August status quo

Hello

As is sometimes the way in August, the usual suite of birds arrive and then there is not a great deal of diversification until later in the month when the migration becomes heavier.

The two male Common Redstarts continue their long stay at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and were both present and active this morning. At Lamport Hall the Spotted Flycatchers were at least ten in number and Common Redstarts increased to two.

A Marsh Harrier was hunting slowly around Harrington Airfield late morning, seemingly a different individual to the immaculate juvenile from a few days ago. The Linnet flock has risen to about a hundred birds, probably attracted to the harvested linseed field between the concrete track and Bunker Three.

Two Ruff at Stanwick Pits may be the first of the autumn and Summer Leys LNR attracted a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, a Great White Egret and a Green Sandpiper. An Osprey was on the west side of the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits late this morning and a Common Gull appeared.

Another Osprey was fishing early this morning at Stanford Reservoir where there is still a Common Sandpiper and birds noted in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon were an Osprey, four Great White Egrets, a drake Red-crested Pochard, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and a Whinchat.

Two Barn Owls were present in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn.

Little Egret.

Great White Egret.

Greenshank.

Long-tailed Tit.

Dunnock.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Birding at Pitsford

Hello

A little bit of time spent in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning was productive with a hunting juvenile Marah Harrier, a fishing Osprey, the eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard, twenty-six Pochard, a couple of Common Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, three Great White Egrets, a Common Sandpiper and a juvenile Whinchat all on view.

In the evening a check of a small gathering of gulls, hardly a roost these days, off the dam provided five Common Gulls (two juveniles), five Yellow-legged Gulls (two juveniles), a Whimbrel moving through south and a Common Sandpiper.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today also included an Osprey or two, a Hobby, three Ravens and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Two male Common Redstarts and two Spotted Flycatchers were at Woodford Halse LNR and the two male Common Redstarts remain at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. Another Common Redstart was near Bunker One at Harrington Airfield this morning. A Whinchat was still at Hollowell Reservoir this evening.

At Thrapston Pits today the Titchmarsh reserve attracted a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and two adult Yellow-legged Gulls and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was an early morning sighting at Stanwick Pits. Two Greenshanks were at Summer Leys LNR this evening.

A Marsh Harrier in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning flew towards Brixworth and this evening there were three Barn Owls present.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Wagtail courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Blackbird courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Common Darter.

Ruddy Darter.

A meadow full of wild carrot
and sunset at Harrington Airfield.

Warbler ringing

Hello

Ringing sessions were managed by Northants Ringing Group members today at Linford Lakes in Milton Keynes and a more modest affair at Harrington Airfield. At Linford Lakes Kenny Cramer steered his team to produce one hundred and forty-seven captures of twenty-two species with warblers dominating including twenty-seven Blackcaps, sixteen Garden Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, ten Reed Warblers, two Lesser Whitethroats, two Common Whitethroats, nine Chiffchaffs and eight Willow Warblers. A few finches included Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch and three juvenile Reed Buntings were pleasing. Seven new Robins and six new Wrens confirms these species have enjoyed a productive breeding season.

Two Grass Snakes and plenty of Brown Hawkers were other wildlife encountered.

At Harrington Airfield much lower numbers included more Willow Warblers and Common Whitethroats as the dominating species but little else that was notable. Ravens and Grey Partridges remained vocal for much of the morning.

At Pitsford Reservoir today a Marsh Harrier flew over in a westerly direction, an eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard was in the Scaldwell Bay which also hosted three families of Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe family plus three Great White Egrets and two Common Sandpipers.

Two male Common Redstarts were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon and two Whinchats and a Marsh Harrier were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. The two male Common Redstarts were still at Woodford Halse LNR today. Two Wheatears at the west end of Hinton Airfield were probably the first of the autumn.

At Summer Leys LNR a Marsh Harrier caught prey and other birds included five Goosanders, two Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper and birds noted at Stanford Reservoir were the regulars of Ruddy Shelduck, Mandarin Duck and a Common Sandpiper.

Regards

Neil M

Sunrise at Linford Lakes

Lesser Whitethroat.

Reed Bunting.

Common Whitethroat.

