Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Today was the water bird count day at Pitsford Reservoir which coincided with mild conditions, low water levels and unfortunately Pheasant shooting on land adjacent which made the water birds nervous and flighty.

As a result the two drake Smew were mobile, initially being in the Holcot Bay but visiting all the other bays north of the causeway too. Thirteen Pintail were doing much the same thing but gathered together in the Scaldwell Bay this afternoon. A Black-necked Grebe near The Holly Tree and in The Narrows was a good find and a drake Scaup with a raft of Tufted Ducks near to Catwalk Bay was also new in.

Waders included the Wood Sandpiper, two Green Sandpipers, a Redshank and sixty-one Snipe and there were approximately six Great White Egrets and six Little Egrets present. A Peregrine harried the Lapwings and made several passes at individual Lapwings but didn't seem to catch one. The resident drake Mandarin Duck was still present.

Smaller birds included up to five Grey Wagtails, c50 Siskins, a couple of Redpoll and six Bramblings with Nuthatches in the Holcot and Walgrave Bays.

A female/immature Merlin was seen over fields adjacent to Ravensthorpe Reservoir and a Brambling was noted too. A Cattle Egret and seventeen Great White Egrets were counted going to roost at Stanwick Pits this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret.

This Tench has probably
been ignored by fish-eating birds
since it acquired a large size, but this
Cormorant was determined!

Grey Wagtail.

Redshank.

All images from Pitsford Reservoir today.

Mid December birding

Hello

A day of catch-up for me with data inputting, a little garden ringing and replenishing two feed stations on the Kelmarsh Estate.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the two drake Smew were again in the Holcot Bay and visible from Goosander Hide with the Wood Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Redshank, at least four Great White Egrets, a Cetti's Warbler, five Bramblings, two Redpolls and a Grey Wagtail elsewhere north of the causeway. 

There are plenty of winter finches about at the moment with a fresh influx of Siskins, Redpolls and Bramblings funneling into the centre of the county. By way of example there were ten Redpolls at Stortons Pits today, thirteen at Scotland Wood and smaller numbers elsewhere. Five Bramblings were in Scaldwell village yesterday and today there were twenty more by 'shrike hedge' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton (plus a pair of Stonechat) and small numbers of roving birds elsewhere. A female Blackcap was in a Priors Marston garden today.

A Stonechat was at Upton Country Park this morning and four Goosanders were at Stortons Pits. Birds in the village at Hanging Houghton today included Siskin, Brambling, Raven and Grey Wagtail. A female Sparrowhawk made one of her regular visits to our garden, terrorising the Starlings in the process.

I shall look forward to some fresh air tomorrow conducting the Pitsford WeBS count!

Regards

Neil M

Female Sparrowhawk.

Drake Goosander.

Adult Grey Heron.

All images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Bramblings still in the limelight!

Hello 

A second day of ringing at Harrington Airfield this morning took place in much milder conditions and provided sixty-six encounters which included forty more Redwings, a Blackbird, a Fieldfare and four new Bramblings. A fifth Brambling was found to already be wearing a ring and perhaps provides some evidence as to exactly where all these Bramblings are coming from. The ring was from one of the Norwegian ringing schemes and we hope to soon find out where she was initially ringed. Birds noted on-site included a passage of large gulls moving west/south-west, three Woodcock, a Barn Owl, a few Siskins and Redpoll, Grey Partridges, Golden Plover and approximately a hundred Bramblings continually on the move.

The two drake Smew were again seen in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir again today but perhaps were not showing so well as yesterday. Other birds noted on-site included at least ten Pintail, at least five Great White Egrets and a Goosander.

At Stortons Pits today there were twenty Redpolls and eight Goosanders and at Summer Leys LNR there were two Ruff, a Black-tailed Godwit and an adult Mediterranean Gull. The Dark-bellied Brent Goose and a drake Pintail were still at Clifford Hill Pits today.

About thirty Bramblings and a pair of Stonechats were at 'shrike hedge' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning (with an excellent sixteen Grey Partridges there yesterday) and a Barn Owl was perched on a fence post at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. Approximately twenty-five Bramblings were in Cottesbrooke village today, the majority between the church and the sports field. Two Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher.

