Waxwings, Stonechats and Great Northern Diver.

Hello

A breezy but sunny day made it a good day to be out and about.

The current influx of Waxwings in to the UK is mostly in Scotland but also north and east England with some birds even making it to the Isles of Scilly. Intriguing then that there was a report of thirty-forty Waxwings seen in flight at Earls Barton village today - several would-be observers subsequently checked the most obvious places in the village but were unable to find any. Subsequently Ian saw twelve possibles flying west over Castle Ashby early this afternoon. Hopefully we will catch up with these thrilling 'trillers' locally soon!

A Great Northern Diver was an excellent find at Daventry Country Park today and was seen by several observers during the day...hopefully it will stay longer than the recent Pitsford bird!

A Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff were the best birds at Stanford Reservoir today and birds at Hollowell Reservoir amounted to an adult Caspian Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Green Sandpiper, two Goosanders and four Stonechats. Birds at Pitsford Reservoir included two drake Pintail in the Scaldwell Bay, a couple of Siskins and a pair of Stonechats were between the causeway and the Maytrees Hide. At least one hundred and twenty-five Cormorants roosted in the Walgrave Bay this afternoon.

Although proving more difficult to locate today the Glossy Ibis was still at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR today in trees overhanging Otter Lake early this afternoon. A Raven was recorded flying over there and another was over Brixworth village early this afternoon.

At least two hundred and fifty Golden Plovers were mobile around the DIRFT site near Lilbourne with two Stonechats and a Peregrine at Clifford Hill Pits all this morning. A male Merlin again visited the shrike hedge area of the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a pair of Stonechats were on the rough grass area next to the brook.

A Woodcock and a couple of Siskins were at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate and another Woodcock was seen at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Stonechats courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Goldeneye.

Cormorant.

Above two images courtesy
of Tony Stanford taken at
Pitsford Reservoir today.

Mid November birding

Hello

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Great White Egret, three Water Rails, a Cetti's Warbler and two Chiffchaffs. Pitsford Reservoir seemed quiet but there was a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a Grey Wagtail and a Redpoll in the dam area this afternoon.

At Hollowell Reservoir Mark found a sick-looking first winter Kittiwake, perhaps a victim of the autumn storms. There was also a Caspian Gull and four Stonechats and nearby at Ravensthorpe Reservoir a/the Pink-footed Goose and a female Mandarin Duck were present.

It's still visible migration season and at Harrington Airfield there was a male Merlin this morning plus a Woodcock, six Redpolls, at least two Bramblings, a few Siskins and hundreds of winter thrushes in the bushes. Overflying flocks of Starlings and Woodpigeons had already slowed by 9am. Several Siskins were in Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate.

Over at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows the Glossy Ibis was still present and viewable from the churchyard at St Peter's in Irthlingborough and a Cattle Egret was seen there too. A first winter Caspian Gull was seen at Daventry Country Park today, a pair of Stonechats were visible from the footpath between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell villages and another pair were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton near the large barn, with a Woodcock flushed up nearby.

A Marsh Harrier was photographed at Summer Leys LNR today and other birds there included a Great White Egret and in excess of two hundred Golden Plovers.

Regards

Neil M

Goldfinch.

Lesser Black-backed Gull
and Black-headed Gulls.

Golden Plovers and Lapwings.

All images courtesy of Tony Stanford
from Summer Leys LNR today.

Another blustery day

Hello

A blustery day with rain first thing and showers later sounds a familiar theme for this autumn! I'm just back in from another tour to Scotland taking in the delights of Islay and Jura - a separate Tab or Page has been created for a few images from this tour (Islay's Wintering Wildfowl).

In Northants today the Glossy Ibis was again at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows at Ditchford Pits and best viewed from the churchyard at Irthlingborough. Nearby six Cattle Egrets arrived to roost at Stanwick Pits this afternoon. The long-staying juvenile Red-throated Diver remains at Eyebrook Reservoir just across the county border.

