Peregrines, ducks and geese

Hello

Little opportunity for birding from us today although I did see a Peregrine on the town centre church in Market Harborough. Checking some of the feathers below indicates that one of these regular birds had caught a duck, perhaps a drake Teal or Wigeon.

The Wood Sandpiper was still at Pitsford Reservoir today, again along the shoreline between the causeway and the Maytrees Hide and the drake Mandarin Duck was there too this afternoon. Birds at Clifford Hill Pits included three Goosanders, two Stonechats, a Chiffchaff and a Peregrine tucking into a duck. At Naseby Reservoir this morning Jon recorded two adult Caspian Gulls and three Great White Egrets and a high count of fifty-three Cormorants.

Sixteen Siskins and four Common Snipe were at the attenuation pond at Sandy Lane, Duston and a flock of Redpolls were in birches at Wicksteed Park, Kettering. The first year White-fronted Goose was seen at Sywell Country Park this afternoon. Three White-fronted Geese were in the Stanford Hall area early this afternoon and other birds noted at nearby Stanford Reservoir included a Woodcock, a Great White Egret, a Cetti's Warbler and impressive numbers of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls.

Eyebrook Reservoir continues to attract up to fourteen Smew, two Scaup, a Great White Egret, three Avocets and the return of the female Ring-necked Duck.

Two Corn Buntings were again visible in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon with a Raven in the village. Some sixty Bramblings and two Woodcock were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon - the venue for some ringing tomorrow when access to the bunkers and old airstrip will be restricted.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Mandarin Duck at
Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of Pete Gilbert.

Teal courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Mute Swan courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Pitsford WeBS count.

Hello

The Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count was completed today, initially with plenty of sunshine this morning and turning cloudy at lunchtime. Numbers of birds were low and the impression was that there has been a significant move-out of wetland birds with very low numbers of Coot in particular. The Wood Sandpiper was still on the shoreline near Maytrees Hide and other birds of note included ten Common Snipe, probably just three Great White Egrets, seven Pintail, a Chiffchaff, over a hundred Siskins mostly south of the causeway and also in Brixworth Country Park, and a male Brambling at the Christies Copse Feeding Station.

The single Hawfinch was again at Blatherwycke this morning, still frequenting the trees between the church and the bridge over the inflow stream to the lake. At Thrapston Pits today there were three White-fronted Geese on Elinor lake with Greylags late morning and up to three Cattle Egrets were at the north-east end of Stanwick Pits this afternoon.

A Yellow-legged Gull, about one hundred and fifty Great Black-backed Gulls and five Goosanders were the best on offer at Stanford Reservoir today.

The Black Redstart was again reported at Borough Hill Country Park today and this afternoon a Corn Bunting could still be found at the wild bird crop in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Stortons Pits again attracted Goosanders this morning with eight present, and two Lesser Redpolls were there too. A female Blackbird feeding a fledged youngster in Higham Ferrers has to be the most interesting record for today!

Regards

Neil M

Siskin.

Blue Tit.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Birds of a breezy, blue sky

Hello

Following a few chores I headed slowly north in the county today, first meandering along the Welland Valley which was mostly quiet but there was a Great White Egret and a Green Sandpiper below Cottingham and a couple of Little Egrets around Harringworth. Of course in this part of the world there are numerous Red Kites and with blue skies and a cool fresh wind they were active and inquisitive.

A quick visit to Fineshade Top Lodge didn't produce anything out of the ordinary so onto Blatherwycke Lake which hosted fifty Mandarin Ducks, a Black Swan, several Siskins and a Kingfisher. A male Hawfinch was showing nicely in an oak between the church and the bridge and later flew to the copse the other side of the bridge.

A scan over Deene Lake yielded nine Shelduck plus a male Stonechat and a Cetti's Warbler. There were at least sixty Red Kites at the Laxton village pre-roost.

A couple of Ravens were at Hanging Houghton this morning and birds at Harrington Airfield this afternoon included about a hundred Bramblings and two Woodcock. Most of the Bramblings were at the sunflower crop by the shooting wall.

A female Merlin, a Barn Owl and a Corn Bunting were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon plus plenty of Skylarks and winter thrushes and three Bramblings were at the Summer Leys feeding station. Eight Redpolls were in a Grange Park, Northampton garden this morning and fifty Siskins were in alders at Harlestone Heath near to the golf course.

The Black Redstart was still at Borough Hill Country Park this morning together with two Stonechats and a flock of wintering Meadow Pipits. Single and different Pink-footed Geese were at Ravensthorpe and Hollowell Reservoirs today, with a Golden Plover and two Stonechats at the latter.

