Warm February sunshine

Hello

A stunning day of sunshine today made it a treat to be out!

Hundreds of Fieldfares were in the grass paddocks at Dale Farm, Maidwell this morning and half a dozen Bramblings and a pair of Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield with a Barn Owl hunting there yesterday afternoon.

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this morning included a Great White Egret and two Ravens. Overnight the reserve suffered at the hands of criminals when the main metal gate above the Old Scaldwell Road was angle grinded off and stolen. This makes the reserve vulnerable to potential incursions and further abuse and would-be visitors are asked to remain vigilant and inform the Police and the wardening team if potential criminal action appears imminent.

Elsewhere and the female Ring-necked Duck was still on the Heronry Lake on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits this morning plus a Great White Egret and a Kingfisher. At Stanwick Pits the Glossy Ibis was seen again late morning at the north end of the complex and other birds on-site included five Cattle Egrets and three White-fronted Geese. At Earls Barton Pits there was a Chiffchaff along the railway line near Mary's Lake with the drake Red-crested Pochard on a small pit just to the east.

Another Red-crested Pochard was on the settling pools below the dam at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and this afternoon birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton next to shrike hedge attracted to the bird food crop included at least sixty Yellowhammers, forty Linnets, twenty Reed Buntings and small numbers of Chaffinches and Skylarks.

The three White-fronted Geese were again at Stanford Park today and Stanford Reservoir attracted a Great White Egret, eight Goosanders, a Peregrine, a Cetti's Warbler, two Grey Wagtails, eleven Siskins and six Lesser Redpolls.

The sunshine brought forth several butterfly sightings in the county which included Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone and yesterday Comma and Red Admiral were seen too - not bad for February!

Regards

Neil M

Fieldfare courtesy of
Laurence Arnold.

Barn Owl courtesy
of John Tilly.

Greenfinch courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Peacock butterfly courtesy
of John Tilly.

Quality birds on the loose

Hello

A bright, cool and sunny morning saw me at Pitsford Reservoir at the dam end and the Great Northern Diver was finally swimming in calm water! The Common Sandpiper was on the dam, the adult and fourth year Yellow-legged Gulls were present and a couple of Redpolls and Siskins were mobile.

At Lings Wood, Northampton this morning a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was again on show and drumming.

The Glossy Ibis was eventually re-located at Stanwick Pits, still at the north end of the complex. Also present were five Cattle Egrets this morning.

Another excellent sighting were two Common Cranes that flew over Ravensthorpe Reservoir, coming from the north and departing south-east at about 9.45am. The Pink-footed Goose was in a field just west of the causeway and the reservoir also hosted a Great White Egret and five Siskins. A pair of Goosanders were on the River Nene at Lilford plus about thirty Siskins.

Eleanor's trek around the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits this afternoon was also productive with a female Ring-necked Duck being located on the Heronry Pit at about 5pm (visible from the hide there but a fallen tree makes access difficult). Other birds included three Great White Egrets, a pair of Goosanders, a pair of Egyptian Geese, two Oystercatchers, two Kingfishers, a Water Rail, at least three Cetti's Warblers and a Chiffchaff. The highlight was an Otter showing well and audible in Harper's Brook (the stream that runs through the reserve).

The three White-fronted Geese were still in the parkland area of Stanford Hall this afternoon and Stanford Reservoir was the venue for five Goosanders and a Brambling.

Regards

Neil M

Female Ring-necked Duck.

Common Crane.

Otter courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Birds of a cool, sunny Friday

Hello

Yesterday's new arrival in the shape of a Glossy Ibis was still at Stanwick Pits today, favouring the north section of the complex. The supporting cast included at least three Cattle Egrets, two Great White Egrets and two Stonechats.

The Great Northern Diver was seen again at Pitsford Reservoir today, again off Pintail Bay at lunchtime and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was visual and audible at Lings Wood this morning, showing in trees in front of Lings House at 8.15am.

Harrington Airfield this morning provided thirty Bramblings, an adult male Peregrine, two Woodcock and about a hundred Golden Plovers.

This afternoon there were five Caspian Gulls at Rushton Landfill, showing in the field at the track entrance to Storefield Farm.

Regards

Neil M

Glossy Ibis.

Bathing Song Thrush.

Goldfinch.

Golden Plovers.

Cool and breezy but plenty of sunshine

Hello

The Great Northern Diver was seen again at Pitsford Reservoir today, again near to the Pintail Bay. North of the causeway there were three Goosanders, two Ravens and with a Woodcock in Christies Copse. Two Woodcock were again at Blueberry Farm this afternoon and four Roe Deer were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. 

A Glossy Ibis was found at the north section of Stanwick Pits today, one of many in the UK currently. The drake Red-crested Pochard was again at Earls Barton Pits today and eight Siskins and four Redpolls were at New Sandy Lane attenuation area at Duston, Northampton.

Stanford Reservoir attracted a Yellow-legged Gull, a Dunlin, about a hundred and thirty Golden Plovers and a Chiffchaff.

A little ringing on the outskirts of Northampton yesterday provided four Lesser Redpolls, eleven Goldfinches, four Reed Buntings and a few Blue and Great Tits.

