Sunday's sightings.

Hello

A busy birding day at Stanford Reservoir with a Merlin through, fourteen Red-crested Pochard, a Pintail, two Water Rails, a Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper, three Lesser Redpolls, a Siskin and two Cetti's Warblers and the gull roost provided a Yellow-legged Gull and no less than three Mediterranean Gulls!

A Marsh Harrier was seemingly present in and around Summer Leys LNR for much of the day and at Hanging Houghton a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier showed in the Brampton Valley between the village and Blueberry Farm and later in fields off the A508 between the village and Brixworth. There were also two Ravens at Hanging Houghton, a male Brambling in the village and several in hedging behind the large barn below the village near Brampton Valley Way.

Large numbers of winter thrushes were gorging themselves on hawthorn berries in the same area of the Brampton Valley and a similar thing was happening at Harrington Airfield this morning with just a fly-over Golden Plover of note there.

My team of helpers and I are busy setting up the winter feed stations now as the weather turns cooler and wetter with feeding stations in operation at Harrington Airfield, on the Kelmarsh Estate (two sites) and Pitsford Reservoir (four sites) with a couple more coming online soon.

A Bearded Tit still remains at Stanwick Pits along the causeway on the A45 pits and there were seven Cattle Egrets with cattle on the Roadside Pit. Two Little Gulls flying through Summer Leys LNR was a good record for this time of the year and a Goosander was at Abington Park, Northampton where a group of Ring-necked Parakeets continues to reside. A Merlin was seen at Stowe Nine Churches at about 8.30am this morning.

Regards

Neil M

A two metre high
Kingfisher!

Grey Heron.

Lapwing.

All images courtesy
of John Tilly.

Saturday's highlights

Hello

With relatively low windspeeds and minimal precipitation it was a day when Northants Ringing Group members were active at Pitsford Reservoir and Linford Lakes. At Pitsford some 73 birds of seventeen species were processed with the highlights being five Common Snipe, two male Stonechats, four Meadow Pipits and three Lesser Redpolls plus small numbers of thrushes and other common birds. Birds noted on-site during the ringing included a Jack Snipe and three Dunlin in the Scaldwell Bay.

At Linford Lakes 76 birds were duly processed of fourteen species, 59 of which were newly-ringed. Small birds included four Chiffchaffs and seven Goldcrests and the team were particularly successful at catching thrushes with a haul of thirty-one Redwings, three Fieldfares, a Song Thrush and five Blackbirds. However the probable highlights were no less than two Green Woodpeckers and a feisty male Kestrel. A Long-tailed Duck was seen on-site.

Away from ringing and a male Bearded Tit was located at Stanwick Pits today, an elusive bird on the causeway between the two bridges closest to the iron house. A Cattle Egret was also on the Roadside Pit.

A Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys LNR this morning and a male Merlin was in a sustained Skylark chase in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton also this morning and there were two Kingfishers at the Brampton Brook.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were still ten Red-crested Pochard, a Whooper Swan flew through in an easterly direction, two Great White Egrets, two Kingfishers, a Water Rail, two Yellow-legged Gulls, a Pintail, a Lesser Redpoll and a roost of about a thousand Starlings.

Regards

Neil M

Male Reed Bunting.

Lesser Redpoll.

Meadow Pipit.

Common Snipe.

Male Stonechat.

Kestrel courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Green Woodpecker
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Fieldfare courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

The stunning Grey Wagtail.

Hello

A much better day's weather today and it reflects in the sightings too.

Eleanor again saw a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning, quartering a weedy field and visible from the footpath leading from Blueberry Lodge to the Brampton Valley Way. What isn't clear is whether this is the same wandering individual from much earlier in the autumn or a new bird in.

A fly-over Great White Egret and three mobile Bramblings were the best on offer at Harrington Airfield this morning, two Dunlin were at Clifford Hill Pits and Hollowell Reservoir boasted an adult Caspian Gull, a Jack Snipe and two Stonechats.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included the Wood Sandpiper in the Scaldwell Bay plus five Green Sandpipers, four Dunlin, a Redshank, a Jack Snipe, c30 Common Snipe, two Pintail, still plenty of Great White Egrets, two Stonechats and a few each of Redpoll and Grey Wagtail.

Ringing operations at Pitsford Reservoir tomorrow may cause some disturbance between the causeway and the Paul Britton seat for which we apologise in advance. The Maytrees Hide will act as the ringing station and visitors are quite welcome to see any captures that we manage in the morning prior to their release.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Wet, wet, wet!

