A wet day in August!

Hello

As forecast quite a bit of rain today beginning in the early hours and not petering out until late afternoon. Normally such an event at this time of the year would be good for downing migrants in the county, but with a procession of windy days from the west beforehand it only had a limited effect.

Nevertheless it did provide a few wader sightings with a Dunlin and a Sanderling at Clifford Hill Pits, four Turnstones, a Greenshank, four Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, three Common Snipe, two Ringed Plovers and a Little Ringed Plover at Summer Leys LNR with two Turnstones at Stanwick Pits early on. The influence elsewhere was minimal with a Ringed Plover at Titchmarsh Reserve, Thrapston, a Common Sandpiper at Pitsford Reservoir, four Green Sandpipers at Lilbourne Meadows reserve and three Common Sandpipers at Stanford Reservoir.

Other birds noted today included a Hobby and a Kingfisher plus the Ruddy Shelduck at Stanford Reservoir, a Tree Pipit at Hollowell Reservoir, three Garganey at Summer Leys LNR and a Little Owl at Lilbourne.

The Titchmarsh reserve boasted ten Cattle Egrets today which later flew towards Thrapston plus an Osprey. Pitsford Reservoir featured an Osprey and two Great White Egrets north of the causeway late this afternoon and a male Common Redstart, six Yellow-legged Gulls and a Common Sandpiper all visible from the dam.

This afternoon saw a Wheatear, four Whinchats, a Common Redstart and a family of Spotted Flycatchers in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and two male Common Redstarts at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

An afternoon sauntering around Harrington Airfield produced two fly-over Crossbills, a juvenile Marsh Harrier still, a Common Redstart, a Wheatear and three Whinchats.

Regards

Neil M

Turnstones.

Dunlin.

Gadwall.

Above images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

The harvest is nearly over!

Migration continues despite the wind

Hello

Still breezy conditions today but plenty of sunshine after the early morning rain.

At Stanford Reservoir a juvenile Black-necked Grebe was found today and the female Ruddy Shelduck remained in situ and other birds were a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby and a Spotted Flycatcher.

At Pitsford Reservoir birds north of the causeway included an Osprey, a Hobby, a Green Sandpiper, a Whinchat, a Raven and two or three Great White Egrets with a flock of at least sixty Goldfinches in the Scaldwell Meadow. A Whinchat was still at Hollowell Reservoir this evening and a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Clifford Hill Pits managed to hang on to it's Wood Sandpiper today and there was also a Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper there. Summer Leys LNR also hung on to it's Wood Sandpiper and other birds included a Greenshank, a Common Snipe and a Marsh Harrier.

A windy Harrington Airfield proffered a Wheatear and a Common Redstart, there were two Whinchats and a Green Sandpiper in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton in the morning and a Marsh Harrier, two Barn Owls, two Hobbies and the Whinchats still this evening. A Hobby was at Lamport Hall this afternoon and at least four Spotted Flycatchers were in Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate (private woodland).

Two Green Sandpipers and a Little Owl were the best birds on offer at Lilbourne Meadow reserve.

Regards

Neil M

Starling - a juvenile moulting
into winter plumage.

Red Admiral.

Migrant Hawker.

Southern Hawker.

All above images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Little Ringed Plover courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Stormy August

Hello

Another very breezy day but not cold and mostly dry which meant being outdoors was fine.

A limited set of observations today with Clifford Hill Pits being the in-vogue site with singles of Black-necked Grebe, Black Tern and Wood Sandpiper being available all day and this evening also a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and a Common Swift.

At Summer Leys LNR sightings included two Greenshanks, a Common Sandpiper, a Little Ringed Plover, two Great White Egrets and a Marsh Harrier.

The Ruddy Shelduck and a Common Sandpiper were at Stanford Reservoir today and at Hollowell Reservoir birds included a Whinchat still plus a juvenile Hobby and two Great White Egrets.

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover, an adult Ringed Plover and five Yellow-legged Gulls (three juveniles)  were in the vicinity of the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

Two Whinchats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Black-tailed Godwits
courtesy of John Tilly.

