Summer to Autumn

Hello

As summer stretches out to autumn there are still birds in song, Song Thrushes in particular first thing in the morning and often last thing at night are perhaps the most obvious. Robin song has dwindled and many are already in moult, many Wrens are still in full song, many Skylarks have finished singing but there are still Blackbirds and Dunnocks proclaiming territories with a view to having another brood.

A couple of Grey Wagtails and two Ravens were in the Brampton Valley at Brixworth this morning and birds at Pitsford Reservoir included a Common Sandpiper in the Scaldwell Bay and birds visible from the dam this afternoon were an Osprey, two Ravens, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, presumably a different Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail. A pair of Grey Partridges and two family parties of Green Woodpecker were at Harrington Airfield and there was a reasonable number of butterflies of five species with Marbled White being the best.

Stanwick Pits today attracted a Wood Sandpiper, five Common Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers and eight Black-tailed Godwits.

A Common Scoter was found on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits and birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Cattle Egret, a Great White Egret, two Little Ringed Plovers and two Oystercatchers. Birds further along the valley at Clifford Hill Pits were two Little Ringed Plovers, an Oystercatcher and four Wigeon.

A Barn Owl was at Woodford Halse and two male Common Redstarts were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

Eyebrook Reservoir attracted a Wood Sandpiper today plus a Turnstone and two Black Terns.

Yesterday (Monday) there was an Osprey at Stanford Reservoir and the ringers on-site ringed 92 new birds including a Spotted Flycatcher.

Regards

Neil M

'Golden' Hedgehog.

Juvenile Reed Bunting.

Carrion Crow courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Adult Tree Sparrow courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Juvenile Magpie courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Another wet July day!

Hello

A wet back-end to the day but mild and dry for most of the morning.

A Whinchat was found in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, in waterside vegetation just beyond Maytrees Hide and this afternoon an Osprey was perched up near Lagoon Hide which is situated between the Walgrave and Holcot Bays.

A male Common Redstart was still at Woodford Halse LNR and Lilbourne Meadows attracted at least twelve Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper.

A Ruddy Shelduck was at Stanford Reservoir this morning before flying off and a Wood Sandpiper was at Eyebrook Reservoir.

The Ravens were again vocal at Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Collared Dove
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Common Sandpiper courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Marbled Whites in cop at
Pitsford Reservoir courtesy
of David Arden. One of the
butterflies that will still fly in
dark, dank conditions providing
there is some warmth.

Summer ringing

Hello

A ringing session around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir today provided seventy-five captures of eighteen species. Warblers included Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler and both Common and Lesser Whitethroat and finches were Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch. Four Yellowhammers, five Reed Buntings and a Tree Sparrow added more variety.

Birds noted included two Ospreys in the Scaldwell Bay in the morning for a short time and then a single showed up again this evening. Four Ravens flew over and at least one Great White Egret was present as was an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Green Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail. A Lesser Emperor dragonfly was on show from Maytrees Hide briefly amongst several Blue Emperors.

An Osprey was seen to successfully catch a trout at Ravensthorpe Reservoir early in the afternoon and head off east. A Hobby was at Lamport Hall.

One or two Common Redstart(s) were at Woodford Halse LNR today and a Cattle Egret was at Summer Leys LNR. A Peregrine was near Stortons Pits.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a female Common Redstart and two Oystercatchers and yesterday (Saturday) 161 new birds were ringed on-site plus there were Reed Warblers encountered bearing French and Belgian rings.

Regards

Neil M

Wren courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Blue Emperor courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Kingfishers at Pitsford
Reservoir courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Breeders and migrants intermingled

Hello

Again minimal bird news today but confirmation of at least two successful pairs of Cattle Egrets breeding in 2024 at one Nene Valley site is good news.

A Raven at Billing Fishponds, Northampton was an unusual sight locally and others noted were two near Kelmarsh where also a Hobby and a Grey Wagtail and two Ravens were again at Hanging Houghton. A Hobby was at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

Kingfishers were on good form at Pitsford Reservoir today showing from the Kingfisher Screen in the Scaldwell Bay and this evening there were at least three Great White Egrets and a Yellow-legged Gull north of the causeway. Late morning saw a family of Grey Wagtails and two Common Sandpipers on the dam.

