Birds of the freezing fog

Hello

Another harsh day in the county with a little snow and temperatures barely rising above freezing all day is further evidence of a cold December.

Despite the harsh conditions there is little evidence of significant cold weather movement at the moment although Golden Plovers and Lapwings have definitely been affected.

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this morning included two Great White Egrets and a Redshank and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was again in the gull roost by the dam. Over at Hollowell Reservoir an impressive list of birds was made up of two adult Caspian Gulls, two Jack Snipe, 4-6 Common Snipe, two Dunlin and at least seven Stonechats.

Four Common Snipe and a pair of Stonechat were at the Summer Leys LNR today and three Grey Partridges were at a foggy Harrington Airfield.

Regards

Neil M

Some more images of the 
rather beautiful leucistic
Black-headed Gull at Pitsford
Reservoir this afternoon.

Wren.

Magpie.

Cold birding

Hello

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning included fifteen Common Snipe, a Water Rail and a Grey Wagtail. A Raven was near Cottesbrooke and two Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. A single Siskin was near Kelmarsh.

A Bearded Tit was heard calling at Stanwick Pits this morning by the visitors centre and at Upton Country Park/Kislingbury Pits there were two drake Red-crested Pochard, a Barnacle Goose and two Stonechats.

A Marsh Harrier and a Water Rail were at Summer Leys LNR again today and nearby a Brambling was on feeders in a Wollaston garden. 

Yesterday a female Otter and her single youngster were on the River Welland just outside Market Harborough.

Regards

Neil M

Common Snipe.

Water Rail.

Pheasant.

The cold snap continues

Hello

Yesterday (Thursday) and some cold weather birding produced a Blackcap and a Grey Wagtail in a Maidwell garden, a juvenile Peregrine was at Summer Leys LNR and Stanford Reservoir hosted a Mediterranean Gull, a Caspian Gull and a Red-crested Pochard. The drake Smew was still in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir. A Barn Owl was near Ravensthorpe village on Wednesday evening.

Today (Friday) and seven Smew (four drakes) were seen at Eyebrook Reservoir and birds at Hollowell Reservoir included an adult Caspian Gull, two Jack Snipes, up to six Common Snipe and four Stonechats with a Pink-footed Goose, a Green Sandpiper and four Common Snipe being present at neighbouring Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Two female Blackcaps and two Lesser Redpolls were noted in Hollowell village and two Ravens were at Kelmarsh.

At Stanford Reservoir today the Red-crested Pochard remained and a very high number of Great Black-backed Gulls were present in the gull roost. Two drake Red-crested Pochard were found at Kislingbury Pits today and a Cattle Egret spent some time at Summer Leys LNR where the Marsh Harrier and the showy Water Rail, a Great White Egret and a Redshank remained. A Ring-necked Parakeet visited a Maidwell garden and birds at Clifford Hill Pits included twelve Golden Plovers, a Great White Egret and two Stonechats. Nine Goosanders and a Shelduck were at Stanwick Pits.

Eighteen Golden Plovers and five Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield today, a Grey Wagtail was at Draughton Crossing and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon included a Golden Plover, two Little Owls and nine Grey Partridges. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Golden Plovers.

Little Owl.

Great Black-backed Gull.

Kingfishers!

Hello

A couple of video clips of Kingfishers at a site in the county yesterday courtesy of John Boland...

(click on cross box on lower right hand side of clip for full screen)

Regards

Neil M

A sharp frost

Hello

A cold day with a sharp frost must have been something of a shock to young birds that have not experienced such a thing before!

Chris Payne and team continued their run of good ringing at Greens Norton this morning with twenty-three new Redwings caught and ringed plus singles of Lesser Redpoll and a variety of common birds. Two Kingfishers were also on-site.

A Marsh Harrier and a pair of Stonechats were still at Summer Leys LNR today and at Pitsford Reservoir the Wood Sandpiper was still present and the drake Smew was still in the Holcot Bay. A first year Yellow-legged Gull was in the small gull roost off the dam. A male Blackcap was in a East Hunsbury garden this morning.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included an adult Caspian Gull in the roost, a Red-crested Pochard, two Water Rails, one hundred and fifty-six Great Black-backed Gulls, a Cetti's Warbler, two Ravens and five Lesser Redpolls.

At Sywell Country Park a Black Redstart was located but unfortunately was then taken by a cat around the toilet block! Other birds there included three pairs of Stonechat, a Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff, two Grey Wagtails, a Water Rail, four Redpolls and about fifty Siskins.

Two Woodcocks and a Barn Owl were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon with four Roe Deer and both Tawny and Little Owls remaining between there and the Brampton Valley Way.