A Stonechat was at Upton Country Park today and a Caspian Gull and a Great White Egret were at Stanford Reservoir. A Woodcock and a couple of Bramblings were slim pickings in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning. Sixteen Ring-necked Parakeets mobbing a Red Kite over Great Billing, Northampton early this afternoon was no doubt a noisy affair!

Regards

Neil M

Chaffinch.

Kestrel.

Starling.

Stonechat.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Canon lens and converter for sale

Hello

Robin has the following photographic equipment for sale if you are interested?

Canon 500mm F4 mk 2,

Lens-coat camo-cover and hood cover.

Original Canon covers and lockable metal box etc.

Camera bag, Lowpro Lens Trekker 600 AW 111, tailored fit for 500/600mm.

Canon 1.4x teleconverter mk 3.

Both Lens and converter are in superb condition and are very sharp.

£5000.00.

If interested please contact Robin @….   robin.gossage@sky.com

Regards

Neil M

Sunny Saturday

It was hard to believe that it was the middle of November today.  Blue skies ,warm sunshine, butterflies and people everywhere,  especially at Pitsford Reservoir!! News broke of 4 large Divers seen in the Scaldwell bay at Pitsford.  Quite an unusual and intriguing record prompted quite a few folk to get out and have a look,  but despite many pairs of eyes these birds were not relocated.  The only birds of note found on my search were the two fem/imm Red Breasted Mergansers who were pretty mobile due to the amount of activity on the water.                                                   I have three rather tired dogs here tonight as we made the most of this glorious weather and enjoyed walking around Blueberry,  Shrike hedge area and Harrington Airfield.  However all these areas were very quiet for birds today.  I covered the same areas yesterday and again it was very quiet for birds. The only interesting bird I saw was a male Merlin as I sat at the highest point of Blueberry watching the world go by.

The Bittern at Summer Leys showed well today. I really must try and catch up with this bird, everytime I pop over it doesn't show! Today there was also a Goosander at Summer Leys.  At nearby Stanwick GP both Goosander and Merganser plus the usual Cattle Egrets.   At Hollowell Reservoir today Caspian Gull,  Stonechats and Green Sandpiper.  At Wakerley Wood at least 10 Crossbills along the main track,  another venue on my list to visit. 

The warm sunshine certainly encouraged a late flurry of insect activity,  lots of small midge/flies about plus Red Admirals at Pitsford Reservoir and Bozeat and a  Common Darter at Ravensthorpe Reservoir 

Regards Eleanor 

Catch Up !!

 Time for a "catch up " now that our internet connection has been restored.  On Monday I was at Harrington Airfield early morning.  As I started walking I was aware of waves upon waves of Wood Pigeons flying over. Quite incredible really as I suspect that most of us don't pay much attention to these birds. Interestingly someone else was experiencing the same scenario at Desborough Airfield and estimated a 1000 birds moving between 07.00 and 09.00.                   The bushes at Harrington Airfield were busy as usual with huge numbers of Fieldfares/Redwings.                                                 Yesterday I enjoyed a lovely walk around Harlestone Firs. The Autumn colours were absolutely stunning and well worth the visit.  Birds were somewhat disappointing with only a handful of Siskins at the main entrance.                         Pitsford Reservoir was a bit of a magnet for folk yesterday,  myself included as the two fem/imm Red Breasted Mergansers were showing very well in the Pintail Bay.           Despite being out and about today I hadn't really seen very much until it was virtually dark.  I spent some time lingering around shrike hedge area just incase anything interesting turned up.  I was just making my way back to the car when I stood still and deliberated which way to walk back when a Short Eared Owl flew over my head from shrike hedge area and proceeded to hunt the grassy strip/area.  I  followed it down the  grassy strip until the light gave up. 

There have been a few good birds seen since the weekend.  2 Red Breasted Mergansers and 2 Whooper Swans at Stanwick GP,  Slavonian Grebe at Titchmarsh LNR,  Glossy Ibis at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows,  Merlin at Desborough Airfield and Stanford Reservoir and Crossbills at Wakerley Wood. 

Regards Eleanor 

Pink-footed Goose.

