Naturetrek Day Tour Pitsford Reservoir

Hello

Today saw a Naturetrek day tour concentrating on the wildlife trust reserve at Pitsford Reservoir.

After meeting up just before 9am and with the formalities out of the way, senior reserve warden Mischa Cross provided some live examples of moth catching on the reserve with fifteen species potted up and available to look at and release - Light Arches, Dark Arches, Double-lobed, Heart and Dart, Coronet, Herald, Scalloped Oak, Peppered Moth, Lesser Underwing. Large Underwing, Broad-bordered Underwing, Bufftip, Pine Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth and the very impressive Privet Hawk-moth.

A few birds were singing around us and a male House Sparrow foraging for invertebrates is a rare visitor to the reserve these days. One of several Scarlet Tiger moths during the day flew around us and settled and the first of many butterflies were on the wing including the first of many hundreds of Meadow Brown.

Down at the shoreline we saw the first waterbirds and the first of several thousand Common Blue Damselflies on our wander. Lapwings were dotted along the causeway and distant Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes were to show better later. We checked out the phragmites bed near to one of the static moth traps but there was no sight or sound of the long-staying Bearded Tit. Reed Warblers were both busy singing and feeding young and juvenile Chiffchaffs and Blue Tits were in the reeds and bushes.

Bramble patches further along the path supported large numbers of butterflies which included Comma, Large and Green-veined White and a few Ringlets and we enjoyed close views of both Common and Ruddy Darters amongst the clouds of damselflies. A pair of Common Terns had young on the raft in front of Goosander Hide and they chased off a couple of Common Buzzards that loomed overhead. Three thermaling Ravens were probably nearly a mile away and small birds around us included Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Garden Warbler and Blackcap.

As we progressed down the Holcot Bay we encountered a pair of Little Grebes in full summer plumage, a Nuthatch and the first of many mixed tit flocks. A Hobby showed well and a Sparrowhawk flitted over carrying prey, much to the annoyance of the local Swallows and House Martins. Red Kites remained high up and most of the small birds well-hidden with calling Great Spotted Woodpecker and Treecreeper electing not to give themselves up! On the opposite side of the bay we found the first of many just-hatched Gatekeepers - looking pristine in the morning sunshine. An earlier Marbled White was followed by two more in the Holcot Meadow. Blackcaps continued to sing at us from cover and alarming Blackbirds alerted us to probable Tawny Owls in the plantations but the owls declined to show themselves. A male Kestrel flew past closely.

Insects were to the fore with longhorn beetles, soldier beetles, Roesel's Bush-cricket and Nursery Web Spiders working the grasses and flowers below the butterflies and Silver Y moths. By this time we had espied big dragonflies in the shape of Brown Hawker, Blue Emperor and my personal favourite the Southern Hawker. Robins and Blackbirds warbled from the sidelines as we mooched further on and reached the Lagoon Hide for a rather late coffee stop! Another Reed Warbler chuntered from the grazed reeds, both Moorhen and Coot paraded their young and a female Gadwall was the proud mother presiding over her five small ducklings. We glimpsed Black-tailed Skimmer and Blue Emperor over the lagoon in front of the hide and an assembly of Large White butterflies were attracted to the exposed damp mud.

The next section of the walk took us into the Walgrave Bay and Purple Hairstreaks stayed aloft and whizzed around the canopy of oak trees along the waterfront. A Common Toadlet crawled across the mowed path and a Muntjac barked from the trees behind. Sharp eyes picked out a couple of distant drake Pochard and the young Black-headed Gulls were floating around in the water with their attendant parents alongside them. Cormorant nests were mostly already empty of young Cormorants and both adult and young birds were loafing in the trees.

Aircraft activity overhead from nearby Sywell Airfield provided us with the noise and sight of a Spitfire, a Mustang and a Messerschmitt 109 (all iconic craft from WW2) flying around.

