Pitsford Reservoir CBC

Hello

It was another day at Pitsford Reservoir today, this time completing a Common Bird Census which didn't reveal anything much out of the ordinary. The Song Thrushes and Garden Warblers were the dominant songsters but they had to work hard to be heard above the clamour of the many Wrens and Robins on-site!

An Osprey was my third sighting in a week there, the blue colour ring indicating that it is a Rutland project bird. An Egyptian Goose flying over was unanticipated, we normally experience one visit per annum at this site. A calling Cuckoo is probably a lingering individual from last month.

The cool, grey and breezy conditions ensured that insects were at a minimum with only two individual butterflies seen all morning! Odonata were also scarce but sightings included a Black-tailed Skimmer, Four Spotted Chasers, a Beautiful Demoiselle and plenty of sheltering Large Red-eyed Damselflies.

A visit to Harrington Airfield this afternoon didn't reveal any birds of note but there is a great showing of Common Spotted Orchids and rather fewer Bee Orchids. A field of sown Common Flax is in flower with their superb blue colour visible from a distance and Mullein Moth caterpillars were eating their way through the plentiful Mullein plants on-site.

A Curlew passed through Summer Leys LNR this morning and a Hobby and a Barn Owl were at Lamport Hall this evening. The Wood Warbler remains at Harry's Park Wood and several Black Hairstreaks persisted at Glapthorn Cow Pastures.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Pink-footed Goose, an Egyptian Goose, three Oystercatchers and three Cuckoos.

Regards

Neil M

Egyptian Goose at Pitsford
Reservoir this morning.

Osprey at Pitsford Reservoir
this morning.

Common Spotted Orchid
at Harrington Airfield.

Mullein Moth caterpillar
at Harrington Airfield.

Bee Orchids at
Harrington Airfield.

A quiet Saturday in June

Hello

Birds at Lilbourne Water Meadows today included a singing Dunlin, a Common Snipe, two Redshank, four Oystercatchers and three Little Ringed Plovers.

A Dunlin was also at Summer Leys LNR today and the Harry's Park Wood Wood Warbler was still present too. An Osprey was seen at Pitsford Reservoir again today and a Garganey was still at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Black Hairstreak butterflies were again on show at Glapthorn Cow Pastures this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Dunnock 
courtesy of Martin Lovatt.

Muntjac courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Four-spotted Chaser.

Osprey.

Common Buzzard.

Pitsford Day Tour

Hello

Pitsford Reservoir was the venue for a Naturetrek Day Tour today and we were treated with some great sunshine during the first half of the walk. However if failed to bring forth butterflies and only Speckled Wood were in decent numbers. Odonata included a Hairy Hawker, a Blue Emperor, Broad-bodied Chasers, Four Spotted Chasers, both Banded and Beautiful Demoiselles and plenty of common damselfly species. Moths from the reserve moth traps included the superb Bufftip and both Pine and Elephant Hawk-moths. Hornets and Great Pied Hoverflies were in good numbers.

The birds were mostly hidden but Garden Warblers were singing well and other highlights included a singing Cuckoo, Ravens, a Hobby and an Osprey which flew over the Scaldwell Bay in the afternoon.

Elsewhere and the Wood Warbler continued to sing and show well at Harry's Park Wood and plenty of Black Hairstreak butterflies were again on show at Glapthorn Cow Pastures.

Some ringing at Stortons Pits this morning yielded ten species of birds which included a Garden Warbler, six Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, two Common Whitethroats, three Blackcaps and a Cetti's Warbler.

Two Little Terns were at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning, a Cattle Egret was in a cattle field between Ecton and Earls Barton early this afternoon and sightings at Stanford Reservoir yesterday included a female Mandarin Duck, two Oystercatchers and two Cuckoos.

Regards

Neil M

Wood Warbler
Harry's Park Wood.

Common Blue butterfly.

Black Hairstreak.

Above images courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Jaeger's competitive
streak in agility today
 landed him more prizes
and entry to a higher
 grading/ league.

Nesting time!