The first winter White-fronted Goose was still at Sywell Country Park today and at Pitsford Reservoir the Wood Sandpiper was between the causeway and Maytrees Hide and some ringing there provided captures of a Moorhen, five Blackbirds, three Redwings, four Tree Sparrows, four Reed Buntings and four Yellowhammers amongst fifty-three birds processed.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kite.

Greylag Goose.

Red Kite.

Rook.

Cormorant.

Red Kite.

January birding

Hello 

With a much better weather-day than forecast some people out there went in search of some of the scarcer birds inhabiting the county currently.

The White-fronted Goose was seen at Sywell Country Park this afternoon in association with the feral goose flock - and a Great White Egret and a flock of at least fifty-five Golden Plovers were present too. At Pitsford Reservoir the Wood Sandpiper and the Redshank were again in the Scaldwell Bay as were three Pintail, four Great White Egrets and quite a bit of ice!

At Harrington Airfield this afternoon there were at least a hundred Bramblings coming down to seed in the ringing rides around Bunkers One and Two with about twenty Golden Plovers on the top fields. A ringing session is again planned for this site on Saturday when access to the bunkers and rough area between the Chippings Compound and the concrete track will be restricted. The public footpath along the concrete track is unaffected.

At Summer Leys there were two Bramblings noticed coming to seed at the feed station and birds at Stortons Pits amounted to three Goosanders, a Chiffchaff and a Lesser Redpoll. A Corn Bunting was again present in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at the 'shrike hedge' bird food crop.

Three Caspian Gulls was an excellent concentration on the A5 pools near Lilbourne and the DIRFT3 site, the Black Redstart was still at Borough Hill Country Park and three White-fronted Geese were opposite Stanford Hall with a Caspian Gull roosting at Stanford Reservoir where there was also a decent flock of twelve Goosanders.

Regards

Neil M

Caspian Gull.

Pied Wagtail.

Sparrowhawk.

Quality long-stayers

Hello

A cold night last night and tonight with a spectacular full moon but very pleasant during the daytime today with blue skies and plenty of sunshine - the forecast suggests today will be best weather-day of the week!

This morning was spent visiting and topping up feed stations and checking owl boxes for the forthcoming season. Tawny Owls can nest very early so it was a case of ensuring that potential sites were in an appropriate state for them to begin. At least half a dozen Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall and two Ravens and a Grey Wagtail were at Hanging Houghton village.

This afternoon it was a walk out at Harrington in quite blinding sunshine to feed the birds which included about fifteen Bramblings; a flock of about twenty-two Golden Plovers were on the top fields too. More feed station maintenance after that and Eleanor meandered around the southern edge of the Blueberry Farm complex and the Brampton Valley and back up into Hanging Houghton seeing a Peregrine, two Woodcock, two Barn Owls, a Little Owl, one Corn Bunting, twenty Siskins and twelve Grey Partridges.

Long-staying quality birds in the county included the Black Redstart and a pair of Stonechats at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry, the Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Clifford Hill Pits and up to three Hawfinches at Blatherwycke with sightings next to the church and by the bridge at the inflow end of the lake.

Nick's four White-fronted Geese from yesterday were still at Thrapston Pits today, moving between the meadows at Wadenhoe and the Titchmarsh reserve. Nearby there were six Chiffchaffs and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly active at Islip Sewer Works. Five Cattle Egrets flew from their overnight roost at Stanwick Pits this morning and a first winter White-fronted Goose was reported from Sywell Country Park this afternoon.

The very long-staying female Ruddy Shelduck that resides in the west of the county turned up at Hollowell Reservoir today and birds at Pitsford Reservoir included the wintering Wood Sandpiper and Redshank north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir and a Barnacle Goose still with Canadas at the Sailing Club.

A Stonechat remained at Upton Country Park today, the three White-fronted Geese were still at Stanford Hall and birds at the adjacent reservoir included a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, five Goosanders and a Cetti's Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

White-fronted Geese
courtesy of Helen Franklin.

Female Ruddy Shelduck.

Black Redstart.

Still Bramblings, Hawfinches and wild geese

Hello

A much milder day today and an early morning walk at Harrington Airfield provided a dispersing flock of between one hundred and one hundred and twenty Bramblings (some Chaffinches mixed in) and about sixty Golden Plovers.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included the Wood Sandpiper and the Redshank along the Scaldwell shoreline north of the causeway. There were also six Great White Egrets and seven Pintail north of the causeway.