Hello

A very wet period and well into today made it very unappealing to go out and about! However a few hardy souls tried their luck and at Stanford Reservoir today there were still fourteen Red-crested Pochard, two Great White Egrets, a Yellow-legged Gull and two Kingfishers.

Six Grey Partridges were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, these birds of wild stock rather than the coveys of released birds that are currently rummaging around the undergrowth at Pitsford Reservoir.

This afternoon an adult Mediterranean Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were coming to bread just north of the dam and the Otter was showing well again at Summer Leys LNR.

Regards

Neil M

Adult Mediterranean Gull.

Little Egret.

Magpie.

All images taken in very dull
conditions at Pitsford Reservoir today.

Pitsford WeBs Count

Hello

We took on the Pitsford Reservoir WeBs count today in what turned out to be a pleasant window of weather between rain at the start and end of the day. The Wood Sandpiper was again next to the causeway and other waders included seven Green Sandpipers, a Redshank, fifty Snipe and two Dunlin. Seventeen Pintail were in the Scaldwell Bay but were very nervous after a period of shooting next to the reservoir and some left the reservoir for good. The same gunfire also caused a great deal of disturbance amongst the Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler and provided counting difficulties! Two drake Red-crested Pochard were in the Holcot Bay and there was a scattering of Goldeneye across the whole reservoir.

Egrets are difficult to count as they are so mobile but there were probably at least twelve Great White Egrets and about twelve Little Egrets. Grey Herons were in small numbers and a dead one was presumably as a result of avian flu which has hit this site hard. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was to the north of the causeway and other birds included a pair of Stonechats, a Kingfisher, a Chiffchaff, a Water Rail and several Redpolls, Siskins and a couple of Grey Wagtails.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were still fourteen Red-crested Pochards, a Great White Egret, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Kingfisher, a Brambling, a Lesser Redpoll and a Chiffchaff.

About a hundred Golden Plovers were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon and the Short-eared Owl was again seen near Farthingstone, showing between 3.40pm and 4.45pm.

Regards

Neil M

Buck Muntjac.

More Dog Vomit Slime
Mold, this time next to 
Willow Hide at Pitsford
Reservoir.

Common Darter at Pitsford
Reservoir today, one of several
on the wing in the sunshine.

More ringing results

Hello

On Saturday Kenny Cramer and team were ringing at Linford Lakes at Milton Keynes and caught fifty-one birds of sixteen species of which forty-one were newly-ringed. These birds included five Chiffchaffs still, two Blackcaps, seven Goldcrests, six Redwings and three Redpolls. A Starling is a rare capture at this site and a Mistle Thrush is a rare capture anywhere! However Kenny's star bird was a Skylark, only the fourth bird to be ringed here (and a bird rarely caught and processed in the region).

Nick Wood was ringing at Castle Ashby on Sunday for one of his regular ringing demonstrations and amongst the birds he caught and ringed was another rarely-caught Mistle Thrush!

Details of the initial ringing for our controlled Blackcap at Brixworth yesterday have come through - it was originally ringed by Kester Wilson (previous county birder at Stanford Reservoir) as a young male at Nanjizal Valley, Lands End, Cornwall in October last year - sometimes it seems a small world!

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir in the rain this morning included the Wood Sandpiper still just off the causeway plus a Redshank in much the same area plus at least seven Great White Egrets and three Yellow-legged Gulls. A Woodcock was at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

Ten Cattle Egrets and three Great White Egrets were again at the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits this afternoon. An Otter has been seen and well photographed at Summer Leys LNR during the last week.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll.

Mistle Thrush.

Skylark.

All images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Ringing at Brixworth

Hello

Despite the murky conditions a ringing session took place at Brixworth Water Treatment Works today resulting in ninety processed birds of seventeen species. A Sparrowhawk always livens up a period of ringing with mist nets and a male hit a couple of nets before staying long enough for us to catch it! A Magpie was another larger bird and we also ringed five Blackbirds and three Redwings. Smaller birds included twelve Wrens, one of which was first ringed back in 2018 and six Goldcrests. Finches comprised of three Bullfinches, four Goldfinches and eight Lesser Redpolls and fifteen Reed Buntings was a good total. Two late Blackcaps included a bird ringed elsewhere.

Other birds noted on-site included a Merlin whizzing through going north, a few Siskins, a couple of Grey Wagtails and two Water Rails.

A pair of Stonechats were at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve this morning with another one noted at Upton Mill. Twelve Cattle Egrets were at Stanwick Pits late this afternoon (at Main Lake).