Oil Beetle courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Slow worm at Bucknell
Wood yesterday.

The bright red berries
of Guelder Rose.

Juvenile and adult
Yellow-legged Gulls.

Whinchats and more

Hello

A week of breezy and partly cloudy conditions are not particularly usual for August but this lively weather is set to continue into next week. With the jet stream hurtling our way from the west it's unlikely to provide very much for us here in Northants unless some more American waders would like to show up?

A visit to Bucknell Wood in the south of the county was very much out of the wind and there were common species of butterfly and odonata on the wing as well as pollinating insects on the Ragwort and Angelica. A party of Spotted Flycatchers had attached themselves to a tit flock there and Marsh Tits and Nuthatches were pretty vocal. For me the best of the lot was an adult Slow worm, not something I'm normally able to find in the county.

At Blueberry Farm, Maidwell there were three male Common Redstarts this morning but just two Whinchats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton near to shrike hedge.

I don't believe the Lesser Yellowlegs was reported at Lilbourne Meadows reserve today but a Green Sandpiper was on the dwindling flood pools there. At Stanford Reservoir a potential northern race ('acredula') Willow Warbler was processed by the ringers there this morning. Birds on-site included the Ruddy Shelduck still, a Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Whinchat.

Clifford Hill Pits had a good day with a summer plumage adult Black-necked Grebe and a Wood Sandpiper on the main lake. A Wood Sandpiper remained at Summer Leys LNR too.

At Pitsford Reservoir there was a Whinchat still in the Scaldwell Bay and an Osprey was seen over the Walgrave Bay and a Whinchat remained at Hollowell Reservoir too.

Regards

Neil M

Swallow in a bird hide
courtesy of John Tilly.

The very successful
Grey Squirrel courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Great Crested Grebe family
and a Pike offering.

Large Skipper.

Whinchat courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

House Sparrow courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

Despite being out for much of the day there wasn't much to show for it! A WeBS count at Ditchford Pits today was generally quiet although there was a male Common Redstart in bushes just south-east of Big Lake. Only about five Cetti's Warblers were vocalising, sounding very much like juveniles trying a little bit of song whilst the adults are quietly moulting. Four Kingfishers were on-site and a vicious shower late morning caught us out! The Ditchford Lane area for many years has been home to a variety of strange-plumaged Carrion Crows and today the nearly all white bird was still present as was a silvery-sheened individual.

The Lesser Yellowlegs was showing better at Lilbourne Meadows reserve today and other birds included a Green Sandpiper and a Common Redstart.

Stanford Reservoir continues to host an Osprey and the Ruddy Shelduck and a Kingfisher was present too. Three Grasshopper Warblers were caught and ringed.

Two Ospreys were north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this morning plus a Marsh Harrier, a pair of Red-crested Pochard, two Whinchats, two Ravens and a Yellow-legged Gull.

In the Nene Valley a Marsh Harrier was seen at Thrapston Pits on the Titchmarsh Reserve, a Wood Sandpiper was on the Layby Pit at Stanwick Pits and the Wood Sandpiper was still present at Summer Leys LNR.

Two Ravens were at Cogenhoe and another was in Sywell village. Four Whinchats were keeping a low profile in the wind near shrike hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and two Hobbies were over the village this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Muntjac courtesy of
John Tilly.

Chicken-of-The-Woods 
at Ditchford Pits today.

Ring-necked Parakeets today
at Abington Park, Northampton
 courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Cataloguing the migrants.

Hello

Members from the Northants Ringing Group joined Stanford Ringing Group enthusiasts at Stanford Reservoir today to assist in the cataloguing of migrants moving through the site and just short of two hundreds small birds were processed, the majority being common warblers. Highlights were a Whinchat, three Grasshopper Warblers and a Kingfisher. Birds seen on-site included an Osprey which successfully caught a fish before departing, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Common Sandpiper and six Ravens.

At Pitsford Reservoir there were three Ospreys again early morning mostly centred around the Scaldwell Bay and single birds were seen during the day. Three Yellow-legged Gulls and a Common Sandpiper were at the dam area this evening. A Whinchat and a Common Sandpiper were at Hollowell Reservoir this evening.

