Counting the birds

Hello

Today was the International Waterbird Census which coincided with the regular monthly WeBS count so this saw us driving east to complete a count at Ditchford Pits. The floods may have subsided but the valley fields are saturated still but it was possible to move around and complete the count, which at times was in pleasant sunshine again. A female Merlin west of Ditchford Lane was the best of the birds which also included a Great White Egret, a Goosander, a Pintail, four Common Snipe, two Water Rails, two pairs of Stonechats, an excellent dozen Cetti's Warblers, two or three Chiffchaffs, two Grey Wagtails, two Kingfishers, in excess of twenty-five Siskins and six Lesser Redpolls. The long-lived almost totally white Carrion Crow was again at Ditchford Lane.

Birds at Lilbourne Water Meadows this morning included a Peregrine, a Shelduck, a Great White Egret, three hundred and fifty Golden Plovers and over a hundred Lapwings in flight, a Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe.

A first winter drake Scaup was today at Hollowell Reservoir and presumably the same bird that was at Ravensthorpe yesterday and probably the December bird from Pitsford.

The Great Northern Diver was off the dam and the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir today, a 'redhead' Smew was at Clifford Hill Pits and local Waxwings included the four at Priors Hall, Corby, three in a garden at Stanion village, Corby and five at Rugby at Constable Road opposite Bonnington Close.

A Cattle Egret was seen in flight at Stanwick Pits where there was also two Ruff, six Redshanks and about fifteen Redpolls and the Nene Valley below Ecton provided a Green Sandpiper, four Chiffchaffs, Ring-necked Parakeets, three Stonechats and two Ravens. A Marsh Harrier was at Quarry Walk, Earls Barton Pits today.

A Short-eared Owl flying over the road near Whilton Locks this morning was a good record, with three hundred Golden Plovers also there in flight. A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was a late afternoon sighting at Harrington Airfield with the bird moving off towards the Brampton Valley and fifty plus Golden Plovers were seen in flight.

Regards

Neil M

The wonderful Brown Hare
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Birding in winter sunshine

Hello

A day of super winter sunshine and a light breeze was a rare treat indeed today.

Down at Linford Lakes an intrepid group of ringers braved the early morning temperatures to embark on a winter ringing session which was profitable with a total of eighty-nine birds being processed of eighteen species, forty-five of which were newly-ringed. Thrushes dominated the start of the session with ten Redwings, three Fieldfares, two Song Thrushes and two Blackbirds. Biggish birds included a new Green Woodpecker and a re-trap Great Spotted Woodpecker and the smallest birds were three Goldcrests and five Chiffchaffs plus four indomitable Wrens. A Siskin and a Lesser Redpoll added further quality and the rest of the birds were made up of Great Tits, Blue Tits, a Long-tailed Tit, a Cetti's Warbler, a Chaffinch, three Robins and a Reed Bunting.

Five drake Smew were still at Eyebrook Reservoir today and the four Waxwings remained at Priors Hall, Corby where they showed amazingly well in superb light. Two Stonechats and a Chiffchaff were there too.

The Great Northern Diver was seen by a string of observers north of the dam at Pitsford Reservoir today and was still present at dusk in the Pintail Bay. Other birds included a Grey Wagtail and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the afternoon gull roost and an Otter swam by the Bird Club hide in the Scaldwell Bay late this afternoon.

Two Short-eared Owls were south of Finedon near Neville's Lodge today and birds at nearby Stanwick Pits included the wintering male Marsh Harrier, six Redshanks, two Ruff, two Common Snipe and a Great White Egret.

The first winter Scaup was still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and an adult Caspian Gull was at Naseby Reservoir.; eight Shelduck and two Black Swans were at Deene Lake and eight Crossbills were again at Fineshade Wood near to the pond and wildlife hide.

The gull roost at Boddington Reservoir included a first winter Caspian Gull and two Mediterranean Gulls (adult and second winter). A Barn Owl, a pair of Stonechats and two Green Sandpipers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a male Blackcap visited our Hanging Houghton garden today.