A male Common Redstart was again at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today and two Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield. A Grasshopper Warbler was 'reeling' in the Brampton Valley at Kingsthorpe Meadows.

Lamport Hall will be the venue for a ringing session on Thursday evening when we will attempt to ring House Martins and Swifts. Anyone who wishes to come along and observe please email me and I can provide more detail.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grasshopper Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Adult and juvenile Oystercatchers
Summer Leys LNR courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Recently fledged brood of 
Grey Wagtails at Abington
Park, Northampton courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Baby birds!

Hello

Limited bird news locally but apparently the Pectoral Sandpiper wasn't seen at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Two Oystercatchers and two Ravens were at Stanford Reservoir, a Hobby was at Hanging Houghton and calling Grey Partridges were about the best birds noted at Harrington Airfield.

A male Common Redstart was still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon and four Green Sandpipers were at Daventry Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Four Green Sandpipers
at Daventry Country Park
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Mallard with ducklings courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grass Snake courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Sandpiper courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Ichneumon Wasp sp 
courtesy of John Tilly.

Lapwing chick courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Swift nestling
courtesy of Michelle Spinks.

Barn Owl nestling.

Rose of the shires birding

Hello

Yesterday (Wednesday) and an adult Pectoral Sandpiper just across the border at Eyebrook Reservoir was the star bird locally.

Some survey work completed yesterday morning confirmed a pair of Little Ringed Plovers with chicks at a site in Northants and a visit to Honey Hill along the Jurassic Way near Cold Ashby provided two fly-over Ravens and grassland butterflies which included about ten Marbled Whites.

A moulting male Whinchat beside the River Nene near Summer Leys LNR was a good record yesterday and a male Common Redstart was again on the small reserve at Woodford Halse, another traditional stop-over spot.

A Grey Wagtail at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows was seen to eat a small fish yesterday, probably not as unusual as it sounds considering their preferred habitat of fast running streams, weirs etc.

At Lilbourne Meadows reserve yesterday there were two male Common Redstarts in a hedgerow running down to the flood meadows from Hillmorton Lane and two Green Sandpipers on the floodwater.

Today (Thursday) and the Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Eyebrook Reservoir where there was a Common Scoter too.

A juvenile Cattle Egret was at Summer Leys LNR (and Mary's Lake) today and the usual female Ruddy Shelduck was at Winwick Pools. Stanford Reservoir today held two Oystercatchers and two Common Sandpipers and three Spotted Flycatchers were the best on offer at Harrington Airfield. Two Great White Egrets were lurking in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning.

Two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton this morning and a Raven and a Hobby were at Walgrave village late morning.

Some juvenile Barn Owl activity in a barn in central Northamptonshire (below) courtesy of Chris Payne and a parent Great Crested Grebe concerned about something overhead and permitting the youngsters to climb aboard (courtesy of Neil Hasdell)!

Regards 

Neil M

Gatekeeper courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Marbled White courtesy
of David Arden.

Redstarts and other July movers

Hello

A murky, humid and sometimes wet day at least suppresses the pollen and seemingly makes the birding more interesting with quality migrants about!

Stanford Reservoir sported a Black-tailed Godwit this morning which spent some time on the dam plus four Oystercatchers, two Common Sandpipers, a Hobby, a Kingfisher and three hundred Swifts.

Two Black Redstarts were confirmed at Harrington Airfield this morning but they can be elusive at times and one was still present late this evening. The birds move around Bunkers One, Two and the concrete track next to the straw bales but would-be observers need to be patient. A Common Redstart was by Bunker One this morning too.

Another Common Redstart was located on the reserve at Woodford Halse this morning and the two males were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. An adult Yellow-legged Gull on the valve tower at Pitsford Reservoir was the only noteworthy bird located at the south end of the reservoir.

Two Little Terns at Clifford Hill Pits this afternoon was a great find with other birds in attendance being two Barnacle Geese and a Redshank. Two Black-tailed Godwits, two Great White Egrets and a Little Ringed Plover were about the best birds at Summer Leys LNR today.

