A travel-lust Blue Tit

Hello

As is often the case it would seem that Northamptonshire was treated lightly from the storm last night but we are not out of the woods yet with another storm arriving tomorrow!

Reports of birds were rather light today but Eyebrook Reservoir still held onto seven Smew which included five drakes.

The four Waxwings were still on show at Priors Hall Corby today but the two birds at Lambrook Drive, East Hunsbury were not seen with the majority of berries now consumed.

The Great Northern Diver was located in the Catwalk Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today, the best place for it with all these south-westerly storms and boat craft activity over the weekend.

A Raven was between Pitsford Reservoir and Brixworth and two were at Hanging Houghton. A pair of Grey Partridges were noted at Harrington Airfield and Summer Leys LNR hosted three Goosanders and a Common Sandpiper. A Barnacle Goose and a pair of Stonechats were at Upton Country Park today and four Goosanders were at Stortons Pits.

The first winter Scaup and a Pink-footed Goose were at Hollowell Reservoir early this afternoon and a first winter Caspian Gull was in the gull roost at Stanford Reservoir where there were also four Pintail and fifteen Goosanders.

Details of an interesting Blue Tit recovery have come through which relates to a nestling being ringed at Rabbithill Spinney on the Kelmarsh Estate on 23rd May 2022. This bird was caught and processed by a ringer on 12th January 2024 142 km away at Lone Lane, Penalt, Monmouthshire. Long distance movements of Blue Tits are scarce but occasionally we receive such reports of individuals which clearly are stimulated to travel long distances and probably establish a territory in a completely different region of the UK.

Regards

Neil M

Cormorant.

Stonechats.

Goosanders.

Above images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

A basic map illustrating
the movement of the Blue
Tit from the Kelmarsh Estate
to Monmouthshire, Wales
courtesy of Nick Wood.

Storm Isha is here!

Hello

Higher temperatures and strengthening winds quickly caused most of the ice at Pitsford Reservoir to disappear today but the only birds of note north of the causeway were a Dunlin and a Grey Wagtail.

At least three Chiffchaffs and a Grey Wagtail were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning and a female Blackcap was in our Hanging Houghton garden helping herself to skewered half apples. Three Ravens were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon.

Six Grey Partridges and two Woodcocks were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and Summer Leys LNR attracted two Cattle Egrets and two different Marsh Harriers today. Possibly a different Marsh Harrier was near Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR this afternoon.

Local Waxwings included the two showing much more intermittently at Lambrook Drive, East Hunsbury, Northampton and the four currently very reliable birds at Priors Hall, Corby.

A curious looking duck at Sywell Country Park was identified as a drake Pochard x Red-crested Pochard hybrid and a Stonechat was seen there too.

Just two Smew were reported at Eyebrook Reservoir today and a first winter Caspian Gull was there too. A colour-ringed Caspian Gull was seen at Naseby Reservoir this morning.

Birds at Hollowell Reservoir included a Pink-footed Goose, an adult Caspian Gull, a Great White Egret, five Common Snipe and a Stonechat. Stanford Reservoir attracted two Great White Egrets, three Little Egrets, twenty Goosanders, four hundred and forty-five Herring Gulls, one thousand four hundred and ten Black-headed Gulls, six hundred and ninety-five Common Gulls, sixty-five Lesser Black-backed Gulls and twenty-one Great Black-backed Gulls.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard
with prey.

Grey Wagtail.

Blue Tit.

Dunnock.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

From ice to gusts

Hello

Well here in middle England the grip of the cold weather finally broke today and now we await strong winds and gusts tomorrow. However the ground was still hard and crunchy this morning as I padded around the Kelmarsh Estate, fixing nest boxes, feeding birds and litter picking. Most of the estate woodlands support Marsh Tits and Nuthatches as well as Treecreepers, and Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. It was good to hear a few Goldcrests on my wanderings so at least some have made it through the cruel, cold period. These days sadly there are relatively few piping calls from Bullfinches, a far cry from ten years ago when they could be classed as common on the estate.

I flushed a Woodcock again at New Covert and heard singletons of Siskin and Raven at Scotland Wood.

A Waxwing was at Highslade, off The Ashway at Brixworth early morning but seemingly not subsequently, and may be the same individual touring around the village since the Christmas period. A few Rowan berries are still present at the junction of Highslade and The Ashway but it's likely that this individual has another berry crop nearby to satisfy itself with. The two Waxwings at Lambrook Drive, East Hunsbury were also there early morning so it seems that early morning is the best time to see these nomadic foragers! The four Waxwings at Priors Hall, Corby again performed very well today.

News has come through of an Otter having been found caught in a snare near Great Bowden, presumably one of the Market Harborough animals, and the injured animal has been taken into care.

Two Ravens were attracted to carrion at Pitsford Reservoir, two Peregrines were seen over Summer Leys LNR and four Redpolls graced a Grange Park, Northampton garden.