At the square pond we enjoyed great views of Four-spotted Chasers and Common Emerald Damselflies as well as arguing Blue Emperors and huge numbers of Ruddy Darters and Common Blue Damsels. Common Whitethroat and Garden Warbler were fidgeting in waterside vegetation and the Flowering Rush looked stunning with its pink flowers. Chiffchaffs were another constant singing bird on our way around but the lack of singing Chaffinches was frankly depressing. The second of four broods of Mute Swans on the reserve watched us nonchalantly from the waterside! We had heard Kingfishers all the way around but none put in an appearance for us. Another Raven and a Jay were seen briefly in the bay as we walked the section up to Christies Copse where a Willow Warbler showed nicely for us and a Hobby flashed over. By this time we had seen multiple examples of our more showy insects and we took lunch at the Christies Copse picnic bench. Twin-lobed Deer Flies had made their presence known by this time and even a few Mosquitoes showed up! A few Common Swifts flew over.

After lunch we upped the pace to reach the Scaldwell Bay but enjoyed great views of hunting Southern Hawker and resting odonata including male and female Black-tailed Skimmers, and a Brown Hare in an adjacent cut barley field. Large Skippers were in good numbers and Small/Essex Skippers photographed in an effort to identify later. A White Plume moth showed well and another Nuthatch inhabited a roving tit flock which simply melted into the foliage. Another drake Pochard was in the back of the Scaldwell Bay where a Great White Egret disappeared into cover and three Little Egrets stood around despondently. Two juvenile Cormorants besieged an adult in the water to the point where it flew off. Large Red-eyed Damselflies were picked out in front of the Bird Club hide and a super Grass Snake glided past slowly. Great Crested Grebes came in fairly close and more juvenile Black-headed Gulls were dotted around the bay. A deformed Purple Hairstreak on the ground and unable to fly was sad but provided great views.

The Scaldwell Meadows section yielded more Marbled Whites, quick-moving Common Blues and Small Heaths, a Sedge Warbler singing briefly, singing Reed Buntings, a Teal and a few Lapwings. Loafing rafts of Tufted Ducks and Gadwall were well in eclipse plumage. Up to ten Tree Sparrows were around the Old Scaldwell Road, more Black-tailed Skimmers queued for attention and we saw brief views of Pied Wagtail as we progressed to the causeway. Two examples of Pyramidal Orchid had gone over and the Ragwort there sported the yellow and black stripes of Cinnabar Moth caterpillars. The Lapwings were still there and a Grey Wagtail danced off around the bushes. A further effort to see/hear the Bearded Tit proved negative. It was a long but fulfilling day with wildlife, particularly the insects, providing a memorable walk around Pitsford Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Elephant Hawk-moth.

Privet Hawk-moth.

Pine Hawk-moth.

Bufftip.

Marbled White.

Comma.

Gatekeeper.

Large Red-eyed Damselfly.

Large Skipper.

Gadwall with ducklings.

Gatekeeper.

Ruddy Darter.

Four-spotted Chaser.

Large Skipper.

Common Emerald Damselfly.

Large and Small Skippers.

Grass Snake.

East Yorkshire

Hello

I was fortunate to spend a couple of days in East Yorkshire over the week-end staying at Spurn and visiting Bempton Cliffs on Sunday. It was very windy but didn't stop the Gannets coming in close at Bempton!

Regards

Neil M

Sedge Warbler.

Common Darter.

Fulmar.

Gannet.

Kittiwake.

Gannets.

Kittiwake.

Tree Sparrows.

Pyramidal Orchid.

Barn Owl.

Ringing Demonstration.

Hello

A bird ringing demonstration took place at Howe Park Wood, Milton Keynes on Saturday, one of many events coordinated by the Parks Trust celebrating nature. Children in particular were fascinated with the opportunities of seeing wild birds close at hand. Considering the late start and habitat a good number of sixty-seven birds were caught and processed which was made up thirty-two Blue Tits, eighteen Great Tits, five Long-tailed Tits, six Chiffchaffs, a Treecreeper, a Nuthatch, two Dunnocks and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers - so plenty of show-stoppers! All the birds were new to ringing with the exception of one of the Blue Tits which was first ringed in 2019.

A ringing session is planned for Lamport Hall this coming Friday evening when we hope to catch and ring and assess Swifts and House Martins. If you would like to attend and observe proceedings please let me know and I can provide more details.

A Cuckoo was still calling at Sixfields, Northampton today and the grey and wetter conditions of this afternoon concentrated Swifts and Sand Martins at various water bodies.