A Green Sandpiper was calling over Hanging Houghton at 5am this morning and birds in the Brampton Valley below the village included four Whinchats near shrike hedge plus a Common Redstart with still two Common Redstarts and a Wheatear at nearby Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Harrington Airfield hosted similar birds with a Tree Pipit, a Common Redstart, a Wheatear and two Whinchats this morning.

Summer Leys LNR provided for three Garganey, a Wood Sandpiper, a Greenshank, three Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, four Ringed Plovers, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Common Snipe, a Marsh Harrier and a Great White Egret.

Clifford Hill Pits was in on the action today with a Wood Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Barnacle Goose and at least fifteen Common Swifts all this morning.

The Lesser Yellowlegs was reported from Lilbourne Meadows reserve today, seen both this morning and this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Grasshopper Warbler at
Stanford Reservoir today
courtesy of Michelle Spinks.

Two nicely-marked juvenile
Common Buzzards at Hardingstone
yesterday courtesy of 
Tony Stanford.

An interesting day!

Hello

The Lesser Yellowlegs was again seen at Lilbourne Meadows reserve this morning and a leucistic Marsh Harrier initially caused some confusion as to it's identity.

At Stanford Reservoir today the Ruddy Shelduck was still present as was two Common Sandpipers, a Kingfisher and two Ravens.

A Wood Sandpiper was located at Summer Leys LNR today and other birds included two Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper.

Harrington Airfield hosted two Common Redstarts including a new bird at Bunker Three, two Whinchats, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, five or six Ravens and an adult Grey Partridges with four young. At least one Whinchat and a Barn Owl were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Common Redstart and at least eight Spotted Flycatchers were at Lamport Hall.

Two Common Redstarts remained elusive at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby this morning seemingly more vocal than visual.

A large raptor seen near Harlestone this morning was thought to have possibly been a White-tailed Eagle.

At Pitsford Reservoir today an Osprey was over the Scaldwell Bay early this afternoon and a Whinchat was still present. A brief ringing session there this morning yielded common warblers and finches before the strengthening breeze concluded business.

At Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes Kenny and his ringing team processed 123 birds of eighteen species. Migrant warblers were made up of six Garden Warblers, thirty-nine Blackcaps, seven Sedge Warblers, fifteen Reed Warblers, seven Willow Warblers, five Chiffchaffs and a Common Whitethroat. A Kingfisher, three Treecreepers and a juvenile Bullfinch were other highlights.

Regards

Neil M

Migrant Hawker courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Bullfinch courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Willow Warbler courtesy of
Kenny Cramer. One of the 
Willow Warblers processed
at Linford Lakes today was
 bearing a ring from
 elsewhere - details awaited.

Dock Bug courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Apparently the first county
records of the Scarce Emerald damselfly
photographed this month at Priors Hall, Corby
 and Pitsford Reservoir, the lower image
courtesy of Mark Tyrrell.

Migrants passing through the county

Hello

Some ringing at Pitsford Reservoir this morning proved there were migrants in the margins and bushes and procured eight species of warbler including two Lesser Whitethroats, ten Common Whitethroats, three Garden Warblers, six Blackcaps, twelve Sedge Warblers and thirty-three Reed Warblers. One of the Reed Warblers was already ringed from elsewhere (details awaited). These migrants quickly melted away on release and we were left to catalogue twenty Goldfinches and thirty-two Greenfinches which turned up mostly afterwards. A further ringing session will take place tomorrow morning.

At least one Osprey spent time in the Scaldwell Bay whilst we were there and other observations during the day were four Red-crested Pochards (two drakes), two Green Sandpipers, several Great White Egrets,  two Whinchats, two Yellow-legged Gulls, a Hobby and a Kingfisher.

The ringers were active over at Stanford Reservoir, the beginning of an intense two week period with efforts being made to ring as many migrants as possible, and star captures today included two Tree Pipits, a Common Redstart and a Grasshopper Warbler. The Osprey was at Stanford Reservoir again today as was the Ruddy Shelduck, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby.