A Barn Owl was a roadside sighting near Hellidon this morning, a Siskin was at Kelmarsh Hall and a Woodcock was flushed at New Covert, Kelmarsh.

Both Peacock and Brimstone butterflies were seen on the wing in the county today.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing, Fieldfare, Blackbird and Song Thrush.

Chaffinch.

Green Woodpecker.

Siskin.

Cetti's Warbler.

Images courtesy 
of Kenny Cramer.

A great mix of birds!

Hello

A ringing session took place at Stortons Pits today and captures included a Redpoll, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Chiffchaff.

An interesting large gull first seen in the gull roost at Stanford Reservoir yesterday evening was still present this morning before flying off and has been attributed the identification as a Kumlien's Gull, a type of Iceland Gull which may have some biological association with the poorly known Thayer's Gull. The gull wasn't seen in the roost this evening but a second winter Mediterranean Gull was picked out and a Short-eared Owl was hunting at dusk. Fourteen Goosanders were there too.

In the Brampton Valley today there was a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff below Brixworth and two Green Sandpipers and a pair of Stonechats below Hanging Houghton.

The Great Northern Diver popped up at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, in the short stretch of water between the dam and the Moulton Grange Bay. Presumably still the same bird from last month, this individual has done well to remain undetected for the first eleven days of the new year!

The four Waxwings were again at Priors Hall, Corby this morning and Stanwick Pits hosted an Otter, a male Marsh Harrier, three Ruff, two Dunlin and eight Redshank plus six Cattle Egrets at Roadside Lake this afternoon.

A first year male Scaup was found at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today, generally keeping to the east bank between the causeway car park and main reed-bed. A Short-eared Owl was seen this afternoon near Finedon in the vicinity of Neville's Lodge at about 3.30pm. Three Whooper Swans flew south over Harrington Airfield this afternoon and there was a covey of ten Grey Partridges there too.

Birds on a walk around Sywell Country Park this afternoon amounted to two pairs of Stonechats, a Water Rail, a Cetti's Warbler, two Grey Wagtails, twenty-five Lesser Redpolls and sixty Siskins.

Eyebrook Reservoir hosted five drake Smew and a Slavonian Grebe, generally viewed from the Stoke Dry car park.

Regards

Neil M

Robin.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Great Tit.

Reed Buntings.

Cormorant.

Images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Waxwings

Hello

I'm just back in from a Naturetrek tour to The Gambia and a page will be created soon with images from this stunning little country.

Being away so much during December and the first bit of 2024 means I hadn't seen any of the locally occurring Waxwings so after my feed station duties I headed to Corby today to see the long-staying group of four at Priors Hall. They were there when I arrived but sadly kept their distance in very dull conditions but their stunning plumage, cute personas and beautiful trilling call always means that any effort to see a Waxwing is more than worthwhile. I watched them consuming Rowan, Privet and Guelder Rose berries and tried to photograph the adult male in the group which tend to be brighter with more extensive yellow tails, more vivid and broader primary chevrons and bright red 'waxy' tips to the secondaries. Other birds there included a Chiffchaff and a Stonechat and a herd of Fallow Deer pretty much ignored everyone!

Other birds nearby included up to eight Smew (six drakes) at Eyebrook Reservoir and twelve Crossbills by the bird hide and pool at Fineshade Wood.

A male Blackcap was in a Woodford Halse garden this afternoon and two Ravens were at Kelmarsh. Two Green Sandpipers and a pair of Stonechats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Waxwings at Corby today.

Female Blackbird at Corby today.

Images of a Northern Waterthrush
found wintering in Essex earlier this
 month courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Winter Sunshine

 It really has been lovely to be out and about today enjoying the blue skies and sunshine even if it did feel a bit nippy.  Certainly a day for wearing plenty of layers. It has been the first day for a long while that I haven't had wet muddy dogs to wash down!!    The only birds of note for me were all seen on my morning walk.  There was a noticeable influx of passerines, Meadow Pipits and Yellowhammers in particular in the valley below Hanging Houghton .  It was here that a male Merlin whizzed through.  I had my suspicions of where the Green Sandpipers were likely to be and now that the water levels have receeded I was able check out the area.  I was not surprised to find the 2 Green Sandpipers on a small pool and they were still present late afternoon.    At Blueberry there were 2 Woodcocks and a large female Peregrine who was rather vocal. 