Hello

Now is a busy time for breeding birds with early nesters already on their second efforts! It's a busy time for ringers too, particularly if managing a nest box scheme. A proportion of the nest boxes at Pitsford Reservoir have been visited and the majority of the occupants of the small boxes have been Blue Tits and Great Tits, the majority of which have now fledged. Yesterday efforts were made to ring some of the Black-headed Gull chicks on the rafts at Pitsford Reservoir - forty four were ringed but there were plenty more than that on the rafts. Today several Barn Owl boxes were visited and one of them contained a female Barn Owl on eggs - anecdotally the Barn Owls seem to be breeding early and well this year.

Yesterday (Wednesday) and a Short-eared Owl was hunting fields between Blueberry Farm at Maidwell and the Brampton Valley towards Hanging Houghton. It seems that 2024 has been a productive vole year locally which is presumably why we still have a few lingering Short-eared Owls which should really be elsewhere by now settling down to breed. Yesterday and today (Thursday) saw the singing Wood Warbler still hanging on at Harry's Park Wood and yesterday there were still a pair of Garganey at Eyebrook Reservoir.

At Stanford Reservoir yesterday there was a Pink-footed Goose, two Cuckoos, two Oystercatchers and a Spotted Flycatcher and today there were still two Oystercatchers and two Cuckoos present.

Plenty of Black Hairstreak butterflies were on the wing at Glapthorn Cow Pastures today.

On a perfect evening for hunting there were two Barn Owls at Scaldwell and two in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Blue Tit nestlings
courtesy of Lewis Aaron.

Great Tit nestlings courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Red Kite courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Pheasant courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Jackdaw courtesy
 of John Tilly.

Lapwing courtesy
of John Tilly.

Avocets and spring lingerers

Hello

A calling fly-over Whimbrel at Hanging Houghton at 5.30am was my best bird of the day!

Checking Tree Sparrow boxes today and yesterday suggests there are still a few pairs breeding in and around Pitsford Reservoir with the first broods already fledged. Worryingly they seem to be absent from anywhere else nearby.

Two Avocets at Summer Leys LNR was a good find there today and a Ruff was present too.

The singing Wood Warbler was again reported from Harry's Park Wood today and the drake Garganey was still at Lilbourne Water Meadows with the pair at Eyebrook Reservoir too.

Despite the wet weather this evening a Short-eared Owl was still seen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Avocets at Summer Leys LNR
 courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Common Whitethroat
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Reed Bunting courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Jay courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Scorpion Fly sp
courtesy of John Tilly.

Red-headed Cardinal
courtesy of John Tilly.

Ospreys and Tawny Owls

Hello

Much of the day was taken up with checking the bigger nest boxes situated on the Wildlife Trust reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today where it was confirmed that at least three pairs of Tawny Owls were using the boxes. Most of the tits have already fledged from the small nestboxes and fledglings could be seen and heard as we meandered around. A couple of Hobbies and two Kingfishers were perhaps bettered when two Ospreys came sailing into view over the Walgrave Bay, their behaviour and calling suggesting familiarity between the birds Very few Common Terns are present this year after they were hit so hard during the bird flu pandemic but it was thrilling to see Sand Martins using the artificial bank in the Scaldwell Bay, the first year they have shown any interest in this structure. Insects included common species of butterfly and the best of the odonata were good numbers of Beautiful Demoiselles.

A visit to Harrington Airfield today provided views of a Short-eared Owl, a Cuckoo and a Spotted Flycatcher. A drake Common Scoter was at Stanford Reservoir this evening, the drake Garganey was still at Lilbourne Water Meadows and the singing Wood Warbler remained at Harry's Park Wood.

At Eyebrook Reservoir there was a Sanderling and a pair of Garganey and two Barn Owls were out hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Mint Moth courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Azure Blue Damselfly
courtesy of John Tilly.

Tawny Owl courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Iceland and back

Hello

Just back in following two nine day Naturetrek tours in Iceland, co-leading to Dave Jackson who took some wonderful images! I have set up two tabs/pages entitled Undiscovered Iceland 2024 and Iceland in Spring 2024 on this blog but have yet to add many phots but will once they have been submitted by participants or formatted.