Water Rail.

Both images taken yesterday by
Dave Jackson at the new viewing
screen in the Scaldwell Bay at
Pitsford Reservoir.

Thrush ringing

Hello

At Pitsford Reservoir today the two cracking drake Smew were still in the Holcot Bay, sometimes visible from the Goosander Hide. The Wood Sandpiper was again in the Scaldwell Bay plus a Green Sandpiper and a Redshank and a Kingfisher and two Water Rails were visible from the new photography/viewing screen.

At Thrapston Pits today a 'redhead' Smew was discovered on Aldwincle Lake and other birds included three Great White Egrets and a Kingfisher. The Water Pipit was still at Summer Leys LNR at about 12.30pm today and the Black-tailed Godwit was present too.

A Jack Snipe was flushed near Wicksteed Park, Kettering today and a small flock of at least five Bramblings were at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Birds noted at Stanford Reservoir today included two Goosanders, two Water Rails, two Kingfishers, a Cetti's Warbler, two Chiffchaffs, c50 Siskins and three Bramblings. Single Barn Owls were at Lamport and also in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today. Two Bramblings were coming down to seed by the large barn in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton with another fifteen Bramblings along the Brampton Valley Way towards Draughton Crossing. Sixteen Redpolls visited a Spratton garden this morning.

Kenny and team were running a ringing session at Linford Lakes today catching 72 birds of twelve species, 61 of which were newly ringed. Thrushes dominated with a Mistle Thrush taking centre stage plus three Song Thrushes and a hefty catch of forty-three Redwings. Four Chiffchaffs included a Siberian Chiffchaff, two Water Rails were excellent catches and other birds included two Kingfishers, a couple of Goldcrests and three Reed Buntings.

At Harrington Airfield this morning a larger group of ringers rapidly processed 130 birds of fourteen species with thrushes making up the majority of the bio-mass - twelve Fieldfares, sixty-three Redwings, two Song Thrushes and seven Blackbirds. A Barn Owl was an early morning capture and the team also ringed twenty Bramblings, a couple of Goldcrests and small numbers of seven other species. Two Woodcock were seen at dawn and other birds on-site included Golden Plover, Snipe, more Bramblings and Siskins.

Regards

Neil M

Barn Owl courtesy of
Bethan Clyne/Jacob Spinks.

Chiffchaff (left) and Siberian Chiffchaff (right)
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Mistle Thrush courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Water Rail courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Smew and friends

Hello

A Brambling was with Chaffinches at Scotland Wood this morning and two Woodcock were flushed from the Brampton Valley Way between Hanging Houghton and Draughton where there were also about fifteen Bramblings.

Plenty of Redwings and Fieldfares remain at Harrington Airfield today together with some twenty-five Bramblings and a Woodcock. Efforts will be made to ring some of these thrushes over the week-end when general access to the bunker and old airstrip areas will be restricted for safety reasons.

Two drake Smew were found in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and were in situ for much of the day and visible from the Goosander Hide. Other birds included the Wood Sandpiper again with a Green Sandpiper in the Scaldwell Bay, at least six Great White Egrets, at least ten Pintail, the adult Yellow-legged Gull, a couple of Grey Wagtails and a couple of Siskins.

Birds prominent at Lamport Hall today included a Grey Wagtail, c50 Siskins, a dozen Bramblings and a Woodcock with Sywell Country Park hosting a pair of Stonechat, two Cetti's Warblers, one or two Water Rail(s), two Grey Wagtails, a Green Sandpiper, over five hundred Golden Plovers in adjacent fields, c80 Siskins and over fifteen Bramblings.

At Summer Leys LNR an Otter was on show for a while this morning and the Water Pipit and a Black-tailed Godwit were present, the former on the scrape. Not far away three Cattle Egrets were in horse paddocks north east of Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits this afternoon and subsequently roosted on one of the islands on the lake.

At Stanford Reservoir a Marsh Harrier flew over and other birds included thirteen Goosanders, a Chiffchaff and a Kingfisher. Wintering Blackcaps have been in Spratton and Scaldwell gardens the last few days.

