Stonechats, thrushes and Snipe

Hello

Stanford Reservoir continued to host a drake Red-crested Pochard today plus three Goosanders, a Barn Owl and a Cetti's Warbler.

A Siberian Chiffchaff was still lingering at Billing Pits/Ecton SF by bridge 'K121' and a Green Sandpiper was there too. Two Caspian Gulls were at Hollowell Reservoir today and other birds included a Jack Snipe, six Common Snipe, about a hundred Redwings, a Lesser Redpoll and three new-in Stonechats.

Approximately eighty Common Snipe were at Pitsford Reservoir today where there was also a Jack Snipe, a Raven and a female Stonechat. Two Chiffchaffs were at Stortons Pits.

In the north of the county the pair of Smew remained at Blatherwycke Lake and a pair of Egyptian Geese were in fields behind the lake. A Great White Egret was at Wicksteed Park this morning.

The long-staying female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir again today and near the causeway.

Migrant Redwings and Fieldfares were generally conspicuous today with flocks over-flying and dropping in at a variety of sites and the spillage of grain near the village of Old has attracted up to seventy Yellowhammers during the last couple of days.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff at Stortons Pits
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

A rainbow today at
Pitsford Reservoir!

Common Gull.

Mute Swan.

Displaying and gathering wildfowl

Hello

A cooler day and the gritters were out this evening so the potential of frosty conditions before the cloud cover later in the night.

The male Bearded Tit showed again at Stanwick Pits today, in phragmites around the same pit as before, and a second bird was noted too.

The female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup were both at Ravensthorpe Reservoir again this morning, generally viewable from the closed off car park near the causeway. Birds at Stanford Reservoir included the Red-crested Pochard still, eleven Goosanders, a Great White Egret, six Meadow Pipits and a Barn Owl with the gull roost providing a count of 975 Common Gulls.

A female Peregrine and a pair of Grey Partridge were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, Ravens remained on the Kelmarsh Estate and two female Stonechats were fresh birds in at Pitsford Reservoir (near to the Maytrees Hide). Numerous parties of vocal and displaying Goldeneye at Pitsford Reservoir is an annual event and the beautiful trilling song of the Little Grebe echoed across the water there this evening.

I don't think that winter is quite over yet but the heralds of spring are very welcome!

Regards

Neil M

Drake Goldeneye courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Female Goldeneye courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Female Stonechat.

Little Grebe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

A few bits and pieces!

Hello

A quiet day in the county it seems today but a few sightings of interest as follows...

Stanford Reservoir today retained it's Red-crested Pochard and an Oystercatcher was the first at the site this year; eight Goosanders were also present.

Just over the county border Eyebrook Reservoir enjoyed a good day with three Scaup, at least one Smew, a Caspian Gull, a Great White Egret and a Kittiwake. Also just inside Leicestershire there were two Grey Wagtails and a Little Egret on the River Welland at Market Harborough.

I don't think the Stanwick Pits Bearded Tit has been reported today and it was looked for - but some days it does go to ground!

A Water Rail was showing well in front of Pioneer Hide at Summer Leys LNR today, a Red-crested Pochard was present and three pairs of Mandarin Ducks at Barnwell Country Park were photographed.

Two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this afternoon, Ravens were seen at Harrington Airfield and Lamport village and Lamport Hall hosted a Woodcock, a Barn Owl and a gathering of twenty-eight Red Kites!

A Weasel at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell was entertaining and the adult Yellow-legged Gull off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir was again the only bird of interest at the southern end of this site.

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was an excellent observation locally at this time of the year.

Regards

Neil M

Blackbird courtesy
of John Tilly.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth
courtesy of Jim Dunkley
(taken last year).

Male Sparrowhawk.

Weasel.

Unobtrusive migration

Hello

Some mist-netting at Pitsford Reservoir was the first such activity for a long while and the precursor to more ringing activity on-site soon. About ninety birds were processed, the majority being Blue Tits and Great Tits but also included Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch and Marsh Tit. Other birds noted north of the causeway included a male Stonechat, a singing Siskin and a Raven. Pike moving in the shallows signaled their intention to spawn soon. A couple of Ravens were again at Kelmarsh.

