Autumnal morning, wet afternoon.

Hello

An early WeBS count was completed at Ditchford Pits today but it was mostly a bird-less zone! Birds east of Ditchford Lane amounted to a Kingfisher, a Cetti's Warbler and two Grey Wagtails. The pits west of Ditchford Lane provided a juvenile female Peregrine, a Great White Egret, a Cetti's Warbler, the usual white Carrion Crow and a pair of Egyptian Geese with three very late-hatched goslings. Sand Martins and Swallows were in reasonable numbers.

A Caspian Gull and a Black-tailed Godwit were at Stanwick Pits early morning and birds at Summer Leys LNR amounted to a juvenile Marsh Harrier, three Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper, four Common Snipe, five hundred Starlings nearby, one hundred and fifty House Martins and smaller numbers of Swallows and Sand Martins.

The Black-necked Grebe and two Whinchats were seen at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and two Ravens were seen flying from Great Billing towards Weston Favell.

Three Yellow-legged Gulls were off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this evening and a collection of hirundines included many Swallows and House Martins and just a few Sand Martins.

Stanford Reservoir attracted a fly-through Ringed Plover, three Common Sandpipers and a Kingfisher.

After the rain had gone, birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening were four Whinchats, a Wheatear, a juvenile Marsh Harrier and two Barn Owls.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Marsh Harrier
at Summer Leys LNR
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Great White Egret at
Summer Leys LNR today
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Common Buzzard.

Carrion Crow.

Cooling down

Hello

Very much shorter days now as we move deeper in to autumn and with cooling temperatures too!

Quality birds remain at Summer Leys LNR with a Bittern on the scrape, a Marsh Harrier, three Garganey, six Great White Egrets, a Ruff and Green and Common Sandpipers.

Clifford Hill Pits still hosted the Black-necked Grebe, three Black Terns and six Whinchats and the Osprey was again over Elinor Lake, Thrapston Pits this morning. A Hobby was at Stortons Pits today.

At Pitsford Reservoir an Osprey was perched up in the Scaldwell Bay early this afternoon and possibly the same bird was watched flying south in earnest over the dam just before 3pm. A Wheatear was on the dam wall, a Stonechat was on the fence line below the dam and three Yellow-legged Gulls were also present.

At Stanford Reservoir there were three Common Sandpipers, a Kingfisher and the regular Ruddy Shelduck. Hollowell Reservoir provided views of a Whinchat, a Stonechat, a Hobby, six Great White Egrets and a Common Sandpiper.

Ravens were again at Hanging Houghton, there were two Spotted Flycatchers at Lamport Hall this afternoon and a Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. Two Whinchats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and two Golden Plovers flew over.

Regards

Neil M

Stonechat courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Migrant Hawker courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Hobby courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Black Terns and Sparrowhawks

Hello

Some more ringing at Brixworth Treatment works today yielded ninety-two captures which included two juvenile male Sparrowhawks, twelve Chiffchaffs, three Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Garden Warbler, twenty-five Blackcaps, a Common Whitethroat which is at least five years old, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Grey Wagtail and a Spotted Flycatcher. At least one more Grey Wagtail was also present and a couple of Ravens were present for much of the morning.

A Marsh Harrier was briefly at Stanford Reservoir this morning and the Ruddy Shelduck and two Common Sandpipers were there too. A Black Tern was still at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Clifford Hill Pits today hung on to the Black-necked Grebe plus three Black Terns, four Whinchats and a Spotted Flycatcher. Three Black Terns were at Sixfields Lake and Summer Leys provided views of a Bittern, a Marsh Harrier, nine Great White Egrets, at least one Garganey, a Pintail, a Hobby, a Ruff, two Common Sandpipers and a Black Tern.

A female Hen Harrier was watched and photographed flying south over Brixworth village and the Country Park this afternoon. Two Ravens were at Harrington Airfield and Hanging Houghton village and two new Common Redstarts were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon. 

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon/evening amounted to four Whinchats, a Marsh Harrier and two Hobbies.

Regards

Neil M

The two juvenile male
Sparrowhawks caught and
ringed at Brixworth today.

