Still cold and icy

Hello

Well despite what the weather forecasters suggested, today was another cold day with sub-zero temperatures pre-dawn and a hard frost!

A collection of small birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning included two hundred Linnets, a hundred Goldfinches and smaller numbers of Chaffinches and Skylarks and was enough to create two Merlin observations involving at least one male and possibly two. Grey Partridges were calling and a couple of Red Foxes were on the prowl and at least one Barn Owl was hunting with a Brambling coming down for seed.

Nearby and a Peregrine and a Short-eared Owl were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a Raven was in Hanging Houghton village.

A new bird in was a Black Redstart at Daventry as found by Ian at his works address at Cummins Engine Plant. A Cattle Egret was at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR and birds at Clifford Hill Pits amounted to a Pink-footed Goose, six Goosanders, a Great White Egret and a Yellow-legged Gull.

Three Yellow-legged Gulls were in the roost at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a Caspian Gull, fifty-five Great Black-backed Gulls, a Great White Egret, seven Goosanders, a Kingfisher and a Cetti's Warbler. An adult drake Smew was seen at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

A mixture of gulls at Stortons
Pits including Great Black-backed
Gulls courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Tawny Owl courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Little Grebe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

A red morning beginning

Hello

Hopefully our last cold day for a while but still a day of feed station maintenance locally.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included three Grey Partridges, a Raven, a Golden Plover and one or two Barn Owl(s).

Stanford Reservoir hosted a drake Pintail, seven Goosanders, a Great White Egret, a Stonechat, a Water Rail, a Golden Plover, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir included the now long-staying Great Northern Diver, three or four Stonechats and a Barn Owl. At Ravensthorpe Reservoir the two White-fronted Geese were still present and a drake Smew was present in the ice hole. Up to five Smew and a Scaup were still at Eyebrook Reservoir.

A late afternoon visit to Harrington Airfield yielded sightings of a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl and a Woodcock.

At Titchmarsh reserve today there was a Great White Egret, a Goosander, four drake Pintail and a couple of Common Snipe. Blackcaps turned up in gardens at Wellingborough and Oundle today and Fieldfares were reported in several gardens too.

Deene Lake provided some good birding with a Jack Snipe, two Whooper Swans in flight, a Great White Egret, ten Shelducks, three Black Swans, two Egyptian Geese, a pair of Stonechats and a Redpoll.

Two Peregrines were in Northampton today, two Redpolls were at Kelmarsh and a Siskin was at Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

A very red morning in the
Brampton Valley.

Muntjac.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Ring-necked Parakeet courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

A cold January Saturday

Hello

Another cold, crispy day but it looks as if this period of cold weather will be changing to warmer weather in the new week.

The Pitsford Reservoir Great Northern Diver was still present again today in The Narrows with a pair of Stonechats nearby, three Pintail in a break in the ice north of the causeway, three Tree Sparrows at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station and a Jack Snipe which was flushed from a field between Scaldwell village and the reservoir, flying towards the latter.

Two drake Smew and the Scaup were still at Eyebrook Reservoir and the Nene Valley provided a White-fronted Goose in flight over Whiston Pits and nearby birds below Cogenhoe and in the vicinity of Cogenhoe Lock included a Cattle Egret, a Marsh Harrier, a fly-over Curlew, two Green Sandpipers and several Common Snipe. Seven Goosanders were at Clifford Hill Pits late this morning.

A female Blackcap was in a garden at Wollaston and a pair of Blackcaps have been regular in a Spratton garden during the last week.

A Short-eared Owl was out hunting at Harrington Airfield this morning, followed a while later by a Barn Owl. Other birds included three Golden Plovers and plenty of Yellowhammers.

A Short-eared Owl was in hedging at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon with another not too far away on private land with no public access. A female Peregrine and two Woodcock were also at Blueberry Farm and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included two Barn Owls, a Grey Wagtail, thirteen Grey Partridges, two hundred Linnets, a hundred Goldfinches and forty Skylarks.