The Stanwick male Bearded Tit continued to show nicely today and a Bittern was seen in flight at the west end of the lake complex at dawn. A female Peregrine was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a male Brambling was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and birds at Sywell Country Park included a Chiffchaff, two Cetti's Warblers, a Grey Wagtail, two Water Rails and about twenty Siskins.

Two Reed Buntings and two Yellowhammers were nice additions to our garden today and at Clifford Hill Pits there were a pair of Oystercatchers and a Shelduck. A Ring-necked Parakeet was in a garden at Hartwell at lunchtime, a pair of Smew were again at Blatherwycke Lake and Ravensthorpe Reservoir again hosted the female Ring-necked Duck and the female Scaup.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included the Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, a Cetti's Warbler, nine Goosanders and twenty-two migrant Meadow Pipits. Other birds on the move in the county today included Skylarks, wagtails and winter thrushes - most moving over unobtrusively and heading generally north-east.

Regards

Neil M

The Stanwick Bearded Tit
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Pitsford WeBS count.

Hello

Another mild and sunny day provided the backdrop for the Pitsford WeBS count - and as usual by February many of the winter wildfowl have already departed. It was very quiet south of the causeway with a single Little Egret being the only noteworthy bird and north of the causeway the choice birds were a Great White Egret, a Redshank, a Jack Snipe and at least sixty Common Snipe. Also present were two Kingfishers, a Grey Wagtail, a male Stonechat and a few Siskins.

The Bearded Tit remained on show at Stanwick Pits today and birds at Hollowell Reservoir included three Caspian Gulls, two Jack Snipe and five Common Snipe.

Three Smew and three Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir today and the female Ruddy Shelduck was at Winwick Pools near West Haddon.

A pair of established Peregrines at a site at Higham Ferrers now have a camera monitoring their behaviour and a live link can be established by clicking on:-

https://youtu.be/ix7EdikYE61

Regards

Neil M

Peregrine.

Stonechat courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Common Gull courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

That bird...the Stanwick Bearded Tit.

Hello

Favourable conditions and a particularly confiding bird brought photographers far and wide to Stanwick Pits today with the male Bearded Tit largely ignoring the shutter sounds of numerous cameras.

The female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup were visible from the causeway car park at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning and other birds present included a Great White Egret, three Little Egrets and a couple of Siskins. A Water Rail and two Common Snipe were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning where there were also three Grey Wagtails, a Redpoll and five Siskins.

Eight Golden Plovers were at Harrington Airfield late this morning, the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull was off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir and a Woodcock was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. 

A Woodcock and a pair of Stonechats were in fields between Walgrave village and Pitsford Reservoir and a Barn Owl was at Hanging Houghton with a pair of Ravens on the Kelmarsh Estate.

A Siberian Chiffchaff was still at Ecton SF/Billing Pits by Bridge 'K121' today, three Smew and a Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir and the Red-crested Pochard was still at Stanford Reservoir as were two Great White Egrets.

Regards

Neil M

Bearded Tit courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Bearded Tit courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Ringing at Kelmarsh Hall.

Hello

A period of bird ringing was completed at Kelmarsh Hall today with about one hundred and forty-five birds caught and processed, giving some indication of the numbers of birds coming to the feeders there. Eighty-eight of these birds were newly ringed, the remaining fifty-seven being birds caught and ringed on previous occasions. Blue Tits dominated with seventy-seven being processed and another thirteen species included Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. Kingfisher and Raven were present on-site too.

A Bearded Tit was seen again at Stanwick Pits today, providing photographic opportunities for some and other long-staying birds in the county included the female Ring-necked Duck and female Scaup at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Two Smew, including a drake, were at the west side of Blatherwycke Lake today. Two Goosanders were on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits.

A female Merlin was again hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and at Kislingbury Lakes/Upton Country Park there was a Great White Egret, two Oystercatchers, a Common Snipe and a Green Sandpiper. Seven Little Egrets were off Mill Lane, Greens Norton today, a regular wintering venue, and Ian had a female Blackcap visiting his Woodford Halse garden.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Great White Egret, a Pintail, seven Goosanders and two Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Treecreeper courtesy
of Chris Payne.

