Reservoir birding

Hello

The settled weather brough little change to the birds at Pitsford Reservoir today with birds north of the causeway including a Wood Sandpiper, two Greenshanks, three Dunlin, six Ringed Plovers, at least six Common Snipe, a Ruff, three Yellow-legged Gulls (adult and two juveniles), four Great White Egrets, at least twenty-two Pintail and two Stonechats.

A ringing session there provided over eighty captures which included eighteen Chiffchaffs, seventeen Blackcaps, four Sedge Warblers, two Reed Warblers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, seven Tree Sparrows, seven Meadow Pipits and a Grey Wagtail.

Over at Hollowell Reservoir there was a Jack Snipe, two Common Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, two Stonechats and two possible White Wagtails. The Ruddy Shelduck, two Common Snipe and a Raven were reported from Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Further west and Boddington Reservoir attracted two Ringed Plovers, two Dunlin, three Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and nine Common Snipe.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton comprised of four Stonechats, two Whinchats and a Wheatear with Harrington Airfield surrendering a Common Redstart, four Stonechats, a Wheatear and a Whinchat.

Redwings were noted today at Kettering, Wellingborough and Pitsford village and a Cattle Egret was at Townholme Meadows on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve.

Regards

Neil M

Whinchat.

Stonechat.

Wryneck.

Lesser Whitethroat.

Bearded Tit.

Great White Egret.

Common Whitethroat.

All images courtesy
of John Gamble following
a birding week in Suffolk.

Chats and friends

Hello

Lots of exciting developments on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir currently which include further enhancements around the Kingfisher Screen in the Scaldwell Bay, a new viewing screen next to the James Fisher hide, a new and very modern Lagoon Hide (between the Holcot and Walgrave Bays) and a series of extensive ponds on the reserve which will include new habitats in the 'no mans land' at the back of the Scaldwell Bay and Christies Copse. If funding can be found it is hoped that we can also create spits in the Scaldwell Bay and enhance the profiling of the bund and existing headlands. A couple of new owl boxes were erected on the reserve today to replace failing structures.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included a Wood Sandpiper, a Garganey, two Greenshanks, four Snipe, five plus Pintail, two Stonechats and four Great White Egrets with Small Coppers still on the wing.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton the chats were vying for perches as they moved around the fields and hedgerows but the tally appeared to be four Whinchats, four Stonechats and a Wheatear. Good birds of prey included an adult male Merlin and a Marsh Harrier, perhaps attracted to the good numbers of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits there.

Harrington Airfield continued to attract two Wheatears, four Stonechats and a Common Redstart and birds at Ravensthorpe Reservoir included a first year Caspian Gull, a Ruddy Shelduck, three Pintails, three Snipe and a Green Sandpiper. A juvenile Little Stint was found at the north New Workings at Earls Barton Pits today.

Yesterday the ringers at Stanford Reservoir ringed their 10,000th bird of the year with over two hundred birds ringed during the day which included a Hobby.

Regards

Neil M

Rainbow Catcher
(Great White Egret).

Storm Pirate
(Hobby)

Images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Roundup

 Another busy weekend for me competing in agility with Jaeger and Rouzel and again rather successfully.  This has meant little time for birding.                                                          On Thursday (15th) I  popped to Harrington Airfield first thing before the rest of the day got swallowed up with jobs.  It was rather quiet with only 2 Common Redstarts located. But whilst scanning across the airfield I picked up a Ringtail Hen Harrier flying across the fields before it disappeared towards the Brampton Valley Way. Several small flocks of Golden Plovers flew through.                                                                                                             On Saturday morning I was up early as needed to get to the competition.  There had been a ground frost and I walked the dogs guided by the light of the moon and stars. At 05.30hrs a Redwing flew over calling,  a sign to me that Autumn is truly here.                        No further birding for me until this evening when I took the dogs out to relax from their busy weekend.  I walked to Blueberry and all the hedgerows seemed eerily quiet so I didn't loiter. I took a short cut back and ended up at "shrike" hedge which was very busy with birds,  a gorgeous pair of Stonechat,  4 Whinchats,  Northern Wheatear and a Common Redstart.

