Autumn ringing

Hello

Calmer weather of late has provided bird ringing opportunities in the county and on Saturday 26th October Kenny Cramer and his team conducted a session at Linford Lakes, close to the county border but on the outskirts of Milton Keynes. Eighty-three birds of seventeen species were encountered which included seasonal birds such as twelve Redwings, a high number of thirteen Chiffchaffs, a single Blackcap, three Goldcrests, three Greenfinches, two Goldfinches, two Cetti's Warblers, a Treecreeper, a probable continental Blackbird, a Reed Bunting and the highlight of two first year Kingfishers lying in a mist net side by side.

The day (25th) before and another band of intrepid ringers tried their luck at Stortons Pits which yielded fifty-eight birds of fourteen species including a Moorhen, two Water Rails, a Cetti's Warbler, four Goldcrests, three Chiffchaffs, a single Blackcap again, a Reed Bunting, six Goldfinches and three Greenfinches.

Local ringing has helped to evidence an apparent 'bounce-back' of Greenfinch numbers with the highest numbers processed in the county for some years. Blackcaps seemed to have moved through early this autumn with only odd birds being caught in recent weeks.

Today (Wednesday 30th October) and birds noted at Earls Barton Pits were the continuing Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys LNR and a Hen Harrier again through the new workings this afternoon.

A flock of about twenty Crossbills flew over Mercury Drive on the Brackmills Estate at Northampton this afternoon and at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell there was a large movement of hundreds of Fieldfares moving south and a Short-eared Owl flew over high up.

A Raven was at Fishponds Road, Little Billing this morning causing consternation amongst the local birds and at Stanford Reservoir there was a Whooper Swan, a Pink-footed Goose, six Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, two Kingfishers, a Cetti's Warbler, two Stonechats and a Barn Owl. A Barn Owl was at Courteenhall.

Regards

Neil M

Goldfinch.

Blackcap.

Cetti's Warbler.

Chiffchaff.

Kingfishers.

All above images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Moorhen courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Much the same!

It seems to be "much the same " on the birding front. The Glossy Ibis continues to show well at Summer Leys and has delighted both birders and photographers alike. I have seen some stunning images of this bird and the intricate colours are simply amazing especially when the sunlight catches the bird.                                              There has been up to two Bittern at Titchmarsh LNR plus a Marsh Harrier, 2 Cattle Egrets near Kinewell Lake Ringstead  , 2 adult Caspian Gulls and 4 Stonechats at Hollowell Reservoir and Whooper Swan and 7 Red Crested Pochards at Stanford Reservoir.      In fact Stanford Reservoir has certainly been a bit of a magnet for interesting passerines.  Earlier in the week a Yellow Browed Warbler was trapped and ringed and there was a report of a  Yellow Browed Warbler there today which may be different bird.  The ringers also trapped and ringed a male Firecrest. 

Meanwhile Blueberry area and Harrington Airfield remain very quiet.  Today when I visited there were 2+ Bramblings, a few Siskins and 8 Fieldfares and 2 Golden Plovers flew over calling.                                                                                       Whilst it has been really pleasant being out and about enjoying this warm spell of Autumn sunshine I think that these southerly winds have put a full stop on the birds that are waiting to move down from the north.  I'm sure that once the winds come from the North there will be a big movement of birds.  Looking ahead to next week the forecast is indicating a gentle north wind Tuesday/Wednesday and a definite switch to northerly winds next weekend so fingers crossed for some new birds.

Regards Eleanor 

Carrion Crow.

Raven.

Goldfinch.

Gadwall.

Mid Week

Mid week already!! My birding list is virtually non existent despite being out and about.  But I have enjoyed watching other things, Hares, Roe Deer, Red Admirals, amazing rainbows, beautiful sunrises and sunsets and of course the myriad of the autumn colours which are now coming to the fore.

Thankfully other folks have had more success on the birding front. Today a Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed at Stanford Reservoir.  Other birds at Stanford include 5 Red-crested Pochards and a Whooper Swan. A Bittern was photographed at Titchmarsh LNR.  The Glossy Ibis remains at Summer Leys and this evening a Wood Sandpiper was also seen there.           If you are interested in gulls there has been Mediterranean Gulls reported from Summer Leys,  Boddington and Stanford Reservoirs.  Up to 12 Yellow-legged Gulls and a Caspian Gull have also been seen at Boddington Reservoir. 

Regards Eleanor 

Muntjac.

Brown Hare.

Great White Egret.

Stonechat.