Hello

Another wet day and a disappointing one if you happened to be at Pitsford Reservoir as there was no sign today of the Great Northern Diver from two days ago nor the Red-necked Grebe from yesterday afternoon. And most of us there became rather wet! At least the two Red-breasted Mergansers put in a show for the second day and despite lots of boat activity there were good numbers of birds between the dam and the causeway with a flock of eighty Cormorants completing synchronized fishing and at least seventy-five Great Crested Grebes between the causeway and the southern section of The Narrows. Goldeneye have arrived in numbers now and other birds included one or two adult Yellow-legged Gull(s), a drake Pintail, two Siskins and a Kingfisher.

Six probable Red-breasted Mergansers flew through Stanwick Pits at about 8am this morning and a pair of Stonechats were visible from Pioneer Hide at Summer Leys LNR and an Otter was showing well too!

An adult Little Gull was on pools at the DIRFT 3 development site near Lilbourne this afternoon.

Back in September 2020 whilst on the Isles of Scilly I came across a Pink-footed Goose in a field which couldn't fly. It had been a particularly stormy night and the goose appeared battered and bruised. It tried to hide in a ditch but I simply walked over and picked it up. Eleanor and I checked the goose over and couldn't see any significant injuries so decided that with a little recuperation it could be released. I ringed the bird and after it had rested I picked up the goose and walked about half a mile up from where we were to a field where a couple of Pink-footed Goose had been frequenting. Not surprisingly I received a couple of strange glances from people I encountered! At the field the Pink-footed Geese were still present and on release the battered goose went and joined them.

We visited the field over the next couple of days and the now ringed bird was still reluctant/unable to fly. However from about day four it was taking short flights and by the time we left the islands it was flying freely with it's new acquaintances.

Last month I received notification from the British Trust of Ornithology that this goose had been recovered in Scotland. Sadly the bird had been shot on or about 17th October 2023 as part of wildfowling operations at Allanfearn, near Inverness on the Moray Firth. This was 1112 days later with the goose meeting it's fate 857km north from where it was ringed on the Isles of Scilly. Very few Pink-footed Geese are ringed in the UK but at least this bird lived and had an opportunity to breed for another three years after our stormy night encounter in 2020.

News from the Stanford Reservoir Ringing Group confirms that the committed ringing at the reservoir successfully ringed record numbers of some warblers on-site this year including 782 Reed Warblers, 919 Sedge Warblers, 369 Garden Warblers, a massive 4463 Blackcaps, 1241 Common Whitethroats, 215 Lesser Whitethroats and 861 Willow Warblers. It's a little unsettling as a birder when you realise how many birds move through bushes in the county mostly unobserved!

Regards

Neil M

Pink-footed Goose.

The short bird days of November

Hello

Sadly the Great Northern Diver from yesterday at Pitsford Reservoir wasn't seen today but two Red-breasted Mergansers were a good find. At dusk this evening a Red-necked Grebe produced itself north of the dam, keeping company with Great Crested Grebes but seemingly not visible despite plenty of scanning beforehand. It was regularly flapping its wings and looking fidgety so I hope it stays for tomorrow! Other birds included three Yellow-legged Gulls (two adults and a juvenile), a Grey Wagtail and a Redpoll.

Birds at Harrington Airfield today included a Woodcock with plenty of winter thrushes in the bushes and in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton there were about half a dozen Bramblings - some by the large barn near the brook and some at 'shrike hedge'. A pair of Stonechats were also at 'shrike hedge' this afternoon and a large juvenile female Peregrine was terrorising the Fieldfares.

John saw a female Merlin at Hinton Airfield today where there was also a Brambling, about fifty Golden Plovers and four Grey Partridges. His efforts at the gull roost at Boddington Reservoir yielded an adult Mediterranean Gull, three Caspian Gulls and at least four Yellow-legged Gulls.

Stanwick Pits was productive today with a Bittern, six Cattle Egrets and a fly-over Glossy Ibis with a/the Ring-necked Duck at Thrapston Pits being seen on Town lake this morning. Elsewhere and a Short-eared Owl was seen just south of Naseby village and a Grey Wagtail was in our Hanging Houghton garden.