Regards

Neil M

The fabulous drake Smew
at Pitsford Reservoir today,
courtesy of Bethan Clyne.

Blackcap.

Cattle Egret.

Wood Sandpiper.

Thirty years ago no-one would have 
believed that the above three species could
be seen in one day in December in the county!

Peregrines, Woodcock and Bramblings.

Hello

Early morning birding at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning provided the usual Barn Owl, two Woodcock and half a dozen Bramblings.

A pair of Peregrine were showing very well in winter sunshine on the church in the centre of Market Harborough this morning. Remnants of discarded prey items included a Woodcock, a Starling and what may have been a Snipe. A Grey Wagtail was present too (but very much alive and kicking)!

The Water Pipit showed on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR again this morning and about twenty or so Bramblings were still present at Harrington Airfield in the hawthorn bushes near the bunkers.

Birds on show in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon included five or more Great White Egrets, at least ten Pintail, the usual drake Mandarin Duck, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, and a Brambling. Finishing touches are still required to finish off the new viewing area and screen in the Scaldwell Bay which has been designed for watching and photographing Kingfishers and other water birds. As if to seal the approval and construction, a Kingfisher was seen to come in and try and land on one of the added perches! Bramblings were also present in a finch flock on the track running down to the Walgrave Bay from the Holcot to Walgrave road.

Late this afternoon a small flock of Pink-footed Geese flew south during the cover of darkness along the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton towards Brixworth. There was a Barn Owl and a Little Owl and a Woodcock in a different place at Blueberry Farm this afternoon and about half a dozen Bramblings were near the large barn in the Brampton Valley below HH.

Long-staying birds just north of the border at Eyebrook Reservoir include a Ring-necked Duck, a Scaup and a Smew.

Regards

Neil M

Remnants of a Woodcock
at Market Harborough
courtesy of Fiona Barclay.

Brambling at Harrington Airfield
today. There are still plenty about
in the county.

December moods

Hello

Another day of volatile and initially wet weather doesn't make finding wildlife that easy!

A Water Pipit was again seen on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and two Stonechats were at Upton Country Park.

Two Barn Owls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and a Jay was a rare visitor to our garden today. Small numbers of Bramblings continue to roost in hedging behind the large barn in the valley but it's mostly Chaffinches that are coming to the seed put down there.

At least twenty Bramblings were at Harrington Airfield today and there were still good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares present. Ringing sessions targeting the migrant thrushes are planned for this site on both Saturday and Sunday and access to the bunker areas and the old airstrip will be restricted during this time (access to the concrete track is unaffected).

Regards

Neil M

Smeagol. He might have 
severe arthritis but nothing
stops him playing with a tennis ball!

Sunset near Scotland Wood
courtesy of Lynne Barnett. 
Typical of our current environment,
the natural beauty of our world
marred with fly-tipping!

Images from France

Little Egret.

Hello

A thoroughly miserable day of weather today after a cold night but not such challenging stormy conditions as the north of the country. 

Small numbers of Bramblings (c25) were present at Harrington Airfield today and a Woodcock was flushed between the chippings compound and Bunker One with two more flushed near the museum. A Barn Owl was hunting the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and about thirty Bramblings were along the Brampton Valley Way between Draughton and Lamport Crossings.

Myself and Dave Jackson are just back from a short Naturetrek tour in the south of  France spending time in the Camargue and Les Alpilles limestone hills, and the following image are courtesy of Dave from this five day break.

Regards

Neil M

White Stork.

Wallcreeper.

Greater Flamingo

Sardinian Warbler.

Citril Finch.

All images courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

 Despite two very busy days I have managed to snatch some short periods of birding albeit at Harrington Airfield and Blueberry.  Yesterday the bushes at Harrington Airfield were absolutely heaving with Fieldfares and Redwings. There were hundreds of these winter thrushes and the sound of their chattering was quite deafening and the sight of so many was amazing.  Also joining in were large numbers of Bramblings and I estimated about 200 birds,  again quite an incredible sight and sound.                                                    However today's visit was so different,  far less birds and very quiet.  It would seem that there was an attempt at Hare coursing although not witnessed by myself which may have disturbed the birds.                                                                                                                                A Merlin has been seen on a couple of occasions. 

