Yet more Bramblings

Hello

A ringing session took place at Harrington Airfield this morning, the third in a week. We added more thrushes to the total including the first Fieldfare capture of the autumn, another Brambling, another Blackcap and small numbers of typical species of this habitat. I am used to seeing flocks of birds on migration at this high plateau but didn't expect to see what appeared to be a pure flock of about fifty Bramblings flying in from the north at 7.20am. Calling noisily they circled the complex and clearly had their eyes on the sunflower crop down by the concrete track. During the course of the morning, small flocks of Brambling continually flew around us, presumably splinters from the original flock. However at about 10am I counted about sixty Bramblings flying together, probably one of the biggest flocks I have seen in Northants. A Peregrine flew over at low level and other birds passing over and/or landing included a Grey Wagtail, a Raven, a Redpoll and small numbers of Siskins with a flock of about thirty-five Golden Plovers spending much of the day there.

Bramblings were scattered in hedgerows in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. A few were coming down with Chaffinches to scattered seed by the big barn in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Otter again put in an appearance in the Scaldwell Bay and lingering birds included the Wood Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Water Rail, fifteen Red-crested Pochard, two drake Goosanders, at least nine Pintail, seven Great White Egrets and fifteen Little Egrets.

A Green Sandpiper and Grey Wagtails were at the small sewer treatment works at Ashton today and the impressive egret roost count at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits this afternoon again included fourteen Cattle Egrets and six Great White Egrets.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Pink-footed Goose, an Egyptian Goose, three Red-crested Pochard, a Pintail, five Ravens, two Water Rails, two Kingfishers, four Cetti's Warblers, six Lesser Redpolls and twelve Siskins.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing courtesy of
Lewis Aaron.

First year male Brambling
courtesy of Lewis Aaron.

Lots of egrets and another Hen Harrier.

Hello

Limited opportunities for birding for either of us today but thankfully others were out there seeing a few things. An adult male Hen Harrier was seen well and photographed at Earls Barton Pits today, mostly around the Summer Leys LNR and was wearing a transmitter and is apparently a British-breeding bird from northern England. Hopefully we will find out a little more of the history of this bird made all the easier with modern technology!

Harrington Airfield seemed quiet today but there was still a handful of Bramblings in the bushes between the bunkers. At Kelmarsh Hall this afternoon a Woodcock was seen, a Kingfisher heard and there were about thirty Siskins in the alders.

An Otter again showed in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and the Wood Sandpiper remains in situ together with two Green Sandpipers, fifteen Red-crested Pochard, fourteen Pintail at least six Great White Egrets and sixteen Little Egrets.

Two Great White Egrets were at Thrapston Pits this morning and a single Stonechat was seen too. An excellent fourteen Cattle Egrets and six Great White Egrets flew to roost at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits this afternoon. Two Stonechats and a Green Sandpiper were at Upton Country Park on the west side of Northampton this morning. A Caspian Gull was at Daventry Country Park this morning and the Pink-footed Goose remains at Stanford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret courtesy
of John Tilly.

Avocets and Redshank
courtesy of John Tilly.

Female Pintail.

Drake Pintail.

Bramblings and some ringing recoveries

Hello

A ringing session at Harrington Airfield this morning provided seventy-five captures of resident and migrant birds and included nine Redwings, three Song Thrushes, five Blackbirds, a Blackcap and a variety of finches including continental Chaffinches and nine beautiful Bramblings. Small numbers of Golden Plovers were around in sometimes drizzly/misty conditions, a few Siskins and a Redpoll were moving around in the murk and a Woodcock was flushed. There were somewhere between twenty and thirty mobile Bramblings - they have a definite liking for the sunflower flowers near to the Shooting Wall.

Chris Payne was ringing at Greens Norton today and processed a number of Bullfinches, Redwings and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers - a Barn Owl and a Brambling were also on-site.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Wood Sandpiper was still in the Scaldwell Bay and other birds included twelve Red-crested Pochard. At Hollowell Reservoir the female Ruddy Shelduck paid a visit and at Thrapston Pits the visible migration included Siskins, Meadow Pipits, over three hundred Golden Plovers and over four hundred Lapwings.

