little early in the day for butterflies but a Small Heath was on the wing as was a Cinnabar moth. As in other recent years the Common Spotted Orchids seem to be doing well there but the Bee Orchids are very few in number.

Yesterday's Rosy Starling was again at Clifford Hill Pits today, spending much of its time in a bush adjacent to the River Nene by the northern-most sluice gates (opposite a green metal container). Super plumage on what appears to be an adult male re-growing some of it's tail feathers, the bird was pretty lethargic and when feeding in the grass was normally in company with Eurasian Starlings. This bird was found and quickly reported by Dave Smith yesterday evening and not suprisingly has been a draw to birders from further afield. Well done Dave!

Another gaudy bird reported today was a male Golden Oriole at Glapthorn Cow Pastures seen by would-be hairstreak observers. It was seen a couple of times but there have been no subsequent reports.

At Stortons Pits today ringers processed 54 birds of thirteen species which included a Sedge Warbler ringed in early May this year at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes. Other warblers included two more Sedge Warblers, twelve Reed Warblers, three Blackcaps and five Chiffchaffs. Other species included Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Blue and Great Tits, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.

Regards

Neil M

Common Spotted Orchid.

Viper's-Bugloss.

Cinnabar Moth.

Quail courtesy of
Nathan Jones.

Rosy or Rose-coloured Starling
at Clifford Hill Pits - images taken
by the original finder Dave Smith.

Pitsford CBC

Hello

Kenny and team undertook a rather hectic ringing session at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve on the outskirts of Milton Keynes today, with recently fledged birds pushing the total to 108 captures of twenty species, 74 of which were new. An adult Oystercatcher managed to walk out of one of the nets which was annoying but yet again a new Cuckoo was caught and ringed (a first year male). Great numbers of warblers included a Cetti's, seventeen Reeds, a Sedge, six Whitethroats, eight Garden Warblers, fifteen Blackcaps, six Chiffchaffs and four Willow Warblers. Other birds of variety included Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Bullfinch, Song Thrush and more common fare.

Mark Williams's unseasonable find this morning was seven Snow Geese and a Barnacle Goose at Clifford Hill Pits!

I completed a Common Bird Census on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today. The birds were pretty unremarkable apart from a distant raptor that went north at 1.30pm - the views were too poor to confirm what appeared to be a Honey Buzzard. A nesting Spotted Flycatcher was a highlight and the numbers of singing Blackcaps and Garden Warblers on-site remains high. Six Lapwings appeared to be failed breeders from elsewhere, there was a Grey Wagtail present and the rafts were busy with jostling, downy Black-headed Gull chicks!

Large numbers of damselflies and other flying insects stole the show, many being scooped up by Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns working just above the surface of the water. At least ten Beautiful Demoiselles were hunting from vegetation, probably the most I have seen in any one day at Pitsford and further confirmation that they are well established now. Damselflies included Common Blue, Azure, Blue-tailed and Large Red and dragonflies were represented by Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Hairy Hawker and Blue Emperor. Butterflies didn't really get going until the end of the circuit although a Meadow Brown was my first of the year and Chimney Sweeper moths were in all the meadows.

The first Black Hairstreak butterfly on the wing this year at Glapthorn Cow Pastures and hatched Scarlet Tiger moths will no doubt be the pre-cursor to many more during the latter part of June.

This evening a Rosy or Rose-coloured Starling has been found next to the Nene Barrage, Clifford Hill Pits - there is currently an invasion of this species into Europe and the UK from the east.

Regards

Neil M

A 'jewelled' Black-tailed Skimmer
that wasn't going anywhere until
the early morning dew had dried off!

Great Crested Grebe.

Azure Blue Damselfly.

Beautiful Demoiselle.

Black-headed Gull.

Common Toad.

Possibly Cheilosia grossa? 

Four Spotted Chaser.

Large Red-eyed Damselflies.

