Good birds in the Nene Valley

Hello

More warmth today but still periods of strong breezes, hopefully they'll subside for the week-end!

Twelve Cattle Egrets at the north end of Stanwick Pits would have been unheard of not so many years ago but they were there today!

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Clifford Hill Pits today on the main barrage lake and the 'purple patch' at Summer Leys LNR continues with a Bittern again, a Marsh Harrier, a Wood Sandpiper, three Garganey, two Great White Egrets, a Ruff, a Ringed Plover, three Greenshanks and a Green Sandpiper.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby were all at Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits.

At Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon there was a juvenile Caspian Gull with Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the feeder stream end plus a Common Sandpiper and an Osprey flew over heading east at 1.05pm.

A Barn Owl was hunting at Lamport Hall this evening and this morning there was a Green Sandpiper, two Grey Wagtails, two Whinchats and two Hobbies all in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton with a Wheatear and a Reed Warbler there this afternoon. A single very bright male Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Robin.

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe.

Migrant Hawker.

Grey Wagtail.

Wasp Spider.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Bank Holiday birds

Hello

A woodland ringing session at Scotland Wood on the Kelmatsh Estate was a modest affair with just thirty-six birds processed which included five Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, eight Goldcrests, a Nuthatch, two Treecreepers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a juvenile Bullfinch. A Spotted Flycatcher was present as were one or two Tree Pipit(s) with one flying from the wood at dawn and presumably a different bird heard some hours later. Ravens and a fly-over Grey Wagtail were also noted.

Over at Stanford Reservoir 184 new birds were ringed which included two Kingfishers, and forty-seven re-traps and three 'controls' were also processed. Birds seen included two Whinchats, the Ruddy Shelduck, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there was a Whinchat between the causeway and Maytrees Hide, two Great White Egrets, a Hobby, a Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper.

A Spotted Flycatcher and a Grey Wagtail were at Stortons Pits today and birds spotted at Summer Leys LNR were the Bittern again, a Marsh Harrier, three Greenshanks, two Green Sandpipers, a Ruff, a Ringed Plover and two Great White Egrets.

Out to the west and three Common Redstarts were an excellent number for the small Woodford Halse LNR and an interesting raptor flew south that showed some features of a Honey Buzzard. A Marsh Harrier was high over Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry this morning, there were five Green Sandpipers at Lilbourne Meadows reserve and a Dunlin was found at Daventry Country Park.

Harrington Airfield provided a Marsh Harrier and two Common Redstarts and a single Common Redstart was at Lamport Hall. Another Common Redstart and two juvenile Hobbies were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and there were two Whinchats and six Spotted Flycatchers in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton with a Green Sandpiper and two Barn Owls present there this evening.

A Hobby and a Spotted Flycatcher were sightings at Towcester Water Meadow.

Regards

Neil M

Spotted Flycatcher at
Stortons Pits yesterday
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Raven at Stortons Pits
yesterday courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Little Grebe.

Ruff courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Full on autumn birding

Hello

There was plenty of small bird activity in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with good numbers of Common Whitethroats, a Reed Warbler, a Common Redstart, four Whinchats and a Green Sandpiper. Two male Common Redstarts were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a Tree Pipit flew over calling.

Stortons Pits hosted a Hobby, a Spotted Flycatcher and three Ravens and Scotland Wood (Kelmarsh Estate) also hosted a Raven and a Spotted Flycatcher. Two Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village.

A Common Redstart was still present at Woodford Halse LNR, a Whinchat remained at Hollowell Reservoir and birds of note at Stanford Reservoir were the Black-necked Grebe again, the Ruddy Shelduck, a Hobby, a Kingfisher, two Common Sandpipers and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Summer Leys LNR provided quality sightings with of a flock of seven Cattle Egrets and subsequently a flock of six. A Bittern was also seen and other birds included a Marsh Harrier, a Garganey, a Wood Sandpiper, three Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpiper, three Greenshanks, two Redshanks and two Ringed Plovers.

Two Marsh Harriers were on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today and this evening two Barn Owls and a Hobby were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

An Osprey and a Red-crested Pochard were in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning.

Another very productive ringing session at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes epitomized autumn migration with good numbers of warblers which included fifty-two Blackcaps, five Garden Warblers, seven Willow Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, three Sedge Warblers, twelve Reed Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler all caught and processed. Other birds included an adult Sand Martin, a high number of nineteen Greenfinches (they seem to be having a good year), a Treecreeper and plenty of common resident birds.

Regards

Neil M

 

Yep it was very wet
yesterday - Carrion
Crow in the rain.

Common Tern.

Osprey.

Greenfinch courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Jaeger pulled out all
the stops today at an
agility competition.

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.