A few birds around in the county over the weekend.  Wood Sandpiper,  Greenshanks, Ringed Plovers,  Pintail,  Great White Egrets and Stonechats at Pitsford Reservoir.  Cattle Egrets at Stanford Reservoir and Thrapston GP.  Pink Footed Goose at Stanwick GP and Ospreys through Thrapston GP and Stanford Reservoir.                                                           Interestingly at the end of last week the first winter male Ferruginous Duck was reported again at Daventry Country Park.  I believe that it can be very elusive which may explain why it hasn't been reported for a while,  so if you are over in that area it is worth spending time looking for this bird.

Regards Eleanor 

Normal service resumed !!

Finally after weeks of patchy internet connection we took the decision to change providers and my goodness what a difference!!! We should have done this ages ago. It is not until you have no internet that you realise just how much we depend on this method of communication. 

Yesterday I started the day with an amble around Blueberry and the area below Hanging Houghton.  It was a lovely Autumn morning with mist hanging over the fields in the valley.  At the highest point of Blueberry I came across 2 Northern Wheatears and a  Common Redstart which is always a good sign and suggests that birds are on the move.  As I arrived at the area known as "shrike hedge" it was very busy with birds and a significant increase on the previous day. There was a large flock of passerines including Linnets, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits.  A  very helpful Sparrowhawk flew through and caused a  moment of panic and it was at this point I heard the very distinctive popcorn sound of a Corn Bunting which then perched up very nicely in the hedge.  There was also 2 Whinchat,  Northern Wheatear and a Common Redstart in the same area.  Interestingly when I visited this area again late afternoon the only birds from the morning were the 2 Whinchat,  everything else had disappeared.                      Harrington Airfield was extremely quiet with only 2 Common Redstarts and a Northern Wheatear. 

Today there were 4 Whinchat at shrike hedge first thing this morning but very little else and both Blueberry and Lamport Hall area were also extremely quiet.  However when I visited shrike hedge late this afternoon it was again alive with birds. There was a very large flock of 80+ Meadow Pipits alone, plus Skylarks,  Chaffinches,  Linnets and Reed Buntings but I couldn't find anything of interest.                                                                           On the nectar strip below Hanging Houghton there were 3 Clouded Yellow Butterflies flitting about and showing well.  A couple of them are really bright individuals. 

A few birds of interest around in the county.  At Naseby Reservoir there is a German ringed Caspian Gull, Ruff, Green and Common Sandpiper.  Pitsford Reservoir has Black Tailed Godwits, Greenshanks, Ringed Plovers and Garganey.  Yesterday there was a Wood Sandpiper at Titchmarsh and Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys. 

Regards Eleanor 

Dunlin courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Curlew Sandpiper courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Almost Deja vu

Another busy weekend of agility competitions with Jaeger and Rouzel and more success. Maybe they are finally getting the hang of things!!. This meant that my birding was limited.  When we returned late yesterday afternoon I took them for a walk at Blueberry so that we could all relax.  It was very pleasant in the Autumn sunshine.  Rather bizarrely I was standing in the same place scanning the same fields as I was a week ago when a Hen Harrier came into view.  Yesterday it was a Marsh Harrier which came into view and dallied across the fields towards Lamport.  What a strange coincidence and certainly gave me the feeling of " deja vu".

This morning I headed to Harrington Airfield.  Initially I thought that it was going to be alive with birds as there was a steady movement of hirundines and Meadow Pipits plus 2 Grey Wagtails.  However it was extremely quiet and all I could find were 2 Common Redstarts and a single Golden Plover.  I checked the hedgerow at Lamport Hall but very quiet too. I haven't seen any birds of note here for a couple of weeks. Blueberry this afternoon was also very quiet with just a single Common Redstart and 2 Spotted Flycatchers. 

It doesn't seem to have gone rather quiet in the county at the moment.  Usual Autumn waders of Greenshank,  Ringed Plovers,  Black Tailed Godwits,  Ruff,  Common and Green Sandpipers can be found in the Nene Valley and reservoirs.  Autumn passerines Whinchats,  Wheatear and Common Redstarts are dotted about throughout the county. Birds of the day were a group of 16 Cattle Egrets flying west at Summer Leys,  an amazing record and sight for the lucky observer. 