A scattering of Stonechats around,  a pair below Hanging Houghton,  Pitsford Reservoir,  Duston Mill and several birds at Summer Leys.    The 4 Waxwings remain at Corby,  still feeding on the berries and showing very well.  A group of 7 Whooper Swans were reported at Oundle,  2 Short Eared Owls at Nevilles Lodge, Merlin at Stanwick GP and over 100 Siskins at Bucknell Wood.                                               Yesterday there was a Siberian Chiffchaff and 6 Cattle Egrets at Stanwick GP, 3 Whooper Swans flying north over Titchmarsh LNR,  6 Goosanders at Hardingstone Lake, male and female Greater Scaup at Clifford Hill and pr Stonechat and 2 adult Caspian Gulls at Hollowell Reservoir. 

The weather forecast for the rest of the week looks good,  no rain, just winter sunshine and cold fresh air.  Hopefully this will give the saturated ground a chance to recover.  Already there are signs of Spring,  Great tits in full song, a female Blackbird has been found sitting on a nest, catkins and pussy willows breaking out and bulbs sending their green shoots skywards. 

Regards Eleanor 

Weekend Round Up

At long last we have had sunshine, a gentle breeze and no rain.  However the fields remain water logged and the Nene Valley flooded making access to many of the birding sites quite difficult.  But birders are hardy creatures and will always try and find a way to pursue their hobby and add to their year list !!  I have done very little birding over the weekend.  Yesterday I was out of county at an agility competition with the collies,  but the less said about that the better, they were "wild with excitement " and couldn't contain themselves.  Surfice to say they had a good time.       Today I visited Harrington Airfield and despite zig zagging around I couldn't find any birds of note and it was extremely quiet. 

Thankfully other folk have had more success than me, with quite a good variety of birds seen over the weekend.  The 4 Waxwings at Priors Hall Corby continue to show extremely well.  There were a group of 8 Waxwings at Oundle briefly.   Clifford Hill GP has produced Goosanders,  redhead Smew, male and female Greater Scaup,  Pintail and 4 Whooper Swans.  Marsh Harrier was reported from Summer Leys and Titchmarsh LNR,  Cattle Egrets at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows,  Red Crested Pochard on town lake Thrapston GP,4 Crossbills at Wakerley Wood car park and a Goosander on St James lake in Brackley.                      Over at Stanford Reservoir there were 3 Whooper Swans,  Pink Footed Goose,  Mediterranean and Caspian Gull.   There has obviously been a bit of a movement of wild swans, probably weather related.  Just over the county border Eyebrook Reservoir has 23 Whooper Swans and 2 Bewick Swans.  Maybe a few more will come our way.                          A couple of interesting birds reported,  a Black Redstart at Daventry Reservoir and a White Fronted Goose at Summer Leys although I don't know any other details. 

Have a good week 

Regards Eleanor 

Wonderful Waxwings!!

Potentially I had a very busy day planned but this all changed when I heard that the 4 Waxwings at Corby ( Park View, Priors Hall  NN17 5AX) were showing extremely well. After a quick lunch I literally threw the dogs in the car and off we went. I'm never too comfortable looking for birds in residential areas so was very relieved to find that the birds were not in gardens but in an area infront of the houses in a small gullet area of trees/bushes.  When I arrived there was quite a crowd gathered, a mixture of birders, photographers and local residents all looking intently at the group of 4 Waxwings perched up in a small bare tree. I didn't need binoculars as they were very close.   Well these birds really knew how to wow the crowd and they really performed to their audience!! They were preening and trilling whilst in the bare tree before flying the short distance onto the Rowan berries and were even closer to the gathering crowd.  No wonder there have been so many amazing pictures of these superstars appearing on the social media sites.   I  stayed much longer than planned because they were so mesmerising to watch.  It was interesting to watch them pick an individual berry  from the bush and sometimes toss it up and catch it before eating it or gently turn the picked berry into the right position before consuming it.  The birds were not at all concerned about the crowd or by the residents going about their daily business.     If you get the opportunity it is well worth the trip over, you will not be disappointed.  Whilst I was there I heard Water Rail calling from the small pools at the bottom of the gullet and Grey Wagtail over.