Over two hundred Golden Plovers were at Summer Leys LNR this morning and birds logged at Hollowell Reservoir were an adult Caspian Gull, a Dunlin and six Stonechats. The Red-throated Diver remains at Eyebrook Reservoir plus two Cattle Egrets and a Pink-footed Goose.

Regards

Neil M

Kestrel.

Meadow Pipit.

Stonechat.

Above images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

The Pitsford Red-breasted Mergansers
today courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Stormy Thursday

Hello

Thankfully the storm to the south didn't have catastrophic consequences in Northamptonshire although there was rather more rain than I would have liked!

Two Bitterns at Stanwick Pits, seen in flight at the layby pit this morning, was an excellent record.

At Pitsford Reservoir a Great Northern Diver was located in The Narrows this afternoon and other birds north of the dam included an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Green Sandpiper, two Great White Egrets and four Stonechats. A Crossbill was briefly in Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay this morning and a Woodcock was flushed from there.

At Hollowell Reservoir there was a Dunlin and a Caspian Gull and birds at Upton Country Park included a Short-eared Owl, two Stonechats and a Barnacle Goose.

Regards

Neil M

Stonechats.

Barnacle Goose.

Short-eared Owl.

All images taken by Tony Stanford
at Upton Country Park today, a stoic effort!

Birds for 1st of the month

Hello

Yesterday (Tuesday) and some ringing on the Courteenhall Estate provided forty-five captures with perhaps a Grey Wagtail being the choice bird. Other birds included three Robins, nine Dunnocks, two Blackbirds, singles of Song Thrush and Redwing and Chiffchaff, two Goldcrests, fifteen Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, eight Blue Tits and a Reed Bunting.

Today (Wednesday) there were two Cattle Egrets and a long-staying Red-throated Diver at Eyebrook Reservoir and at Stanford Reservoir there was a first winter Caspian Gull this morning.

A Woodcock was at Harrington Airfield this afternoon plus a pair of Stonechats and several Bramblings. The female Merlin was again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon in vicinity of 'shrike hedge' plus a pair of Stonechats and with hundreds of Fieldfares on the move.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Wagtail.

Reed Bunting.

Images courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Shorties and Svalbard !!

After all the excitement of the Short Eared Owls on Sunday I couldn't resist going back to Harrington Airfield at first light yesterday. As I  approached bunker 2 a Short Eared Owl got up infront of me and flew towards bunker 3. Despite searching I never saw it again.   The only other birds of note were a pair of Stonechat and several Bramblings.                                                  Interestingly another Short Eared Owl was seen near Welford where it had come from nearby Husbands Bosworth Airfield which is just over the county border.

This morning I went back to Harrington Airfield and despite a good walk around I couldn't find any Owls.  What I did find was the bushes absolutely alive with Fieldfares and Redwings.  The noise was quite deafening with the hundreds of Fieldfares chattering away and the Redwings singing,  plus the occasional nasal twang of the Bramblings.                                                                                        Other birds around in the county include 6 Cattle Egrets and Bittern at Stanwick GP,  two Great White Egrets, Ruff, Redshank, seven Common Snipe and two hundred Golden Plovers at Summer Leys,  Marsh Harrier over Titchmarsh LNR and Caspian Gull at Hollowell Reservoir. 

Well that's another month over.  As tomorrow is the first Wednesday of the month the Northamptonshire Bird Club will be meeting at 7.30pm at the Lodge,  Pitsford Water.  Dave Thomas will be taking us on a trip around the "Wildlife and Scenery of Svalbard". Dave is an excellent photographer so we will be in for a treat as he shares photos and video clips of the birds, animals and scenery of this unique area.    Everyone is welcome to come along. 

Regards Eleanor 

Goldfinch.

Kestrel.

Shoveler.

All images courtesy of
Tony Stanford and taken
at Summer Leys LNR today.