Nearby at Pitsford Reservoir the Wood Sandpiper remains in the Scaldwell Bay along with a  Green Sandpiper, Red Crested Pochards, Goosander and Great White Egrets.      

Ducks, a few waders, egrets and a Water Pipit.

Hello

A breezy day with showers and rather mild provided a few birds locally.

Pitsford Reservoir hung on to some of the regular birds but the Wood Sandpiper wasn't seen (it can be elusive). The goose flocks still contained the Barnacle Goose and drake Mandarin Duck and other birds north of the causeway included nine Great White Egrets, thirteen Red-crested Pochard, thirteen Pintail, a Green Sandpiper, a Redshank, a Dunlin, two Ravens and two Bramblings. Two Sparrowhawks quickly caught avian prey almost simultaneously at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station this morning.

A Water Pipit on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR was a good find today; in recent years it has been difficult finding one in the county that has stayed put.

Five Cattle Egrets were again in a field between Brightwells Farm, Irthlingborough and the Lakes and Meadows reserve and six Goosanders were further west on the same Ditchford Pits complex.

A Barn Owl was hunting at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning with a scattering of Bramblings there and in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Shoveler.

Pintail.

Lapwing.

Winter begins tomorrow

Hello

The topsy turvy weather continues with a mild and breezy day but cooler conditions are again around the corner.

With two days outside ringing I spent much of today catching up on admin etc but a wander up to Harrington Airfield this afternoon initially didn't find much in the way of the birds. The big numbers of thrushes were scoffing the hawthorn berries at the far north end of the complex and a large flock of about ninety Bramblings flew in from the west and their calls echoed out from the bushes, particularly the nasal calls of the males. 

Birds in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir included the Wood Sandpiper still plus at least four Great White Egrets, thirteen Red-crested Pochard and eight Pintail. A Green Sandpiper and a pair of Stonechats were at Upton Country Park this afternoon.

Two Great White Egrets were noted at Thrapston Pits today but there was no sign of any Cattle Egrets at Ringstead Pits this afternoon. A pair of Blackcaps were seen in Hollowell village and a pair of Ravens remain visitors to the village here at Hanging Houghton.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Great White Egret, an Egyptian Goose, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

Yellowhammer.

The humble Robin
holds territory throughout
the year, albeit that the 
winter territories might be temporary.

Red-crested Pochards.

Birds of Harrington Airfield.

Hello

The wintry conditions from yesterday persisted overnight into this morning and then dissipated during the course of the afternoon. In many respects it provided the ideal opportunity for ringing thrushes at Harrington Airfield and this is what a small team completed today. Hundreds of Redwings and good numbers of Fieldfares were swirling around yesterday afternoon and again today and we caught and processed six handsome Fieldfares, forty-five Redwings (surely one of the ultimate migrants), a Song Thrush and ten Blackbirds. Most of these birds will have emanated from northern or north-east Europe and were taking advantage of the plentiful hawthorn berries locally before moving on in typical nomadic style. Smaller birds included twelve Bramblings, a couple of Chaffinches and Goldfinches and five Greenfinches and six Yellowhammers.

All these birds were a fraction of the birds present with a mobile flock of Bramblings this morning for a short time estimated at one hundred and seventy birds and with small numbers present in the bushes all the time we were up there. Redwings numbered up to four hundred and at one stage early this afternoon there was a similar number of Fieldfares. A Golden Plover and a few Siskins were heard calling at dawn but the best birds came later with three very vocal Hawfinches that flew low over the disused airfield heading west at 8.55am and a very vocal and low-flying Water Pipit that cut across the fields heading north-east at 9.20am.

Over at Stanford Reservoir the ringers on-site identified a big influx of Chaffinches and caught and ringed many of them plus a Brambling, again no doubt migrants from the continent. Other birds noted there included two more Bramblings, c20 Siskins, a Chiffchaff, a Kingfisher, four Ravens, a Water Rail, an Egyptian Goose, four Great White Egrets and an impressive 172 Great Black-backed Gulls in the roost. 