The following recoveries reflect migration studies locally with some birds being encountered by both the Stanford Reservoir Ringing Group and the Northants Ringing Group:-

1.  A juvenile female Greenfinch was ringed at Hanging Houghton on 19th June 2021 and was recovered after being killed by a cat in Hollowell village on 3rd September, some 76 days elapsing between the records and this young bird displacing 8km WSW before it's unfortunate demise;

2.  A first year female Greenfinch ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 2nd December 2020 fared a little better but was found dead in nearby Brixworth (cause not known) on 7th November 2021. This bird had only travelled three km from where originally ringed;

3.  A juvenile male Blackcap was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 20th August 2021 and caught again at Stanford Reservoir on 24th September, a distance of 20km in a westerly direction;

4.  A first year Reed Warbler was ringed at Stortons Pits on 10th September 2021 and caught again fourteen days later at Stanford Reservoir, the distance between the sites being 24km, this bird also steering west;

5.  In contrast a first year Reed Warbler first ringed at Stanford Reservoir on 24th August 2021 was caught again at Pitsford Reservoir just six days later, this bird moving east between the sites!

6.  An adult female Wigeon ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 18th November 2020 was killed by hunters on 24th September 2021 at Sangatte, Pas-de-Calais, France, 290 days elapsing between when ringed and then killed.

Regards

Neil M

A Brambling from
Harrington Airfield today
courtesy of Helen Franklin.

Shoveler courtesy of
John Tilly.

Teal courtesy of
John Tilly.

Mallard courtesy
of John Tilly.

Bramblings, a Hawfinch and hare coursing

Hello

Fifteen Bramblings in hedging at the top of Blueberry Hill, Maidwell early this morning furthers the evidence that this is definitely a Brambling autumn! A Woodcock flushed up nearby and this afternoon a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was at Blueberry Farm as was a hunting Barn Owl and the Brambling flock had inflated to over twenty birds.

Birds at Harrington Airfield also included Bramblings with perhaps some twenty birds moving around over a large area and joining in with flocks of Chaffinches and Yellowhammers. A covey of Grey Partridges were by Bunker One and two Common Snipe flew over. A ringing session is due to take place at this site around the bunkers and old airstrip tomorrow morning and Saturday morning when general access will be restricted.

The bird of the day for me was a single Hawfinch which flew into trees at Hanging Houghton at about 9.50am and could be heard calling for a short time afterwards. However the bird couldn't be relocated and is presumed to have continued on its way south. A couple of Siskins were in the village too.

Kinewell Lake and surround at Ringstead Pits attracted ten Cattle Egrets, five Great White Egrets and nine Little Egrets. A Scaup was again seen at Daventry Country Park today.

Pitsford Reservoir provided plenty of wildlife interest north of the causeway today with an Otter, at least eight Great White Egrets, at least fourteen Little Egrets, a Wood Sandpiper (near New James Fisher hide in the Scaldwell Bay this afternoon), a Green Sandpiper, ten Red-crested Pochard and twelve Pintail.

Hare coursers were active near Lamport this morning, until I intervened, and it is likely that they have spent time at Harrington Airfield during the last week judging from tyre tracks across fields, a dead hare and no live animals in the usual spots. Please be aware that this unlawful activity is prevalent locally and the Police will happily receive 999 calls if you see this occurring - it's wildlife crime in action.

Regards

Neil M

Brown or Eurasian Hare.

Brambling courtesy
of Nathan Jones.

Marsh Tit.

Late autumn birding

Hello

A wander around Harrington Airfield this morning provided views of c35 Golden Plovers, c12 Bramblings, two Siskins and eleven Grey Partridges. A Woodcock and c10 Bramblings were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and there were two Ravens, a Grey Wagtail and a Barn Owl at Hanging Houghton this afternoon.

Thrapston Pits today yielded a Peregrine, four Stonechats and a few Siskins plus four or five Great White Egrets and two Chiffchaffs and there were two Great White Egrets this morning at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits. More Chiffchaffs and a Green Sandpiper were adjacent to Ecton Sewage Farm. A pair of Stonechats were found at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR and two Cattle Egrets were at Stanwick Pits.

A juvenile Peregrine was 'playing' with Carrion Crows at the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon before flying north, with a Kingfisher at the overflow and seven Bramblings flying SW. The remarkable number of Little and Great White Egrets at Pitsford Reservoir continues with one of the Great Whites making an excursion to the pond in Holcot village. A Pink-footed Goose was reported from Stanford Reservoir this afternoon.

Sad news involves an adult Peregrine picked up at the base of a church in Kettering at the weekend which was subsequently euthanized following a vet assessment.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret.

Wren.

Definitely one of my
favourite birds, the 
stunning Woodcock!