Short Eared Owls

Today there seems to have been a movement of Short Eared Owls.  Firstly there was one reported near Falcutt. I have to confess that I have never heard of this place and had to look it up. It is a small hamlet in the south of the county near Helmdon.                                                                     It was always my intention to visit Harrington Airfield but it was mid morning by the time I got there. I spent a couple of hours there zig zagging about and slowly meandering through the bushes around the bunkers and it was here that I flushed 2 Short Eared Owls sitting together.  They then flew over me and headed towards bunker 3.  I  continued my wandering around and as I approached bunker 1 a Short Eared Owl got up and flew low towards bunker 2 where I again accidentally flushed it. I'm pretty certain that this was a third bird.                   Other birds seen on my visit were 4 Stonechats,  a Woodcock and 15 Golden Plovers.                                                                       One Short Eared Owl was seen by others late afternoon and also a Merlin. 

My first bird of the day was a Green Sandpiper near the flooded brook below Hanging Houghton.  I then headed off towards Blueberry and had a good look around the area. There was a Woodcock in one of the favourite hedgerows for this bird and a pair of Stonechat.  Plenty of winter thrushes around and several Bramblings going over.         This afternoon I was heading towards Blueberry from the Brampton Valley Way and came across a Short Eared Owl. By the time I got back home I had bumped into Barn, Little and Tawny Owl !!

Other birds reported today include Ruff, Golden Plovers and Egyptian Goose at Summer Leys,  6 Cattle Egrets and Bittern at Stanwick GP, Caspian Gull,  2 Dunlin and 2 Stonechats at Hollowell Reservoir and a flock of Golden Plovers at Hinton in the Hedges Airfield. 

Regards Eleanor 

Robin courtesy
of John Tilly.

Red-legged Partridge
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

GULLS!

Gulls!! a bit like "marmite", you either love them or hate them.  I  suspect that most of us don't look very closely at them and are just aware of their presence. Neil loves gulls and very diligently studies every detail whereas I give them a cursory look and only study them if they look obviously different. But I have to say that I love their character.  In the past I have taken in injured gulls and nursed them back to health. I remember a LBBG terrorising our old cat if he dared set foot into the kitchen where the Gull was patrolling as it recovered.  The look on the cats face was priceless.  On another occasion a BHG was sitting in front of the gas fire when there was a knock on the front door.  The poor delivery man couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the Gull and both simply stared at each other. I still smile about this scene even now. 

Anyway I digress, this is always an interesting time of year in the county to catch up with different gulls passing through.  Currently a Mediterranean Gull is coming into roost at Stanford Reservoir.   At  Boddington Reservoir there were 2 Caspian Gulls (adult and 1st winter) and 9 Yellow Legged Gulls today.  Recently a Caspian Gull has been seen regularly at both Hollowell Reservoir and Stanwick GP. 

There doesn't seem to be much bird news around for the past few days. The Ring-necked Duck remains at Titchmarsh LNR and Red Crested Pochards at Mary's Lake (Earls Barton) and Pitsford Reservoir.   There are still plenty of Stonechats around,  especially at Summer Leys,  Pitsford Reservoir,  Harrington Airfield and Blueberry to name but a few sites.             New birds reported today include a single Crossbill over Deenethorpe, a Ringtail Harrier over the rough area between Dallington and Harlestone Firs and a Woodcock at Blueberry. 

It is worth keeping an eye out for any Starling roosts where you can watch the spectacle of the "murmuration " as the birds gather.  There appears to be a reasonable murmuration over Sixfields and Titchmarsh. I'm afraid that one poor Starling met a grisly end today in our garden when the local Sparrowhawk paid us a visit. I was upstairs when I heard all the commotion and the terrible cries from the Starling. I ran down the stairs as fast as I could but it was in vain as the Sparrowhawk left the garden with the Starling .

Have a good weekend and don't forget that the clocks go back an hour. Somehow I don't think that the extra hour in bed will make any difference to the dogs !! It may be a little early but Waxwings have arrived in Scotland,  Yorkshire and Norfolk.  Fingers crossed that we get some of these gorgeous birds visiting our county. 

Regards Eleanor 

Common Gull.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Ring Ouzels and the elusive Hoopoe

It has been another couple of lovely Autumn days and luckily I have been able to get out and about.

Yesterday morning it was a toss up whether I went Harrington Airfield or Blueberry area first. Always a bit of a dilemma and this time Blueberry won. It was soon apparent that birds were on the move as the air was filled with the calls of Redwings and Fieldfares as they went over. Other birds heard were Bramblings, Siskins and Redpolls.