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon included a Wood Sandpiper, a Dunlin, at least fifteen Great White Egrets, Pintails and two Stonechats.

Regards

Neil M

Sparrowhawk caught
and ringed at Brixworth today.

Ringing at Stortons

Hello

A successful period of ringing at Stortons Pits today provided sixty-seven captures and a great variety of small birds amounting to sixteen Redwings, two Song Thrushes, a Blackbird, a Dunnock, five Robins, eight Wrens, eleven Long-tailed Tits, ten Blue Tits, two Great Tits, three Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, two Cetti's Warblers, four Goldcrests and a Reed Bunting.

The Starling roost from the night before was seen departing just after 7am and the total was probably over the three thousand mark.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included the Little Stint and Wood Sandpiper next to the causeway still, twelve Great White Egrets, four Red-crested Pochard, eight Goldeneye, over twenty Pintail, at least two Green Sandpipers, three Yellow-legged Gulls, five Stonechats and two Grey Wagtails.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included fourteen Red-crested Pochard, a Caspian Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Great White Egret, thirteen Pintail, two Water Rails, a Green Sandpiper, a Golden Plover, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine and a Chiffchaff.

A Stonechat was seen at Clifford Hill Pits and Summer Leys LNR attracted a male Merlin at the scrape plus two Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail and a Stonechat.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth today included a Raven, a Cetti's Warbler, a Grey Wagtail, several Redpolls and Siskins and two Water Rails.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff.

Cetti's Warbler.

Redwing.

All images taken at Stortons Pits
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Pitsford again!

Hello

Some of the birds at Pitsford Reservoir from yesterday were still present today with a Wood Sandpiper and a Little Stint just north of the causeway on the western bank between the causeway and Maytrees Hide. The Great Northern Diver was still present first thing but Adrian watched it circle up and depart to the south west this morning. Other birds at Pitsford Reservoir included five Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, two Yellow-legged Gulls, two Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, a Raven and two Grey Wagtails.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir were made up of nine Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, a Yellow-legged Gull, a Green Sandpiper, three Cetti's Warblers, two Siskins and a Lesser Redpoll.

A Cattle Egret and two Great White Egrets were at Stanwick Pits and this afternoon a Short-eared Owl was again at Farthingstone, this time seen flying over the Maidford road.

A Starling murmuration at Stortons Pits this afternoon amounted to between 1700 and 2000 birds.

Regards

Neil M

Dog Vomit Slime Mold.

Magpie courtesy
of John Tilly.

Great White Egret
courtesy of John Tilly.

Pied Wagtail
courtesy of John Tilly.

All images from Pitsford
Reservoir or nearby today.

Good birds at Pitsford

Hello

It seems that Pitsford Reservoir was the place to be today albeit that it took time to find the better birds! North of the causeway there were sixteen Pintails, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a male Peregrine, a Dunlin and three Stonechats, with most of these birds in the Scaldwell Bay. Great White Egrets were well-scattered and probably amounted to twelve birds (nine seen at any one time) with one individual exhibiting a very bright orange beak and yellow legs and feet.

Waders were well represented with a few Snipe and Lapwings and a Wood Sandpiper and a Little Stint just north of the causeway, utilising the spit between the causeway and Maytrees Hide. A gathering of waders in the bund pool visible from the James Fisher Hide amounted to two Wood Sandpipers and five Green Sandpipers. One Wood Sandpiper in November would have been unprecedented had it not been for last year's individual, but three Wood Sandpipers re-writes the books!

Later in the afternoon there was a Common Sandpiper, two Kingfishers and at least two Grey Wagtails around the dam and in fading light a Great Northern Diver was located between Yacht and Pintail Bays. Sadly there were a number of dead and dying geese and swans north of the causeway, presumably subject to the Avian Flu epidemic.

Elsewhere and a Short-eared Owl was discovered hunting over fields on the Litchborough to Farthingstone road near to Farthingstone village. Ten Cattle Egrets flying north-east over the A45 Layby Pit at Stanwick Pits this afternoon was a good record.

Two Woodcock and a female Peregrine were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon, a few Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall and birds near Brixworth included a Water Rail, three Siskins and at least five Redpolls.

Birds noted at Stanford Reservoir this morning included a first winter Mediterranean Gull, two Yellow-legged Gulls, fourteen Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, four Pintails, a Water Rail and two Bramblings.

Regards

Neil M

Wood Sandpiper.

Little Stint.

Great Northern Diver.

A quiet day in November.