Regards

Neil M

Muntjac.

Coot.

Cormorant.

All images taken at
Pitsford Reservoir today.

Shelducks and Oystercatchers back in the valley

Hello

Little opportunity for birding today but I noticed two Siskins and a couple of Ravens in the village at Hanging Houghton today and there was a small party of Golden Plovers and about twenty Bramblings at Harrington Airfield this morning.

At Thrapston Pits there was a Shelduck, two Oystercatchers, five Great White Egrets and eight Little Egrets and at Stanwick Pits there were four Cattle Egrets this afternoon. A dozen Siskins were on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadow reserve at Ditchford Pits and Earls Barton Pits hosted a Water Rail, a Shelduck, two Oystercatchers, a Great White Egret and a drake Red-crested Pochard on a small fenced-off lake behind and to the right of Mary's Lake. Two Oystercatchers were also at Clifford Hill Pits so it seems they are back at all their normal Nene Valley haunts!

The drake Red-crested Pochard was still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today, south of the causeway and two Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm. Maidwell this afternoon.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Yellow-legged Gull in the roost and about one hundred and thirty Golden Plovers.

Regards

Neil M

Cormorant and Oystercatcher
courtesy of John Tilly.

Oystercatcher.

Golden Plovers.

Mute Swan.

Mallard.
Over two hundred Mallard
have been caught and ringed
at Pitsford Reservoir over the 
last couple of decades with one 
recovery the other side of Moscow.

Ditchford WeBs count

Hello

Following some feed station maintenance, today seemed an appropriate day to complete the Ditchford Pits WeBs count. Apart from a couple of showers the day was generally pleasant with mild temperatures, some nice sunshine but also still gusty for some of it.

Birds west of Ditchford Lane included three Great White Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, a Woodcock, three Oystercatchers, a pair of Stonechats and a Grey Wagtail. The pits east of Ditchford Lane held another two Great White Egrets, seventeen Common Snipe, eight Goosanders, a Water Rail, two Grey Wagtails and two Chiffchaffs. There was a sprinkling of calling Cetti's Warblers on pits both sides of Ditchford Lane. Grey Herons and Cormorants were busy on their nests.

Two more Egyptian Geese were seen at Summer Leys LNR this morning and the three White-fronted Geese remained at Stanford Hall.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir's almost-resident Pink-footed Goose was still there today plus two Great White Egrets and a drake Red-crested Pochard, and birds noted at next door Hollowell Reservoir included an adult Caspian Gull, a Great White Egret and three Stonechats.

The Great Northern Diver was again near the Pintail Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today plus the Common Sandpiper was seen again on the dam.

Regards

Neil M

They may be particularly
adept flyers but Red Kites
are still pushed around in
these strong winds thus enabling
us to appreciate their acrobatic
skills (including vertical flying)!

First the wind now the floods

Hello

The amount of rain recently after such a dry January has caused significant flooding in the river valleys with the Welland and Nene particularly adversely affected.

There have been some great sightings of Otter along the River Welland this week-end gone, apparently somewhere just outside Market Harborough. One of the Peregrines was sheltering from the rain on the town centre church this morning.

Two first year Caspian Gulls were in a field next to Rushton Landfill by the entrance to Storefield Lodge Farm at lunchtime and two Great White Egrets were on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve at Ditchford Pits on East Pit.

A second winter Caspian Gull was in the gull roost at Stanford Reservoir this afternoon and an Oystercatcher was on the dam.

Five Bramblings and two Siskins were at Lilford this afternoon and a Barn Owl was between Hemington and Barnwell.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kite.

Marsh Harrier courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

The stormy season continues

Hello

From one storm to another there is no let up for our feathery and furry friends out there with the current high winds and rain destined to stay with us for much of the forthcoming week.

Brave souls nevertheless ventured out to see what was on offer and the birds at Pitsford Reservoir again included the Great Northern Diver, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Barnacle Goose and two Yellow-legged Gulls (adult and a fourth year together), all visible from the dam or other areas at the southern end of the reservoir.

Grey Partridges visiting and feeding in a garden at Old were a treat and birds noted at Summer Leys LNR this morning included a Great White Egret, at least three Lesser Redpolls and several Siskins.

The two Hawfinches showed again at Cottesbrooke, again in the poplars looking north from the bus shelter in Station Road. Six to eight Redpolls were at Wicksteed Park, Kettering as were about twenty Siskins.

The three White-fronted Geese were again seen at Stanford Hall today and birds seen at Stanford Reservoir included six Goosanders, fifty-five Golden Plovers, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

Adult male Chaffinch
demonstrating the all-too-familiar
affliction with diseased feet.

Image courtesy of
John Tilly.

Great Tit also burdened,
this time with at least one
tick embedded just below
the left eye. Ticks were
never seen on birds during
the winter but these days
they are a common sight
with Great Tits regularly
being targeted.

Image again courtesy
of John Tilly.

Shelduck courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Song Thrush courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Birds after the storm

Hello

Still pretty wild and wet again today but some nice early morning calm if rather cool.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Great Northern Diver was present again in The Narrows, the adult Yellow-legged Gull was again off the dam and birds in the Scaldwell Bay included a drake Goosander, a Great White Egret and an Oystercatcher.

