Ringing at Kelmarsh Hall

Hello

A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall today yielded 115 birds of ten species made up of nine Blackbirds, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, eight Dunnocks, eleven Robins, twenty-two Great Tits, forty-eight Blue Tits, a Coal Tit, two Marsh Tits, eleven Goldfinches and two Chaffinches. Half a dozen Siskins were present on-site this morning.

Nearby there were six Golden Plovers in a grass field north of Maidwell and a Woodcock and two Bramblings were at Harrington Airfield. Several Redpolls were in flight at Hanging Houghton.

A Stonechat was located in the Brampton Valley by the Pitsford sidings and at Woodford Halse Ian enjoyed watching two Blackcaps feeding on apples in his garden with a bonus Woodcock flying over.

At Clifford Hill Pits there were five Golden Plovers, a Redshank, at least six Common Snipe, a Great White Egret, a Peregrine and two Stonechats.

Sadly there was no sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler at Earls Barton Pits today but at least three Chiffchaffs and a possible Siberian Chiffchaff were present around Mary's Lake with a Great White Egret seen nearby too.

The Black-tailed Godwit was still on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits today and a gathering of seven Smew at Eyebrook Reservoir included five drakes.

Regards

Neil M

The English White Cattle of
Kelmarsh Hall - safely under
cover for the winter!

Male Blackbird - a local bird
or maybe a migrant from far, far
away?

Male Goldfinch.

All images courtesy
of Bethan Clyne.

Sub zero temperatures and winter sunshine

Hello

Another cold and sunny day provided at least one good bird sighting in the county today.

A Yellow-browed Warbler (or something very similar) was seen flitting around the island on Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits with Chiffchaffs this afternoon, an excellent December find for Adrian!

Two Great White Egrets, four Green Sandpipers, two Water Rails and several Common Snipe were at Ecton Sewage Farm and at Thrapston Pits a Marsh Harrier and a Black-tailed Godwit were good winter records for the Titchmarsh LNR.

A Blackcap was in a Wellingborough garden this afternoon and two Blackcaps have been on apples in Sywell village the last couple of days. Nearby at Sywell Country Park there was a Great White Egret, two Water Rails, four Stonechats and two Cetti's Warblers.

At Ravensthorpe Reservoir there was a Pink-footed Goose, a Pintail, six Goosanders and a Redshank and at Hollowell Reservoir the birds included an adult Caspian Gull, two Goosanders, a Redshank and a Brambling. 

Sadly a Cattle Egret was found dead at Thorpe Malsor Reservoir today and five Smew (three drakes) were at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Nine Grey Partridges were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Woodcock was active near Lamport Hall at dusk.

Regards

Neil M

Sparrowhawk with Starling prey.

Female Blackcaps at Sywell.

Images courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

With night-time temperatures dropping to minus seven degrees Centigrade in the county last night it was a busy day of squeezing in feeding stations and also completing a WeBS count. A pre-dawn circuit at Harrington Airfield ensured the birds there had some food to wake up to and many of the early-risers had already found it before I left.

After two lots of garden feeding it was then onto Pitsford Reservoir (where much of the reserve was covered in ice) and where a bag of peanuts was left with the warden team for delivery to Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay. I drove on to Ditchford Pits to complete the December WeBS count. The clear conditions from last night, no wind and cold temperatures ensured that the pits were variably 90 - 100% ice-bound, with plenty of birds in the breaks of the ice on some of the pits.

West of Ditchford Lane and the highlights were a Great White Egret in flight, two Peregrines, three Stonechats, four Egyptian Geese, four Water Rails, four Common Snipe, at least three Cetti's Warblers, two Goosanders, a Lesser Redpoll and a couple of Siskins. East of Ditchford Lane and the scarcer birds included a Green Sandpiper, two Woodcock, the mostly white Carrion Crow still, a solitary Kingfisher, two Great White Egrets, a Grey Wagtail, three Cetti's Warblers, three Chiffchaffs and a Siskin or two.

I then had just enough time to whizz back to Pitsford Reservoir and fill up the feeders and broadcast some food at The Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station in readiness for the next couple of days before the cold weather breaks.

Over at Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits, Nick today located a pair of Smew swimming around in a break in the ice. A Blackcap was seen in a garden at Woodford Halse today and another has been in a Weston Favell garden in recent days. Graham witnessed a small skein of eight Pink-footed Geese flying east just south of Hartwell this morning.

A Short-eared Owl flew over Daventry Country Park in a WNW direction late this morning and yesterday both an Egyptian Goose and a Ruddy Shelduck were at Stanford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Wigeon.

Female Stonechat.

Cetti's Warbler.

Grey Squirrel.

Grey Heron.

Mute Swans.

All images are from Ditchford
Pits today.

Birds of the frost, snow and sunshine

Hello

Even colder temperatures overnight and first thing this morning but in many places some pleasing sunshine was much enjoyed after the freezing fog and hoar frost.

Plenty of common birds were looking forward to their food at Kelmarsh Hall today and a Siskin was heard calling there.

A first year Shag was a good find at Daventry Country Park today and two Merlins were seen today, an adult male at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon and another seen in flight at Burton Latimer.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was again in the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Robin at Harrington Airfield.

This first year male Sparrowhawk
was sunning himself and preening
in our Hanging Houghton garden today.

Lapwing at Pitsford 
Reservoir today.

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

It might have been very cold out there today but it was time for the WeBS count at Pitsford Reservoir. About thirty percent of the water north of the causeway was ice but south of the causeway it was mostly free. Of the four Great White Egrets present, three of them were south of the causeway and waders present included a Green Sandpiper, a Redshank, two Jack Snipe and five Common Snipe plus a handful of Lapwings. Eight Pintail were north of the causeway and the Teal were huddled on the ice in their hundreds. A Crossbill and eight Redpolls were in the Catwalk Bay with a couple of Siskins in Moulton Grange Bay and other birds included two Grey Wagtails and a Raven.

Bigger birds such as Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, gulls, Mallard, Moorhens and pigeons had taken over the Old Scaldwell Feeding station they were so hungry!

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth included a Cetti's Warbler, two Water Rails and at least three Grey Wagtails and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir the Pink-footed Goose was still present together with a drake Mandarin Duck and a Green Sandpiper. Four Goosanders were at Hollowell Reservoir this morning. A Marsh Harrier drifted SW over Stanwick Pits mid afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Female Blackbird.

Fieldfare.

Cock Pheasant.

Birds foraging in our current winter scene.

Feeding the birds

Hello

The cold winter weather continues with an icy grip but the forecast suggests maybe something of a relaxation at the weekend. At first light this morning our small back garden had forty Blackbirds foraging for food, but they didn't hang around after the arrival of a male Sparrowhawk. However they were soon back once the hawk left and continued eating ground mix, mixed seed, dried calciworms, apples and similar offerings.

A Raven was at Hanging Houghton too and the two Woodcocks remained in their field hedge at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. A covey of Grey Partridges and a few Golden Plovers were at Harrington Airfield and the territorial Robins there argued over the food on offer.

A visit to Market Harborough yielded a Kingfisher and two Little Egrets on the River Welland between Waitrose and the Railway Station.

A Peregrine was over Abington Park at Northampton chasing pigeons and a third hand report suggests a Black Redstart was at Northampton General Hospital.

Regards

Neil M

Fighting Little Egrets
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Blue Tit courtesy of
John Tilly.

Bullfinches courtesy of
John Tilly.

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.