Regards

Neil M

Wintry scenes at Pitsford Reservoir
today with much of the reservoir
north of the causeway being ice.

Fallow Deer courtesy
of Jonathan Pitt.

Long-tailed Tits courtesy
of Jonathan Pitt.

Magpie.

SP54 Short Day Count

Hello

Potentially the coldest nights and day of the winter so far saw three of us complete the Banbury Ornithological Society Short Day Count in SP54 - in the deep south of the county!

We started at Thenford and found plenty of common finches which included a Redpoll and a few Siskins and several Greenfinches but not the hoped-for Hawfinches. The corvids were vocal and included a couple of Ravens and a Grey Wagtail was present too. More Ravens were at Marston St Lawrence and a couple of Siskins too and at least four Ravens were at Farthinghoe LNR and where a flock of twenty Golden Plovers were heading over south. Over three hundred Lapwings were seen flying south during the day in response to even more adverse conditions further north.

Another bird that was responding to the cold weather was the Skylark with about a hundred near Trafford Bridge, a flock of fifty near Sulgrave and small numbers elsewhere. An unidentified small egret was seen in flight also near Sulgrave and couldn't be found again, a covey of eight Grey Partridge were on the edge of the square towards Chacombe and a Barn Owl was seen at Weedon Lois. A female Shoveler in a hole in the ice was noteworthy at Edgecote where there was also a Grey Wagtail and thrushes were particularly evident today with good numbers of all five common species trying to feed in the frosty fields.

Mammals featured too with Fallow Deer, Roe Deer, Red Fox, Grey Squirrel, Rabbit and Brown Hare all being espied.

Elsewhere and three drake Smew and a Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir, the Ruddy Shelduck moved from Winwick Pools to Hollowell Reservoir (where there were also four Stonechats) and Stanford Reservoir continued to host the two Whooper Swans, a Great White Egret, five Goosanders, a Water Rail, three Chiffchaffs and a Stonechat.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Great Northern Diver was again seen in The Narrows and the two White-fronted Geese were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Another White-fronted Goose was in the Nene Valley with Greylags at Billing Pits and birds nearby at Ecton SF included a Green Sandpiper, a Cetti's Warbler and at least two Chiffchaffs.

Other Nene Valley birds included the Glossy Ibis, a Caspian Gull, two Great White Egrets, two Golden Plovers and six Common Snipe at Summer Leys LNR, a Cetti's Warbler and a Water Rail at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows, a Great White Egret at Grendon Pond and a Caspian Gull at Whiston Pits between Cogenhoe and Earls Barton.

The two Short-eared Owls were still on private land near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included two Barn Owls, fifty Skylarks and a Grey Wagtail.

Birds for Harrington Airfield included the 'ringtail' Hen Harrier again, a Barn Owl and fourteen Grey Partridges and two Siskins were at the Sandy Lane Attenuation Pond at Duston.

Regards

Neil M

Mute Swan.

Grey Partridges courtesy
of Jacob Spinks.

Edgcote.

Lapwing.

A cold night ahead

Hello

A cold day with temperatures struggling to rise above freezing despite some lovely winter sunshine and some especially cold temperatures tonight and tomorrow morning.

The Common Guillemot wasn't reported at Eyebrook Reservoir today but a Scaup and four drake Smew were present.

Two Whooper Swans were at Stanford Reservoir this afternoon plus a Great White Egret, five Goosanders, a Water Rail, a Stonechat and three Chiffchaffs.

The Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys LNR as were three Great White Egrets and pairs of Peregrines were in situ at two urban sites in the county.

The two Short-eared Owls remain on private land not far from Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a Barn Owl, fifty Skylarks and two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton with another Grey Wagtail in the valley below Brixworth.