Red Admiral - plenty on the
wing this week-end.

Lapwing.

Redshank courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Birds of Clifford Hill!

Hello

Mild, grey and at times drizzly conditions this morning with little wind provided an ideal opportunity for some ringing, this time at Brixworth Water Treatment Works. One hundred and eleven birds of nineteen species were processed, one hundred and one being entirely new birds. Forty-nine of those birds were warblers with twenty-five Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, seven Common Whitethroats, three Reed Warblers, four Sedge Warblers, a Willow Warbler and eight Chiffchaffs. Much of the remainder were perhaps more local or sedentary birds but nine new Robins suggests perhaps birds from elsewhere. Two Grey Wagtails were on-site.

Clifford Hill Pits was the in-vogue place today with the Black-necked Grebe remaining plus four Common Scoters, four Avocets, two Turnstones, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Cattle Egret, a Black Tern, a fly-through Marsh Harrier, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Wheatear and six Whinchats - phew an amazing list of quality birds!

Thrapston Pits still retained an Osprey over Elinor Lake, ten Common Scoters in flight were reported and a Greenshank was on the Titchmarsh Reserve.

Summer Leys LNR managed a Marsh Harrier, two Garganey, four Common Snipe, four Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, two Kingfishers and a Water Rail.

Two Yellow-legged Gulls, a Redshank and two Grey Wagtails were present around the dam at Pitsford Reservoir and six Great White Egrets roosted north of the causeway this evening.

Stanford Reservoir provided records of the Ruddy Shelduck, three Common Sandpipers, a Great White Egret, a Kingfisher, a Hobby and a Water Rail. A Black Tern remained at Eyebrook Reservoir.

There were plenty of migrant passerines at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry this afternoon with four Common Redstarts (three in one bush!), in excess of thirty Chiffchaffs, eighteen Common Whitethroats, ten Blackcaps, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, two Spotted Flycatchers, two Whinchats and a Wheatear.

A first winter Caspian Gull was noted at Boddington Reservoir plus a flock of over a hundred Sand Martins.

This evening there were four Whinchats and a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Sedge Warbler
courtesy of Jane Neill.

Adult Common Whitethroat
courtesy of Jane Neill.

Red-legged Partridge.

The Sycamore moth caterpillar
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Sandwich Terns, Common Scoters and Marsh Harriers.

Hello

A warm day with temperatures locally at 24C with still a lively easterly breeze.

A Common Scoter had joined the Black-necked Grebe at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and six Whinchats were seen there too.

Summer Leys LNR had another busy day with a flock of six Sandwich Terns, two Marsh Harriers, two Garganey, at least six Great White Egrets, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, four Green Sandpipers, and a Ruff. One of the Marsh harriers was seen to attack a Tufted Duck.

An Osprey was over the Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits this afternoon and at least one Cattle Egret was at Stanwick Pits today.

Eyebrook Reservoir continued to host two Wood Sandpipers and a Black Tern remained there too.

Stanford Reservoir also secured two drake Common Scoters off the dam this morning with a Sandwich Tern there briefly and the female Ruddy Shelduck, two Hobbies and three Common Sandpipers were present. A Sandwich Tern flew north at Daventry Country Park at about 9.50am.

Six Great White Egrets flew over the dam in formation at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, moving off in a south-westerly direction. A single Ringed Plover was on the dam and at least four Yellow-legged Gulls were present. Two or three Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

Notable birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today were four Whinchats, a Marsh Harrier, a Barn Owl, a Green Sandpiper and two Hobbies.

Regards

Neil M

Garganey at Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

 

Hobby.

Comma butterfly.

Raven.

Cormorant.

Above four images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

When the wind blows

Hello

Despite some constant wind, blustery at times, from the north-east, there is little change on the birding front in the county.

The exception seems to be Stanford Reservoir which had brief visitations from a Sandwich Tern this morning and a juvenile Little Gull this evening. A Hobby was also there with an Osprey at lunchtime.

Eyebrook Reservoir hosted a Black Tern, an Arctic Tern and two Wood Sandpipers.