'Redhead' Smew.

Nuthatch courtesy of
John Tilly.

Ditchford WeBS count.

Hello

It was time for the WeBS count at Ditchford Pits today and it was interesting to see small numbers of Pochard on many of the pits, an increase in Tufted Ducks and a strong passage of gulls along the Nene Valley. Birds west of Ditchford Lane included two Peregrines, three Oystercatchers, an Egyptian Goose, a Great White Egret, a Grey Wagtail, just one Cetti's Warbler and two Lesser Redpolls. Birds east of Ditchford Lane included three Common Snipe, just two Cetti's Warblers, three Goosanders and a Siskin. Surprisingly I didn't encounter Kingfisher, Water Rail or Chiffchaff.

A procession of would-be observers visited Stanwick Pits in an effort to track down the Bearded Tits and most failed. However social media suggests that an individual was seen at some stage today. Vocal Cetti's Warblers and a Water Rail were present around the edges of the same pit.

Two first year Caspian Gulls were seen at Daventry Country Park this morning and birds at Sywell Country Park included a Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler, two Grey Wagtails, a pair of Stonechats and about twenty Siskins. A Barn Owl was again on show at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

The female Ring-necked Duck was reportedly again off the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning and three Scaup were still at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

The Ditchford Oystercatchers
today...and very noisy they were too!

Blue Tit courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Male Blackbird courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Mild February day

Hello

A much milder day with just a little rain first thing and plenty of birds singing and pairing up!

The male Bearded Tit showed well again at Stanwick Pits with a vocal Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail near to it too.

The female Ring-necked Duck and a female Scaup were at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and a first year Caspian Gull was on pools alongside the A5 by the DIRFT3 development site near Lilbourne.

An Oystercatcher was at Summer Leys LNR this morning and two Ravens were at Kelmarsh with a Grey Wagtail again at Hanging Houghton and a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley below the village this evening.

Regards

Neil M

North American Mink
at Stortons Pits today courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Aconites and Snowdrops
at Pitsford Reservoir today.

Chaffinch.

Goldfinch.

Red-crested Pochard

Hello

We seem to be going through a quiet patch in the county at the moment but there was some evidence of migration today with a trickle of wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Redwings moving north. The spring-like weather of the last few days may seem a little premature as I'm sure that there is still some wintery stuff to deal with but try telling the Song Thrushes that as they are hammering out their songs almost everywhere I go!

A drake Red-crested Pochard in all it's finery was in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today and the adult Yellow-legged Gull was again in the gull roost off the Sailing Club. A pair of Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield, a Grey Wagtail was at Hanging Houghton and a day-flying Barn Owl was seen at Lamport Hall.

The male Bearded Tit was again at Stanwick Pits this morning and delighting local photographers and four Smew and a Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Red-crested Pochard and 
Pochard at Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Red-crested Pochard at
Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

A foggy start to St Valentine's Day

Hello

A foggy and raw start to the day gave way to lovely winter sunshine by this afternoon. A couple of Ravens were in both Scaldwell and Hanging Houghton villages today.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning included singles of Grey Wagtail, Water Rail and Common Snipe. About fifty Yellowhammers were in the weedy field next to the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the reservoir roost off the dam this afternoon.

About seventy Lapwings were in fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon but it was otherwise quiet. The male Bearded Tit again showed at Stanwick Pits in phragmites off the causeway between flooded pits off the A45 layby.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir included the Red-crested Pochard still plus a Great White Egret and thirteen Goosanders. The female Ring-necked Duck was reportedly still present at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Other birds today included a Great White Egret at Pineham on the flood plain on the outskirts of Northampton plus five more on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits and a Little Owl near Ecton.

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Yellowhammer.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Ringing and local birding

Hello

Some recent ringing activity included a session at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on Sunday 5th February when a merry band of ringers tried their luck at a Milton Keynes Community Orchard. This provided an excellent eighty-six birds of sixteen species which included five Fieldfares, three Redwings, six Blackbirds, a male Blackcap, two feisty Jays, a Green Woodpecker, seven Long-tailed Tits, thirty-eight Blue Tits, fourteen Great Tits, a Dunnock, two Robins, a Woodpigeon, a Chaffinch, a Bullfinch, two Greenfinches and a Goldfinch.

