Brambling invasion

Hello

A visit to Harrington Airfield this morning was pretty special. Cooler temperatures and a gentle breeze with periods of cloud and sunshine was the setting and Woodpigeons and Stock Doves were on the move coming south and a couple of hundred feet above, at least until a female Peregrine climbed up to meet them and caused some flocks to divert.

Passerines were initially few in number but as I walked towards the bunker bushes the calls of Bramblings, lots of them, permeated through the cool air. About thirty flew up from the ringing ride next to Bunker One and perhaps another thirty were in bushes between there and Bunker Two with eighty moving around the bushes between Bunkers Two and Three. An unseen raptor spooked these birds which hurtled towards the concrete track and a large flock of finches erupted from the bushes behind me made up predominately of Bramblings, Greenfinches and Chaffinches. Together with a good number of Redwings and Fieldfares, the finches circulated around the complex with flocks settling and permitting some more accurate counting. On the walk back approximately a hundred Bramblings were feeding in the Bunker One ringing ride again. I estimated in total about three hundred Bramblings and about a hundred each of Greenfinch and Chaffinch plus fifty Linnets and ten Siskins.

Eleanor visited afterwards and saw similar numbers but also saw a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier flying from the shooting wall down towards the Brampton Valley.

A Barn Owl was hunting the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon with small numbers of mobile Siskins and Bramblings.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the birds in the Scaldwell Bay included the Wood Sandpiper still plus a Green Sandpiper, sixteen Red-crested Pochard, thirteen Pintail, sixteen Great White Egrets and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

The pair of Smew were still in situ at Ringstead Pits today but with an absence of Cattle Egrets and at Earls Barton Pits there were two Green Sandpipers and a Common Snipe at the New Workings plus a Stonechat.

Six Redpolls were caught and ringed at Braunston this morning and other finches present included one hundred and sixty Linnets and several Bramblings.

Regards

Neil M

Shovelers.

Teal.

Drake Red-crested Pochard.

All images from Pitsford Reservoir
last week courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Saturday's ringing

Hello

The dull, mild conditions promulgated ringing sessions at Linford Lakes and Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) this morning.

Kenny and Keith's efforts at Linford Lakes provided quality captures in the form of three Chiffchaffs, seven Redwings, four Goldfinches, two Goldcrests, a Siskin and a Kingfisher plus more common fare.

At Scotland Wood we watched Woodcock flying into the wood pre-dawn from their night-time forays and processed about ninety-one small birds of fourteen species which included two Blackbirds, just a single Redwing, fourteen Goldcrests, a Blackcap, sixteen Coal Tits, three Marsh Tits, a Treecreeper, a Nuthatch and two male Lesser Redpolls. Small numbers of Siskins were in the wood. One of the Marsh Tits was an old bird first ringed in December 2014 and not recorded since 2018 and is at least seven years old (the national longevity record is eleven years three months).

At Pitsford Reservoir this morning the Wood Sandpiper was still present in the Scaldwell Bay and there were at least fourteen Great White Egrets and fifteen Red-crested Pochard. This afternoon extra birds included a Barnacle Goose and a drake Mandarin Duck with the goose flock plus a few Siskins, a Brambling and a roost flock of approximately two thousand Jackdaws.

Two Woodcock and a scattering of Bramblings were at Blueberry Farm this morning plus a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at least one Brambling in the village.

Birds visible at Sywell Country Park included 400 - 500 Golden Plovers and a Stonechat, the two Smew were still at Ringstead Pits, two drake Goosanders were on Eastfield Park Lake, Northampton and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose was again reported from Clifford Hill Pits.

Let's see what the cooler temperatures and clear skies provides for us!

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Goldfinch courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Treecreeper courtesy of
Lewis Aaron.

Male Lesser Redpoll
courtesy of Lewis Aaron.

Fishing at Pitsford

Hello

At Harrington Airfield this morning there were still plenty of Bramblings, probably around the fifty mark, and spread over the complex. Other birds included a Woodcock, two Ravens and 15 Siskins and a high-flying flock of c100 Golden Plovers. At Kelmarsh Hall a Kingfisher was seen and there was a Grey Wagtail and c20 Siskins with 12 Siskins, a Redpoll and c10 Bramblings at nearby Scotland Wood. A few Siskins and a Raven were at Hanging Houghton.

At Sywell Country Park today there were two Cetti's Warblers, over a hundred Siskins, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and c400 flying Golden Plovers. Birds at Pitsford Reservoir amounted to a Wood Sandpiper, thirteen Great White Egrets and unspecified numbers of Pintail and Red-crested Pochard, mostly in the Scaldwell Bay.

A pair of Smew was a good find at Brightwells Lake at Ringstead Pits today with eight Cattle Egrets at nearby Kinewell Lake.

The birds at Hollowell Reservoir included a third winter Caspian Gull plus the Pink-footed Goose, five Great White Egrets, eleven Little Egrets, four Stonechats and five Siskins.

Regards

Neil M

A Cormorant dispatches a Pike.

A Great Crested Grebe
trying to swallow a Tench.
It's a tough life being a fish!

Great White Egrets.

All images taken at Pitsford Reservoir
 this week and courtesy of Robin Gossage

Last of the mild weather

Hello

A fairly quiet day for birds in the county today, and yet another day when I didn't have time to contribute anything!

The conditions at Pitsford Reservoir remain favourable for the long-staying Wood Sandpiper, two Green Sandpipers, sixteen Pintail, twelve Red-crested Pochard and fourteen Great White Egrets, mostly centred around the Scaldwell Bay.