My initial plan was to drive on to Wakerley Wood and take the dogs for a long walk but because I spent so long with the Waxwings the light was already becoming dull so decided to drive back home and stop off at Harrington Airfield for a quick walk.   However my walk was very quiet and I was virtually back at my car when a Short Eared Owl got up in front of the collies and sat in a bush staring at me.  It really was a case of deja vue from yesterday.   I  then finished my day with a walk around the fields below Hanging Houghton. This was quite a productive end to the day,  female Merlin,  pair of Stonechat,  Barn Owl and 2 Green Sandpipers again!

Other birds around today include 5 Crossbills at Wakerley Wood in the car park, 3 Short-eared Owls at Nevilles Lodge,  Finedon,  Cattle Egrets,  Redshanks and Marsh Harrier at Stanwick GP and a group of 7 Goosander and a rehead Red Breasted Merganser reported at Rushden Lakes.

Regards Eleanor 

Goosanders, Shorties and Waxwings

It has been a strange couple of days with the weather being all over the place!! Yesterday we were rather unexpectedly battered by "storm Henk" which seemed to catch everyone out.  I was out and about and couldn't believe the amount of water running off the fields which made many roads around here impassable.  Whilst out I made a quick visit to Sywell CP,  where rather eerily I was the only person there. So a very peaceful walk round with the dogs although I was aware of the constant noise of the flood warning siren which was as relentless as the rain coming down.  It was quiet for birds, Cettis Warbler,  Stonechats,  Siskins and Redpolls being the highlights. 

3 Waxwings had been found in the morning at Weggs Farm Road in Duston. I decided to try for them mid afternoon when there was a break in the weather.  However I couldn't find them.  I drove around the area and noted quite a few potential trees with berries but sadly no birds.  I  don't think that they were seen after 2pm and no sign of them today. However a single Waxwing was seen briefly in  East Hunsbury and the 4 Waxwings at Priors Hall  Corby showed well.   These 4 birds have been showing exceptionally well today to the delight of the many photographers.  I have seen some amazing pictures/video clips on social media. 

I went to Harrington Airfield this afternoon to feed the birds and I wasn't very happy when it started raining again soon after I left the car. I  was muttering under my breath and my two collies were trotting along in front of me when a Short-eared Owl got up from the long grass. Well I  soon forgot that I was wet and cross and just enjoyed looking at this gorgeous bird. It performed so well and even sat in a bush and gave me a " hard stare" with it's liquid yellow eyes. I skirted around the bush and in doing so I flushed up another Shortie which flew towards bunker 1.  I  continued on my circuit and flushed another Owl which was likely to have been one of the earlier birds.        For some reason instead of going home I went to the shrike hedge area below Hanging Houghton and bizarre found another Short-eared Owl.  I'm wondering if these birds have become displaced due to the recent heavy rainfall and flooding. 

Today there have been a few sightings of Goosanders,  not big numbers as this seems to be a thing of the past.  I can remember the days of large numbers at Pitsford Reservoir but now we are lucky if a handful of birds turn up.  Now they seem to prefer much smaller bodies of water. There were single birds at Harlestone Lake, Hardingstone GP,  2 at Abington Park lake and 6 on the Ski lake at Rushden Lakes. I  used to work near Abington Park and this has been a regular wintering site for many years as has the Ski lake at Rushden. 

Other birds reported yesterday were 2 1st winter Mediterranean Gulls,  Caspian and Yellow Legged Gull in the roost at Stanford Reservoir and a Merlin over Wicksteed Park.  Today there were 20 Ring Necked Parakeets at Abington Park, Mediterranean Gull at Stanford Reservoir and at Hollowell Reservoir Caspian and Yellow Legged Gull,  Stonechats and Pink Footed Goose. 