The ringers have been busy at the weekend. On Saturday Kenny Cramer and his team were ringing at their regular site at Linford near Milton Keynes... 67 birds caught of 16 species.  Birds ringed included 17 Reed Warblers,  10 Chiffchaffs,  4 Blackcaps,  2 Willow Warblers,  2 Swallows and 9 Meadow Pipits.  The award of star bird went to a young Black headed Gull which was only the third to be ringed at this site.                                       

Dave Francis had an interesting ringing session yesterday on the lower part of the feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir.  95 birds of 18 species including 33 Blackcaps, 10 Reed Warblers,  9 Chiffchaffs,  1 Lesser Whitethroat,  1 Garden Warbler,  1 Sedge Warbler and 3 Tree Sparrow. 

Hopefully the Autumn migration will pick up and hopefully we will get our internet issues sorted this week,  fingers crossed. 

Regards Eleanor 

Meadow Pipit courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Misumena vatia female
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Misumena vatia male
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

'Ringtail' Hen Harrier and more

I have been away competing rather successfully with Rouzel and Jaeger at an agility competition over the weekend so my county birding was limited and internet issues have made it impossible to write a blog.

Sunday afternoon on my return from competing I decided to relax by taking the dogs for a meander around Blueberry area. I was standing about enjoying the autumn afternoon when a Roe Deer popped out and started to trot across the stubble fields. It looked stunning with the sunshine highlighting the colour of it's coat.  As I watched I was aware of a raptor flying behind it. I couldn't believe my eyes as I realised that it was a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier which was hunting over the stubble fields. I watched it for several minutes before a couple of Ravens came over and the harrier disappeared from view.

Yesterday morning I decided to visit Harrington Airfield.  I needed to feed the birds and we had had some heavy rain overnight which can be productive for Harrington especially at this time of year.  It did not disappoint.  As I checked the area around bunker one I flushed a Short-eared Owl. Other birds around the bunkers and top field included 3 Common Redstarts, 4 Whinchats, 3 Northern Wheatears and 10 Golden Plovers. There was a noticeable number of Blackbirds about. Clearly the weather had influenced this movement of birds.                                                                                                    

As is so typical of Harrington some of these birds had moved on a few hours later but the 'ringtail' Hen Harrier made an appearance and was chasing the large flock of Linnets.  It was last seen heading towards the Brampton Valley Way.                                                             

I intended to go to Blueberry later in the day so made a mental note that the harrier was still around.  But before I could get there the harrier was indeed found back at Blueberry and watched by others before it disappeared towards Lamport.  It was early evening before I managed to get back to Blueberry and rather surprisingly the harrier was flying around over the stubble fields and it headed towards Maidwell and I suspect ended back at Harrington Airfield. The only other birds at Blueberry were 3 Common Redstarts which popped out of their usual hedge after a short shower of rain.    

 As I headed home there were 4 Whinchats near "shrike hedge " below Hanging Houghton. 

Earlier in the day I popped into Pitsford Reservoir which is looking very good at the moment and plenty of birds packed onto the small side. In the Scaldwell Bay there were at least 10 Pintail, a female Red-crested Pochard, Great White Egrets, Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshanks, Green and Common Sandpipers.  Two Ospreys flew through, possibly on their way to their wintering ground in Africa.

On Saturday Kenny Cramer and his team had an amazing ringing session at Linford Reserve near Milton Keynes.  121 birds trapped, 22 different species and 103 new birds - 40 Blackcaps, 28 Chiffchaffs, 10 Willow Warblers and a single Garden Warbler.  Quite a bit of diversity in the birds including Kingfisher, Goldcrest, Common Tern, Black headed Gull, Mute Swan, Jackdaw, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker. But star bird was Barn Owl. Amazingly 3 different Barn Owls were trapped with one already bearing a ring. It will be interesting to see where this bird came from - watch this space!!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) the Northants Bird Club will be meeting at 7.30pm at the Lodge, Pitsford Water.  If you have ever wondered what the role of the County Bird Recorder involves? what happens to the bird records ? are all the records wanted ? what do the records show us ?  and so many more questions.    Come along to the meeting and meet our County Recorder Jon Cook who will be giving a presentation about his role.  It promises to be a very informative and interactive meeting where all these questions and many more will be answered.     Everyone is very welcome. 

Regards Eleanor 

Barn Owl.

Black-headed Gull.

Green Woodpecker.

All images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Waders, warblers and chats!

