A good start to the week

It has certainly been a good start to the week if you managed to catch up with the birds at Clifford Hill GP. The star birds being a dark bellied Brent Goose,  a Knot and 5 Avocets. Not bad for a dreary November day in the county. 

Whilst at Summer Leys the long staying Glossy Ibis remains and continues to show well.  Nearby at Earls Barton GP the Ringtail Hen Harrier was again present before heading off towards Whiston.   2 Bitterns and 6 Red Crested Pochards were reported from Stanwick GP and a Woodcock from Stortons GP. 

Away from the Nene Valley there was Mediterranean Gull,  Caspian Gull,  4 Stonechats and a Cettis Warbler at Hollowell Reservoir.  A Black Redstart was present at a private area near Braunston.   Plenty of Gulls in the roost at Boddington Reservoir including an adult and two 2nd winter Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Caspian Gulls and 12+ Yellow Legged Gulls.  Earlier in the day 9 Hawfinches flew through heading south. 

I made an early morning visit to Harrington Airfield and there was obviously a heavy movement of birds over. Lots of Skylarks and large numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares.  But the  largest numbers on the move were Wood Pigeons. For a while there were hundreds of Wood Pigeons going over, heading south. I've no idea where they had all come from or where they were heading,  but this is something that I have witnessed many times.    Other birds seen were a male Merlin hurtling over the fields,  Woodcock , 2 Bramblings,  60 Golden Plovers and the usual Ravens. 

The Northamptonshire Bird Club will be meeting on Wednesday evening 7.30pm at the Lodge, Pitsford Water.  Everyone welcome. 

Regards Eleanor  

Kestrel courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Greylag Geese
courtesy of John Tilly.

Brown Hare.

Great autumn birding

Hello

Another still and grey day was still good for migration with thrushes and finches moving for much of the day.

Plenty of birds at Stanford Reservoir included a rare visitor to the site in the shape of a Knot which flew around and off this morning, a Mediterranean Gull, a Caspian Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, six Red-crested Pochards, two Goosanders, a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, an estimated thousand Redwings, six Golden Plovers, two Cetti's Warblers and a Brambling.

At Earls Barton Pits, the 'ringtail' Hen Harrier again showed at the new workings section of the complex and the Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys LNR plus a hundred Golden Plovers and a female Stonechat. At Stanwick Pits, eight Cattle Egrets flew over the Main Lake this morning and a Pink-footed Goose was with a goose flock which flew over north-east.

Hawfinches were seen again today with two at Cottesbrooke visible from Station Road/playing field area and two were seen briefly at Blatherwycke churchyard but with a single seen again later. A Crossbill was seen flying over Cottesbrooke and other finches at Blatherwycke were three Bramblings and a Redpoll with a drake Red-crested Pochard on the lake. A Crossbill was over Hollowell village this afternoon and a Brambling was at Hanging Houghton.

With a Booted Eagle being seen in counties to the south over successive days, keep looking up!

Regards

Neil M

Yellow-legged Gull.

Blackbird.

Red Kite.

An interesting Blue Tit

Hello

The continued calm and mild conditions provided some more opportunities for ringing today even if there was more drizzle than expected. Over at Greens Norton Chris Payne conducted some garden ringing and caught a high total of fifty-four Goldfinches, six Blue Tits, two Great Tits, two Starlings and a Collared Dove. One of the Blue Tits, an adult bird, demonstrated an unusual bill deformity with the upper mandible being 24mm longer than the lower mandible and curved downwards. The bird was in fine fettle and a healthy weight so it clearly has adapted to it's odd bill growth.

At Pitsford Reservoir today a small catch of birds around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station included a Jackdaw, a Song Thrush, two Redwings, two Blackbirds, two Blackcaps, a Meadow Pipit and a female Stonechat. A flock of about twenty Pink-footed Geese flew north there at dawn and other birds noted included three hundred Redwings moving south, smaller numbers of Skylarks and Fieldfares going the same way, a Yellow-legged Gull, an apparent hybrid gull (maybe Yellow-legged x Lesser Black-backed?) somewhat resembling a Caspian Gull, thirty Common Snipe, a Grey Wagtail, a Kingfisher, a Great White Egret and six Pintail.

Three Hawfinches were seen at Thenford church this afternoon and one was seen briefly at Cottesbrooke village this morning.