Migrants, falcons and Otter

Hello

A ringing session at Harrington Airfield today failed to catch many of the migrants moving through the site but there were token numbers of Redwing, Blackbird, a single Blackcap and Song Thrushes as well as three Lesser Redpolls. Many of the thrush flocks remained high in the bushes and only made brief stops before their restless, nomadic behaviour pushed them on again. Two Woodcock were seen in flight just before dawn and later a Peregrine hunted the old airfield with a Merlin doing much the same thing mid-afternoon. About forty Golden Plovers were present and other migrants included several Bramblings and about a dozen Siskins moving through in small flocks. It is hoped to try some more ringing there on Thursday and Saturday.

A male Merlin in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton is almost certainly the same bird seen three times during the last week in the local area and two Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm this morning.

Earls Barton Pits attracted a Marsh Harrier over Mary's Lake plus a Blackcap and a Ruff and five Pintail were on the Summer Leys LNR and Pitsford Reservoir today yielded five Red-crested Pochard, nine Pintail, two Great White Egrets, a Peregrine, an adult Yellow-legged Gull plus singles of Wood Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper. In the south of the county John Friendship-Taylor witnessed a single Crossbill fly west over Brackley and a Scaup was still at Daventry Country Park today.

An Otter has been showing regularly during the day on the River Welland at Market Harborough for the last week or so, very much in the town centre, and a Peregrine still resides on buildings nearby.

Regards

Neil M

A red dawn at Harrington
Airfield this morning courtesy
of Helen Franklin.

Peregrine courtesy of
Dave Thomas.

Otter.

Blustery Sunday

Hello

A blustery day but still plenty of migrants on the move with Woodpigeons, thrushes and finches particularly noticeable. A couple of Ravens were noisy at Hanging Houghton first thing and small numbers of Siskins were again at Kelmarsh Hall.

Pitsford Reservoir again produced a real mix of birds north of the causeway including an excellent eleven Great White Egrets, the Wood Sandpiper still, just one drake Red-crested Pochard, a female Scaup, nine Pintail, a Green Sandpiper, a Jack Snipe, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Stonechat.

Three more Red-crested Pochards were on the Aldwincle lake at Thrapston Pits and a Merlin was over fields between the A43 and Sywell Airfield.

A Golden Pheasant at Northampton Golf Club is interesting as it has been a good few years now since the last community of breeding Golden Pheasants was lost in the county.

A Ring Ouzel flew south over Harrington Airfield this afternoon in company with a Fieldfare - a ringing session is organised for this site tomorrow when the bunkers and old airstrip will be subject to restricted access but the concrete track will be unaffected.

Regards

Neil M

The Pitsford Wood Sandpiper
courtesy of David Arden.

Red Kite.

Brambling.

Saturday's sightings

Hello

Kenny and team were down at Linford Lakes near Milton Keynes running a ringing session today and processed some fifty-eight birds of twelve species, the majority newly-ringed. At this time of the year of course thrushes dominate and nineteen Redwings found the nets as did five Blackbirds and three Song Thrushes. Warblers stay much later in the autumn these days and four Chiffchaffs were encountered as were three Cetti's Warblers and a single Blackcap. Other notable birds included a Treecreeper and two Lesser Redpolls which included a bright adult male.

At Hanging Houghton this morning, seven Ravens flew over the village and the garden attracted Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail and Brambling. Harrington Airfield provided sightings of c100 Golden Plovers, a Woodcock, a few Bramblings and a Stonechat. Pitsford Reservoir continued to host the late Wood Sandpiper in the Scaldwell Bay and this venue attracted a significant arrival of seventeen Red-crested Pochard overnight, the majority also in the Scaldwell Bay. The low water levels are attracting quite a mix of birds and nine Great White Egrets might even be a site record. Other birds included a Green Sandpiper, double-figure Little Egrets and twenty-five Golden Plovers in fields between there and Scaldwell village. 

Elsewhere and two Pink-footed Geese flew over Nether Heyford this morning, a Peregrine was at Hollowell Reservoir and birds at Summer Leys LNR included over two hundred Golden Plovers, a Ruff and a Great White Egret. A Woodcock and two Snipe were noted at New Sandy Lane, New Duston. A Kingfisher and Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Black-headed Gull courtesy
of John Tilly.

Carrion Crow courtesy
of John Tilly.

Grey Heron courtesy
of John Tilly.