Hopefully the weather is going to improve at the weekend when it should become drier, cooler and sunshine. Fingers crossed, 

Regards Eleanor 

First day of the New Year

Today was the first day of a brand new year, a new beginning and a fresh start.  At least it is if you are " year listing" and many would have been out and about today trying to tick off the few good remnants from last year.          It seemed as if the whole world was out and about too today with the car parks at Summer Leys and Pitsford Reservoir being totally full and it was very busy below Hanging Houghton and Harrington Airfield. 

I started off my day with an early morning run and ticked off Tawny Owl,  Raven and Siskin,  then it all went downhill from there. A visit to Harrington Airfield to feed the birds was quiet, although someone else saw a female Merlin,  and a walk around the Lamport Hall area was also quiet. 

However a few birds were reported today. There were 3 Short-eared Owls  at Nevilles Lodge, Finedon,  5 Cattle Egrets and 7 Redshanks at Stanwick GP,  Marsh Harrier and Cattle Egret at Summer Leys,  Egyptian Goose at the embankment Wellingborough,  2 Caspian Gulls and Chiffchaff at Hollowell Reservoir.        Goosanders were present at Stortons GP and Harlestone Lake and there were 4 Stonechats at Hollowell Reservoir and 5 at Sywell CP. 

There were more Waxwings found today. 4 birds at Priors Hall Park,  Corby. These birds were again feeding on Rowan berries.   There is a Facebook group called Waxwing sightings UK and I have been checking it regularly and this is where I saw some lovely pictures of these birds and also noted that 2 Waxwings had been discovered in a garden near Byfield yesterday and again some great pictures.  I think that we probably have quite a few Waxwings in the county but they are not necessarily being found by birders. It reminds me of a scenario from many years ago when one of my work colleagues mentioned that she had a funny orange bird visiting her garden.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I went round after work and a Waxwing was feeding happily in her garden!! These birds will just turn up where the food is and currently this seems to be Rowan berries, so well worth checking out any Rowan trees. We have one in our garden,  but sadly all the berries have already been devoured by the starlings and Thrushes. I have been putting out apples in an attempt to attract a  passing Waxwing,  but sadly to no avail. 

On a completely different note the first butterfly of the year was recorded, a Red Admiral flying around a garden in Great Oakley near Corby.!!!!.  David James has just completed the review of the 2023 butterfly season which I'm sure is going to be an interesting read.  https://www.northantsbutterflies.com/the-butterflies-in-northamptonshire-in-2023

Regards Eleanor 

Happy New Year!

Hello

The last day of 2023 with the rain and wind so typical of this December still with us.

Two Cattle Egrets were at Stanford Hall today with a Pintail at nearby Stanford Reservoir.

A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and there were as many as  twelve Smew at Eyebrook Reservoir today which included six drakes, surely the biggest number of this species anywhere in the UK currently.

A first winter Shag seemed to spend just minutes at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon before flying south and a Grey Wagtail was there too. Summer Leys LNR attracted a Cattle Egret, two Great White Egrets, one hundred and seven Pochard and a pair of Stonechats.

The recent Waxwings seen at Higham Ferrers and Brixworth were looked for today but not seen and an additional bird was found at Brackley (and photographed) on Boxing Day.

Much of the Brampton Valley was flooded today and birds below Hanging Houghton included two Green Sandpipers, twenty-five Golden Plovers, a Woodcock, nine Grey Partridges and a pair of Stonechats.

There are now eight Water Rails in the Nene Valley in Northamptonshire sporting colour rings with more planned for 2024.

News has reached us of a Blackcap that was ringed at Harrington Airfield on 2nd October 2023 and was then caught again by ringers in France operating at Plaisance, Saint-Froult, Charente-Maritime on 10th October 2023. This young female bird weighing just 18g travelled 723km in a southerly direction in just eight days.