Hello

More marathon ringing at Stanford Reservoir saw another two hundred and forty-two birds ringed today which included one hundred and sixty-five Blackcaps, six Grasshopper Warblers and yet another Common Redstart. Other birds on-site included a Ruff, two Green Sandpipers, a Kingfisher, eight Pintail, a Cetti's Warbler and four Ravens.

At Naseby Reservoir today there were two Ruff and two or three Common Sandpipers and the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir provided views of an Osprey, six Great White Egrets, two Greenshanks, four Green Sandpipers, at least nine Common Snipe, three Pintail (two of which were south of the causeway), the female Red-crested Pochard, a Yellow-legged Gull, three or four Spotted Flycatchers and a Grey Wagtail with two probable Ruff flying north.

In the Nene Valley a Wheatear was found at Clifford Hill Pits and birds at Summer Leys amounted to a Ruff, a Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers, a Common Snipe, a juvenile Ringed Plover, two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers and a Water Rail.

A Common Redstart remained at Woodford Halse near to the reserve in a hedge next to the Jurassic Way footpath and at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell there were two Common Redstarts with four Whinchats and a Clouded Yellow butterfly in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Great Black-backed Gull.
This is the fourth consecutive
season with summering birds
at Pitsford Reservoir.

The numbers of Great White Egret
are slowly on the up at Pitsford
Reservoir, the receding water levels
providing ideal fishing opportunities
for these patient stalkers.

Small Copper butterfly.

Last birds of August.

Hello

A jaunt at Harrington Airfield this morning in promising migrant conditions didn't produce much different but included four Common Redstarts, two Whinchats, a Wheatear, a Grey Wagtail and two Grey Partridges.

The Ferruginous Duck was again seen at Daventry Country Park and nearby Borough Hill Country Park surrendered at least ten Spotted Flycatchers and a Lesser Whitethroat.

Two Common Redstarts were at Blueberry Farm this afternoon and three Whinchats were still in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Walking the fields between these two points provided plenty of raptors in the blustery autumn conditions and included a female Peregrine, a family of Hobbies, a Marsh Harrier and of course plenty of Common Buzzards and Red Kites.

A Common Redstart was seen at Woodford Halse near to the reserve and waders at Clifford Hill Pits this morning amounted to a Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, two Common Snipe and a Common Sandpiper.

A Little Stint was found at Thrapston Pits this afternoon and the injured wader with it was initially thought to be the much sought-after White-rumped Sandpiper. However as the light improved it was re-identified as a juvenile Dunlin, the unusual gait and long-winged appearance and displaced feathers causing the initial confusion.

Naseby Reservoir attracted two Ruff and two Black-tailed Godwits this evening, a Marsh Harrier was over the A45 between Raunds and Thrapston and birds at Summer Leys LNR included two Greenshanks, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Great White Egret and a Swift.

Birds noted in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today included two Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, four or five Green Sandpipers, eight Common Snipe, a female Red-crested Pochard and five or six Great White Egrets.

The amazing birding exploits at Stanford Reservoir continue with five Common Redstarts ringed there yesterday morning (in addition to the Wryneck) and today birds noted there included a Ruff, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Snipe.

A/the Ruddy Shelduck was at Hollowell Reservoir this morning and Eyebrook Reservoir's Pectoral Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank were still there today.

Regards

Neil M

Robin courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Shoveler courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

A Wryneck, a cicada and ringing highlights.

Hello

A ringing session at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on Saturday resulted in an excellent catch of ninety-seven birds of eighteen species, eighty-four of which were newly-ringed. As predicted warblers were in good numbers with fifteen Blackcaps, two Garden Warblers, fifteen Reed Warblers, nine Sedge Warblers, twelve Chiffchaffs and ten Willow Warblers. A Kingfisher was a previously-ringed bird and other singles included Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Starling and another Mute Swan! However the biggest surprise was the capture of five Common Terns!

Today (Tuesday) and a Wryneck was caught and ringed at Stanford Reservoir this morning, the fifth for the site and the third consecutive year when this species has been found in a mist net there.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were five Great White Egrets north of the causeway and in the Scaldwell Bay there was a single Garganey, two Green Sandpipers, a Yellow-legged Gull, five Common Snipe and a Hobby with two Common Sandpipers just south of the causeway and Small Copper butterflies on the wing despite the blustery conditions. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth and a Comma were trying to find nectar on our wizened buddleia bush in the garden and for the second day running there was no sign of any Spotted Flycatchers or Common Redstarts at Lamport Hall. 