Nick Parker counted forty-seven Mandarin Ducks at Blatherwycke Lake this morning and Hollowell Reservoir hung on to it's Pink-footed Goose (this species is now becoming a regular visitor to the county in small numbers), four Great White Egrets, four Stonechats, four Bramblings and a Chiffchaff with two Jack Snipe encountered near Ravensthorpe. A small flock of Bramblings were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

With colder weather arriving overnight Saturday into Sunday it is likely to prompt fresh arrivals from the north and east with thrushes, Woodpigeons, waterfowl and finches likely to fluctuate as they are pushed out of northern Europe.

Regards

Neil M

Coal Tit.

Fieldfare.

Redwing.

Goldeneye courtesy of
Phil Davies.

Mid-November birding

Hello

Very little opportunity for birding during the last couple of days but efforts from others shows there are fresh birds out there.

Yesterday (16th) birds noted at Summer Leys LNR included two Ruff, at least two Snipe and two Great White Egrets. A flock of 400 - 450 Golden Plovers were also circulating over Thrapston Pits (presumed from nearby fields) and a day-time Siskin migration was evident.

At Ringstead Pits the flock of Cattle Egrets reached the dizzy heights of sixteen birds and there were six Great White Egrets and eight Little Egrets too.

Two Woodcock were seen at Harrington Airfield and the flock of Bramblings remained close to the shooting wall next to the concrete track. Three Red-crested Pochard were at Stanford Reservoir where a Brambling was caught and ringed.

Today (17th) and an early morning Ring Ouzel was with other thrushes near to the large barn in the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton but it moved off with the mobile thrush flock. Eight Bramblings were also present with a larger flock of at least twenty more at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell together with two Woodcock.

Three Hawfinches were reportedly next to the gatehouse at Lilford Park this afternoon, a once traditional site for these big finches.

A Dark-bellied Brent Goose was a good find at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and the flock of at least thirty Bramblings remained at Harrington Airfield. This evening there was a hunting Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton and a couple of Grey Partridges were very vocal.

A Scaup was at Daventry Country Park and at least twelve Cattle Egrets were still in paddocks north east of Kinewell Lake.

Regards

Neil M

Harrington Bramblings.

Fire Rainbow.
All images courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Pitsford WeBs count

Hello

The Pitsford WeBs count was completed today in mild, pleasant weather which even brought forth a nectaring Red Admiral and dragonflies and damselflies. The Wood Sandpiper was still present, initially in the Walgrave Bay and later in the Scaldwell Bay, plus three Green Sandpipers, fifty-five Snipe and a Dunlin. The number of Great White Egrets present was difficult to count and at different times there were nine in the Scaldwell Bay, three in the Walgrave Bay, one in the Middle Section, five in the Holcot Bay and one south of the causeway. These birds were mostly sedentary but the mobile individuals make it difficult to be sure of the exact number but somewhere between 16 and 20 which is a site record. Twenty-five Little Egrets were also on-site as were fifteen Red-crested Pochard, fifteen Pintail, a Water Rail, two Kingfishers, two Chiffchaffs, a dozen Bramblings and small numbers of Siskins.

Harrington Airfield this afternoon was hanging on to at least fifty Bramblings and a few hundred Redwings and Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits harboured seven Cattle Egrets, five Great White Egrets and seventy-three Pochard. Martin Izzard saw a Merlin zoom over Harlestone Lake this morning.

At Hollowell Reservoir a Pink-footed Goose was present plus three Great White Egrets and four Stonechats.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret.

Great White Egret.

Birds of a grey Sunday

Hello

Members of the Northants Ringing Group were busy today with Kenny and Keith operating at Linford Lakes and John Woollett and team working the area around a new bird feeding station at Stortons Pits.

At Linford eighteen Redwings hit the nets as did two Blackbirds, a Cetti's Warbler, a Lesser Redpoll, a Blue Tit and a colourful Kingfisher. Other birds noted included two Great White Egrets and twenty Little Egrets. At Stortons Pits the catch totaled a huge ninety-six birds with the humble but successful Blue Tit making up the bulk of the catch. However other birds included ten Goldfinches, seven Lesser Redpolls, seven Greenfinches, a Cetti's Warbler, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Song Thrush and two Blackbirds. It seems the birds like the new feeding station which has been attracting Jays recently too.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Wood Sandpiper was still in the Scaldwell Bay as was eight Great White Egrets, fifteen Red-crested Pochard, ten plus Pintail and two Woodcock. A flock of twenty Bramblings were in the Walgrave Bay near to Christies Copse (by seat 10) as was a Great White Egret, a Raven, a few Siskins, and Kingfisher with an adult Yellow-legged Gull by the dam.

Thrapston Pits attracted a Peregrine, four Stonechats and four Great White Egrets with the beginning of a Starling roost too. Ringstead Pits recorded a Raven, eleven Cattle Egrets and an excellent nine Great White Egrets. The Bittern showed again at Summer Leys LNR this morning and the growing Starling roost there this afternoon attracted a Peregrine.

Away from the Nene Valley there were still Bramblings and two Woodcock at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, and Hinton Airfield in the south of the county attracted about seventy-five Golden Plovers, a flock of at least two hundred and fifty Linnets and a couple of Bramblings. A Goosander was at Abington Park, Northampton this morning and birds at Sywell Country Park included two hundred and eighty Golden Plovers and a Stonechat. A couple of Bramblings were in Hanging Houghton village and about thirty Siskins were at Lamport Hall.

Stanford Reservoir's birds were similar to yesterday with a Pink-footed Goose, a Richardson's Cackling Goose, an Egyptian Goose, a Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler, a Siskin, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher.

Lesser Redpoll.

Cetti's Warbler.
All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

 

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.