A Wood Sandpiper was found at Lilbourne Water Meadows reserve this afternoon.

More reedbed action courtesy of John Boland (video clips below) depict a feeding Moorhen and a Brown Rat predating a Toad/Frog.

Regards

Neil M

Early morning start!

Great White Egret
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Migrant Hawker courtesy
of Robin Gossage. These
dragonflies emerge a little
later than most.

A good year for Barn Owls?

Hello

A cool but bright, sunny morning provided a good opportunity to complete another local survey which provided two pairs of Spotted Flycatcher but sadly both were without young - there's still time for a second attempt.

There were two Green Sandpipers at the Brampton Valley pools below Brixworth early this morning and two Barn Owls in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

The three male Common Redstarts were still at Lilbourne Water Meadows reserve this morning and two more males were discovered at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning, another traditional stop-over site.

A Black Redstart at Harrington Airfield was a good find today, spending much of the day at Bunker One and seen briefly there still at 7.45pm.

Single Barn Owls were seen near Thornby and at Lamport Hall and there was another Barn Owl at Hollowell Reservoir as well as a Hobby, a Common Sandpiper and a Great White Egret. An Oystercatcher paid Pitsford Reservoir a visit this afternoon.

At Clifford Hill Pits this morning there were nine Little Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, a Redshank and a Barnacle Goose. A single Black-tailed Godwit was on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits and a juvenile Cattle Egret was at Stanwick Pits on the Main Pit this afternoon.

A Common Sandpiper was at Stanford Reservoir today where over a hundred new birds were caught and ringed and ninety-nine birds were caught and ringed there yesterday.

Regards

Neil M

Cuckoo Wasp sp
courtesy of John Tilly.

Male Blackbird courtesy
of John Tilly.

Juvenile Green Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Red Fox courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Starling courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Ringing at Brixworth

Hello

Some bird ringing at the water treatment works at Brixworth today provided eighty birds of sixteen species and which included a Sparrowhawk, a Kingfisher, eight Chiffchaffs, a juvenile Sedge Warbler, five Common Whitethroats, ten Blackcaps, twelve Pied Wagtails and ten Grey Wagtails. The Sparrowhawk was an interesting bird as it was a male hatched last year and was almost entirely still in juvenile plumage. The Kingfisher was a young bird hatched this year (please see video clip below courtesy of Lewis Aaron) and one of the Chiffchaffs was first ringed there in August last year.

At least one other Grey Wagtail remained at large and other birds included a couple of Ravens passing over and a Hobby racing through.

At Summer Leys LNR today Black-tailed Godwits were lingering and passing through again with three early this morning and then a flock of seven this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Red Admiral courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Whitethroat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Sparrowhawk courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Godwits on the move

Hello

A wet 24 hours but some nice weather too and a spectacular rainbow this evening.

Black-tailed Godwits were on the move with up to ten at Summer Leys LNR during the day with two at Stanwick Pits first thing. A Wood Sandpiper paid Summer Leys LNR a brief visit mid-morning.

Five Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth today and a singing Spotted Flycatcher was in New Covert on the  Kelmarsh Estate.

Two Barn Owls remain in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Beautiful Demoiselle.

Comma.

Preening Long-tailed Tits.

Osprey.

Warm and then wet!

Hello

A Common Redstart in a Wootton Fields, Northampton garden was a great record this morning.

Three Cuckoos and a Hobby were at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadow reserve this morning.

A Black-tailed Godwit (briefly) and a Great White Egret were in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and later perhaps the same Black-tailed Godwit was present at Summer Leys LNR.

A couple of Grey Wagtails and two Ravens were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning.

A stunning Purple Emperor butterfly showed very well between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton today.

Regards

Neil M

Pyramidal Orchid.

Reed Warbler.

Skylark.

Above three images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Buzzard.

This sick individual permitted a close
approach. Whatever it was suffering
 from has adversely affected both eyes.

Purple Emperor between
Hanging Houghton and
 Cottesbrooke courtesy
 of Kerry Massey.