At least two Hawfinches were around Blatherwycke Church again today with the possibility of others in the immediate neighbourhood and the lake held two Egyptian Geese and a Black Swan but it seems that the Whooper Swans have moved on.

The Black Redstart remained at the summit building of Borough Hill Country Park again today and Stortons Pits attracted thirteen Redpolls and three Goosanders. Four White-fronted Geese at Thrapston Pits were fresh in and still present at dusk on the Titchmarsh reserve.

The Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits today and the three White-fronted Geese were in the grounds of Stanford Hall close to Stanford Reservoir. The reservoir itself hosted a Caspian Gull again, a Goosander, a Great White Egret, a Kingfisher, a Barn Owl, a Chiffchaff and a Siskin, Two Cattle Egrets were at North Lake, Stanwick Pits today.

The quite ridiculous number of Smew at Eyebrook Reservoir reached a new high today with twenty-one birds being recorded (plus four Scaup).

Regards

Neil M

Harrington Bramblings
courtesy of Pete Gilbert.

Common Snipe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Red Fox courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Ringing and birding in the fog

Hello

Foggy conditions were not ideal for either ringing or birding today but the show must go on!

A ringing session at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir netted over a hundred birds which were predominately Blue and Great Tits but also three Coal Tits, a Marsh Tit, nine Long-tailed Tits, a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper and three Blackbirds and three Redwings. Up to four Woodcock were present as well as four Bramblings and a couple of Siskins. The fog lifted for a short time to reveal plenty of ice in the Walgrave Bay as well as a Great White Egret. A Barn Owl was seen nearby early this morning and the Wood Sandpiper was again feeding along the shoreline between the causeway and Maytrees Hide.

A busy ringing session at an orchard in Milton Keynes occupied several Northants Ringing Group members with a hefty total of 157 birds of thirteen species. The most notable were two Fieldfares, a very impressive thirty-three Blackbirds, two Song Thrushes, twelve Redwings, five Woodpigeons, six Greenfinches, a Bullfinch, seven Robins, twenty-seven Great Tits, fifty-seven Blue Tits and perhaps not surprisingly with all these birds about a Sparrowhawk too!

The Black Redstart was located at Borough Hill Country Park this afternoon despite the conditions and there was also a pair of Stonechats and plenty of Meadow Pipits.

One Hawfinch was seen in and around Blatherwycke Church today and a flock of eleven Whooper Swans on the adjacent lake were quite a treat! A single Goosander was noted at Abington Park, Northampton today with a Caspian Gull being seen at Stanford Reservoir this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Fieldfare courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Sparrowhawk courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Creatures of Christie's Copse

Hello

The three White-fronted Geese were seen on two occasions at Stanford Reservoir this afternoon and other birds included a Peregrine, a Green Sandpiper, two Goosanders, two Ravens and a Cetti's Warbler. The Black Redstart was reported at Borough Hill Country Park again this afternoon, on the east side of the summit compound.

The Wood Sandpiper was seen north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today and a male Brambling was at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay. The long-staying Dark-bellied Brent Goose was seen at Clifford Hill Pits early this afternoon and a walk around Sywell Country Park this afternoon produced two Great White Egrets, a Water Rail, c200 Golden Plovers, a pair of Stonechats, two Cetti's Warblers and fifty Siskins.

At least one Corn Bunting was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at lunchtime today and Harrington Airfield produced up to sixty Bramblings, over thirty Linnets, c150 Golden Plovers and c70 Fieldfares. Jon found a Jack Snipe and a Stonechat at farm ponds near Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Brambling.

Long-tailed Tit.

Muntjac.

Chaffinch.

Muntjac.

Robin.

Coal Tit.

Blue Tit.

Grey Squirrel.

All images were taken from Christie's
Copse in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford
Reservoir today. A wooden blind permits
close views of the birds and animals coming
for the food on offer at the seasonal feeding
station.

Winter birds of Middle England

Hello

Cold and frosty nights with daytime winter sunshine makes winter very enjoyable!

Birds at Harrington Airfield included up to about twenty Bramblings and fifty Golden Plovers this morning, there was a Grey Wagtail and a Siskin at Hanging Houghton and the Brampton Valley below the village continued to host two Corn Buntings by the 'shrike hedge' wild bird crop.

Despite Nick's best efforts there was no sign of the Ring-necked Duck at Thrapston Pits today but a Hawfinch was on show around Blatherwycke Church up until about 2.30pm with a Raven over and about ten Mandarin Ducks on nearby Blatherwycke Lake.