All images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Start of a New Week

 A much calmer start to the new week after the wet and windy weekend which may have played a part in a first winter Shag ending up at Ravensthorpe Reservoir . Unfortunately the bird didn't linger after being disturbed by a fishing boat.                                                                             Other birds reported today include a Whooper Swan at Stanford Reservoir,  Marsh Harrier at Titchmarsh LNR,  Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys and 7 Great White Egrets at Clifford Hill GP.                                                                                 This afternoon I walked a large circuit around Blueberry area,  Brampton Valley Way and shrike hedge area and saw absolutely nothing of note !!  Earlier I had visited Harrington Airfield and again found it to be a "birdless zone ".  Whilst sitting around waiting for the invisible birds to show I saw a beautiful Stoat. I  knew that something was about as a couple of Blue Tits became very vocal and agitated.  As I watched a Stoat appeared and simply looked at me and the dogs and then just carried on.     A short while later when I was again adopting the sit and  wait approach a Roe Deer put in an appearance, and like the Stoat had a look at me but then just carried on. 

The weekend was fairly quiet on the birding front.  Although I was out and about I didn't see anything of note. However others were more fortunate and notched up 6 Cattle Egrets near Kinewell Lake Ringstead,  3 House Martins over Dallington Cemetery,  Mediterranean Gull at Boddington Reservoir,  Short Eared Owl at Harrington Airfield,  3 Cattle Egrets at Chacombe near Banbury plus Ring Tail Hen Harrier,  Pink Footed Goose and Red Crested Pochards at Stanford Reservoir. 

I wonder what this week will bring?

Regards Eleanor 

Great Tit.

Mute Swan cygnet
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Blackbird courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

A bit of movement

 After spending a rather pleasant three weeks of wandering around on the Isle of Scilly it is back to birding my local area.  Of course I couldn't wait to get back to Harrington Airfield!!!!.  Not much change there, on Wednesday there were birds everywhere but today I struggled to find anything.  My visit on Wednesday coincided with the mist/fog lifting and as I meandered slowly through the bushes I was aware that the bushes were heaving with Redwings and all the while I was there parties of Redwings were flying over and the air was filled with their lovely call. There were literally hundreds of Redwings present.                As I  stood around bunker 2 I heard the distinctive harsh chacking call of a Ring Ouzel which eventually showed itself briefly.    Other birds of note were 2 pairs of Stonechats and 25 Golden Plovers as well as the usual Ravens.    Yesterday there were far less Redwings present and I could only find one pair of Stonechat,  but there were 3 Chiffchaffs,  a Brambling and a Siskin.   Today it was a "birdless" zone !!.                                                                             I have also been checking the area around shrike hedge below Hanging Houghton  and 6 Stonechats appear to have moved in.  I'm not sure how much longer they will be there for as some of there favourite habitat has been cut back.

There has been a few interesting birds around in the last few days. Today a Yellow Browed Warbler was heard calling well by the River Nene opposite Mill Lane,  Earls Barton GP,  a Hen Harrier was at Stanford Reservoir,  Mediterranean Gull at Boddington Reservoir,  6 Cattle Egret in a field of cows near Kinewell Lake,  Ringstead,  Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys and Marsh Harrier reported from Ditchford Gp and Summer Leys.                                                   Yesterday there was a Yellow Legged Gull and Goldeneye at Ravensthorpe Reservoir,  Caspian Gull and 2 Stonechat at Hollowell Reservoir,  Glossy Ibis and Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys,  plus Pink Footed Goose, 4 Red Crested Pochards and a Hen Harrier at Stanford Reservoir. 

Have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor 

Glossy Ibis.

Moorhen.

Jay.

Great White Egret.

All images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Mid October birding

Hello

A ringing session took place at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on Saturday and ninety-four birds were processed by the small band of ringers there, seventy-one of which were newly ringed. Twenty species was a diverse representation which included a Water Rail, a Black-headed Gull, six Blackcaps, five Chiffchaffs, fifteen Redwings and fifteen Greenfinches. Other birds were two Goldfinches, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Green Woodpecker and a Reed Bunting. A Goldcrest was captured and at the other end of the scale so was a Mute Swan!

A small flock of Swallows passed through, a Raven was noted and three Great Crested Newts looked as if they were about to slumber for the winter.

Today some more ringing took place at Woodford Halse which was also productive producing fifty-three birds which included three Blackbirds, a Goldcrest, a Grey Wagtail and a male Sparrowhawk.

In the Nene Valley today there was a Mediterranean Gull and a Marsh Harrier at Stanwick Pits and eight Cattle Egrets were in a paddock north east of of Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits. Great White and Little Egrets were noted at Upton Country Park.