An extra page or tab has been added to the blog which relates to a recent Naturetrek tour to south France to see Wallcreepers and the birds of the Camargue.

Regards

Neil M

Roe Deer.

Male Blackbird.

Dunnock.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Winter ringing

Hello

On Saturday a winter ringing session took place at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes which resulted in the capture of fifty-one birds of twelve species, thirty-one of which were newly-ringed. Nineteen Redwings was a good total, with five Blackbirds, a Song Thrush, two Chiffchaffs and two Kingfishers adding more variety. A Lesser Redpoll and a Skylark were scarce captures and other birds included Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Robin, Dunnock and Long-tailed Tit. An elusive Long-tailed Duck was on the pits there plus six Great White Egrets and at least sixty Siskins were also present.

Today and Helen Franklin was the presiding ringer at Woodford Halse in the west of the county where eighty-five birds were caught and processed made up of a Mistle Thrush, nine Blackbirds, four Dunnocks, five Robins, a Wren, thirty-one Blue Tits, three Coal Tits, thirteen Great Tits, a Marsh Tit, eleven Long-tailed Tits, a Lesser Redpoll, a Chaffinch, a Goldfinch, two Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff. Other birds seen included a Raven, a male Peregrine and a Grey Wagtail. What was quite possibly the same Peregrine was later seen between Charwelton and Badby.

A/the 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was hunting the nectar strip in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton prior to 9am this morning, the bird heading off towards the 'shrike hedge' area. It wasn't seen in that location on a subsequent visit during the day.

Three Great White Egrets and a Redpoll were noted north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and a Short-eared Owl was a roadside sighting near the Beckworth Emporium, Mears Ashby this morning.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included an adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost, four Red-crested Pochard, three Water Rails, a Cetti's Warbler and twelve Lesser Redpolls. At Stanwick Pits this afternoon an Otter was showing well and birds included five Goosanders, two hundred and fifty Golden Plovers, a Marsh Harrier (which has been seen daily the last four days) and four Stonechats.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Skylark courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Lesser Redpoll.

Mistle Thrush.

Red Kite.

A Quiet Weekend

 A bit of a mixed bag weather wise this weekend.  Frost, fog, sunshine, blue skies and the odd shower and definitely much colder. There has been a noticeable influx of birds back into our garden including 3 Bramblings this morning. So I have been busy keeping the feeders topped up as well as the feeding stations at Kelmarsh and Harrington Airfield.  Plenty of common woodland birds at Kelmarsh plus 4 Siskins whereas Harrington Airfield was busy with winter Thrushes but very little else. I only managed a single Golden Plover but today approx 70 birds were recorded. 

Yesterday there was a Wood Sandpiper in the Scaldwell bay at Pitsford Reservoir,  Marsh Harrier at Stanwick GP and Water Rail at Summer Leys.  There were two different Mediterranean Gulls , an adult in the roost at Hollowell Reservoir and nearby a 1st winter bird at Stanford Reservoir.                                                                                                                   Today there was an adult Caspian Gull and 3 Stonechat at Hollowell Reservoir,  a drake Smew and 2 Red Crested Pochards at Pitsford Reservoir,  2 Mediterranean Gulls and 3 Red Crested Pochards at Stanford Reservoir and a single Crossbill near Oundle. 

The Northamptonshire Bird Club will be meeting at 7.30pm on Wednesday 7th December at the Lodge, Pitsford Water.  There will be an illustrated talk by club member Dave Jackson on the wildlife secrets of the Ardnamurchan Peninsular on the west coast of Scotland. Everyone is welcome to come along.

Regards Eleanor 

A New Month ........

 It has been a bit of a slow start to the beginning of the last month of the year. Yesterday birding was severely hampered by dense fog which shrouded the county all day.  On my walks I didn't come across anything of note and the only birds reported by others were a Snipe and Stonechat at Barnes Meadow reserve.                                                                            Thankfully today there was sunshine and even a hint of blue skies,  although that didn't help me. A 3 hour meander around Blueberry and the area below Hanging Houghton was virtually birdless!!!!            However a few other birders had more luck with Smew, Wood and Green Sandpiper at Pitsford Reservoir,  Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys,  7 Cattle Egret at Stanwick and 3 White Fronted Geese in a field adjacent to Stanford Reservoir.        Non bird sightings seem sparse as well,  just Common Darter and Otter at Summer Leys. 

Looking ahead we are in for some colder weather including frosts with easterly and north easterly winds which hopefully will bring a  few new birds our way.  Have a good weekend. 