The ice at Stanford Reservoir didn't put off two Caspian Gulls visiting there today (an adult and a first winter) and there was also a Great White Egret and twenty-one Goosanders present. Ten Smew (seven drakes) were present at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Hollowell Reservoir hosted a first winter drake Scaup still plus the Ruddy Shelduck and a large flock of mixed finches near to the A43 crossroads between Wakerley and Fineshade and opposite the turning for Wakerley Wood included ten Bramblings and a leucistic Linnet. Several Crossbills were again photographed at Fineshade Wood today.

In the Nene Valley there were two Green Sandpipers, two Kingfishers and ten Chiffchaffs at Ecton Sewage Farm and in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton there was a single Green Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail with a male Merlin, a pair of Stonechats and a flushed Jack Snipe further up the track towards Cottesbrooke in the vicinity of 'shrike hedge'.

Regards

Neil M

Carrion Crow courtesy
of John Tilly.

Green Sandpiper courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Woodcock.

Birds of ice and winter sunshine

Hello

Another cold but gloriously sunny day again today!

A bird feed at Harrington Airfield this morning provided an opportunity for a quick walk around and a Woodcock was flushed and two pairs of Grey Partridges were noted.

Some more efforts at colour-ringing Water Rails in the Nene Valley today saw five Water Rails being trapped and processed, four of which were fitted with colour rings.

The female Ring-necked Duck wasn't seen at Stanwick Pits today but may have still been present in one of the ice holes with the waterfowl well packed in! A  Dunlin was present plus five Redpolls and twenty Siskins. A Stonechat was at Earls Barton Quarry Walk today.

Two Cattle Egrets were at Townholme Meadows on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve this morning.

An ice-locked Stanford Reservoir provided sightings of a colour-ringed Caspian Gull, a Cackling Goose of unknown origin, a Great White Egret, seventeen Goosanders and a Chiffchaff. At Eyebrook Reservoir there were eleven Smew today which included eight drakes, mostly south of the island.

Waxwings today included two birds at Lambrook Drive, East Hunsbury, Northampton with two (possibly the same) off Granary Road, East Hunsbury later on. A single Waxwing was in Brixworth village feeding on Rowan berries in Highslade and later in trees on The Ashway this afternoon.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Great Northern Diver was north of the dam and two Bramblings and a pair of Stonechats were around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station. Birds at Hollowell Reservoir included the first winter drake Scaup, the Pink-footed Goose, three Stonechats and a count of four hundred and twenty-six Wigeon.

Other birds reported included a male Blackcap feeding in a garden at East Hunsbury on fatballs and three Goosanders at Abington Park, Northampton.

Regards

Neil M

Caspian Gull.

Grey Heron.

Tawny Owl with a frog.

Birds of ice and frost

Hello

Bright sunshine all day would have hopefully warmed up those little birds!

I spent the day checking owl boxes and removing any unnecessary detritus and also spinning around six different feeding stations to try and keep the birds well fed! One of the owl boxes looks like it's a victim of the high winds earlier in the month and will have to be erected again at the week-end in preparation for the Tawny Owl breeding period which begins this month.

Yesterday's female Ring-necked Duck was still at Stanwick Pits today, keeping a presence on the main lake despite much of it being iced up.

The north side of Pitsford Reservoir was similarly iced over with ice holes attracting large numbers of common wildfowl with Wigeon dominating. Common Snipes, a Stonechat and a Chiffchaff persevered in the margins despite the challenging conditions. A Fox was sun-bathing in a nearby field!

Ravens were noted at Scotland Wood and New Covert on the Kelmarsh Estate and Scaldwell village today and a Barn Owl was at Hanging Houghton hunting just below the village this morning. At dusk two Woodcock flew over Mill Road between Scaldwell and Hanging Houghton villages.

Some Crossbills were still present at Fineshade Wood next to the hide and pool and the four Waxwings remained at Priors Hall, Corby. The two Waxwings were at Lambrook Drive, East Hunsbury, Northampton during some of the morning but couldn't be found later on. Two Stonechats were at Sixfields, Northampton.

Also today Stanford Reservoir hosted an adult Caspian Gull, ten Goosanders and two Chiffchaffs.

Regards

Neil M

A frozen Pitsford Reservoir today.

Common Buzzard.

Grey Wagtail.

Bullfinch.

Above three images
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Birding in the freezer

Hello

A particularly cold day and a night with temperatures set to plummet to -6C tonight makes it the most difficult period for small birds during the winter so far. Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits are feeding at low levels and close to the ground in an effort to find sufficient food and sadly some won't find sufficient food to make it through the night. If they can hang on there is hope with milder conditions this week-end when insects and similar fare should be available for them.

A female Ring-necked Duck at Stanwick Pits was today's best find, a species we have been fortunate to see quite a bit of in the county during the last few years. Other birds on-site included a Cattle Egret, a Ruff and sixteen Redpolls. At Earls Barton Pits there was a Peregrine, a Green Sandpiper and a Stonechat at Quarry Walk with birds on the Summer Leys LNR including a couple of Siskins, a Great White Egret, two Common Snipe and three Dunlin.