The south end of Pitsford Reservoir was unremarkable despite a couple of visits there today, the best being four Yellow-legged Gulls, a Hobby and a Grey Wagtail.

A first winter Caspian Gull was seen at Daventry Country Park, two Common Sandpipers were at Boddington Reservoir and a juvenile Common Sandpiper showed well at Sixfields Lake Weir.

Clifford Hill Pits still hangs on to its Black-necked Grebe and Summer Leys LNR exhibited a Marsh Harrier, a Ruff, a Common Snipe and four Great White Egrets. The Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits hosted a Hobby, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and a Common Snipe.

A Wheatear and a Green Sandpiper were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Common Sandpiper.

Grey Wagtail.

Gadwall.

Above images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grey Heron.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Birds of early September

Hello

An early start at Pitsford Reservoir provided an opportunity to see an Osprey several times in the morning including fishing in the Scaldwell Bay. Other birds included four Great White Egrets, a Wheatear, a Kingfisher and two Common Sandpipers all north of the causeway.

An Osprey caught a fish at Hollowell Reservoir and a Whinchat was still present. A Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper were all still at Eyebrook Reservoir today. Stanford Reservoir provided the Ruddy Shelduck, a Hobby and a Common Sandpiper.

Two Marsh Harriers were at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and a Bittern was at the Titchmarsh Reserve, Thrapston Pits (visible from North Hide) and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was also present.

Six Spotted Flycatchers and lots of Chiffchaffs were at Lamport Hall this afternoon and the Black-necked Grebe was still at Clifford Hill Pits today where there were also two Whinchats.

This evening there were four Whinchats, a Wheatear, a Hobby and two Barn Owls in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Wheatear.

Common Buzzard.

Red Admiral.

Images today from Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Ferruginous Duck, Ospreys and chats.

Hello

A female Ferruginous Duck was found at Stanford Reservoir this morning where there were still three juvenile Arctic Terns, the Ruddy Shelduck, a Great White Egret, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby. Eyebrook Reservoir still retained a Little Stint and also a Curlew Sandpiper, two Wood Sandpipers and a Black Tern.

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Clifford Hill Pits and Summer Leys LNR boasted two Ospreys, a Marsh Harrier, three Garganey, two Great White Egrets, a Greenshank, two Green Sandpipers and a Ruff. An Osprey was also at Titchmarsh reserve, Thrapston Pits and other birds included two Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, three Common Snipe and a Hobby.

A Wheatear, two Whinchats and a Stonechat were all early morning birds at Hollowell Reservoir plus a Common Sandpiper and a Peregrine. Six Yellow-legged Gulls, a Hobby and a Great White Egret were at nearby Ravensthorpe Reservoir. A Raven was between Teeton and Spratton.

A Wheatear and a Grey Partridge were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with Harrington Airfield still retaining a Common Redstart, a Whinchat and a Wheatear. Three Yellow-legged Gulls were off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Cormorants at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Images of the Greenshank and
Ruff at Summer Leys LNR
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Dull weather but not the birding

Hello

At lunchtime today a Whimbrel was on the dam at Pitsford Reservoir before flying off south calling loudly. It subsequently returned and flew north down the reservoir. Birds north of the causeway included three Great White Egrets, a Kingfisher, a Hobby, a Green Sandpiper, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Raven.

Two Whinchats and a Stonechat remain at Hollowell Reservoir today plus a Yellow-legged Gull.

Two Ospreys spent some time at the Titchmarsh reserve, Thrapston Pits today and birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Marsh Harrier and at Clifford Hill Pits the Black-necked Grebe was seen again plus two Common Sandpipers, a Ruff and two Egyptian Geese.

Stanford Reservoir hosted three Arctic Terns, two Great White Egrets, the Ruddy Shelduck and a Common Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint plus six Turnstones were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Passage Swifts were noted over Towcester and Barton Seagrave today and a new Common Redstart, a Hobby and a Peregrine were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

Two Whinchats, a Stonechat, a Wheatear and a Marsh Harrier were all in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with Harrington Airfield providing sightings of a Marsh Harrier, six Ravens, three Common Redstarts and a Whinchat.