A male Stonechat at Wollaston Weir was presumably the same bird reported earlier in the month and at Thrapston Pits a Common Redstart was found in a hedge at the north end of Elinor Lake.

There were still two Common Redstarts hanging on at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Wheatear, three Whinchats and singles of Redpoll and Siskin flying over.

Birds at Summer Leys amounted to a Wood Sandpiper on Round Island, three Greenshanks, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper, two Swifts and a Kingfisher.

The Ferruginous Duck was again reported from Daventry Country Park this afternoon and the Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Eyebrook Reservoir as was a Spotted Redshank and a Garganey.

There was a remarkable find of a European Cicada near Ashton today, a large and noisy insect more associated with the Mediterranean region of Europe.

Regards

Neil M

Chicken of the Woods fungi
on Aspen at Scotland Wood,
Kelmarsh Estate.

Woodland scenes from
Scotland Wood today.

Common Terns courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Bank Holiday birding

Hello

Nearly four hundred new birds were ringed at Stanford Reservoir today which included a Whinchat and two Common Redstarts and other birds seen there today included  a large flock of twelve Oystercatchers, three Green Sandpipers, a Hobby, a Water Rail, three Common Snipe, four Cetti's Warblers, a Kingfisher and two Spotted Flycatchers.

Some more bird ringing in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth provided nearly seventy captures including a nice mix of common warblers plus a Grey Wagtail, common passerines, a Woodpigeon etc. Birds noted included a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, up to five more Grey Wagtails and two Ravens.  

At Stanwick Pits this morning there were four Cattle Egrets and two Great White Egrets and Summer Leys LNR attracted two Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and a Great White Egret. A Pintail was noted at Hollowell Reservoir and passerines at Harrington Airfield this morning included four Common Redstarts, five Whinchats, a Wheatear and a Tree Pipit and two Siskins flew over. A Whinchat was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

This evening there were seven Yellow-legged Gulls, twenty Common Terns and a Common Sandpiper visible from the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Cattle Egrets.

Cormorant.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Stanford's migrants

Hello

Another day's pleasant weather and plenty of migrants in the county although away from Stanford Reservoir little if anything that is new.

The Pectoral Sandpiper remains just across the border at Eyebrook Reservoir and at Stanford Reservoir a Cattle Egret put in a couple of appearances and represents the first record for the site. A Marsh Harrier was present too and the ringers had another very successful day processing more than four hundred and fifty birds which included exciting birds such as a Tawny Owl, a Pied Flycatcher, a Common Redstart and eight Grasshopper Warblers! Other birds noted at the reservoir were three Green Sandpipers, two Hobbies and eight Ravens.

Elsewhere and birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included a Red-crested Pochard, five Great White Egrets and eight Common Snipe all in the Scaldwell Bay with still three Whinchats at Harrington Airfield at Bunker Three plus a Wheatear.

Five Whinchats, a Common Redstart and a Wheatear were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon. An Osprey was on a pylon west of Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits early this afternoon and birds noted at Summer Leys LNR included a Great White Egret, a Little Ringed Plover, five Common Sandpipers and at least four Snipe and a Water Rail.

Regards

Neil M

Starling courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Pectoral Sandpiper.

Large White butterfly.

A great summer for Black-tailed Godwits

Hello

Yesterday (Friday) was a day out of the county with Eleanor competing with the collies in Staffordshire and I went to Norfolk with Michelle and the two respective spaniels Smeagol and Toby. It's been years since Smeagol had experienced the sea, something he really enjoys despite his physical limitations!

Yesterday's birds in the county included the Ferruginous Duck being reported at Daventry Country Park again, three Whinchats at Stanford Reservoir with two of them being caught and ringed and a further four Grasshopper Warblers being caught and ringed there. The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Eyebrook Reservoir and present again today.

Other birds for yesterday included a Hobby, a Black-tailed Godwit and two Common Sandpipers at Clifford Hill Pits, seven Black-tailed Godwits, a Great White Egret and a Hobby at Summer Leys LNR, a Great White Egret at Higham Lakes and five Great White Egrets, eight Snipe, a Common Sandpiper and five Green Sandpipers in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir.