At Pitsford Reservoir a very weak-looking Black Tern was in the vicinity of the causeway this morning plus two Common Sandpipers were on the dam with flocks of Redwings passing over. Two Grey Wagtails were at Hanging Houghton.

Two adult Caspian Gulls were at Hollowell Reservoir today and Stanford Reservoir recorded a Yellow-browed Warbler (seen just briefly), four Red-crested Pochards, a Stonechat, a Reed Warbler, two Cetti's Warblers, two Water Rails, an adult Caspian Gull and two hundred and fifty Redwings.

This afternoon there was a female Merlin and six Stonechats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton near to 'shrike hedge'.

Regards

Neil M

Black-headed Gull.

Dunnock.

Water Rail.

Great Crested Newt.

Images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Back in the county

Hello

Now back in the county after three weeks down on the Scillies with plenty of good birding!

Locally the long-staying Glossy Ibis remains at Summer Leys LNR although it seems to visit other areas of the complex and may be the bird seen briefly at Stanwick Pits yesterday. Other birds for Summer Leys today include a Stonechat and nine Pintail.

A Bittern and a Mediterranean Gull were both on the main pit at Stanwick Pits this morning and Thrapston Pits hosted a Marsh Harrier, a Common Sandpiper and a Dunlin, all on the Titchmarsh reserve.

A female Merlin, a Brambling and a Stonechat were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning, in the vicinity of 'shrike hedge'.

Two female Scaup were reported at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning and at Stanford Reservoir four Whooper Swans were present early this morning before flying off east. Four Red-crested Pochard and two Water Rails were also present.

Some ringing at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday morning (Sunday) provided a male Sparrowhawk, two Redwings, four Reed Buntings and fourteen Long-tailed Tits amongst other birds.

Regards

Neil M

Stonechat Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of John Tilly.

Great White Egret courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Reed Bunting courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Cock Pheasant courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Firecrest caught and ringed 
in the Isles of Scilly this autumn.

Scilly images

Hello

A few images from our recent trip to the Scillies...

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret (Cornwall).

Brown Trout (Cornwall).

White Wagtail.

Mediterranean Gull.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Mediterranean Gull.

Small Copper.

Great White Egret.

Red-backed Shrike.

Rock Pipit.

Osprey.

Harrington between the rain

 I timed my walk at Harrington perfectly this morning and managed to avoid a soaking.

 

Getting out of the car by the chippings compound the first thing I heard was a calling Golden Plover, my first locally this autumn. I couldn't locate the bird(s) and didn't hear it again.

3 Kestrels were hunting together over the field making me wonder if they were a family group. 

Further on a Hare popped out in front of me before disappearing back into the undergrowth, the first of 3 sightings, all equally brief.

A flock of Linnets and Goldfinches, roughly 40 strong were on the wing and vocal for most of the walk.

 

A Common Blue butterfly was taking advantage of the weather window to get some nectar.

A Peacock, Red Admiral and unidentified White were also on the wing along with a pair of mating Common Darter dragonflies.

2 separate, very vocal Ravens were both heading elsewhere at speed, whilst the improved conditions saw multiple Buzzards and a lone Kite taking advantage of the thermals to gain height. One of the Buzzards, although extremely distant stood out as being a noticeably paler bird.

Reports from elsewhere in the county have been somewhat limited with sites in the Nene Valley suffering severe flooding.

Boddington Res has had Red-crested Pochard, Common Sandpiper, Stonechat and Yellow-legged Gull today.

The 4 Black Terns were again on the Main Barrage Lake at Clifford Hill. Also present 2 Northern Wheatears, 2 Common Sands and a Hobby.

The Stanford Reservoir Bittern was seen again in reed on the south side of the Res along with 7 Red-crested Pochard.

    Regards,

              Neil H.

Birds of the season

Hello

Another quiet day in the county today but at Stanford Reservoir a Bittern was seen several times and other birds were six Red-crested Pochard still, a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Water Rail, two Cetti's Warblers and singles of Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler.

A regular adult Caspian Gull was again at Naseby Reservoir and single Hobbies were seen at Piddington and just inside Bedfordshire at Poddington and over the village of Cogenhoe. At Summer Leys LNR there were two Hobbies there too plus singles of Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and two Pintail. The Hobbies are no doubt feeding up before they follow the martins and Swallows south to Africa.

A Garganey and a Turnstone were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Hobby courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Bittern courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Yellow-browed Warbler 
courtesy of Robin Gossage.
A major arrival is occurring in the
north and east of the nation with
a scattering elsewhere...

Rock Pipit courtesy of
Tony Stanford.
This is the best time of year and
into October to chance across
this scarce species in the county.
They seem to have become much
more difficult to see in recent years.