Today and a Wood Sandpiper was showing mostly distantly at Summer Leys LNR and the singing Wood Warbler was still at Harry's Park Wood about 100 metres in from the main Bears Lane entrance.

A singing Brambling at Stanford Reservoir was a somewhat bizarre find today and other birds there included three Oystercatchers, a Hobby, two Cuckoos and a Common Gull.

A Garganey was at Lilbourne Water Meadows today and birds noted at Eyebrook Reservoir included a circling Spoonbill that subsequently drifted off south and a pair of Garganey.

A Hobby was at the dam end of Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon where there was also a big hatch of Large Red-eyed Damselflies. A family of Ravens were at Hanging Houghton with a lone bird over Kingsthorpe and the first county record of Green-eyed or Norfolk Hawker (dragonfly) came from Thrapston Pits today.

A Short-eared Owl was again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Large Red-eyed Damselfly.

Bloody-nosed Beetles.

Kestrel.

Spoonbills.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

A funny old week!

It has certainly been a funny old week and the weather hasn't been particularly helpful.  Today it has felt like winter and I ended up wearing several warm layers and gloves this afternoon.  I feel really sorry for the birds who are trying to find insects for their youngsters. Quite a few families of Blue , Great and Long Tailed Tits have visited our garden,  but I cannot imagine that they are going to fare very well. 

There haven't been many birds reported in the county since the beginning of the week.  The Wood Warbler remains at Harry's Park Wood and I understand has been showing and singing very well.  The Short-eared Owl remains at Summer Leys along with Cattle Egret, Black Tern and a Bittern.  At Clifford Hill GP there were 4 Cattle Egrets and at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows (Dragonfly Lake) 2 Sanderling and Black Tern.  The drake Garganey has been at Lilbourne Meadows throughout the week plus another drake at Stanford Reservoir . A Marsh Harrier flew through Hollowell Reservoir.               Shelduck and Egyptian Geese have both bred successfully at Deene Lake. 

Tomorrow is the start of a new month and we will rapidly be heading towards the longest day.  Let us hope that it is also the start of the weather becoming more warm and settled.           

Have a good weekend.  Regards Eleanor 

Green Woodpecker.

Oystercatcher.

Red Fox.

Images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Short-eared Owls!!

Today there has been at least 3 Short-eared Owls in the county. Not a bird that you really expect to see at the end of May.  I came across one this morning whilst walking the dogs near Blueberry.  The corvids saw it before I did and gave it quite a bit of hassle which alerted me to the owl.        A Short-eared Owl which was discovered yesterday,  showed well again at Summer Leys.                                             This evening I visited Harrington Airfield a Short-eared Owl , presumably the same bird from a few days ago was still present.  Otherwise it was very quiet there. 

Very few birds reported over the last few days, probably due to the rainy weather.  Today there was a drake Garganey at Lilbourne Meadows,  a Pink-footed Goose at Stanford Reservoir and the Wood Warbler continues to sing at Harry's Park Wood.                                                                      A couple of new birds were found over the Bank Holiday weekend,  a Sandwich Tern at Hollowell and a Montagu's Harrier near Bozeat. 

Regards Eleanor 

Muntjac.

Barn Owl.

Bee swarm.

Images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Wood Warbler

Sadly the Red Necked Phalarope was a "one day" wonder and it has been a bit like pulling teeth over the last few days where birding is concerned.  Just a handful of reports, Osprey at Welford, Cattle Egret at Summer Leys,  Red Crested Pochard at Earls Barton GP,  Garganey at Lilbourne Meadows and Egyptian Geese at Clifford Hill GP and Deenethorpe.                                                                                      I  suppose that we really shouldn't be too surprised at this . The bulk of the spring passage has happened and the birds are busy with their breeding duties. 

However a new bird was found today,  a male Wood Warbler at Harry's Park Wood which is an interesting piece of woodland between Corby and Oundle.  It's somewhere that I haven't been to for years and I  suspect not an area frequented by birders.    Interestingly at the time I was checking the area around Lamport Hall looking for this very same species, but all I could find was a Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Hobby.  Earlier I had been out running and came across a Sedge Warbler and Cuckoo near Drummer boy lake, Brixworth. 