In the Brampton Valley there were still two Green Sandpipers and a pair of Stonechats below Hanging Houghton and below Brixworth this afternoon the valley attracted a hunting male Merlin, a Grey Wagtail, a Chiffchaff and a pair of Stonechats. A male Blackcap visited our Hanging Houghton garden again today amongst the throng of hungry birds and was watched feeding on particles of Sunflower Hearts.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Great Northern Diver was seen between the Pintail Bay and The Narrows and later in the area of Catwalk Bay. Other birds included a Stonechat, a Chiffchaff, two Ravens, two Whooper Swans flying south over the dam and three Yellow-legged Gulls in the afternoon roost. Two Bramblings and over fifty Chaffinches were at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding station where a ringing session provided fifty-two captures including a Chiffchaff, three Fieldfares, two Linnets, a Goldfinch, four Greenfinches and two Reed Buntings.

A first winter drake Scaup was at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this morning but by lunchtime possibly the same bird was at Hollowell Reservoir together with the long-staying Pink-footed Goose, the even longer-staying female Ruddy Shelduck, a Jack Snipe, six Common Snipe and three Stonechats.

The local Waxwings again included the four still at Priors Hall, Corby and now two at Lambrook Drive, East Hunsbury, Northampton.

At Stanford Reservoir the second winter Mediterranean Gull turned up again and other birds included twenty-one Goosanders, a Great White Egret and a Cetti's Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Female Siskin.

Long-tailed Tit.

Reed Bunting.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Hawfinch, Crossbills and Mealy Redpoll.

Hello

Eleanor spent much of the day in the north of the county, beginning with a run around Fineshade Wood followed by some more sedate birding in the prime areas of this excellent block of woodland. A Hawfinch feeding on the ground under the trees in the Caravan Club grounds was probably the best bird of the day and a blast from the past when this species used to regularly visit these trees.

Six Crossbills were showing well by the hide and pond as they grabbed cones and brought them to other trees to break them open. At least another ten Crossbills were in the Westhay Wood section of this site and small numbers elsewhere including singing birds. Other finches included over fifty Siskins and six Redpolls.

At Wakerley Wood there were sixteen Crossbills at the car park and another twenty-five were in woodland next to Spanhoe/Harringworth Airfield. Other finches included two Bramblings, four Redpolls and about fifty Siskins.

Blatherwycke Lake hosted a Pink-footed Goose, fourteen Egyptian Geese, six Mandarin Ducks, two Black Swans, three Little Egrets, a Water Rail and a Green Sandpiper with nearby Deene Lake attracting twelve Shelducks, a Black Swan and a pair of Stonechats.

Waxwings today were still in situ at Priors Hall, Corby (four Birds), Lambrook Drive, East Hunsbury, Northampton (single bird) and Constable Road, Rugby (four birds). A Stonechat was also at Priors Hall.

Yesterday (Monday) and a flock of approximately one hundred and fifty Chaffinches at the Old Walgrave Road near Pitsford Reservoir contained at least one Brambling.

On the 11th January a male Mealy Redpoll was photographed at Stortons Pits whilst in company with thirteen Lesser Redpolls. The bird was on the north side of the complex in birches.

A Great White Egret and small flocks of Siskins were at Daventry Country Park today, two Ravens were at Harrington Airfield and a Woodcock was at New Covert, Kelmarsh with five Roe Deer between Sunderland Wood and Rabbit Hill Spinney on the estate this morning.

Efforts at finding the Great Northern Diver at Pitsford Reservoir failed to locate this elusive bird today. A 'redhead' Smew and a Great White Egret were at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a second winter Mediterranean Gull, a Shelduck, seventeen Goosanders, thirty-five Great Black-backed Gulls and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

Female Stonechat on ice.

Common Buzzard.

Roe Deer.

Mealy Redpoll courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Today was the turn of Pitsford Reservoir to be counted as part of the WeBS process and birds included the Great Northern Diver, three Little Egrets, at least fifty-one Common Snipe, a Jack Snipe, two Ravens, two pairs of Stonechats, two Grey Wagtails, three Chiffchaffs, about forty-five Siskins and fourteen Redpolls.

The 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was seen at Harrington Airfield today and a remarkable collection of ten Smew (seven drakes) were at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Waxwings today were four at Bonnington Close, Rugby, four at Priors Hall, Corby and a single bird at Lambrook Drive, East Hunsbury, Northampton.

A 'redhead' Smew and three Goosanders were at Clifford Hill Pits and a first winter drake Scaup was at Ravensthorpe Reservoir with a Whooper Swan first thing only.  At Hollowell Reservoir there was a Pink-footed Goose, a Jack Snipe, six Common Snipe, an adult Caspian Gull, two Stonechats and three Siskins.

At Daventry Country Park a Mealy Redpoll was reported within a flock of about ten Lesser Redpolls and five Goosanders were there too. Four Stonechats were at Upton Country Park and a Raven was in Hanging Houghton village.

At Stanford Reservoir today birds included a Great White Egret, a second winter Mediterranean Gull in the afternoon roost, eleven Goosanders, a Raven and two Chiffchaffs.

Regards

Neil M

Stonechats at Upton
Country Park courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

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