Pitsford Reservoir still continues to hang on to the Wood Sandpiper and the Redshank along the shoreline between the causeway and the Maytrees Hide with a Kingfisher and a few Bramblings and a few Siskins in the Walgrave Bay.

A Short-eared Owl was a good find this afternoon between Hemington and Barnwell villages on the edge of the Polebrook Airfield complex at Ellands Farm (TL083847) where there was also a Barn Owl.

A female Wood Duck was located on the River Nene at The Embankment, Wellingborough at 1pm today and a gathering of one hundred Red Kites at Laxton this afternoon was no doubt an impressive sight and sound!

Four Stonechats graced Upton Country Park today and finches included two Lesser Redpolls at Stortons Pits and four Lesser Redpolls and four Siskins in alders at New Sandy Lane, Duston, Northampton by the attenuation pond. Stanford Reservoir hosted four Goosanders, eight Ravens, two Chiffchaffs and a Cetti's Warbler.

The streak of good birds at Eyebrook Reservoir continues today with a staggering eighteen Smew, a drake Scaup and still the three Avocets, with the Ring-necked Duck showing distantly in recent days (but not reported today).

Details of recent ringing recoveries:-

1. A Marsh Tit was ringed on the outskirts of Woodford Halse on 24th September 2021 but unfortunately it's excursion into the village ended badly when it killed itself by flying into a window on 11th November, forty-eight days later;

2, A first year male Blackbird was ringed in Astcote on 6th February 2018 and found dead as a road casualty in the same village on 18th November 2021, 1381 days later whilst in it's fifth calendar year;

3. A Chiffchaff was ringed as a first year bird at Linford Lakes on 23rd November 2020 and caught again by ringers operating at Swindon Sewer Works, Wiltshire on 20th November 2021, 362 days later (and 93km to the south west).

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll.

Starlings courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

Konik Pony the Floodplain
Forest Reserve, Milton Keynes
courtesy of John Tilly.

Birds of frost and winter sunshine

Hello

A ringing session took place in pleasant weather at Stortons Pits today which provided one hundred and fifteen captures which included a Chiffchaff, nine Reed Buntings, three Chaffinches, a Bullfinch, two Blackbirds, two Robins with the remainder made up of Blue and Great Tits.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were at least two drake Smew north of the causeway (seen in Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays), the Wood Sandpiper and the Redshank were on the shoreline just north of the causeway and other birds included about six Great White Egrets, several Pintail, ten plus Snipe, a Woodcock, a Kingfisher, several Bramblings and a couple of Siskins.

Waterfowl shooting again took place at Clifford Hill Pits, an unbelievable situation considering the importance of this site in association with the remainder of the overall Nene Valley which is designated as a Special Protection Area. The long-staying Dark-bellied Goose is believed to have escaped unscathed but many of the ducks there probably did not.

At Stanwick Pits two Cattle Egrets and fifteen Great White Egrets flew from their overnight roost this morning.

Upton Country Park was the venue for three Stonechats and a Green Sandpiper this morning and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir the Pink-footed Goose was south of the causeway plus three Pintail and twelve Siskins. Nearby a Jack Snipe and three Stonechats remained at Hollowell Reservoir.

A male Hawfinch was seen on and off near Blatherwycke churchyard again this afternoon and there was a Birdguides report of the female Ring-necked Duck being seen on Elinor Lake, Thrapston Pits before flying off.

Two Corn Buntings were again around the wild bird crop at 'shrike hedge' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton together with a good number of other passerines which included Bramblings and Tree Sparrows. A decent flock of about sixty Yellowhammers were near Foxholes Farm near the village of Titchmarsh.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included an impressive two hundred and two Great Black-backed Gulls in the roost, a Green Sandpiper, a Water Rail, two Goosanders and six Lesser Redpolls.

Regards

Neil M

Yellowhammer.

Greylag Goose courtesy
of John Tilly.

Coot courtesy of
John Tilly.

Garden Blackbird courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Early January birds

Hello

A rather damp, grey start today but the day remained relatively mild.

Single Barn Owls were hunting today at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and an adult female Peregrine was cavorting around in the general area.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were still a number of Great White Egrets north of the causeway and the two drake Smew were still to be found in the Holcot Bay.

At Summer Leys LNR today there were two Great White Egrets and thirty-four Golden Plovers early this morning and the two first year Shags were seen at Daventry Country Park.