As it was a lovely still evening I went to Harrington Airfield to listen and look for a specific bird. To my surprise I literally stumbled across a Short Eared Owl. I certainly wasn't expecting this as I have visited numerous times recently and have not seen anything of note. I'm not sure whether it is the original bird or a new one passing through.  It's plumage was pristine whereas the original bird had several missing feathers.       As I sat and watched the Owl a Grasshopper Warbler started reeling,  the first that I have seen/heard this year.    But no sign of the bird that I was hoping for.     I  did notice a couple of "white Common Buzzards " and wondered if they were the same ones which have been feeding and loafing around on the fields below Hanging Houghton/Cottesbrooke/Blueberry area.    Yesterday evening there were at least 40 birds on the fields and again a pretty even split between Red Kites and Common Buzzards.   As I approached the area where these birds were gathered I watched in amazement as a Common Buzzard caught a female Pheasant and struggled to fly off with her. I  have never witnessed this before. 

Other things that I have noticed whilst out and about are good numbers of Orange Tip Butterflies and Brimstones. Other species I have encountered are Red Admiral,  Peacock,  Painted Lady and Small Heath.   The Bee Orchids and Common Spotted Orchids are appearing at Harrington Airfield.  In the garden there has been a Rook visiting every day. A species that we rarely see in the garden but he seems very comfortable searching for food amongst the numerous Jackdaws.

Kenny Cramer and his team held a ringing session at Linford Reserve,  Milton Keynes today and notched up 53 birds of 18 species and 34 newly ringed birds.    Birds processed included 8 Reed Warblers, 4 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs including first fledgling of the year and singles of Garden and Cettis Warbler.   Bluetit and Treecreeper fledgling were also ringed and another new Cuckoo, a handsome male.                                                      Other birds on the reserve included an additional male and female Cuckoo,  30 Swifts and a Raven.    Non avian species comprised of 3 Grass Snakes, Peacock,  Red Admiral and Speckled Wood Butterflies, Banded Demoiselle and Hairy Dragonfly. 

It is hard to believe that as I sat at Harrington Airfield this evening that the weather prediction for the next two days is more heavy rain. I just hope that they are wrong or else it will be a very soggy bank holiday with everything keeping it's head down. 

Regards Eleanor 

Juvenile Blue Tit.

Cetti's Warbler.

Male Cuckoo.

Juvenile Treecreeper.

Adult Common Whitethroat.

All images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Red-necked Phalarope

Great excitement today when a female Red Necked Phalarope was discovered at Lilbourne Meadows and I believe showed well and was still being watched at 19.55 hrs. Maybe it will hang around for a few days and I can get over see it as I haven't seen one of these birds in the county for a while.  That's of course if I can find my way to Lilbourne Meadows as I still haven't managed to visit this reserve. 

Other birds reported today,  Little and Arctic Terns at Daventry CP,  Grey Plover at Stanwick GP and Black Tailed Godwit,  Common Sandpiper and Black Tern at Summer Leys.                    Yesterday there was a Sanderling briefly at Stanford Reservoir,  Garganey at Stanwick GP and Red Crested Pochard at Earls Barton GP and Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows. 

I have visited Harrington Airfield but it was extremely quiet and two visits to the dam at Pitsford Reservoir today proved equally as quiet.   Even the large mixed flock of Red Kites and Common Buzzards below Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke are dispersing.  There were only 15 birds in the fields this evening.                                                                    The birds in the garden have been keeping me busy.  I can't believe how much food they are consuming and it is a full time job keeping the feeders etc topped up.  Sadly we have lost all our young Blackbirds to the regular Sparrowhawk and several young Starlings to our neighbours cat, the Sparrowhawk and window strikes!! It's a very stressful time trying to keep all these young birds safe and give them a  chance in life.

Regards Eleanor 

Brimstone butterfly.

Scorpion Fly sp.

Little Egret.

Chimney Sweeper moths.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.