As I approached Blueberry I picked up a skein of small grey geese approaching and watched as 15 Pink Footed Geese went over my head calling and headed off eastwards. These were shortly followed by another three birds taking the same line. I had literally walked another few meters when 2 Ring Ouzels perched briefly in a nearby tree before flying off. It really was quite bizarre as all this happened within the space of half an hour!!

Before heading back for breakfast I went straight up to Harrington Airfield where I didn't really see anything of note. There were plenty of Redwings and Fieldfares in the bushes but very little else.

This morning I again started at Blueberry but it was extremely quiet. It was initially quite foggy this morning so I waited until it had lifted before heading to Harrington Airfield. Again plenty of Redwings and Fieldfares in the bushes and a noticeable influx of Blackbirds. Whilst sitting around at bunker 2 I heard the unmistakable chak call of a Ring Ouzel and eventually it gave itself up and showed quite well. Today I saw 2 pairs of Stonechat which I didn't see yesterday. Again Brambling, Siskins and Redpolls going over. Then it was back to shrike hedge area where I timed it to perfection as the female Merlin put in an appearance and headed off after the Skylarks towards Cottesbrooke.

A brief visit to Pitsford Reservoir produced a drake Red-crested Pochard and 2 Goldeneye. There is still a Hoopoe around. Yesterday it was seen briefly in Harlestone where it had been viewed over the weekend. Then in the afternoon there was reports of one in gardens a short distance away in Chapel Brampton village. Today the Hoopoe was again reported in gardens in Chapel Brampton. I decided to make the short journey over there and have a look in the area , as did several other birders. Between us we spent a couple of hours there hoping that the Hoopoe would break cover, but no luck. It was either sitting tight out of sight in the gardens or has moved on. I think that the best things I saw there were 2 Red Admirals and some strange looking fungi.

Other birds reported over the past couple of days include Arctic Tern, Rock Pipit, Egyptian Goose, Stonechats and Caspian Gull at Hollowell Reservoir, Goosander at Hardingstone GP, Cattle Egrets at Stanwick GP and the female/1st winter Ring Necked Duck at Titchmarsh LNR.

Regards Eleanor

Red Admiral.

Rock Pipit.

County bird ringing

Hello

A little more bird ringing in the county recently included Dave Francis monitoring some nets at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday and processing some fifty-seven birds made up of twenty Blue Tits, nine Great Tits, five Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, two Goldcrests, four Dunnocks, three Robins, a Wren, a Song Thrush, two Redwings, a Meadow Pipit, a Tree Sparrow, a Greenfinch, four Reed Buntings and a Sparrowhawk.

A small team trialed a new net rig at Greens Norton yesterday too and caught and processed thirteen Redwings. The rig permitted two nets to be used on poles with an opportunity to raise the top net to a much higher level.

A week-long Naturetrek tour to Islay and Jura has just concluded and a separate tab/page has been created on this blog with some images from the trip - Islay Jura October 2023.

Regards

Neil M

Hedgehog courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Redwing courtesy of Chris Payne.

Weekend News

 I have been out of county for most of the weekend at an agility competition with Jaeger and Rouzel.  It was their last competition of the season and they pulled out all the stops picking up six first places between them!!!.    However this meant that I have probably missed out on the rare and unusual visitor to the county, a Hoopoe,  which turned up in Harlestone village.  It would appear that it has been around for a couple of days before the news broke and showed well on and off yesterday but was only seen briefly today. 

Yesterday the remnants of the movement of Little Gulls were found along the Nene Valley at Summer Leys,  Stanwick GP and Thrapston GP.  The Bearded Tit showed well at Stanwick GP and seems to be a bit of a poser judging by the amazing photographs circulating. There was also a Common Tern and Marsh Harrier at Stanwick GP.    At nearby Summer Leys 3 Jack Snipe were reported plus Marsh Harrier,  Brambling and Ruff.                                           Over at Hollowell Reservoir there were 16 Dunlin, Yellow Legged and Caspian Gull.  Today a few new birds at Hollowell,  Common Tern,  4 Stonechats and 2 Goosander. Late this afternoon a Merlin was seen at Harrington Airfield sitting on one of the bunkers.  I very nearly went to Harrington myself on my way home but the amount of cars parked there put me off so I continued home for a cup of tea !!