All images taken at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Ringing recoveries

Hello

The last batch of ringing receoveries associated with Northants Ringing Group activities are as follows:-

1. A male Nuthatch was caught and ringed in Scaldwell village on 6th November 2020 and was reportedly killed by a cat in the same village on 6th May 2021, 181 days later;

2. A first year female Blackbird was caught and ringed in a Scaldwell village garden on 9th February 2021. She was subsequently found dead after colliding with a window at a place called Kristianstad in Sweden on 13th April 2021. This bird had travelled 1060km in a east/north/east direction (within 63 days). Seemingly a classic case of a Scandanavian Blackbird wintering in the UK and returning home;

3. A juvenile female Greenfinch was caught and ringed at Harrington Airfield on 26th August 2020 and found freshly dead at Rothwell on 12th May 2021, 259 days later and having travelled just 5km;

4. A juvenile Great Tit was caught and ringed at Stortons Pits on 2nd July 2020 and found freshly dead in Northampton on 22nd May 2021, some 324 days later;

5. A first year female Goldfinch was caught and ringed at Hanging Houghton on 11th December 2020 and was reportedly killed by a cat at Seafield, West Lothian, Scotland 164 days later after having travelled 428km in a NWN direction. This fits the pattern of Scottish Goldfinches wintering in middle England;

6. A first year female Blue Tit was caught and ringed at Kelmarsh Hall on 6th March 2017 and then caught again by ringers at Stanford Reservoir fourteen km to the west on 10th April 2021 (1496 days later) when she was effectively five years old;

7. An adult female Starling was caught and ringed at Hanging Houghton on 27th January 2021 and was subsequently found dead on or about 28th May near Brandenburg, Germany. During the 121 days she had flown east some 990km and represents perhaps another example of a central European passerine wintering in the UK.

A returning Green Sandpiper at Earls Barton Pits today will be a post-breeding bird from northern Europe - this species often signals the start of the autumn migration - looks like we've jumped from a cool wintry spring straight into autumn with perhaps the predicted heatwave this week-end being our summer!

Regards

Neil M

House Sparrow.

Starling.

Red Kite.

Red Fox.

All images courtesy of
John Tilly.

Pitsford update.

Hello

I have been away for over three weeks tour-leading in Scotland and am on catch-up mode now! Here in the county it has been busy for those monitoring nests and breeding birds, the initial results suggesting that the tits have suffered some real hardship during the protracted cold spring. Some mixed results though with some pairs doing well and producing healthy fledged broods.

The tern rafts at Pitsford Reservoir are having a good year with ever-increasing numbers of Black-headed Gulls taking advantage of the floating nest platforms and nesting ahead of the Common Terns. Dave Francis has been carefully monitoring activity and at this stage it seems that as many as 52 pairs of gull have nested producing at least 82 chicks and 63 pairs of Common Terns have nests and eggs - it's a bit crowded out there!

The Grey Herons have effectively moved out of their traditional nesting trees at Pitsford Reservoir and have taken to waterside willows alongside the Cormorants. One rather late nest was just at water level and the three youngsters were ringed today.

Anyone wondering why the usually mowed paths around the reserve had become so long? Well despite the provision of nearly two hundred tit boxes, a pair of Blue Tits decided to nest in the working parts of the Pitsford mower and Mischa has had to wait until such time as this small brood successfully fledged!

On the scarcity front, three Knot found at Stanwick Pits today was a good summer record and the Quail first discovered in the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton some days ago is still there and calling today.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Herons courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Black-headed Gull chicks
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Early June Goodies !

I thought that it had been a quiet week as I seem to have seen very little myself but when I had a quick look at the birds that had been reported I realised that there had been some "good " birds seen by others. 

In no particular order birds  seen in the county  during the week included Marsh Harrier at Harrington Airfield,  Ditchford and Summer Leys. The Purple Heron was seen a few times from quarry walk Earls Barton GP. Quail were singing near Brixworth and Geddington.  Mediterranean Gulls and Black Tern at Summer Leys.

One day wonders included a Ring Ouzel at Earls Barton, a Honey Buzzard between Market Harborough and Desborough, a Golden Oriole at Fotheringhay and a Knot at Stanwick.

This evening there was a report of a White-tailed Eagle between the villages of Walgrave and Holcot which then headed towards the reservoir. 

So all in all it has been a good week in the county for this time of year.  Shame that I only caught up with Quail and Marsh Harrier,  must try harder!!!                                               

I wonder what this week will bring?

A ringing session at Linford Lakes yesterday was very productive with two Cuckoos being caught and processed, similarly an adult Common Tern, two Garden Warblers, eighteen Reed Warblers, a Blackcap, a juvenile Goldcrest, a Treecreeper and three Reed Buntings among more common fare. Odonata noted included a Black-tailed Skimmer and a Hairy Hawker.

Regards Eleanor 

First year female Cuckoo.

Treecreeper.

Goldcrest.

Common Tern.

All images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.