Warm and breezy Friday

Hello

Pitsford Reservoir hung on to some interesting birds today with at least one Osprey which caught a fish in the Scaldwell Bay early this morning, four or five Great White Egrets, the drake Red-crested Pochard, a couple of Hobbies and a Whinchat.

Two Ospreys were at Hollowell Reservoir this morning as was a Whinchat and Stanford Reservoir hosted an Osprey, a Ruddy Shelduck, a Mandarin Duck, a Goldeneye, a Common Sandpiper and six Ravens.

At least one male Common Redstart was at Woodford Halse LNR today and at Harrington Airfield this evening there were at least two Common Redstarts, a Whinchat and a Marsh Harrier with two Whinchats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

In the Nene Valley a Black-necked Grebe was found on Delta Pit at Ditchford Pits and birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Marsh Harrier, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover. Early morning birding provided a juvenile Caspian Gull and three Yellow-legged Gulls at Stanwick Pits on the main lake.

Regards

Neil M

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Large Skipper.

Gatekeeper. In a poor year for
butterflies this species seems to
be bucking the trend and is in
good numbers.

Sunset at Harrington Airfield
this evening.

Barn Owls, Ospreys and a few waders

Hello

A rather grey and breezy day with some drizzle and light rain is supposed to make way for more warm and sunny weather this week-end.

Late yesterday (Wednesday) morning there was a flock of thirteen Egyptian Geese in the Welland Valley below Cottingham.

Today (Thursday) and ringers have been checking Barn Owl boxes in the county which has resulted in two broods of young being located and ringed.

At Pitsford Reservoir this morning there were three Ospreys north of the causeway with what was probably a fourth bird later perched up again in trees near to the Bird Club Hide. Other birds included the eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, a Hobby, three Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and a Whinchat. A Crossbill was heard calling over Pitsford village this evening.

A Hobby was at Stortons Pits early this morning, a Little Ringed Plover was on the dam at Hollowell Reservoir this morning with an Osprey and a Great White Egret this evening and two Kingfishers were along the brook in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Stanford Reservoir again hosted an Osprey this morning plus a Mandarin Duck, a Little Ringed Plover, the local Ruddy Shelduck, a Goldeneye, a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and seven Ravens.

A Green Sandpiper was noted at Summer Leys LNR.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Whinchat at
Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard
at Pitsford Reservoir courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Lesser Stag Beetle.

Barn Owl nestlings
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Early autumn movers

Hello

Pitsford Reservoir was the venue today for at least two Ospreys, mostly north of the causeway, and including one perched up again near to the Bird Club Hide. Five Great White Egrets were present as was a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and the drake Red-crested Pochard.

A male Common Redstart was again at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell early this morning and at least one Crossbill passed over the Eurohub Centre at Corby early this afternoon. A Wheatear was seen between Finedon and Cranford.

Two Garganey were found at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon where there was also a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and four Common Sandpipers. An Osprey was at Stanford Reservoir yet again this morning plus the Mandarin Duck, a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, three Ravens and a single Grasshopper Warbler was caught and ringed. 

Three Barn Owls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening

Regards

Neil M

Osprey Blue 3AY at Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

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.