In the Nene Valley today there were five Cattle Egrets between Irthlingborough and the Lakes and Meadow complex with a Great White Egret on Higham Lakes and two Great White Egrets at Summer Leys LNR. Stanwick Pits attracted three more Great White Egrets, about fifteen Little Egrets and a flock of Siskins around the feeding station. The long-staying Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits plus a Great White Egret, a Stonechat and a Snipe.

The Pink-footed Goose was still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today with a Great White Egret, a Snipe and four Stonechats at Hollowell Reservoir. Approximately twenty Bramblings were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and small numbers were flying around and vocal in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton again, with two Ravens in the village again.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing.

Fieldfare.

Brambling.

Images courtesy of
Bethan Clyne.

Ringing at Kelmarsh Hall

Hello

A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall today recorded one hundred and fifty captures and provides an insight into how many birds are attracted to the feeding station there. Most birds were newly ringed and first year Blue Tits predominated but three Coal Tits, nine Long-tailed Tits, two Marsh Tits and eighteen Great Tits were also processed. The habitat attracts many woodland birds and we caught two new Nuthatches and three Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Jay too. A few finches attracted to the feedstuff included a Bullfinch, three Chaffinches, four Goldfinches and two Siskins.

Other birds noted on-site included a vocal Kingfisher, a pair of Raven, a Brambling and up to twenty further Siskins.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included the Wood Sandpiper, two Green Sandpipers, a Dunlin, ten Great White Egrets, fifteen Red-crested Pochard and ten plus Pintail north of the causeway with two female/immature Common Scoters south of the causeway. 

An initial scan over Boddington Reservoir failed to locate a Common Scoter or the Pale-bellied Brent Goose this morning in icy conditions. Stuart attracted a male Blackcap on apples in his Duston garden.

The Dark-bellied Brent Goose was again at Clifford Hill Pits today plus two Great White Egrets and thirteen Golden Plovers. Birds at Thrapston Pits included six Great White Egrets and a pair of Stonechats.

The Brambling flock appears to have increased again at Harrington Airfield to over fifty birds this afternoon, a Woodcock flushed up and a Peregrine was harrying the Fieldfares there. Tomorrow (Monday) there is likely to be a ringing session around the bushes and bunkers in the morning and this area will have restricted access during that time but the concrete track and main footpath is unaffected.

Regards

Neil M

Jay.

Siskin.

Nuthatch courtesy
of John Tilly.

Snow, rain, wind...and birds!

Hello

It was a case of walking into the headwind and snow showers as I stalked over Harrington Airfield this morning to feed the birds. Good numbers of Chaffinches also carried small numbers of other finches and up to twenty-five Bramblings and the bushes were full of thrushes with about three hundred Redwings and over a hundred Fieldfares with much smaller numbers of Song Thrushes and Blackbirds. A small flock of fourteen Golden Plovers were also present.

About ten Bramblings were blown around on top of Blueberry Hill and a covey of four Grey Partridges were there too. Single Grey Wagtails were noted at Lamport and Brixworth.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir included a Curlew flying south over the dam, the adult Yellow-legged Gull on a buoy there and singles of Redpoll and Siskin. The Scaldwell Bay contained eleven Great White Egrets, sixteen Pintail and eighteen Red-crested Pochard.

Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon held two Great White Egrets and five Little Egrets and a Pink-footed Goose was with the Greylag flock at nearby Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was found at Boddington Reservoir today and I believe is the first time this race has occurred in the county. A Common Scoter was there too and yesterday a Caspian Gull and four Yellow-legged Gulls were also seen.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Pink-footed Goose, two Egyptian Geese, a Peregrine, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Cetti's Warbler and a Siskin.

In the Nene Valley there were two Jack Snipe at Thrapston Pits on the Titchmarsh reserve and at Summer Leys there was a Ruff, a Dunlin, a pair of Pintail and a Great White Egret.

Regards

Neil M

Black-headed Gull.

Little Egret.

Cormorant.

Wood Sandpiper and
 Green Sandpiper.

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