November migration

Hello

On Tuesday afternoon/Wednesday morning there was some bird ringing carried out at Pitsford Reservoir around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station which resulted in 74 captures of 17 species which included nine Goldfinches, nine Long-tailed Tits, five Chaffinches, four Tree Sparrows, three Greenfinches, two Song Thrushes, two Redwings, two Blackbirds, two Reed Buntings, a Goldcrest and a Blackcap. However the best bird was probably a Stonechat which was a returning bird to Pitsford, first ringed there in November 2020.

Chris Payne and team completed some ringing at Greens Norton on Wednesday this week and caught 89 birds of 14 species which included an excellent seven Bullfinches, five Lesser Redpolls, eight Goldfinches, thirteen Redwings, a continental Blackbird and two Blackcaps. Siskins and a Woodcock were also noted.

Yesterday (Thursday) saw plenty more winter thrushes and finches streaming through the county and at Thrapston Pits the Ring-necked Parakeet was still present as were two pairs of Stonechat, two Kingfishers and two Great White Egrets. Two Merlins were chasing Skylarks south of Hartwell and Harrington Airfield recorded a Hen Harrier (also seen on the 1st), Bramblings and plenty of Fieldfares and Redwings. At Pitsford Reservoir a very late Wood Sandpiper was found in the Scaldwell Bay and other birds included a Garganey, eight Great White Egrets, a Ruff, two Green Sandpipers and a flock of Pintail.

Birds at Earls Barton Pits included about five hundred Golden Plovers and a pair of Stonechats and an Otter was fishing on Moon Lake. A Scaup was seen at Daventry Country Park.

Today (Friday) and the Wood Sandpiper was still at Pitsford Reservoir where there was also a Green Sandpiper, two Dunlin, eight Great White Egrets, sixteen Snipe, eleven Pintail, a Yellow-legged Gull and twenty Bramblings. The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton  yielded a male Merlin, a Barn Owl, two Woodcock, twenty Bramblings and lots of migrating winter thrushes and Starlings. Harrington Airfield still attracted at least a dozen Bramblings today plus plenty of winter thrushes and forty Golden Plovers. Hollowell Reservoir was good for a Dunlin, three Great White Egrets and four Stonechats.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Common Snipe.

Autumn Days

 Today was my only completely "free" day of the week so I took the opportunity to visit the north of the county.  After the recent spell of wet windy weather I was delighted when I woke up to a typical autumn morning with low lying mist over the fields and clear crisp air. Infact there had been a ground frost. Perfect conditions for running so accompanied by 3 of the dogs i went on a 10 mile run at Fineshade where it felt as if I had the whole wood to myself as I only met 2 people.  The autumn colours were amazing with a myriad of colours and textures, made even more stunning by the shafts of sunlight penetrating the trees. The birds were quite vocal especially the tit family who were moving through the trees in flocks.  There were several cronking Ravens and good numbers of Siskin throughout the wood. Despite visiting Fineshade on numerous occasions I discovered an area I hadn't been to before and found at least 8 Bramblings.                                                 Then I went on a 3 hour meander in Wakerley Wood which was disappointingly quiet.  Much smaller numbers of Siskin,  Brambling and tits in but when out in the open at the back of spanhoe Airfield there was a noticeable movement of Fieldfares, Redwings and Wood Pigeons. These birds were moving through in their hundreds. Also in this area plenty of raptors enjoying the sunshine and gentle breeze including female Peregrine,  Red Kites, Common Buzzards and Sparrowhawk.                                                                    Again the colours of the trees were stunning and it was just lovely to be out and about.  I even managed to see Fallow and Roe Deer.                                                                                       I intended to visit other nearby sites but when I returned to my car I discovered a problem which meant that I had to come home to  sort it out. 

The county seems to be going through another quiet spell with the long staying birds still present,  9 Cattle Egret at Kinewell roost, Pink Footed Goose at Hollowell Reservoir,  Black Necked Grebe on town lake Thrapston and a juvenile Osprey in the Summer Leys area.

Quite a few different species of butterfly have been recorded in the county over the last couple of days including Red Admiral,  Peacock, Brimstone,  Small Tortoiseshell,  Small White, Holly Blue, Comma and Painted Lady.  Wow pretty good for the time of year. 

Regards Eleanor 

Still all the egrets!