Have a good week.                                                                             Regards Eleanor 

Little Egret.

Marsh Harrier.

Green Sandpiper and Ringed Plover.

All images from Summer Leys LNR
on 19th Oct courtesy of Tony Stanford.

The winning team -
Jaeger and Rouzel!

After the storm

 Well after watching the news I think that it is fair to say that Northamptonshire escaped the devastation caused by storm Babet. Yes it has been windy and very wet but that's about all. Birdwise it has remained fairly quiet.  On Wednesday the female Merlin was again at shrike hedge, Cattle Egret,  Brambling and Peregrine at Summer Leys,  Caspian Gull and Stonechats at Hollowell Reservoir and at nearby Ravensthorpe Reservoir a Pink Footed Goose.  This bird frequents both of these reservoirs.             However there was an interesting record of a Nightjar being picked up alive in the Corby area and being taken into care.

Yesterday a male Bearded Tit/Reedling was located near the main path at the eastern end of Stanwick GP.  I wonder whether this bird has been here since the spring and has managed to keep a low profile or whether this is his first visit?? Who knows,  just something to ponder about.                         Just down the road at Titchmarsh LNR the female/1st Winter Ring Necked Duck was showing well.    At Pitsford Reservoir a Goldeneye,  Red Crested Pochard,  Great White Egret and Stonechats were the main birds of note.

Today has thrown up more interesting birds which could be storm related.  I had a flock of 10 Pink Footed Geese heading west whilst I was out between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton. I just love their call which alerted me to their presence.    A Rock Pipit was found at Stanwick GP and there appeared to be a movement of Little Gulls which were recorded at Stanwick GP,  Summer Leys and Stanford Reservoir.                    There were several sightings of Marsh Harrier today at Summer Leys,  Stanford Reservoir and Titchmarsh LNR.             The long staying and very showy Bittern (except when I'm there) was again giving exceptional views at Summer Leys. 

Maybe today was just a taster of what might turn up over the weekend.  Fingers crossed.  It does seem that " interesting " birds turn up a few days after stormy weather.    We just need to get out and find them!!!  Have a good weekend and enjoy your birding..........it could be you who finds the next rarity. 

Regards Eleanor 

The calm before the storm!!

 Today has been a glorious Autumn day with blue skies,  warm sunshine, a gentle breeze and a crispness to the air. I thought that I'd better make the most of it before the predicted storm hits over the next couple of days.  Indoor jobs were put on hold and I've been out and about with my 4 legged companions.    

I started the day with a wander around the fields below Hanging Houghton and Blueberry.  It soon became apparent that birds were on the move, especially Fieldfares,  Redwings and Siskins.  There was a pair of Stonechat at Blueberry plus 2 Bramblings and 4 Redpolls.   Instead of heading home for  breakfast,  much to Tor's disgust,  I drove straight to Harrington Airfield which too was busy with birds moving over. There was a lot more Fieldfares and Song Thrushes about today and the bushes were full of Redwings. At the end of the second bunker I  flushed a lovely male Ring Ouzel which then flew towards the shooting wall.  It was whilst I was stood here listening and watching the birds going over that a female Merlin flew low across the fields chasing the many Skylarks.  Other birds of note were 2 pairs of Stonechat , 2 Bramblings and a single Golden Plover over.

This afternoon I enjoyed another meander around Blueberry etc. Quite a few Red Admiral butterflies enjoying the sunshine too.  The female Merlin again appeared around "shrike hedge " area chasing the passerines.  I'm sure that this is the same bird which has been seen several times in this area and was the same bird which was at Harrington this morning.  As a Merlin flies it is literally a few wing flaps/glides between Harrington Airfield and shrike hedge and currently plenty of potential food at both these sites.      There was also a pair of Stonechat here this afternoon which were likely to be the birds seen at Blueberry this morning as I couldn't find them at Blueberry this afternoon. 