Happy New Year and our thanks to the photographers and other contributors throughout the year.

Eleanor and Neil

A basic map depicting the southerly
direction taken by the Harrington Blackcap
which potentially may have come from
Scandanavia initially, courtesy of Nick Wood.

Reed Bunting courtesy 
of Tony Stanford.

Goosanders courtesy 
of Tony Stanford.

Waxwing at last!!

 Finally a Waxwing on the doorstep!!! After weeks of waiting a single Waxwing was located yesterday in Brixworth feeding in a small Rowan tree next to the Heritage Centre.   When the news broke I was half way to Blueberry so couldn't get there.   Therefore I was very relieved this morning when Wendy and Stuart put the news out that the bird was still there. Today was a day of errands so I literally threw everything into the car and headed off to Brixworth.  I  inadvertently parked right next to the Rowan tree and literally could have reached out of the window and touched it.  As it was just before 08.30 the light was really dull but the Waxwing showed very well and was content to feed on the berries. However the Blackbirds too were attracted to the berries and proved to be competition for the Waxwing.   On my way back from running my errands I checked the area again and the Waxwing was back in the Rowan tree before being disturbed and flying into the nearby trees where it perched up like a sentry on duty.   Looking on the local social media pages a few of the residents caught up with this bird too.       My only other birds of note were 2 Green Sandpipers again in the valley below Hanging Houghton.  I am seeing/hearing these birds regularly at dusk.  I wonder if they are wintering here ?

The 2 Waxwings were seen again yesterday at Higham Ferrers but I haven't seen any reports yet for today.  These birds obviously showed very well judging by all the stunning photographs of them.  Infact I was planning on heading over there today but changed my mind when the Brixworth bird was found.    The juvenile Great Northern Diver remains at Pitsford Reservoir,  a Mediterranean Gull in the roost at Stanford Reservoir,  Marsh Harrier and Cattle Egrets at Stanwick GP,  Caspian Gull at both Hollowell and Ravensthorpe Reservoirs and Pink Footed Goose at Hollowell Reservoir. 

Have a good weekend. 

Regards Eleanor 

Post Christmas Birding

Well that's Christmas over for another year and hope that it was an enjoyable time for everyone.  Now we are in that strange period of waiting for the New Year to arrive.  I always find this a frustrating period as so many people are still on holiday and it's always impossible to get anything done.                                                 So when all else fails,  there is always birding!!   Mind you this has been equally frustrating today due to the weather . Despite being out and about my only birds of note were 2 Green Sandpipers on the flooded fields below Hanging Houghton.   I don't know whether these birds are wintering in the area as this is about the third time that I have seen Green Sands in this area.      My birding was very limited on Christmas Day but I  managed to sneak out to Pitsford Reservoir yesterday where the Great Northern Diver and Scaup were near the dam and a pair of Stonechat and pair of Red Crested Pochard on the small side. I didn't stay long as it felt like the whole world was out at Pitsford,  it was heaving with people. 

A few birds were reported over the Christmas period.  The two Waxwings were showing well in Higham Ferrers and were still present today.  Yesterday at Nevilles Lodge there were 3 Short-eared Owls and 'ringtail' Hen Harrier,  and Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys.

Today in the Gull roost at Stanford Reservoir there were 2 adult Caspian Gulls and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.  The Great Northern Diver was still at Pitsford Reservoir and 2 Waxwings were seen in Northampton early morning. 

The weather forecast for the coming days is not very promising,  more rain and strong winds.  Not the most inspiring outlook,  but you just never know what you could bump into!!

Regards Eleanor 

Waxwings at Higham Ferrers
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Harriers and Waxwings

Today an early Christmas present for some when two long awaited Waxwings were found feeding on Rowan berries at Fitzwilliam Leys in Higham Ferrers. Looking at the many photos they showed well and it will be interesting to see if they hang around.  I'm hoping that it's the start of things to come as rather frustratingly they have been in all our neighbouring counties.  It would be good if they turned up in less residential areas as it is always a bit of a dilemma with pointing optics towards people's property.