Regards Eleanor 

More birds of the murk

Hello

A profitable ringing session at Greens Norton today yielded over eighty birds processed with twenty-six Redwings and sixteen Lesser Redpolls plus eighteen Blue Tits, seven Great Tits, two Goldfinches, seven Goldcrests, two Chiffchaffs, two Blackbirds and a Robin.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were five Red-crested Pochards, a Kingfisher and a Lesser Redpoll and at Pitsford Reservoir a drake Smew was found in the Holcot Bay and the reserve also supported a Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, several Pintail and a Grey Wagtail plus a fresh arrival of Goldeneye.

In excess of twenty Siskins were at Harlestone Heath today, favouring trees next to the railway line and Wildlife Trust reserve and a Kingfisher was noted at Kelmarsh Hall.

The Marsh Harrier was again reported at Summer Leys LNR for today and again a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were showing well.

Regards

Neil M

Goldfinch courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Drake Wigeon courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Stonechat courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Welland Valley birding

Hello

I decided that it was time to venture to the north of the county again so before it was light I loaded my four-legged companions and supplies into the car and off we went. First venue was Fineshade Wood. It is one of my favourite places to run at this time of year. It was just about light as I set off for a 2 hour run, zig zagging the many tracks in the wood. Birdwise it was disappointingly quiet, a handful of Siskins and 2 Ravens the only birds of note. I did see plenty of Roe Deer and lost count of the squirrel numbers which kept the dogs amused. Then a short hop over the road to Wakerley Great Wood where a 2 hour meander virtually mirrored the birds of  Fineshade, Siskins and Ravens. The Ravens were extremely vocal and sounded as if they were going through their whole repertoire of calls. Again more Roe Deer and Squirrels. It was such a pity that it was such a dull grey day as the trees should have looked splendid in their beautiful autumn colours.

A lunchtime stop at Blatherwycke Lake produced 24 Mandarin Duck, most of which were drakes, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Little Egrets, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a Black Swan.  A visit to the churchyard produced a few Siskins.                                                                                        

At nearby Deene Lake there were 6 Shelduck, a Green Sandpiper and a handful of Siskins.   

Decision time after I had finished at Deene Lake. Do I go home via Fermyn or the Welland Valley? I decided on the latter and it proved to be a good choice as this is where all the birds were.  Due to the recent rainfall there was a large area of flooded fields near Harringworth. It was alive with birds. There was a large mixed flock of Wigeon and Teal with Wigeon being the predominant bird. There was also at least 18 Pintail, mainly drakes and 2 Shelduck. Lots of gulls, Lapwings and 100+ Golden Plovers.

A little further along the valley near Gretton the saturated fields were covered with huge flocks of Fieldfares, Redwings and Starlings plus more gulls and Lapwings. The sound of their chattering was deafening but nothing like the noise when they all took flight when a stunning male Hen Harrier flew through and headed towards the Leicestershire border. The birds had no sooner settled down again when a female Merlin made her appearance and wreaked further havoc.

The soggy fields near to Rockingham village were equally busy with birds including a Redshank and 20 Golden Plovers. When I reached Cottingham I counted 10 Little Egrets together on a small wet area right next to the road. My final destination was East Carlton CP, but despite a slow meander it was extremely quiet with hardly any birds seen or heard. 

Two Otters were on show at Stanwick Lakes today and the Brent Goose and the Bearded Tit were present too. At Stanford Reservoir the Red-crested Pochard had reduced to two birds plus other birds were a Chiffchaff, two Cetti's Warblers, six Lesser Redpolls and a Siskin.

Two Otters, a Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were well photographed at Summer Leys LNR today.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Wood Sandpiper was again in the Scaldwell Bay where there were two Great White Egrets, at least three Pintail and a male Stonechat. Some ringing there provided seven Common Snipe caught and ringed plus six Redwings, a Song Thrush, a Goldcrest, a Reed Bunting and a Yellowhammer amongst the forty birds processed.

Regards

Eleanor

Common Snipe courtesy
of Lynne Barnett.

A Lesser Redpoll was the
star bird for Nick Wood during
a period of ringing at Chase Park
Farm, Yardley Chase today.

All things Red!

Hello

The still and comparatively mild conditions this morning yielded mist which quite quickly converted to blue skies and sunshine!

A morning ringing session took place at Stortons Pits which provided over forty captures including Redwings, two Song Thrushes, some four Chiffchaffs, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits and a Lesser Redpoll as the last bird ringed. Other birds on-site included a Blackcap, two Grey Wagtails and many vocal Water Rails and Cetti's Warblers. Recent management work has created a great mosaic of pools, lagoons and channels in and alongside the extensive phragmites reedbed.