Very little bird news from around the county.  Merlin,  Marsh Harrier and Great White Egrets at Stanford Reservoir,  Cattle Egret,  Marsh Harrier,  Stonechat and Brambling at Summer Leys,  Raven, Great White Egret and Yellow Legged Gull at Pitsford Reservoir,  Redpolls in the Welland Valley and flocks of Golden Plovers at Greens Norton and Oundle. 

Maybe Storm Babet will bring us a few new birds ?........watch this space!

Regards Eleanor 

Pitsford ringing

Hello

A ringing session took place in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today and yielded one hundred and fifty-one birds with Blue Tits and Great Tits dominating. However the first bird was a fine Tawny Owl and the last bird processed was a smart adult female Great Spotted Woodpecker. In between these birds there were three Marsh Tits, three Coal Tits, three Treecreepers, ten Goldcrests, two Blackcaps, five Redwings, two Song Thrushes, five Chaffinches, two Siskins and three Lesser Redpolls.

There were a large number of finches on the move today with Siskins, Redpolls and Bramblings moving through the site quickly.

At Summer Leys LNR the Bittern was on show again today plus two Marsh Harriers and the Cattle Egret with a Whooper Swan on Mary's Lake. A Goosander was at Clifford Hill Pits today, a flock of fifty Golden Plovers were seen near Greens Norton and Hollowell Reservoir hosted a third winter Caspian Gull, a Dunlin and two Stonechats. A Whooper Swan was at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Marsh Harrier, a Great White Egret, two Pintail and a Wheatear. Forty-three new birds were ringed on-site.

Two pairs of Stonechats and a couple of Bramblings were at Harrington Airfield, a female Merlin was in the Brampton Valley again near 'shrike hedge' below Hanging Houghton and Fieldfares were on the move in good numbers this afternoon.

The finch movement today ensured that our garden was visited by two Bramblings, two Lesser Redpolls and a dozen Siskins and also two Grey Wagtails visited the garden pond!

Regards

Neil M

Tawny Owl at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Brambling courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Siskin courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Cold start to a sunny Sunday

Hello 

Another cold start to the day and with a few more to come methinks!

Birding at Stanford Reservoir today provided excellent close views of one of the wing-tagged juvenile Marsh Harriers still present plus two Great White Egrets, two Pintail, two Common Snipe, two Bramblings, about thirty Redpolls and five Siskins.

A first winter Ring Ouzel was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell early this morning but probably didn't linger and was last seen flying off down a hedgerow. A few vocal Bramblings were there too.

Two Cattle Egrets were at North Lake, Stanwick Pits today and at Summer Leys LNR the Bittern was still on the scrape and showed well this afternoon. A Cattle Egret was still present there too and a Marsh Harrier was seen a couple of times.

Another (or the same) Marsh Harrier was seen over Viaduct Pit at Ditchford Pits later today and an adult Yellow-legged Gull touched down there briefly.

A Marsh Harrier was also at Harrington Airfield this afternoon and a pair of Stonechats were there this morning. A couple of Ravens were at Hanging Houghton today and although there were plenty of Skylarks in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton nothing else of note was reported.

Over at Hinton Airfield in the south of the county, John watched a female Merlin hunting Skylarks and at Pitsford Reservoir today three Whooper Swans flew over the causeway and there were three Great White Egrets, a Stonechat and the regular adult Yellow-legged Gull with the injured right foot all north of the causeway, plus a few Siskins. Two adult Caspian Gulls again graced the gull roost off the dam this afternoon where there were also two adult Yellow-legged Gulls.

Some ringing at Linford Lakes on the edge of Milton Keynes was definitely a quality affair with captures of a Barn Owl, a Kestrel, six Redwings, three Song Thrushes, two 'continental' Blackbirds, six Chiffchaffs, a Meadow Pipit, a Lesser Redpoll, four Blackcaps and two Goldcrests amongst the forty-two birds handled.

Regards

Neil M

Barn Owl.

Female Blackbird.

Kestrel.

Redwing.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.