A stunning Autumn Day

 It has been a stunning Autumn day and one of those days where you wanted to be outdoors.  Luckily I was able to be out and about enjoying the warm sunshine and gentle breeze.    An early visit to Harrington Airfield was productive. As I checked the area around bunker one I flushed a Short-eared Owl.  I don't know who was the most surprised, me or it. The corvids soon had it spotted and started to annoy it.  The Owl wanted to land but it's attempts were thwarted so it headed off in a southerly direction with the corvids in pursuit.    A pair of Stonechat were at bunker two.  As I continued my wanderers several Brambling, Siskins and a single Redpoll flew over calling.  There was a noticeable number of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks over the fields.                                            Next stop was the "shrike hedge" area below Hanging Houghton where at least 8 Stonechat a Whinchat remain plus good numbers of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.                Early afternoon I went to Pitsford Reservoir.  The water level continues to drop exposing more mud. It looks very promising and it is certainly attracting a large number of birds on the small side. The Walgrave arm was particularly packed with birds but I concentrated on the Scaldwell bay.  A good variety of birds noted including 5 Dunlin, Common and Green Sandpiper,  4 Stonechat, Whinchat,  20+ Pintail,  Garganey, and a rather splendid drake Red Crested Pochard.  A bonus as I stood having a final look round was a Marsh Harrier.                                                                                                                              I thought that the sunshine would bring out  some butterflies.  I bumped into a Clouded Yellow at Pitsford Reservoir and a further 2 below Hanging Houghton and another  was reported from Harrington Airfield. 

Generally it appears to have been a quiet weekend in the county.  There has been a Grey Plover on Aldwincle Lake Thrapston,  Black Tailed Godwit at Summer Leys and Hollowell,  Cattle Egret at Stanwick and Jack Snipe at Hollowell.                                                 Stanford Reservoir is always an interesting place even though it can be very frustrating if the bird is only present on the Leicestershire side rather than Northamptonshire.  There has been a Rock Pipit around the dam area but spends most of it's time just in Leicestershire and a Yellow Browed Warbler was trapped and ringed there on Friday. 

I wonder what this new week will bring ??

Regards Eleanor 

A few images from a Scilly
pelagic trip today where Neil
is leading a Naturetrek group.
The top image is a first winter
Mediterranean Gull, the latter
two images are of Cory's Shearwater.

Ditchford WeBs count

Hello

I completed a rather belated WeBs count at Ditchford Pits today, initially in dull, dank conditions but then bright sunshine later. Hundreds of House Martins were feeding low down in the cool temperatures early on with rather less Swallows and a few Sand Martins. Cetti's Warblers were very vocal today, probably mostly this year's youngsters trying out their vocal chords and establishing winter territories. Good numbers of Chiffchaffs called and flitted around the complex and I'm sure that the single Blackcap I saw wasn't a true representation of the numbers present. At least six Grey Wagtails were good with a minimum of four Kingfishers whizzing about and when the sun came out plenty of Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers took to the wing.

West of Ditchford Lane and a Great White Egret was seen in flight and two Egyptian Geese were on the Watersport Pit. Flights of Wigeon were on the move, whistling over in flocks through the low cloud. A female Stonechat was on thistles and other plant stems and three Water Rails were heard squealing. East of Ditchford Lane and two Jack Snipe were found in a restricted area and a few each of Siskin and Redwing flew in and around.

Over at Thrapston Pits a Grey Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Stint and two Ruff were all passage migrants seen on the Titchmarsh reserve. A Dunlin, two Green Sandpipers and a Snipe were at the New Workings North at Earls Barton Pits.

Stanford Reservoir attracted three Pintail today plus twenty-one Golden Plovers, two Green Sandpipers, five Snipe, two Cetti's Warbler, a Reed Warbler and a few hundred hirundines. At least five Great White Egrets, a Ruff, a Whinchat and a Hobby were north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

The chats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton were still represented by eight Stonechats and a Whinchat this morning and they were joined by a Wheatear late this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Jack Snipe.