Hello

A walk at Harrington Airfield in blustery conditions this morning didn't yield very much with just small numbers of winter thrushes and singles of Raven, Siskin and Redpoll. A Siskin was also at Hanging Houghton but the Brampton Valley below the village was very quiet again.

A first year Caspian Gull was seen at Daventry Country Park this morning. 

Recently-created Tabs or Pages on this blog include Islay and Jura Oct 2022, Autumn on Mull 2022 and Islay's Winter Wildfowl Nov 2022 with a selection of images taken on each of the tours.

Regards

Neil M

Little Bunting.

Starling.

Ruff.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Redpolls galore

Hello

Chris Payne and John Boland completed some ringing at Greens Norton today and caught sixty birds using just two mist nets which included thirteen Redwings and an impressive twenty-two Repolls. In addition Chris saw a Little Egret in his Greens Norton garden making use of his wildlife pond! Northants Ringing Group members are planning ringing sessions at Linford Lakes (Milton Keynes) and Stortons Pits this week-end

Butterflies on the wing today near Hanging Houghton included Red Admiral and Comma taking advantage of some November sun and mild temperatures! Two Ravens were in the village.

A Great White Egret was at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits this afternoon and this morning four Great White Egrets and five Cattle Egrets were seen to leave the overnight roost this morning at Stanwick Pits.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpolls courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Pied Wheatear

Hello

Yesterday I was fortunate to have the opportunity to see the particularly confiding Pied Wheatear at Whitley Bay, Northumberland. This vagrant chat was in a sea-front environment in a park area and appeared completely unafraid of people. Although I didn't have long I took the opportunity of trying to capture the exquisite beauty of a bird behaving normally at close range - always a rare privilege no matter the species.

Regards

Neil M

Pied Wheatear.

Start of the Week

 It has been very quiet everywhere over the weekend.  The weather probably didn't help matters with a mixture of strong winds,  heavy showers and fog !!! Mind you the weather makes no difference to me as the dogs need to go out for walks.  Two visits to Harrington Airfield yielded absolutely nothing,  it was a birdless zone, and the area below Hanging Houghton was equally birdless!!

Very few bird sightings reported too , a first winter Mediterranean Gull at Stanford Reservoir in the gull  roost for the last 3 evenings,  a Water Pipit at Summer Leys yesterday,  10 Cattle Egrets leaving the roost at Stanwick GP today and Red Crested Pochards at Stanford Reservoir and Daventry CP. 

On Saturday 5th November Kenny Cramer and team undertook a ringing session at Linford near Milton Keynes.  A quiet session with 43 birds processed, 37 of which were new birds. Highlights being 17 Redwings,  5 Goldcrests, 2 Kingfisher,  2 Chiffchaffs and a Cettis Warbler. There were two "star" birds. Firstly a Starling,  a species rarely encountered at Linford.  This bird was only the 15th to be ringed at the site and only the 2nd of the year.  The other star bird was a Fieldfare,  the 1st of the season, the previous bird being ringed back in April 2021.

Fingers crossed that things pick up as the week progresses.                                                         Regards Eleanor 

Fieldfare courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Interesting few days