Today (Saturday) and Summer Leys LNR attracted two Black-tailed Godwits, a juvenile Water Rail, a Great White Egret, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and two each of Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers. A Marsh Harrier and a Black Tern graced Stanwick Pits.

Birds in and around the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today included five Great White Egrets again, a single Red-crested Pochard, a juvenile Black-tailed Godwit, two Yellow-legged Gulls, two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, five Common Snipe and a Wheatear.

Passerines at Harrington Airfield this afternoon included four Common Redstarts, three Whinchats and a Wheatear and nearby Lamport Hall hosted twelve Spotted Flycatchers and one or two Common Redstart(s). Up to three Peregrines have been present at Market Harborough town centre recently.

Regards

Neil M

Smeagol at the seaside!

Kestrel courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Sparrowhawk courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Greenshanks, a Scaup and a senior Tawny Owl

Hello  

At Stanford Reservoir today two more Grasshopper Warblers were ringed and a Reed Warbler was caught and found to be bearing a Dutch ring. Other birds noted there today included a Greenshank briefly, two Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, an Oystercatcher, a Hobby and twenty Yellow Wagtails.

At Pitsford Reservoir a ringing session in Christies Copse resulted in over sixty birds finding the nets with much of the catch being previously-ringed Great and Blue Tits - some being this year juveniles from the nestbox scheme on-site and some adults known to be several years old. Eleven Chiffchaffs, a single Willow Warbler and a couple of Blackcaps were also processed but the star bird was an adult Tawny Owl first ringed as an adult on 5th June 2010 and recorded again in August of the same year, in April 2015 and in October last year. This bird is thought to be the local adult male that utilises Christies Copse as part of it's territory and it's likely that the young bird we caught there last week is it's offspring.

Other birds noted at Pitsford Reservoir today included three Black Terns this evening that vacated to the South-West at about 8.05pm, a Garganey, at least one Great White Egret, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, at least two Yellow-legged Gulls, a couple of Ravens and a Kingfisher. Over at Hollowell Reservoir a flock of thirteen Black-tailed Godwits must have looked impressive this afternoon.

In the Nene Valley a fly-through Greenshank at Thrapston Pits further supports that this species was on the move today and other birds there included a Common Sandpiper and a Pink-footed Goose. A Cattle Egret was at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and a female-type Scaup was a good find on the Deep Water Lake at Clifford Hill Pits where there was also a Goldeneye and a Whimbrel seen flying over.

Three Common Redstarts were at Harrington Airfield, two more were at Blueberry Farm and a single remained at Lamport Hall where only two Spotted Flycatchers could be found. A single Whinchat was seen by one of the nectar strips in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Hobby was at Quarry Lane, Hartwell.

A Pectoral Sandpiper at Eyebrook Reservoir just across the border was showing well at the inlet-end today.

Regards

Neil M

This Tawny Owl is in
excess of twelve years old.

Greenshank courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Kestrel courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Migrant Hawk-moths, Redstarts still and a Merlin.

Hello

Another warm if not hot day and we are still lacking rain!

Not much new reported today but at Pitsford Reservoir a juvenile Black Tern was still present around the Old Scaldwell Road with four Great White Egrets, three Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and a Yellow-legged Gull in the Scaldwell Bay. We have changed the ingredients in the mixed seed bird food we put out for the birds at the Old Feeding Station and the Tree Sparrows and good numbers of Greenfinches seem to appreciate it!

Stanford Reservoir provided two Common Redstarts today (one caught and ringed), a early morning Marsh Harrier, singles of Grasshopper Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher which were both caught and ringed, two Wheatears, two Common Sandpipers, two Green Sandpipers, a Swift, a good gathering of sixteen Yellow Wagtails and a Cetti's Warbler. Two hundred and thirty-nine new birds were ringed there today.

At Hollowell Reservoir today there was a/the female Ruddy Shelduck, a Whinchat and a Common Sandpiper with Borough Hill Country Park still attracting one or two Whinchat(s) and a Wheatear.

An Osprey was at Thrapston Pits for fifteen minutes this afternoon and at Summer Leys LNR there was a Great White Egret, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Hobby and a Water Rail.