Song Thrush.

Meadow Pipit with Crane Fly
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Cooler and wetter weather on the way

Hello

Cooler temperatures ahead of some stormy weather this week-end and the birds are reflecting the change in the season.

A Brambling was in the garden at Hanging Houghton and a Siskin was mobile in the village. Birds in the Brampton Valley below the village included still eight Stonechats, a Whinchat, two Bramblings, Siskins and three Redwings. Another Brambling was noted at Braunston.

A Peregrine was seen over Earls Barton village today and birds at Titchmarsh Reserve at Tharpston Pits included a drake Red-crested Pochard and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included two Great White Egrets, four Green Sandpipers, three Common Snipe, two Kingfishers, four Redwings, two Cetti's Warblers and up to four hundred House Martins. A Garganey was at Pitsford Reservoir plus five Great White Egrets, seven Snipe, a Green Sandpiper, five Dunlin, two Stonechats and a Whinchat, a Grey Wagtail and good numbers of Pintail. A Comma was on the wing (with Small Copper yesterday).

Harrington Airfield surrendered at least two Bramblings coming to food in the ringing ride by Bunker One, a pair of Stonechats and a Common Redstart near Bunker Two and fifteen Golden Plovers flying over.

Regards

Neil M

Blue Tit.

Bullfinch.

Dunnock.

Cormorant with Perch.

All images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Pitsford WeBs Count

Hello

A waterbird census at Pitsford Reservoir was completed, initially in showery conditions. Eight or nine Great White Egrets and about seventeen Little Egrets were present and the waders comprised of two Greenshanks, two Ruff, five Dunlin and twelve Common Snipe. Ducks included the Garganey still, twenty-nine Pintail scattered between three bays and a slumbering aythya duck that was either a female Ferruginous Duck or a hybrid. Good numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon reflected the season and the low water levels which is providing shallow water and ideal foraging habitat.

Other birds included three Grey Wagtails, three Yellow-legged Gulls, three Stonechats and a Whinchat.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton near to 'shrike hedge' included eight Stonechats and a Whinchat and birds at Hollowell Reservoir were four Dunlin, four Common Snipe and a Ringed Plover (with another one dead there).

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included three Green Sandpipers, three Common Snipe, three Pintail and six Ravens.

Mandarin Ducks were present at Blatherwycke Lake today and an Otter was seen too.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Common Nighthawk
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Queen of Spain Fritillary
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Silver-washed Fritillary
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

WeBs counter (Jane Neill)
 ready for action!

Back from Dungeness.

Hello

Another rather quiet day in the county today, perhaps partly because of a superb find of an American Common Nighthawk in Oxfordshire which may have distracted local birders!

A male Merlin was at Harrington Airfield this evening where there were also thirty Golden Plovers (and a male Peregrine there yesterday). 

Two Yellow-legged Gulls were seen at the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits today and a Yellow-legged Gull and a Pintail were at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton with a Dunlin on the Summer Leys LNR. Four Cattle Egrets were on the Roadside Pit at Stanwick Pits this morning with two Ringed Plovers near to the visitor centre.

Six Stonechats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at 'shrike hedge' this morning as were singles of Whinchat and Wheatear with two Golden Plovers over.

Regards

Neil M

Wheatear at Dungeness.

A Harvest Mouse which was 
released shortly after this image
was taken, courtesy of
Michelle Spinks.

Dungeness!

Hello

It seems to be a very quiet day in the county today but a Spotted Redshank was still at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway this morning and other birds were eight Great White Egrets, a Garganey, two Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, two Ruff, six Common Snipe, two Ringed Plovers, a Whinchat and two Stonechats. The Wood Sandpiper was also reported.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included eight Stonechats and two or three Whinchats. The two Dunlin were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and there was still a Spotted Flycatcher at Stanford Reservoir plus a Pintail and five Ravens.

A Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were on the New Workings North at Earls Barton Pits today with three Stonechats on the New Workings South and two Redwings over.