Five Red-crested Pochards and a Great White Egret were at Stanford Reservoir today and both the Brent Goose and the Bearded Tit were still at Stanwick Pits. A drake Scaup was at Eyebrook Reservoir.

An Otter showed well at Market Harborough on the River Welland yesterday and today when there were also two Kingfishers.

At Summer Leys LNR both yesterday and today there have been superb sightings of Otters, with two together yesterday. On the reserve today there were also a pair of Stonechat and a photogenic Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail.

A drake Red-crested Pochard was on the fishing lake at Wicksteed Park today and yesterday David Arden enjoyed the privilege of watching no less than five male Blackcaps bathing in his garden pond at the same time in Spratton village!

There were no reported sightings of the Black Redstart at the DIRFT 3 complex today but Eleanor found one along the concrete track at Harrington Airfield this afternoon, next to the straw bales and bunker just over half-way along from the Draughton Road entrance. There was also a Barn Owl and four Redpolls present. Another Barn Owl was showing off the A45 at Harpole this morning and a Red Admiral at Titchmarsh LNR is definitely on the late side!

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll at Stortons today.

Red Admiral.

Redwing.

Drake Red-crested Pochard.

Black Redstart.

Quiet and mild

Hello

A nice still day with warm temperatures and plenty of cloud and a day to catch up on feed stations! I also completed a little ringing in the garden this morning which is the first time for quite a while. An early afternoon visit to Harrington Airfield proved quiet with rather small numbers of winter thrushes and a Siskin with nothing else out of the ordinary.

Over at Stanwick Pits the Brent Goose and Bearded Tit were still present, the latter being vocal but still proving difficult to see.

At Stanford Reservoir there were three Mediterranean Gulls in the roost, five Red-crested Pochard, two Water Rails, two Cetti's Warblers and six Lesser Redpolls.

At Pitsford Reservoir there were two adult Caspian Gulls in the roost off the dam plus three Yellow-legged Gulls, a Common Sandpiper and three Grey Wagtails with seven Dunlin north of the causeway this morning.

Barbara's garden at Wellingborough was graced by a male Blackcap today and a Black Redstart was a good find at lunchtime on a fence near Lilbourne, at the north end of the DIRFT 3 complex next to the nature reserve. At least one Smew was still at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

This leucistic Black-headed
Gull has been present at
Pitsford Reservoir for some
weeks now.

A rather distant Caspian Gull in
poor light at Pitsford Reservoir
this afternoon.

Redwing courtesy of
John Tilly.

Waxwings!

Hello

Ten Waxwings perched in a roadside birch tree early this morning in Long Buckby was a pleasant surprise for Eleanor this morning! They flew off and Eleanor was on her way to Middleton Cheney for a dog agility competition and didn't have the time to relocate them. Sadly they weren't seen again despite some searching in the village by other birders.

I completed a WeBs count at Ditchford Pits today, starting with the complex west of Ditchford Lane. As always there were plenty of birds along the old railway line opposite Broadholme Treatment Works including lots of tits, thrushes and many more. At the metal barrier some 400m along the track (and where the old railway track comes to an end) there was quite a flock of small birds which included a vocal Siberian Chiffchaff with its hollow, piping call. Another five Chiffchaffs were nearby with one of these latching on to the Siberian and continually chasing it and consequently it was impossible to obtain an image.

Other birds west of Ditchford Lane included three Great White Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher, at least six Cetti's Warblers, a Grey Wagtail, a pair of Stonechats, a Siskin and a Redpoll.

East of Ditchford Lane the best birds were a Jack Snipe, just three Common Snipe, three Water Rails, two Kingfishers, a Cetti's Warbler and a couple of Grey Wagtails.

A female Blackcap came for a wash in Jim's garden in Sywell today and a pair of Peregrines were hunting pigeons at Daventry.

Stanwick Pits remained the venue for a juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Goose and the male Bearded Tit whilst the Marsh Harrier and four Great White Egrets remained visible at Summer Leys LNR, as was a very photogenic Water Rail.

Stanford Reservoir was again good for it's gulls with a Mediterranean Gull and two Caspian Gulls in the gull roost plus a Great White Egret, five Red-crested Pochard and a Cetti's Warbler.

There were two Smew (including a drake) at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

A mostly white Carrion Crow
at Ditchford Pits today.

Long-tailed Tit.

Blackbird on haw berries.

Goldfinches on Burdock.

Bathing female Blackcap
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Dungeness and return

Hello

Just back in from a couple of days down at Dungeness in Kent - very violent weather yesterday with strong winds and a deluge of rain in the evening, followed by a calm, sunny day today.