There were two 'ringtail' Hen Harriers in the county today. Steve Fisher watched one fly north east over the main lake at Stanwick GP and this afternoon whilst walking the dogs I came across one battling the head wind below Hanging Houghton.   There was also a Marsh Harrier through Stanwick. 

We would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and hope that you enjoy the day however you spend it. 

Regards Eleanor and Neil 

Into the Woods !

 I found myself with a free day today so took the opportunity of heading to the north of the county and two of my favourite woods,  Fineshade and Wakerley.  Combined with being a weekend and close to Christmas I wasn't sure whether I would regret my decision.  However the woods and the roads were very quiet.    

I started at day break at Fineshade Wood with my three dogs and we went for a  two hour run zig zagging through the wood on the numerous if somewhat muddy trails. During time at Fineshade I only met two other people and they too were running with their dogs.  On my run round I could hear numerous small flocks of Siskins, 4 Redpolls,  Brambling and flushed a Woodcock. There was a small flock of Crossbills in Westhay Wood. Following my run I  treated myself to breakfast from the cafe which was delicious and I highly recommend the coffee and homemade cakes. A quick walk around top Lodge area produced 2 further Crossbills,  Brambling and 2 Ravens. 

Suitably refuelled I drove the short distance to Wakerley Wood where there were about 15 Crossbills calling and flying around the car park.  I spent the next couple of hours wandering around Wakerley Wood, again zig zagging around on the numerous trails. The only other person I met was a rather bemused cyclist sitting in the middle of nowhere eating his sandwiches which he shared with my dogs !!  For most of my walk I didn't see or hear anything and it was eerily quiet.  Then suddenly I could hear quite a large group of Crossbills coming towards me and I watched them carry on through the Wood. I was over towards Spanhoe Airfield when I saw these.  Later on I actually came across 8 Crossbills feeding in some Larch trees plus at least 4 Brambling feeding underneath a small stand of Beech trees. 

Blatherwycke Lake was next on my agenda and I struggled to find any Mandarin Ducks in their usual area but the water level was very high so wondered if this was the cause of their absence.  All I could find were 2 Egyptian Geese.  I walked to the church as the area around the church can sometimes be very productive.  There were no passerines of note but looking down on the lake which was quite sheltered below the church there were 3 more Egyptian Geese and a Black Swan.  It was from this viewpoint that I saw an Otter which headed towards the village.                       A quick stop at Deene Lake produced a pair of Stonechat,  7 Shelduck and another Black Swan.  

All in all a very enjoyable day out even if the Crossbills were at times frustrating due to them being so mobile.  It was just so good to be able to get out and about before the constraints of the coming festivities take hold.

Very few birds reported today.  The Ringtail Hen Harrier was again at Nevilles Lodge, a Cattle Egret at Wicksteed Water Meadows and the Greater Scaup at Pitsford Reservoir.  A possible Glaucous Gull was seen at Pitsford so worth checking out any large gulls at Pitsford and beyond. 

Regards Eleanor 

Strong winds, colourful clouds and a Bittern!

Hello

The tail-end of yesterday's storm made today windy again but still very mild for the time of the year. With the shortest day now over we can begin to see a little more daylight from each day onwards!

A Bittern away from the Nene Valley in Northamptonshire is rare indeed and Ian's find of one at Fawsley Park today is definitely bird of the day! It was seen in flight and heard calling but not seen subsequently (there is plenty of reed/sedge cover for this bird to hide away).

Other birds were a bit few and far between today but Stanford Reservoir recorded an adult Caspian Gull and about one hundred and thirty Great Black-backed Gulls in the roost, two Pintail, a Goosander, a Great White Egret and a Chiffchaff.

Another Chiffchaff was along the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and Scotland Wood hosted a Raven and a couple of Siskins with at least a dozen Siskins at nearby Kelmarsh Hall. Another Raven was near Boughton and there were at least twenty Ring-necked Parakeets at Abington Park, Northampton this morning. Five Goosanders were at Stortons Pits today.