In the meantime a small contingent of Northants Ringing Group members have been down at Dungeness Bird Observatory on the Kent coast enjoying visible migration and a little ringing. Sea-watching has produced views of terns and gulls feeding over the sea, a passage of Arctic Skuas and small numbers of waders and wildfowl. On the land there have been plenty of chats, pipits and wagtails, as well as warblers to keep migration enthusiasts entertained. A tame Red Fox coming for food was fabulous and we were lucky enough to see Common and Grey Seals, Harbour Porpoises and some interesting end of season insects.

Regards

Neil M

Clifden Nonpareil or
Blue Underwing

Views from the old
lighthouse at Dungeness.

Mixed summer, winter and passage migrants.

Hello

A migrant-filled walk at Harrington Airfield today provided plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, a relatively early Brambling, a Ring Ouzel (briefly at Bunker Two), a pair of Stonechats, three over-flying Crossbills, Grey Partridges and a Common Redstart.

Nearby around 'shrike hedge' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton there were four Stonechats today, a Whinchat, a Common Redstart and over a hundred Meadow Pipits and Clouded Yellow butterflies with Grey Partridges at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. Six Siskins were in Hanging Houghton village.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included just one Spotted Redshank in the Scaldwell Bay, a Dunlin, two Ruff, a Green Sandpiper, two Ringed Plovers, a Garganey, six Great White Egrets, ten plus Pintail, three Yellow-legged Gulls and two Stonechats.

Records from Stanford Reservoir today included lingering summer migrants, at least three Redwings, two rather late Spotted Flycatchers, four Cetti's Warblers, four Green Sandpipers, a Water Rail, a Pintail and two Kingfishers

Two Cattle Egrets were at North Lake, Stanwick Pits this morning, two Stonechats were still on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits and two Dunlin were noted at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret.

Red Kite.

Common Buzzard.

Pitsford birding.

Hello

Pitsford Reservoir was the centre of attention for local birders today with a procession of observers mostly scanning the Scaldwell Bay to witness migrant waders and amassing wildfowl. The highlights were probably two Spotted Redshanks, a Wood Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, two Ruff, two Greenshanks, five Ringed Plovers, a Garganey, twenty-two Pintail, a Hobby, seven Yellow-legged Gulls, at least four Great White Egrets and two Stonechats.

Hollowell Reservoir recorded a Jack Snipe, five Common Snipe, five Stonechats and a Whinchat and at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits there were three Egyptian Geese and a Hobby with a Greenshank at the Whiston Lock area.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton there were six Stonechats, two Whinchats and a Common Redstart in the vicinity of 'shrike hedge' and this evening there was a female Common Redstart, a Peregrine and two Redwings at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby.

Stanford Reservoir attracted a huge flock of 1260 Canada Geese, a Great White Egret, four Green Sandpipers, a Pintail, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Water Rail and three Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Common Snipe.

Black-tailed Godwit.

Yellow-legged Gull 
in the rain.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Waders and chats dominate

Hello

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today were supplemented by the arrival of a Curlew Sandpiper and two Spotted Redshanks in the Scaldwell Bay area where there was still a Wood Sandpiper, six Dunlin, a Ruff, five or six Ringed Plovers and several Common Snipe plus four Great White Egrets and at least six Pintail and a Stonechat.

The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and in particular the area near 'shrike hedge' yielded four Stonechats and two Whinchats today with another pair of Stonechat at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. Two Ravens and a Grey Wagtail frequented Hanging Houghton village.

A 'ringtail' harrier was seen near to Harrington Airfield where there were still three Stonechats and Hollowell Reservoir sported two female Common Redstarts in the hedge NW of Guilsborough Bay plus two Whinchats, at least four Stonechats and three Common Snipe.

There were four Dunlin on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today plus another at Clifford Hill Pits and two Spotted Redshanks were reported this afternoon on the Earls Barton Pits New Workings at the north end.

Regards

Neil M

Starling.

Chiffchaff.

Moorhen.

All images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

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.