Juvenile Willow Warbler.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Ospreys, warblers and shorter days

Hello

It was decidedly grey and even a little chilly at Harrington Airfield this morning and a ringing session netted a modest number of birds which in the main were probably mostly post-breeding adults and juveniles from local stock. A few exceptions included a couple of Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler and it's likely that some of the Willow Warblers would be breeders and offspring from much further north. A Whinchat was seen in a wheat field there, a couple of Ravens were never far away and a Barn Owl was present pre-dawn. A couple of Grey Partridges were calling but kept a low profile.

At Lamport Hall the Spotted Flycatchers flock had grown to over eight birds, possibly two family parties joining together, and a Common Redstart was still there too.

Ian again found two male Common Redstarts at Woodford Halse LNR.

At Pitsford Reservoir the blue colour-ringed Osprey 3AY was again perched up in dead trees near the Bird Club hide this afternoon, the same bird was there on Thursday. This bird originates from the Rutland release scheme and apparently is a five year old (currently non-breeding) male which has been seen at Stanford Reservoir recently. A week on Friday ago Dave Jackson saw it at Pitsford perch on a perch with a Perch (fish)! 😀

Other birds for Pitsford today included a Red-crested Pochard, three Great White Egrets, a Common Sandpiper and a hundred and fifty House Martins.

Birds of interest at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon were made up of a Marsh Harrier, a Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper and a brood of eleven Tufted Duck ducklings. Even by modern-day standards, twelve Cattle Egrets at Stanwick Pits this morning was an excellent total, seemingly made up of adults still in breeding plumage, duller birds and also juveniles.

The Ruddy Shelduck was still at Stanford Reservoir today where there was also one hundred and sixty Tufted Ducks, a Raven, a Hobby and two Common Sandpipers. Two Ospreys were fishing there at 3.30pm.

Two Barn Owls were hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Evening flying ant hatch
at Harrington Airfield.

Reed Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Long-tailed Tit courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Osprey 3AY in action at
Pitsford Reservoir last
Thursday courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Birds, insects and warm weather

Hello

A Cattle Egret was at Lilbourne Meadows reserve yesterday evening and again this evening and there was a Birdguides report of a Red-backed Shrike there today but not reported subsequently.

At Stanford Reservoir there was an Osprey and a Hobby yesterday evening and today again an Osprey was present plus a Mandarin Duck, a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and a Grasshopper Warbler was caught and ringed.

A juvenile Marsh Harrier was at Harrington Airfield this evening, a Common Sandpiper was at Daventry Country Park and an Osprey was by the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir.

In the Nene Valley there was a Marsh Harrier and a Green Sandpiper again at Summer Leys LNR and Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits hosted an Osprey and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

The two male Common Redstarts were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

Lesser Emperor dragonflies were today discovered at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Billing Pits.

Regards

Neil M

Great Pied Hoverfly.

Robin.

Small Red-eyed Damselflies.

Poplar Hawk-moth.

Common Sandpiper courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Sunshine and morning and evening showers

Hello 

This morning Summer Leys LNR paid host to a single Cattle Egret on Gull Island and a Marsh Harrier hunting around the reserve.

Another Cattle Egret was at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning as they begin to disperse following breeding.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were four Great White Egrets in the Scaldwell Bay, two Common Sandpipers on the causeway, a Yellow-legged Gull, a fly-through juvenile Peregrine, a Hobby and best of all an Osprey. The Osprey was perched in a dead willow between the Bird Club and James Fisher hides and made a couple of dives in the bay, on the second occasion successfully catching a small fish.

There were lots of odonata whizzing around Pitsford today with Brown Hawkers, Blue Emperors and Black-tailed Skimmers being the most obvious. A Four-spotted Chaser was seen and there were hordes of damselflies which appeared mostly to be Common Blue and Large Red-eyed. A single Lesser Emperor was holding territory off the causeway car park, skirmishing regularly with an ovipositing female Blue Emperor.

Other birds noted today included a male Common Redstart at Woodford Halse LNR and a Common Redstart and two Spotted Flycatchers at Harrington Airfield.