 On Wednesday afternoon I had a very blustery walk at Harrington Airfield.  Everything was keeping its head down.  There were at least 10+ Bramblings tucked away in the bushes waiting for their food.  The pair of Stonechat were also keeping a low profile.  As I walked around the first bunker their was a strong gust of wind causing the leaves to swirl around.  I was aware that "something " shot passed me. I thought that it was just a leaf but when I looked closely I was amazed to see a Northern Wheatear!!! I can't remember seeing one in November before.  There was a moment of panic as I thought to myself "have I stumbled across a rare Wheatear " whilst scrutinising every single feather, but it was definitely a Northern Wheatear.                                                                                                 Yesterday I was without my car again so all my birding was done within walking distance from the house. I took the two older dogs for an amble around the fields/footpaths near Lamport hall.  Plenty of Redwings and Fieldfares in the hedgerows and a bonus of a scaly Ring Ouzel on the grassy track that I was walking along. Quite a few common passerines, including a male Blackcap enjoying the sunshine as they moved along hedgerows .   I walked through the village and down to the valley area with the young collies.  A lovely afternoon walk but the only birds of note being a pair of Stonechat.                                                                                                                                                   Today I returned to Harrington Airfield.  It is funny how things work out.  I knew that I was going to do a big circuit but until I arrived I hadn't decided which way round I was going to walk. In the end I decided to walk along the main track first. I had only walked a few hundred metres when I heard a noise. Initially I thought that it was a dog barking and as I three of my dogs with me I scanned around to see who was coming.  I couldn't see anyone and heard the noise again and the penny dropped,  it was the sound of wild geese.  As I looked to my right towards the chipping compound I could see a skein of grey geese heading my way.  The beautiful sight and sound of 29 Pink Footed Geese as they flew low straight over me and headed across the fields to the A14.  After that excitement I continued my wanderings bumping into a pair of Stonechat,  10+ Bramblings, 4 Redpolls,  100+ Golden Plovers and a Peregrine.   Whilst walking slowly through the rough area I was aware that the Blackbirds and Magpies were very vocal and agitated giving me the impression that they had found something of interest in the bushes.  I went over to explore and fully expected to find an owl but all I flushed was a Woodcock.  I'm not sure if that is what was causing them to be agitated or just a chance finding as I walked towards the noisy birds.                                                                                                                         I  was determined to make the most of today's lovely weather as the weekend forecast is not good.  My final destination was Blueberry area. Initially just what I would expect to see at this time of year.  Good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares in the hedgerows.  Brambling,  Redpolls and Siskins over and plenty of Red Kites loafing around.  The views from the highest point are amazing and I never tire from sitting here watching the world go by.  As I scanned towards Cottesbrooke I picked up 3 Roe Deer and whilst watching these an owl flew through my field of view. It was an "asio" owl but I needed to get much closer to identify it. I continued walking around the field ( I have the landowners permission) until I was only a field away, so much closer. The owl was a Short-eared Owl and it hunted over a couple of small rough areas. I suspect that it is the same bird that has been seen a few times in the area.          By the time I got home I had also knotched up 2 Little Owls and a Barn Owl. 

There seem to be quite a few Red Crested Pochards around at the moment, Pitsford Reservoir,  Daventry CP, Clifford Hill and Stanford Reservoir in varying numbers.   Other birds around Cattle Egret at Summer Leys, Black Tailed Godwit at Ravensthorpe,  Merlin and Stonechat at Lilbourne Meadows NR.  But if it Great White Egrets you are after then head over to Pitsford Reservoir where a staggering 21 birds were seen north of the causeway today!!

Hope that you have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor 

An unexpected encounter

 It has been a bit of a wild windy day with sunshine and showers.  Plenty of leaves swirling around as they fall from the trees and it looked like confetti as I walked along the Brampton Valley Way this morning. Infact it has been a lovely Autumn day.                            My birding has been confined to the area below Hanging Houghton whilst I walked the dogs.  Early morning there was at least 6 Bramblings roosting in the hedge behind the old cattle shed. On my lunchtime walk I bumped into the pair of Stonechat which have been in the area for a while. I  spent time checking through the large numbers of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits but couldn't find anything different.  I was aware of continual flocks of Starlings, Fieldfares and Redwings moving over.                                                                            Late afternoon and it was time to take the dogs out again,  yes I know they are spoilt!! I intended to park near the old cattle shed and wander around the area but at the last minute I decided to drive along to shrike hedge.  I was just driving slowly along with the nectar strip on my left when a bird suddenly flew low infront of the car. All I could see was a "white rump" disappearing slowly ahead of me. Instantly I knew what this bird was, a Ring Tail Hen Harrier. By this time I had come to a halt and watched the bird quartering the nectar strip.  It  turned and came back towards me and dropped into the nectar strip right next to my car and then continued to hunt up and down the strip.  I was just transfixed and I could have reached out and touched it. I hardly dared breath and certainly daren't move as I didn't want to frighten the bird. It was such a surreal and magical moment and one where I just had to sit, watch and enjoy.    After several unsuccessful attempts the Harrier headed towards shrike hedge with me in pursuit.   As I parked the car I could see the Harrier following the hedgerow towards Blueberry which was the same direction that I would be heading.   Finally I let the dogs out of the car and my young collies ran on ahead and in doing so flushed a Short-eared Owl from the ditch. This too headed towards Blueberry.  I  really couldn't believe it.    Anyway I headed towards Blueberry.  I didn't see the Owl again but the Harrier was hunting over a  small weedy field.  I enjoyed watching this beautiful bird again until the weather changed and a heavy shower spoilt everything. 

Tomorrow the Northants Bird Club will be meeting at 19.30hrs at the Lodge, Pitsford Water.  Matthew Capper will be giving an illustrative talk on the opportunities for Birding in Florida, USA.   It promises to be a very interesting evening.   Everyone is very welcome to come along. Refreshments and good company provided. 

Regards Eleanor