On Friday 10th February the team at Stortons Pits caught over a hundred birds of nine species which included fifteen Long-tailed Tits, thirty Blue Tits, eighteen Great Tits, three Robins, four Dunnocks, a Blackbird, a Jay, twelve Goldfinches and an excellent twenty-four Reed Buntings.

Today (13th Feb) and a garden ringing session on the north-eastern outskirts of Northampton yielded thirty-one birds which were made up of seventeen Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, three Dunnocks, a Robin, two Blackbirds, two Blue Tits, a Great Tit, a Treecreeper and three Reed Buntings.

Birds noted today at Stanford Reservoir included a first winter Mediterranean Gull and an adult Caspian Gull in the roost plus the long-staying Red-crested Pochard, two Shelducks, two Goosanders and two Great White Egrets. Three Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning and the female Scaup was again at Hollowell Reservoir as were three Caspian Gulls, nine Common Snipe and an Oystercatcher.

Birds visible along the River Welland at Market Harborough today included a Grey Wagtail, a Kingfisher, a Water Rail, a Little Egret and a Chiffchaff but it seems there haven't been any more reported Otter sightings recently.

A male Bearded Tit and occasionally a second bird were showing in phragmites for at least the second day at Stanwick Pits, sometimes requiring a patient wait until at least the male shows along the causeway between pits near to the A45 layby.

A Great White Egret was at Cransley Reservoir and three pairs of Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon. Nine Ravens were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and a Woodcock and a Barn Owl were seen at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

I've been fortunate to have spent over two weeks in Cambodia, helping out on a Naturetrek tour spent watching a variety of natural history subjects and enjoying historic and modern cultural highlights - a Tab or Page on this blog has been created (Cambodia Jan/Feb 2023) and has some images from the tour (with more to add).

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Black-backed Gull 
and Coots.

Kestrel.

Goosander.

Quiet Times !

 I'm scratching my head about what to write as it really has been another quiet week.  Harrington Airfield has been a birdless zone, the big side of Pitsford Reservoir a vast expanse of empty water and even the valley below Hanging Houghton has been silent.  A wander around Sywell Reservoir earlier in the week didn't produce anything remarkable but just nice views of 2 Cettis Warbler,  Chiffchaff,  Water Rail,  Stonechats,  Siskins and Redpolls plus a Peacock and Brimstone butterfly. The most interesting observation at Sywell was that of two foxes sitting literally a few feet away from a feeding flock of Canada Geese. The foxes looked absolutely stunning in the winter sunshine. The geese were not really bothered by the close proximity of these foxes until they changed their position from sitting to lying down.  But once the foxes settled down again the geese carried on feeding. 

It has been quiet throughout the county with very few new birds being reported.  At Ravensthorpe Reservoir both Scaup and Ring Necked Duck have been present on the small side.  A new Scaup (drake) was found today at Blatherwycke Lake.  Red Crested Pochard remain at Summer Leys and Stanford Reservoir,  at least one Siberian Chiffchaff still at Ecton and Caspian Gull and Jack Snipe at Hollowell Reservoir.  Other birds reported include a Ruddy Shelduck at Winwick Pools, 7 Goosanders at Kinewell Lake Ringstead and 2 Oystercatchers at Stanwick GP 

Have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor 

Mad Monday!!

 It has been a bit of a mad Monday, running errands, walking dogs, topping up feeding stations and a bit of birding thrown in.  It was a lovely frosty start and I was out early as the moon was going to bed and the sun waking up.  Such a magical time to be out when everything is waking up.  Initially the only birds I had for company were Blackbirds but these were soon joined by Red Kites and Common Buzzards and by the time I had finished my walk there was quite a chorus starting up.

The big side of Pitsford Reservoir was devoid of birds. It was literally just a vast expanse of empty water. Even the small side was pretty empty of birds, no where near the numbers of wildfowl that you would expect to find. The only birds of note being a drake Smew,  Shelduck,  2 Stonechat and 2 Great White Egrets.                                                             Next stop was the wilderness area at Kelmarsh Hall to top up the feeding station.  Here I nearly trod on a Woodcock and there were 6 Siskins flying around. 