Harrington Airfield will be the venue for ringing this coming week-end with sessions on both the Saturday and Sunday. Access will be restricted during these times along the scrubby area between the chippings compound and the main track including the bunkers. Public footpath access along the concrete track is unaffected. Should anyone want to watch proceedings please email me beforehand.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Chiffchaff.

With both adults and juveniles
adopting different moult strategies
at this time of the year, not many
look at their best!

Willow Emerald damselfly.

Pine Hawk-moth.

Hoverfly - possibly
Helophilus pendulus.

Common Blue butterfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Ospreys

Hello

Three Ospreys together at Pitsford Reservoir this morning was a treat, one of the birds caught a fish in the Scaldwell Bay and the birds moved off west. A single bird in the Holcot Bay seen by a different observer may have been one of these three birds. Roosting egrets on the reserve there included five Great Whites and at least sixteen Littles. A Common Sandpiper was also present.

Three Ospreys also made it to Stanford Reservoir today and the Mandarin Duck was still there as was a Common Sandpiper.

In the Nene Valley there were two Black-tailed Godwits at Stanwick Pits on the main lake plus three Common Sandpipers and two Green Sandpipers. At least one Marsh Harrier and a Greenshank were noted at Summer Leys LNR.

A slim but unidentified 'ringtail' harrier was seen over fields between Brixworth and Scaldwell villages late morning but despite some searching wasn't found again. Every year these individuals are glimpsed by someone in the county but they rarely seem to linger or provide prolonged views with an opportunity of photographs and we are left speculating as to what species they might be!

Harrington Airfield hosted two Whinchats and two Common Redstarts today and the family of Spotted Flycatchers and the single Common Redstart were still at Lamport Hall.

Two male Common Redstarts were at Woodford Halse LNR today.

Regards

Neil M

Speckled Wood butterfly.

Marbled White courtesy
of David Arden.

Osprey at Pitsford Reservoir
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

The Drinker moth.

Another warm one

Hello

More high temperatures today and in these conditions it's best to be out birding early before it really is too warm!

Four Cattle Egrets were again at Stanwick Pits this morning, no doubt this species is going to be a regular fixture there this autumn!

Stanford Reservoir was graced with two Ospreys this morning, the Mandarin Duck was still present as was a Common Sandpiper. Two Grasshopper Warblers were caught and ringed there this morning.

Birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Great White Egret, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, three Green Sandpipers and a Spotted Flycatcher. Butterflies on the wing there included Essex Skipper.

A Painted Lady on the buddleia in our Hanging Houghton garden today joined the Red Admirals, Peacocks, Comma, Meadow Browns and whites.

Two Spotted Flycatchers were recorded in Bucknell Wood today, the two Common Redstarts were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and two Whinchats and at least two Spotted Flycatchers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Harrington Airfield continued to host a hunting juvenile Marsh Harrier this morning plus two or three Common Redstarts, a male Stonechat, two Whinchats and a Spotted Flycatcher plus a growing flock of post-breeding Linnets.

This evening an Osprey was at Hollowell Reservoir before drifting off.

Regards

Neil M

Male Stonechat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Male Green Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Essex Skipper courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Large Emerald moth.

Garden Tiger moth.

Egyptian Goose.

Heatwave birding

Hello

Warm weather birding today with the Ruddy Shelduck still at Stanford Reservoir and a morning Osprey plus a female Mandarin Duck, two Common Sandpipers, two Hobbies and with a Kingfisher caught and ringed.

A Common Redstart was still in situ at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby this morning near to the Jurassic Way commemorative stone and the two male Common Redstarts were still working the hedgerows at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. Nearby at Shrike Hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton several migrants with a variety of warblers which included a confiding juvenile Grasshopper Warbler plus a Common Redstart. Two Whinchats and a Spotted Flycatcher were in the same valley nearer to the Brampton Valley Way.

At Lamport Hall the family party of Spotted Flycatchers were still visible from the footpath and the Common Redstart showed too.

A juvenile Marsh Harrier was quartering the top fields at Harrington Airfeld this evening with a Common Redstart again between the Chippings Compound and Bunker One and a couple of Grey Partridges were vocal.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and two Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village.

Regards

Neil M

Small Skipper butterfly.

Common Buzzard courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Hobby courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Brown Hare courtesy
of Robin Gossage.