A small Starling murmuration and a pair of Goosanders were on offer at Summer Leys LNR with two Great White Egrets on nearby Mary's Lake. The Cattle Egret remained at Wicksteed Park Water Meadows LNR this morning.

Colourful high level Nacreous clouds seem to have been a feature up and down the country the last few days including locally.

Details have now come through of a colour-ringed Black-headed Gull seen at Pitsford Reservoir on 17th December 2023 (yellow ring with black inscription T2YX):-

This bird was first ringed at Gdansk-Jelitkowo, Zbiornik Jelitkowska, Pomorskie, Poland as a second calendar year bird on 8th March 2018. The distance between the two sites is 1308km with 2110 days elapsing between the two records.

Other sightings of this bird are of it 10km away from the ringing site just two days later on 10th March 2018, again in Poland on 9th July 2019 when it was 250km from where originally ringed and then two UK sightings of it at Grimsbury Reservoir, near Banbury, Oxfordshire on 4th July 2020 and at Pitsford Reservoir on 3rd December 2020. This six year old bird clearly winters in the English midlands but returns to breed in Poland.

Regards

Neil M

Goosander at Stortons
Pits today courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Common Gull and Black-headed 
Gull courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Muntjac at Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Grey Heron courtesy
of John Tilly.

Carrion Crow courtesy
of John Tilly.

Curlew courtesy of
John Tilly.

Birds of a very windy day!

Hello

Certainly a very windy day but mild and only a splattering of showers.

The Great Northern Diver and Scaup were still in situ at the dam end of Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, the diver favouring the Pintail Bay and the Scaup between Moulton Grange Bay and the dam. Four Goosanders and a roost of ninety-seven Great Black-backed Gulls were the pick of the birds at Stanford Reservoir.

An afternoon foray looking for Otters at Market Harborough failed to locate them but a Peregrine on St Dionysius church was relatively low down and showing well and a Little Egret on the River Welland was not at all shy. A Grey Wagtail was noted too.

A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was again visible at Neville's Lodge south of Finedon again this afternoon despite no doubt very windy conditions at this very open site. The Cattle Egret was again on show at Wicksteed Park Water Meadows LNR today.

Regards

Neil M

Distant images of the Hen Harrier
near Neville's Lodge on Monday
indicate that this individual was
a juvenile female. This individual
is a large, broad-winged bird with 
blackish under secondaries, pale tipped
coverts, a well-marked facial 'mask',
a pale-tipped tail and generously streaked
straw-coloured breast. On this occasion
she had clearly recently eaten as there
is a big bulge in her crop. There is more
than one bird at this site but this is the
bird that appears to be most regularly seen.
I'm sorry about the distant and cropped
images but if you click on them hopefully
you can see the salient features!

Little Egret at Market
Harborough today. Urban
birds used to seeing plenty
of people are probably the 
easiest to photograph!

Crossbills and harriers

Hello

The open field area between Finedon and Irthlingborough off the A6 and incorporating Neville's Lodge has been attracting some attention recently and today a Hen Harrier, a Short-eared Owl and a male Merlin were seen. Access to this area is by farm tracks and footpaths but it is imperative that visitors keep to these areas and do not wander across fields or stray from the obvious through routes and cause undue disturbance.

A mobile flock of Crossbills in excess of twelve birds remain at Wakerley Woods - the larches around the main car park is the traditional site for these birds but this winter they seem to be wandering to other parts of the complex and are likely to be the same birds sometimes seen at Fineshade Wood the other side of the A43 where they like the mature trees to the north-east of Top Lodge. Maps of both these sites can be found on the Birdwatching Sites tab of this blog.

There were two Crossbills and fifteen Siskins attracted to woodland including larches at Lamport Hall early this afternoon. Two Ravens were there too.

The Cattle Egret remained a fixture at Wicksteed Park Water Meadows LNR again today and a Marsh Harrier was seen over the north section of the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today.

An adult Caspian Gull was at the Rushton Recycling Centre (formerly a landfill site) today.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Harrier courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Crossbill.

Merlin.

Short-eared Owl courtesy
of Robin Gossage.