Near Ravensthorpe Reservoir the long-staying Pink-footed Goose was again with Greylag Geese in fields between the causeway and the village and birds at nearby Hollowell Reservoir amounted to two Great White Egrets, three Stonechats and a Chiffchaff. This afternoon there were about ten Bramblings in the ringing ride by Bunker One.

Regards

Neil M

Barn Owl courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Pink-footed Goose.

Black-headed Gull.

Shag.

SP55 Short Day Count

Hello

Today it was the turn of SP55 to be subject of a BOS Short Day Count, this time in duller and slightly milder and cloudy conditions. We spent half of the time at and close to Fawsley Park which traditionally provides a good range of species. We enjoyed views of a Barn Owl as our first bird and subsequent encounters included two Little Owls, a Great White Egret, 187 Siskins (digitally photographed and counted!), a male Brambling, a couple of Ravens, three Water Rails and a Grey Wagtail. Elsewhere and Catesby hosted a pair of Stonechats and a couple of Ravens. A Little Egret was seen in flight near Byfield Pool and an adult male Peregrine was seen near Preston Capes. Mammals noted included Muntjac, Roe and Fallow Deer.

Nearby two first year Shags and three Jack Snipes were at Daventry Country Park, one Corn Bunting was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton again, four Lesser Redpolls were at Stortons Pits, two male Blackcaps were in a Wellingborough garden and the Pink-footed Goose was still in fields between Ravensthorpe Reservoir causeway and Ravensthorpe village. Fourteen Ring-necked Parakeets were counted in Abington Park, Northampton squabbling over potential nest-holes.

A Great White Egret was at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve with four Cattle Egrets nearby in the Nene Valley below Irthlingborough church. A Glossy Ibis was seen at Summer Leys LNR just after 9am this morning but seemingly had flown by 9.45am and wasn't subsequently reported. The Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits today and the three White-fronted Geese were again seen at Stanford Reservoir as was a roost of one hundred and forty-eight Great Black-backed Gulls, three Goosanders, a Water Rail and a Chiffchaff. A Barn Owl was out hunting this afternoon along Mill Lane, Scaldwell village and a female Merlin and at least twenty Bramblings were at Harrington Airfield also this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

A Raven at sunrise Fawsley Park
courtesy of Bethan Clyne.

Common Buzzard Farthinghoe
LNR courtesy of Bethan Clyne.

Red Kite Edgcote
courtesy of Bethan Clyne.

Short Day Count SP54

Hello

Today was the Banbury Ornithological Society Short Day Count in South Northants at SP54. For half the count we were walking around Edgcote and Trafford Bridge which regularly supports an excellent array of species. We were fortunate to find a Kingfisher, a Snipe, a drake Mandarin Duck, a drake Shoveler, a pair of Ravens, displaying Sparrowhawks, two Grey Wagtails, a Chiffchaff, up to thirty Bramblings, a few Siskins and hundreds of Redwings and Fieldfares. A male Brambling was on feeders adjacent to Farthinghoe LNR and several Siskins were flying around the reserve. A flock of over a hundred Golden Plovers were in a grass field near to Thorpe Mandeville. Mammals for the day included sightings of Red Fox, Brown Hare, Muntjac and Fallow Deer.

Not far away and John saw a Merlin at Hinton Airfield plus at least one Brambling and sixteen Golden Plovers.

Elsewhere and the Black Redstart remained at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry and the Pink-footed Goose was with Greylags in fields between Ravensthorpe village and Ravensthorpe Reservoir causeway for much of the day and still present at 4.15pm. A Jack Snipe was at Hollowell Reservoir.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton there were two Corn Buntings and eight Grey Partridges again by 'shrike hedge' plus plenty of winter thrushes, Skylarks, finches and other buntings. This afternoon there were about twenty Bramblings and a Barn Owl at Harrington Airfield.

At Thrapston Pits today there were six Great White Egrets, a Peregrine and over two hundred Lapwings and Pitsford Reservoir hosted the Wood Sandpiper still, two drake Smew in the Holcot Bay, seven Pintail, a Redshank and four Great White Egrets. A Cattle Egret was in the Nene Valley below Irthlingborough and the roost at Stanwick Pits provided eight Cattle Egrets, ten Great White Egrets and seven Little Egrets. The Dark-bellied Brent Goose was still at Clifford Hill Pits today.

At Stanford Reservoir there were two Egyptian Geese, a roost of ninety-four Great Black-backed Gulls, nine Goosanders, ten Siskins and a Cetti's Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Brambling courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Common Buzzard courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Common Gull.