It was on my afternoon walk where the fun began!! I was enjoying a peaceful amble around the fields with my dogs when I realised that the Pytchley/Woodland Hunt were heading my way.  As I didn't really want to get tangled up with them due to having all my dogs with me including Smeagol the spaniel with his motility issues.  For a while I ended up being stationary and simply scanning the area. It was whilst doing this that I picked up a Marsh Harrier near Blueberry heading east in a very purposeful manner.   The Hunt went towards the Brampton Valley Way and headed off along the BVW towards Brixworth causing chaos as they did so. This was my opportunity to leg it back to my car and even Smeagol broke into a trot when he heard the Foxhounds baying.  Once back to the safety of the car the dogs took a breather and had a play in the stream.  I  took the opportunity to have another scan around, mainly to see where the Hunt were, but they were soon forgotten when the female Merlin put in another appearance and chased the Skylarks again.  This time she was unsuccessful but still fabulous to watch. 

Our garden has been busy again with birds now that the temperature has dropped.  Plenty of Blackbirds and even a Fieldfare returned today. We don't seem to be able to attract wintering Blackcaps which I know quite a few folk do throughout the county. We put plenty of apples out on the bushes which the Blue Tits love but very little else. 

A few birds reported in the county today. Ring Necked Duck and Scaup at Ravensthorpe Reservoir,  Red Crested Pochard at Stanford Reservoir,  Siberian Chiffchaff at Ecton and Jack Snipe at Hollowell Reservoir and below Brixworth in a reedbed area at Spratton Road.                                                                                                                                                           Again in the warm sunshine there are plenty of insects and both Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies on the wing.  Lots of new life in the gardens too with quite a few daffodils fully out in the sheltered areas.   Spring is on its way !

Regards Eleanor 

A male Blackcap visiting
an Abington garden, Northampton
 courtesy of John Gamble.

A quiet week!!

 

Well I am not quite sure where that week has gone to or even how January has slipped past. How did that happen?? It is scary how time flies. I feel as if I have been on the go all week but have very little to show for it.  I have made several visits to Harrington Airfield and Pitsford Reservoir but both places rather bleak and devoid of birds.  Even a walk around Sywell Reservoir produced nothing which is unusual as I normally see something of note there.                                                                                                                                             I have spent quite a bit of time around Blueberry and the area below Hanging Houghton,  but again it has been very quiet.   My best bird's being a large female Peregrine sitting on prey in the middle of a field and the following day I watched transfixed as a female Merlin chased the Skylarks . She relentlessly pursued a single bird and they went higher and higher in the sky to the point where they became dots. I was really willing the Skylark to get away but this was not the case. It was amazing to watch. 

It would seem that the county as a whole has been quiet.  Long staying birds include Ring Necked Duck and Mandarin at Ravensthorpe Reservoir,  Scaup at Hollowell Reservoir,  Mediterranean Gull at Boddington Reservoir, Caspian Gulls at Hollowell Reservoir,  Pink Footed Goose at Wicksteed Park,  Siberian Chiffchaff at Ecton and Red Crested Pochards at Summer Leys and both Daventry and Stanford Reservoir. 

It has certainly been an abnormally mild week for the time of year.  Plenty of small insects about and even a few butterflies.  I did a double take when a Peacock Butterfly whizzed past me whilst I was walking across the fields near Blueberry.   For those interested in the butterflies of the county have a look at David James blog where there is an excellent report . So far 27,460 records detailing the whereabouts of 80,000 adult butterflies!!!!, eye watering numbers. http://davidjameswildlifediary.com/

The mild weather has influenced the birds visiting our garden.  Prior to the mild weather we had plenty of Blackbirds,  Fieldfares and Redwings eagerly devouring the apples we had put out. Now they have all disappeared and returned to feeding in the fields and have been replaced by Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers.  Interestingly we have had a flock of 7 Pied Wagtails daily for several weeks.                                                                            It looks like we could be heading for another cold spell so no doubt it will be all change again in the garden and fingers crossed in the county.

Regards Eleanor