At Harrington Airfield there were nine Grey Partridges, at least sixty Yellowhammers, at least eighty Skylarks and both Common Buzzard and Red Kite were attracted to a Red Fox corpse.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was in the gull roost at Pitsford Reservoir and there were single Ravens both there and at Hanging Houghton. Four Tree Sparrows were noted at Pitsford's Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station.

A pair of Stonechats were at Towcester, a Goosander was at Abington Park, Northampton and seven Goosanders and a Great White Egret were at Daventry Country Park.

The two White-fronted Geese were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today where two Egyptian Geese and a Woodcock were also seen and the Ruddy Shelduck was still at Winwick Pools.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Tit.

Great Tit.

Song Thrush courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Great White Egret courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Long-tailed Tit courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Hungry birds in the cold

Hello

Another cold day but without sunshine and little in the way of wind, the morning frost remained for a long time and the birds were hungry!

In this weather I tend to use far more bird food at the ten feeding stations we maintain including our own garden. Interestingly a field near Maidwell was being ploughed today and this pulled in gulls, Red Kites, Fieldfares, Starlings and Pied Wagtails all looking for this unseasonal bounty.

The Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys LNR, the Ruddy Shelduck was at Winwick Pools, the Great Northern Diver was at Pitsford Reservoir and perhaps most surprisingly, a Common Guillemot was reported at Eyebrook Reservoir this afternoon. The two White-fronted Geese were still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today.

Three Kingfishers were looking for food at Upton Country Park, two Tree Sparrows were at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir and birds at Ecton Sewage Farm and Billing Pits included two Green Sandpipers, a Great White Egret, Ring-necked Parakeets and in excess of fifteen Chiffchaffs.

Wintering Blackcaps were in gardens at Brixworth, Creaton, Hartwell and Duston, Northampton.

Two Short-eared Owls were still on private land near to Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a female Peregrine was nearby. In the Brampton Valley there were two Grey Wagtails near Draughton Crossing and a Barn Owl, a Green Sandpiper and two Little Egrets were below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Early morning at Fawsley Park (yesterday).

Kingfishers.

Pied Wagtails.

Meadow Pipit.

Above five images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

SP55 Short Day Count

Hello

A cold and partly-sunny winter day was just the weather for a Banbury Ornithological Society Short Day Count in SP55 in the west of the county. Fawsley Park dominates this 10km square as far as habitat is concerned and about half the day was spent exploring from the footpaths. A Barn Owl was one of the first birds noted and a Cetti's Warbler, three Water Rails and some noisy Ravens were next. An initial flock of nine Siskins was a precursor to a flock of seventy Siskins in the alders which also contained two Redpolls and a few Goldfinches.

The Catesby area was next with a pair of Stonechats and eight Siskins and a couple of Ravens being the best. A Kingfisher was at Byfield Pool, two Goosanders and a flock of Common Snipe outside the square were at Boddington Reservoir and a large flock of finches near West Farndon included 150 - 200 Chaffinches, two Bramblings and over a hundred Linnets. At least one Grey Wagtail at Byfield Water Treatment Works was in singing mode. Red Kites, Common Buzzards, Woodpigeons and corvids were high profile today but for the first time ever we couldn't find a Yellowhammer in the square. It is likely that the remaining Yellowhammers in the area are gathered together in one flock and we didn't find it but this species is still very much on the downturn nationally.

The Glossy Ibis remained faithful to Summer Leys LNR today, the Ruddy Shelduck was at Winwick Pools and the Great Northern Diver was still at Pitsford Reservoir between Pintail Bay and the dam. The two White-fronted Geese were also still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and three drake Smew remain at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Stephen Allen did well today, finding single Hawfinches at both Greens Norton and Towcester Churchyard.

Two Stonechats and six Common Snipe were at Upton Country Park, a pair of Stonechats were at Towcester and a Pink-footed Goose and three Egyptian Geese were on the south bank of the main lake at Clifford Hill Pits.  A Great White Egret flew over Greens Norton playing fields at lunchtime.