Hot on the heels of the Southern Migrant Hawker, a Scarce Emerald Damselfly was identified today at the same place at Priors Hall, Corby, potentially the first record for the county.

Two individual Tree Pipits were picked up flying over Brackley this morning, both moving south.

Summer Leys LNR recorded a Cuckoo, a Marsh Harrier and five Swifts and two Barnacle Geese, an Egyptian Goose and a Common Sandpiper were noted at Clifford Hill Pits.

The two long-staying Common Redstarts were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and the two Whinchats were in the Brampton Valley near shrike hedge below the village of Hanging Houghton.

Harrington Airfield provided sightings of a Wheatear, two Whinchats, a Common Redstart and a Marsh Harrier this morning. There was no sign of any Spotted Flycatchers at Lamport Hall this evening but the two Common Redstarts were still present.

The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen again at Lilbourne Meadows reserve again this morning for patient observers.

A Marsh Harrier was seen flying over Hollowell village towards Creaton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Southern Migrant Hawker
courtesy of Mark Tyrrell.

Brown Hare.

Grey Heron courtesy
of Robin Gossage,

Great White Egret courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Harvesting back on

Hello

Following the rain blip yesterday the harvesting is back on and most farmers are now concentrating on the wheat crop. Much of this year's oats were planted late because of the wet spring and summer and will probably be the last of the cereals to be collected locally this year.

The Lesser Yellowlegs was still present at Lilbourne Meadows reserve but the bird only shows sparingly! Four Green Sandpipers were there too as was one of the long-staying Common Redstarts. Six Green Sandpipers were at Daventry Country Park.

The Little Stint was still at Eyebrook Reservoir and an excellent odonata find was a Southern Migrant Hawker at the Gullet Nature Reserve, Priors Hall, Corby.

At least three Ospreys were at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and there have been ones and twos all day long north of the causeway with several fish being caught...it's difficult to say how many birds might be involved! Several Great White Egrets remain as does the drake Red-crested Pochard in the Scaldwell Bay and a Whinchat and a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier were seen too. There will be some ringing around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station tomorrow morning and also Sunday morning.

For the first time in a long while an Osprey wasn't reported at Stanford Reservoir today but birds noted were two Little Ringed Plovers, a Great White Egret, two Common Sandpipers, a Peregrine and a Hobby.

Harrington Airfield hosted a Cuckoo flying rapidly south this morning plus a Common Redstart and a Grasshopper Warbler with just two Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Redstart were seen at Lamport Hall. A Wheatear was just north east of Braunston.

Two Whinchats and three Barn Owls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Yellow-legged Gull.

Southern Hawker.

Speckled Wood butterfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Green Sandpipers at Daventry
Country Park courtesy of Tony
Stanford.

Windy then wet!

Hello

A breezy day gave way to some rain this evening as a front moved across the country west to east.

The Lesser Yellowlegs seemingly showed better today on one of the flood pools at Lilbourne Meadows reserve and other birds included two Green Sandpipers, a Common Snipe and three Swifts.

Two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton this morning and urban individuals were at Little Billing and Abington, Northampton.

The Little Stint was still at Eyebrook Reservoir today and Stanford Reservoir's birds again included Osprey, a Ruddy Shelduck, a Marsh Harrier and two Kingfishers.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir were an Osprey, several Great White Egrets, the drake Red-crested Pochard still, two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, three Yellow-legged Gulls and two Whinchats with most of these birds on show in the Scaldwell Bay. A juvenile Marsh Harrier and a Whinchat were at Hollowell Reservoir.

Four Cattle Egrets were at Stanwick Pits this morning and a Garganey and a Marsh Harrier remained at Summer Leys LNR.

A windy Harrington Airfield still provided for a Common Redstart, a Wheatear and two Whinchats with only about four Spotted Flycatchers sheltering in the bushes at Lamport Hall.

A Wheatear and two Whinchats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and the two male Common Redstarts were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Common Darters
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Kingfisher at Pitsford
Reservoir courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Holly Blue courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Common Tern
at Pitsford Reservoir courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Large Red-eyed Damselfly.