Another Common Redstart and up to ten Spotted Flycatchers were mobile at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

A Green Sandpiper and three Yellow-legged Gulls were at the dam-end of Pitsford Reservoir this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Sunbathing Grey Heron
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Whimbrel at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Hawthorn Shieldbug
courtesy of John Tilly.

September already!

Hello

A fairly blustery wind for the last twenty-four hours with spells of hazy sunshine and pleasant conditions.

The two week period of 'Stanstock' which has seen two weeks of intensive ringing at Stanford Reservoir concluded today, which is not to say that is the end of ringing there for a while, just not every day! The preliminary total of birds newly ringed during that period is 3,528 - the majority of these migrant warblers which pass through the habitat daily. An incredible total! Birds seen there today were an Osprey, two Whinchats and a Common Sandpiper.

The north-easterly blow is currently producing lots of interesting passerines on the east coat of Britain today albeit that the wind direction for the coming week is fluctuating with more north-easterlies predicted towards the end of the week.

These strong winds unfortunately had an adverse affect on the ringing at Harrington Airfield with few birds caught and the only noteworthy birds seen were a juvenile Marsh Harrier and at least two Ravens. A single Meadow Pipit was the first of the autumn for me.

A single Osprey was at Pitsford Reservoir today and Hollowell Reservoir hosted a Stonechat, two Whinchats, a Hobby, a Peregrine and a Common Sandpiper. At Ravensthorpe Reservoir a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and four Yellow-legged Gulls were present this afternoon.

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Clifford Hill Pits today and one of the Common Redstarts was on show near the footpath from the Holiday Inn car park again.

At Summer Leys LNR today sightings included a Marsh Harrier, a Garganey, up to five Ruff, a Greenshank, three Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper.

A Cattle Egret was in the Nene Valley by a footpath between Ecton and Earls Barton. A Little Stint and a Garganey were still at Eyebrook Reservoir today. Three Great White Egrets in flight over Woodford Halse this evening was a good local record.

A Marsh Harrier and two Whinchats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at least eight Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Redstart were at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

This evening a Black Tern was off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir and other birds present were at least seven Yellow-legged Gulls and a Ringed Plover.

A Willow Emerald damselfly in a Great Oxendon garden was a good local record.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Whitethroat courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Blackbird courtesy of
John Tilly.

Teal courtesy of
John Tilly.

Treecreeper courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Goldcrest courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

A breezy day but plenty of birds

Hello

Breezy autumn day and dull but mild.

Stanford Reservoir was again the place for migrating passerines with three hundred and ninety-seven small birds newly ringed which included four Common Redstarts and two Grasshopper Warblers. Other birds seen included a Common Sandpiper, the Ruddy Shelduck and a Kingfisher.

Down at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes Kenny and his team enjoyed another excellent ringing session, encountering one hundred and seventeen birds which included forty-two Blackcaps, three Garden Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Sedge Warblers, eight Reed Warblers, eleven Chiffchaffs, three Willow Warblers, a Treecreeper, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, eight Greenfinches and a super Common Redstart. Other birds on-site included a Bittern, a Raven, a Common Sandpiper and several hundred migrating hirundines (mostly House Martins).

At Eyebrook Reservoir today birds included a Little Stint, a Wood Sandpiper and a Knot.

At least seven Cattle Egrets were at Irtlingborough Lakes and Meadows this morning and birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Garganey, a Ruff, a Common Snipe, a Greenshank, three Green Sandpipers, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine and three Black-tailed Godwits in flight.

Three Whinchats were at Hollowell Reservoir today and a Spotted Flycatcher, a Hobby and a Raven were all at New Covert, Kelmarsh.

Ringing will be taking place at Harrington Airfield tomorrow and possibly Monday which ensures restricted access around the bunkers between the chippings compound and the concrete track. Access along the concrete track is unaffected.

Regards

Neil M

Blackcap.

Kingfisher.

Lesser Whitethroat.

Common Redstart.

All images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.