Three or four Common Redstarts remain at Harrington Airfield where there was also a Raven and a pair of Grey Partridges and nearby at Lamport Hall there were ten Spotted Flycatchers, a Common Redstart and a hunting male Merlin over nearby fields. Two Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village and a Barn Owl was hunting in the Brampton Valley below the village this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Convolvulus Hawk-moth
courtesy of Jim Dunkley. I like
the alien face on the back of the
second image of the Convolvulus!

Hummingbird Hawk-moth
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Jim's Sywell garden has been the place for
migrant Hawk-moths with the locally-rare
Convolvulus turning up in a trap yesterday
morning and up to three Hummingbird
Hawk-moths coming to the shrubs.

Brixworth ringing

Hello

Some ringing at Brixworth Water Treatment Works today yielded seventy-five captures, all new birds except a Blackcap first ringed as a juvenile there last year and a Reed Bunting and a Dunnock first ringed there in 2020. Seventeen Common Whitethroats made this the most common warbler with just one of these being an adult. Eleven Blackcaps were newly-ringed plus a Lesser Whitethroat, nine Chiffchaffs, three Reed Warblers and three Sedge Warblers. Singles of Swallow, Magpie, Song Thrush and Woodpigeon added more diversity and bio-mass and finches included a fine adult male Linnet and six Goldfinches. This is a good place to observe birds of prey with a Hobby regularly showing about once an hour and a first year female Sparrowhawk passed through several times. A Kingfisher was heard at the nearby Brampton Brook and at least six Grey Wagtails were on-site with visitations from Yellow Wagtails during the day.

Birds noted at Pitsford Reservoir today included a Black Tern, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Peregrine with a Whinchat at the Guilsborough Point, Hollowell Reservoir. Stanford Reservoir perhaps had a quieter day today but the ringers were active there and among their birds there were three more Grasshopper Warblers and a Kingfisher. Birds seen included another Kingfisher, two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, an Oystercatcher and five Ravens.

In the Nene Valley there was a Black Tern at Stanwick Pits plus a Cattle Egret, a Mandarin Duck, a Dunlin and two Yellow-legged Gulls. A Marsh Harrier, three Black-tailed Godwits and a Greenshank were at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon.

A Spotted Flycatcher was a good local find at Titchmarsh LNR, Thrapston Pits, three Common Redstarts were at Harrington Airfield this morning, two Common Redstarts were at Blueberry Farm and two Whinchats remain in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A Convulvulus Hawk-moth was a superb capture in Jim's moth trap at Sywell from last night.

Regards

Neil M

Reed Bunting.

Song Thrush.

Painted Lady butterfly.

Redstarts, Black Terns and lots of warblers

Hello

A busy ringing session at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on Saturday for Kenny and his small team saw large numbers of warblers hitting the nets as well as some diverse birds too. A Mute Swan decided it wanted some of the action and although successfully ringed it demolished a mist net! A hundred and forty birds of twenty-one species were encountered with nearly all of them being new birds. The Blackcap was the most common with thirty-seven birds followed by twenty-seven Chiffchaffs, seventeen Willow Warblers, nine Reed Warblers, five Garden Warblers, three Common Whitethroats, two Lesser Whitethroats and just a single Sedge Warbler.

Away from the warblers there were singles of Swallow and Kingfisher, two Goldfinches and a Goldcrest and the star bird for many was a first year male Common Redstart.

At Stanford Reservoir today (Monday) there were four Grasshopper Warblers on-site (three caught and ringed), a Common Redstart, three Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, two Spotted Flycatchers, two Hobbies and ten Ravens.

At Stanwick Pits the juvenile Black Tern was still there this morning and this evening and one of the Black Terns was still at Pitsford Reservoir commuting between the causeway and the Old Scaldwell Road. At Thrapston Pits Elinor Lake attracted an Osprey this afternoon and this morning there were still at least four Common Redstarts and a Wheatear at Harrington Airfield. Nearby there were four Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Redstart at Lamport Hall late morning with still two Whinchats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

This afternoon a Hobby was watched zooming in on a begging juvenile Linnet which was quickly dispatched near Brixworth where there was also a Grey Wagtail and a Water Rail.

Regards

Neil M

Osprey courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

I really like this image
of a Mandarin Duck plucking
a Blackberry from brambles
at Sixfields Lake courtesy
of Liam Howley.

Common Redstart courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.