The two Hawfinches showed again at Cottesbrooke village this morning, again in trees viewable from the bus shelter in Station Road. There was at least one Raven present too.

At Earls Barton Pits there was a Ruff, a Dunlin, an Oystercatcher, about fifty Golden Plovers, a Curlew and a Great White Egret on the Summer Leys reserve and Hardwater Lake.

Stanford Reservoir attracted a Yellow-legged Gull, an Oystercatcher, a Great White Egret, a Goosander. a Water Rail, three Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin. Good numbers of Siskins remain in Harlestone Heath.

Regards

Neil M

Barnacle Goose.

Great Crested Grebes.

Scarlet Cup fungi.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Storm Eunice

Hello

Gale force winds courtesy of Storm Eunice has dominated the weather today and the week's outlook also looks a stormy affair.

In some respects it seems that locally we have been lucky with devastating damage being caused elsewhere in the UK.

Spare a thought for the wildlife out there that has to somehow cope with such extreme weather.

During the last few days we have been noticing a few each of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer visiting our garden seeking seed and this is very much in line with previous years when the buntings visit the garden during the back end of the winter into spring and even early summer.

About ten Bramblings were at Harrington Airfield this morning and the Great Northern Diver was fishing in tumultuous waters at Pitsford Reservoir near the mouth of the Pintail Bay. Some birds clearly find the strong winds quite exhilarating and the big gulls at Pitsford were dipping and weaving over the water's surface which included the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull (which at one stage was carrying a dead bird). Two Ravens at Kelmarsh were also enjoying the challenge of flying in gusty, volatile winds.

The wet fields following the rain of this month provides foraging opportunities for many birds and there were flocks of up to three hundred Fieldfares doing just that in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

The curious-looking
 Chinese Water Deer.

Muntjac.

Common Snipe.

Great White Egret.

Images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

More Hawfinches

Hello

I spent the day at Pitsford Reservoir today completing the monthly WeBs count, albeit that the waterbird numbers were very low. The first year Great Northern Diver was again in The Narrows this morning, the Common Sandpiper was on the shoreline of the Sailing Club near to the dam, a Green Sandpiper was on the settling pool below the dam and the adult Yellow-legged Gull was mostly off the Sailing Club. A Brambling was in Brixworth Country Park and there were approximately thirty mobile Siskins around the reservoir.

Other birds included a Grey Wagtail, four Ravens (two pairs), a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, about forty Common Snipe and there was a light southerly passage of Common Buzzards.

Eleanor found four Hawfinches in trees at Lilford Bridge this afternoon, a historic but now poorly visited site and the two Hawfinches were still at Cottesbrooke again today together with a Raven and a mixed flock of Chaffinches and Bramblings along the gated road between Cottesbrooke village and Calendar Farm.

A Raven was seen in flight over Kingsthorpe Cemetry this afternoon, a Stonechat was near Bucknell Wood and a Red-crested Pochard was found at Earls Barton Pits on a fishing pit east of Mary's/Pete Wilde's Lake.

A Great White Egret and eleven Goosanders were at Clifford Hill Pits this afternoon and the Dartford Warbler popped back in to view today at Duston Mill with the two Stonechats. A Yellow-legged Gull was in the roost at Stanford Reservoir and other birds there included two Goosanders, a Great White Egret and a Chiffchaff.

Birds at the Titchmarsh Reserve, Thrapston Pits this afternoon included two/three Great White Egrets, four Goosanders, two Egyptian Geese, an adult Peregrine, three Oystercatchers, a Chiffchaff, three Cetti's Warblers, about twenty Siskins and a Water Rail.

Yesterday there were seven Little Egrets near Wicksteed Park, Kettering plus a few Redpolls and about forty Siskins.

Regards

Neil M

Little Grebes.

Great Crested Grebe.

Common Buzzard.

Cormorant.

Muntjac.

All images from Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Gales galore

Hello

Stormy weather is upon us, something we have to put up with when the temperatures are so mild.

Milky sunshine and relative warmth stimulated several Yellowhammers into singing at Harrington Airfield this morning where there were still a few Bramblings.

Efforts at finding the Dartford Warbler drew a blank at Duston Mill this morning but the pair of Stonechats were still present.

The Common Sandpiper and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were around the dam area of Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and the drake Smew was again visible from the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning as were two Great White Egrets. Over at Hollowell Reservoir Mark saw two Caspian Gulls, a Great White Egret, two Stonechats and nineteen Siskins. Another twenty Siskins were in trees along the stream at Harlestone at about lunchtime and a Redpoll was in a Scaldwell garden.

Yesterday the Siberian Chiffchaff was seen for a short time in Nick's Kettering garden and a Raven was at Yardley Gobion.

Regards

Neil M

Carolina Wood Ducks
courtesy of Robin Gossage.
A potential vagrant from the USA,
there is a small population
in the UK which are mostly captive
but a few escapees exist in a wild
feral state.

Aconites and Snowdrops
are in profusion this year.