Yesterday was all about sea-watching as Gannets, Kittiwakes and Razorbills headed into the strong southerlies punctuated by a few Little Gulls, Great Crested Grebes and Red-throated Divers and a Sooty Shearwater. An Eider dived just off-shore and big gulls sheltered nearby hoping for some bread.

Today and a walk down to the Long Pits in warm weather provided plenty of Common Darters, Chiffchaffs, a few Goldcrests, a noisy Dartford Warbler, a couple of Cetti's Warblers, a Marsh Harrier and a significant Stock Dove passage.

In the county today and an adult Kittiwake at Summer Leys LNR was a nice find but sadly the bird looks ill. An Otter again showed very well on the reserve on and off all day and particularly well from the Rotary and Double-decker hides and the Marsh Harrier was present too.

Stanford Reservoir's gull roost continues to prove profitable with three Mediterranean Gulls and other birds included eight Red-crested Pochard, a Water Rail, two Cetti's Warblers, a Chiffchaff, four Bramblings and two Lesser Redpolls.

Another Mediterranean Gull was in the gull roost at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon and an afternoon at Harrington Airfield was good for a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl and about one hundred and eighty Golden Plovers.

A juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Goose was a new bird in on the main pit at Stanwick Pits today, the male Bearded Tit showed there again and the Wood Sandpiper was seen again in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir.

Just across the border at Eyebrook Reservoir a drake Scaup and a redhead Smew plus two Red-crested Pochard were present today.

Regards

Neil M

Great Black-backed Gull.

Herring Gull.

Kittiwakes.

Dartford Warbler.

Another wet and windy one!

Hello

This is the time of the year when Otters seem to show at their best locally, the limited daylight hours presumably affecting their behaviour and feeding habits. Today an Otter was again showing from the Pioneer Hide at Summer Leys LNR and yesterday an animal was well-photographed on the River Welland in Market Harborough next to the Lidl supermarket.

Stanford Reservoir's birds today included a Mediterranean Gull in the roost plus twelve Red-crested Pochard, four Little Egrets, a Kingfisher and a Lesser Redpoll.

There was no sign of yesterday's Black Redstart at Pitsford Reservoir today but the inclement weather might have caused it to keep a low profile. An adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Grey Wagtail were off the dam this afternoon. 

The Marsh Harrier continues to show well on occasions at Summer Leys LNR from the Rotary Hide and a Barn Owl and a Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm this afternoon. Single Siskins were at Lamport Hall and Kelmarsh Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Otter.

Drake Shoveler.

Black-tailed Godwit.

All images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Harrington ringing.

Hello

Some ringing at Harrington Airfield today provided sixty-five captures of fifteen species the main target being thrushes. Two Fieldfares were ringed as were six Blackbirds, several of which were showing features of continental birds. Twenty-one new Redwings were caught and ringed and a few finches included a male Brambling, four Linnets, three Goldfinches and three Chaffinches. Several Golden Plovers were vocal at dawn.

A Black Redstart at the Sailing Club, Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon was a good overdue find at this specific location and the wandering 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was seen at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon flying towards Maidwell. More harriers included two Marsh Harriers seen flying east over Stanwick Pits and the lingering Marsh Harrier was again at Summer Leys LNR mid-morning.

A Green Sandpiper and an all-white Magpie were good records from Ashton Treatment Works and two Woodcock were flushed at Blueberry Farm and two Bramblings and four Redpolls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Other birds at Stanwick Pits today included the Bearded Tit at the north end of the causeway and a Cattle Egret roosted. Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included two Mediterranean Gulls, twelve Red-crested Pochards, a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, three Ravens and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

Fieldfare.

Redwing.

Chaffinch.

All images courtesy
of Claire Nuttall.

A wet November day.

Hello

After a dry start today deteriorated into a very wet day with few sightings during the latter part.

Bramblings were prominent this morning with several at Harrington Airfield, at least ten at Blueberry Hill and six at Lamport Hall.

The Marsh Harrier was still at Summer Leys LNR today and has been providing some excellent photograph opportunities in recent days. An Otter remains active their too with sightings from Pioneer Hide the last couple of days.

Stanford Reservoir produced some good birds again today with two Mediterranean Gulls in the roost, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, ten Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, two Kingfishers, a Cetti's Warbler and three Lesser Redpolls.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was by the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today, a Dunlin was at Clifford  Hill Pits and four Cattle Egrets were spotted flying over Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve this morning.

A ringing session is destined to take place at Harrington Airfield tomorrow when access to the bunkers and scrub between the chippings compound and the main concrete track will be restricted.

Regards

Neil M

Brambling.

Otter courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Common Snipe courtesy
of Dave Jackson.