A Garganey was on the main scrape at Summer Leys LNR this morning and birds at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon included a Great White Egret and three Black-tailed Godwits in the Scaldwell Bay, the godwits were on the shoreline between the Bird Club and Maytrees hides. A Yellow-legged Gull was off the dam this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Buck Roe Deer in a 
wild flower strip at
Lamport Hall courtesy
of Bill Draper.

Great Crested Grebes
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Norway and back

Hello

I'm just back in from a Naturetrek tour in Norway - some images from this tour can be seen on the page or tab 'Norway - Whales and Seabirds of Norway's Lofoten Islands 2023'.

This morning and a couple of Ravens were vocal at Hanging Houghton and earlier Neil Hasdell endured a poor view of an interesting Swift sp passing over Harrington Airfield. Further visits by both Neil and myself failed to find this no doubt transitory bird. Not far outside the county and John Friendship-Taylor photographed an apparent Black Kite this morning on his way to work just west of Bicester towards Chesterton.

The male Bearded Tit remains at Pitsford Reservoir in the phragmites reedbed below the Fishing Lodge in the Holcot Bay and showing well at 8.30am. Up to fifty Sand Martins were off the dam late this morning.

At Earls Barton Pits there was a Great White Egret on Hardwater Lake and birds of note on the Summer Leys LNR included a female Shoveler with eight ducklings (the second brood seen there this year) and a Green Sandpiper and a Garganey.

Birds at Hollowell Reservoir today included an Osprey, a female Ruddy Shelduck, three Common Sandpipers and three Green Sandpipers. A Barnacle Goose was on the canal west of Stortons Pits and two Kingfishers were on the brook in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A Curlew flew NW this evening at Stanford Reservoir where there were also three Oystercatchers, a Common Sandpiper, a Cuckoo and a Cetti's Warbler.

Marbled White butterflies were fluttering at Harrington Airfield and the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Monarch butterfly visiting a county garden today would be an amazing record if the insect is of wild origin. Wakerley Wood was the venue for White Admiral, Marbled White and Silver-washed Fritillaries today with all three species and Purple Emperors being seen at Old Pastures Wood, Yardley Chase yesterday.

Regards

Neil M

Marbled White.

Burnett moth sp.

Juvenile Goldfinch.

Barnacle Goose.

Chiffchaff.

Blackbird.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Ospreys and Barn Owls

Hello

Monitoring of the scarcer species breeding in the county is all part of the process if you are an active birder and conservationist! In general there is a significant amount of preparatory work and a great deal of time committed to ensure local projects are successful. During this week a local Osprey nest was visited which is closely monitored every year and two well-grown chicks were ringed and returned to the nest. In addition many in the Northants Ringing Group look out for the owls and a half day on the Kelmarsh Estate provided proof of successful breeding in one of the new nest boxes where two Barn Owl nestlings were ringed. Nearby an adult was caught and was already bearing a ring (but not one of the NRG allocated rings).

Regards

Neil M

A male and a female nestling
Osprey, growing fast on a protein-
rich diet of fish!

Adult re-trapped Barn Owl.

Two nestling Barn Owls,
images courtesy of Chris Payne.

 Another quiet time for new birds in the county.  The Bearded Tit remains at Pitsford Reservoir and shows well in the reed bed next to the moth trap below the Lodge.  A Garganey turned up at Summer Leys today.  Other birds on the move seem to be Crossbills. On Sunday a Crossbill was reported from Stanford Reservoir, on Monday at Hollowell Reservoir and today at Pitsford Reservoir and Earls Barton.                                      Other birds reported over the last few days include Great White Egret at Hollowell and Summer Leys,  Common Sandpiper at Hollowell and Pitsford Reservoir,  Ruddy Shelduck at Winwick Pools, Yellow Legged Gull at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Osprey at Hollowell Reservoir,  Summer Leys and Stanwick GP. 

Things are getting more interesting on the Butterfly,  Dragonfly and other flying insect front with the first Purple Emperor Butterfly for the county being recorded at Hazelborough Forest on Saturday (24th) . There have been a few Hummingbird Hawkmoths in people's gardens and also the attractive Scarlet Tiger Moths.  One Butterfly which seems to be having a good year is one of my favourites,  the Marbled White.  Up to 50 were seen at Gayton and I have seen good numbers at Harrington Airfield,  Pitsford Reservoir and Lamport area.