At Stanford Reservoir this morning there were seven Whooper Swans which departed at 8.25am, six Red-crested Pochards, a Great White Egret, a Yellow-legged Gull and two Redpoll.

Seven Whooper Swans, perhaps the same birds from Stanford, flew east over Clifford Hill Pits at about 9.30am. The Glossy Ibis, a Marsh Harrier, over two hundred Golden Plovers and a female Stonechat were at Summer Leys LNR this morning and a drake Red-crested Pochard and a Green Sandpiper were on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits this morning. A Redshank, a Common Snipe and two Pintail were at Stanwick Pits.

Twelve Pink-footed Geese flew north-east over Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon and a Green Sandpiper and two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

At Harrington Airfield this morning there was a Short-eared Owl, a large number of Redwings and Fieldfares were on the move plus two Bramblings and four Redpolls.

A Great White Egret was in flight at Brackley this morning and at Blatherwycke Lake there was a drake Red-crested Pochard, two Egyptian Geese and a Black Swan with three Black Swans at Deene Lake.

Regards

Neil M

Blue Tit courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Female Stonechat
courtesy of Jane Neill.

Jackdaw courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Redwing courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Meadow Pipit courtesy
of Olivia Neilson.

Hawfinches!

Hello

A day of finch passage today accentuated by Hawfinches being seen in the county as part of a nationwide invasion of this species which is still gaining momentum. It made sense to visit the sites where Hawfinches were found following the last invasion, often where there are stands of yew trees. Jon did just that and found two Hawfinches in Cottesbrooke village this morning with still one there this afternoon (plus three Crossbills feeding in conifers in the nearby churchyard). John Friendship-Taylor did much the same thing and checked out Thenford churchyard where three birds were seen. I struck lucky with five vocal birds overflying me at Harrington Airfield late this morning. At least four of these birds came down in the trees next to the concrete track but then flew on again.

Chaffinches were also very much on the move today with a single Brambling noted with them at Hanging Houghton and with two Bramblings at Harrington Airfield. Fifteen mobile Golden Plovers were also noted at Harrington Airfield.

At Pitsford Reservoir today an adult Yellow-legged Gull, thirty Common Snipe, a male Stonechat, a Great White Egret, two drake Red-crested Pochard and a Pintail were noted in the Scaldwell Bay. An adult Caspian Gull was seen in the Walgrave Bay and this evening four Whooper Swans flew over heading north towards the same bay.

At Summer Leys LNR the Glossy Ibis was seen in wader bay at about 9am and other birds included a high count of eight Great White Egrets, two Pintail, two hundred and fifty Lapwings and eighteen Golden Plovers. Eight Cattle Egrets were on the main lake at Stanwick Pits this morning.

An adult male Hen Harrier sweeping across the fields between Brixworth and Cottesbrooke this afternoon must have been a fine sight, the bird disappearing off towards Creaton.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a first winter Mediterranean Gull, an adult Caspian Gull, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, six Red-crested Pochards, two Stonechats, four Redpolls caught and ringed, a Great White Egret and over three hundred Fieldfares.

Regards

Neil M

Hawfinch Forest of Dean
in 2015.

Hawfinch at Cottesbrooke
on 1st January 2018 during
the last invasion winter.

End of month birds

Hello

A Red-throated Diver at Boddington Reservoir today was an excellent late autumn find and was still present early this afternoon. The Glossy Ibis continues to delight at Summer Leys LNR and at Grafton Regis/Bozenham Mill a Yellow-browed Warbler was seen yesterday and today.

Two adult Caspian Gulls were still at Hollowell Reservoir this morning and two Stonechats were also present.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there was a Great White Egret, three Pintail and a Stonechat in the Scaldwell Bay, a Woodcock, a Raven and eight Siskins at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the gull roost off the dam where also two Grey Wagtails.

A pair of Stonechats were at Barnes Meadow LNR this afternoon plus two Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Water Rail and two Kingfishers. Two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and an adult female Peregrine was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

The settled weather conditions and mild temperatures with autumnal sunshine ensures there are still a few butterflies and dragonflies on the wing.

Regards

Neil M

Lapwings courtesy
of John Tilly.

Great White Egrets.

Glossy Ibis.

Above three images
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

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.