Hello

Another blustery day didn't provide anything new but despite the strong south-westerly headwind, plenty of Woodpigeon flocks ploughed on over Harrington Airfield in flocks up to fifty strong. Other visible migration included small flocks of Redwings and finches which included Chaffinches, Greenfinches and six Siskins. Five Grey Partridges were seen, there were just five Golden Plovers on the exposed top field and with two Bramblings, more Redwings and common finches in the bushes.

At Thrapston Pits today there were a couple of drake Goldeneye on show plus three Great White Egrets, six Little Egrets and a Cattle Egret (in the sailing club grounds) and a Chiffchaff, all courtesy of Eric Graham.

Other reports included five Cattle Egrets on the main lake at Stanwick Pits this morning with a Scaup at Daventry Country Park this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Cattle Egrets.

Little Egret.

Great White Egret
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Geese, egrets and Bramblings.

Hello

Very autumnal again today with plenty of birds on the move in the swirl and breeze with a flock of nine Pink-footed Geese flying over the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton heading towards Brixworth this morning and a flock of six Bramblings in the valley by the large barn below the village. Two Ravens were again in the village, a Peregrine was with prey in the valley this afternoon and a pair of Stonechats were at Blueberry Farm late this afternoon. A few more Bramblings and Siskins were on the move in the Brampton Valley as well and small numbers of Siskins were at Scotland Wood too.

Two or three Yellow-legged Gulls were at the south end of Pitsford Reservoir today and a Barnacle Goose was with one of the Canada Goose flocks.

At Thrapston Pits today there was a pair of Red-crested Pochard, a Cattle Egret, three Great White Egrets, six Little Egrets, a Ring-necked Parakeet, a Kingfisher, two Pintail, a Raven and two pairs of Stonechats. Nearby there was eight Cattle Egrets at roost at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits this evening.

Elsewhere and the young Osprey was still in the Earls Barton Pits area this morning with at least ten Golden Plovers on the Summer Leys LNR. The single Pink-footed Goose remained at Hollowell Reservoir today and there were two Pintail too with a Brambling and at least twenty-five Golden Plovers reported at Harrington Airfield this lunchtime.

Regards

Neil M

Adult Yellow-legged Gull
at Pitsford Reservoir today.

House Sparrow.

Harrington visible migration

Hello

A visit to Harrington Airfield, the first time in over four weeks, provided a steady flow of over-flying migrants with plenty of Woodpigeons, Starlings and Redwings streaming south west with others in the bushes. Chaffinches were passing over in good numbers with some arcing down into the scrubby areas and Skylarks were both visual and vocal. About two hundred Golden Plovers were on the top fields, fifteen Bramblings were lingering and a Short-eared Owl flew from the straw bales on the concrete track. Two or three more Bramblings were down near the museum and there were six Grey Partridges in the valley below Hanging Houghton.

Subsequent birds included two Ravens over the garden here at Hanging Houghton, a Chiffchaff in the garden and a Grey Wagtail on the house roof!

Elsewhere and a Pink-footed Goose was at Hollowell Reservoir as were four Great White Egrets, five Stonechats and a fly-over Brambling. An Osprey flew west over Moulton this afternoon and Adrian's evening roost check at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits revealed an excellent nine Cattle Egrets and a Great White Egret.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Meadow Pipit.

Rook.

Linford Lakes ringing

Hello

A team of four ringers, led by Kenny Cramer conducted another interesting ringing session at Linford Lakes on the outskirts of Milton Keynes yesterday resulting in fifty captures of sixteen species of which thirty-six individuals were newly-ringed. A Barn Owl is the second bird caught in recent times but four Jackdaws were something of a surprise as was a young male Sparrowhawk. Other birds included five Blackbirds, four Redwings, two Song Thrushes, five Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and two Lesser Redpolls.

Regards

Neil M

Goldcrest.

Barn Owl.

Jackdaws.

Sparrowhawk.

Lesser Redpoll.
All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

The Isles of Scilly

Hello

Just back from four weeks on the wonderful Isles of Scilly! We enjoyed a mixture of weather and although it is already recognised as being a quiet year in many respects there was still plenty to look at! As well as general birding, Eleanor was running around the island coastal paths most days with her collies, I did a little ringing and conducted a Naturetrek tour and managed to complete a couple of pelagic trips too. And of course these islands are fabulous walking terrain with every island subtly different to each other and yes I took plenty of photos.

Anyway a few images from the islands, no doubt there will be more over the next few days...

Regards

Neil M

Gannet.

Snow Bunting.

Hottentot-Fig flower.

Small Copper.

Bathing Song Thrush.