Plenty of fun and games in the garden with the antics of the young birds. We have a lot of young Starlings which are very noisy and funny to watch,  but they have competition now that the young Jackdaws have arrived and these are equally as noisy and comical to watch.  Added to the mix today were a family party of Great Spotted  Woodpeckers.  All watched from the comfort of the house !!

Regards Eleanor 

Ringing at Linford Lakes

Hello

Kenny Cramer and team were mist netting at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes today, processing some one hundred and fifty-one birds of twenty-one species, the majority of the birds being newly-ringed with many juveniles on the wing. Seventy tits and and forty-nine warblers ensured it was a good small bird day but a new Cuckoo was a welcome capture as was a juvenile Kingfisher and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers. A Starling and a Woodpigeon added more variety and among fourteen Reed Warblers was a stand-out bird which was a bird ringed as an adult on-site back in 2017 and not encountered since - this bird is at least seven years old!

Regards

Neil M

Cuckoo.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Images courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Recent ringing recoveries

Hello

Another warm summer day and the male Bearded Tit was still in situ today in the phragmites reed bed at Pitsford Reservoir in the Holcot Bay below the Fishing Lodge near to the moth trap.

Little else was reported today so some recent ringing recoveries associated with Northants Ringing Group activity:-

1.  A Chiffchaff ringed as a juvenile at Pitsford Reservoir on 17th August 2022 was re-captured at Stanford Reservoir on 26th April 2023 - 252 days later - with a probable stay in Iberia or similar inbetween time!

2.  An adult male Greenfinch was ringed at Astcote on 23rd January 2022 and killed itself by striking glass at nearby Eastcote on 3rd June 2023 - 496 days later;

3.  An adult female Reed Warbler was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 22nd May 2022 and was caught again at Lax Hill, Rutland Water on 5th June this year - 379 days later and with a small matter of migrating to and from Africa in the meantime!

4.  A first year male Reed Bunting was ringed at Harrington Airfield on 11th November 2021 and was picked up and released after hitting a window at Belton, North Lincolnshire on 23rd April 2023 - apparently flying away unharmed - 528 days elapsed between the two records, the site in Lincolnshire being 128km north of Harrington Airfield;

5.  An adult male Mallard was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 22nd February 2019 and found dead at Holcot on 15th December 2022 - 1392 days elapsing in that time, but only moving 3km away;

6.  A first year female Yellowhammer was ringed at Harrington Airfield on 2nd October 2019 and just the ring was found at nearby Foxhall on 7th May 2023 - found by a person using a metal detector 1313 days later!

7.  A nestling Common Tern was ringed on one of the rafts at Pitsford Reservoir on 24th July 2019 and found dead on one of the lagoons 39km away at Rutland Water on 17th May 2023 - 1393 days later and a presumed casualty of the bird flu outbreak;

8.  A Chiffchaff was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 20th August 2022 and found dead in Milton Keynes on 25th April 2023 - 248 days later - and probably an example of a returning bird coming to a premature ending;

9.  A first year Sedge Warbler was ringed at Witches Oak, Derbyshire on 18th August 2022 and caught again at Stortons Pits on 5th May 2023 - 260 days later and with a trip to Africa and back inbetween;

10.  A male Blackcap was ringed at Wytham Wood, Oxfordshire on 5th May 2022 and trapped again at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 27th May this year - 387 days later - I wonder where he had been in the meantime?

11.  Another male Blackcap was ringed at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordshire on 24th April 2022 and caught again at Linford Lakes on 13th May 2023 - 384 days later and no doubt with a story to tell too!

12.  A first year Garden Warbler was ringed at Park Farm, New Marston, Oxfordshire on 12th August 2022 and caught again at Linford Lakes on 6th May this year - 267 days later and it had presumably been much further than either of the two Blackcaps.

Regards

Neil M

Blue Emperor consuming a
damselfly.

Marbled White.

Bearded Tit.

All images above taken at
Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Sun-bathing Song Thrush.

Just emerged Ruddy Darter.

Little Egret.

Four-spotted Chaser.

Starling.

All images taken locally
courtesy of Tony Stanford.