The birds recorded at Stanford Reservoir today included the first year Mediterranean Gull again, a Great White Egret, four Goosanders, a Kingfisher, a Stonechat and five Chiffchaffs. The two Short-eared Owls were again on private land near to Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Stonechats at Upton Country Park
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Roe Deer.

More flood water!

Hello

Another wintry day and lots of flood water as our water courses breach their banks yet again!

The Glossy Ibis extends it's stay at Summer Leys LNR and the Great Northern Diver was still present at Pitsford Reservoir moving between the Pintail Bay and the Gorses.

A Stanford Reservoir there was a first year Mediterranean Gull in the roost, a Great White Egret, six Goosanders, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff. A female Red-crested Pochard, a Yellow-legged Gull and six Goosanders were at Daventry Country Park.

Two Short-eared Owls near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell relocated to some private land today. A Barn Owl was at Harrington Airfield this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Great Crested Grebe.

Great Northern Diver.

Common Buzzard.

Rook.

Birds of the snow.

Hello

Overnight snow and a gradual thaw during the day, accelerating this afternoon when the temperatures rose leaving more sodden ground and a murky night ahead.

Birds noted at Stanford Reservoir today included a Water Rail, a Goosander, two Chiffchaffs and a Kingfisher.

The Great Northern Diver remains at Pitsford Reservoir, this afternoon coasting around on a completely still, flat calm water. Two adult Yellow-legged Gulls were there too.

Two Short-eared Owls were disturbed from hedging near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and three Woodcock were still present too. Nearby a male Merlin was seen near shrike hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. A Barn Owl was at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

A male Blackcap was again in our garden at Hanging Houghton today and another was seen in a garden in Abington, Northampton with a female in a garden in Duston, Northampton.

A drake Red-crested Pochard was on Mill Lake at Barnwell Country Park, two drake Smew were at Eyebrook Reservoir and the female Ruddy Shelduck was again seen at Winwick Pools.

Regards

Neil M

Kestrel.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Robin.

Images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Ringing at Pitsford Reservoir.

Hello

Another cold day with temperatures struggling to rise much above freezing all day and with low cloud in anticipation for some potential snow tonight.

Some ringing at Pitsford Reservoir at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay provided almost one hundred and fifty birds of fourteen species, amounting to eighty-three new birds and sixty-six birds ringed from an earlier date. Perhaps the most remarkable bird was the same Jay featured on yesterday's post, perhaps two miles away from where caught on Monday (Scaldwell village) - it certainly gets around a bit and clearly knows where there is some bird food on offer! Other birds processed included a Goldcrest, a Treecreeper, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, three Chaffinches, three Blackbirds and two Redwings. Other birds noted on-site included a Peregrine, a Woodcock and two Ravens and south of the causeway the Great Northern Diver was near The Narrows.

Stanford Reservoir today provided a first winter Mediterranean Gull, a first winter Caspian Gull, a Great White Egret, three Water Rails, three Goosanders and two Ravens. Eyebrook Reservoir was good for a Scaup and three drake Smew, the two White-fronted Geese were seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and nearby fields and an adult Caspian Gull was at Hollowell Reservoir. A Jack Snipe was seen at Stortons Pits.

The Glossy Ibis remained at Summer Leys LNR and a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier also appeared on the reserve. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was at Clifford Hill Pits, a female Red-crested Pochard was at Daventry Country Park and a couple of Hawfinches were mobile in Cottesbrooke village.

A Pair of Blackcaps were in our garden at Hanging Houghton today attracted to apples and a female was in Geoff's garden at Barton Seagrave.

In the Brampton Valley today there were two Woodcock between Hanging Houghton and Brixworth and this evening two Barn Owls and a Green Sandpiper were below Hanging Houghton. An adult female Peregrine and two Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier appeared at Harrington Airfield at lunchtime with other birds being eight Golden Plovers, two Woodcock and a Barn Owl.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Jay courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Nest camera footage of 
local owl nest-boxes featuring
Tawny and Barn Owl
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Winter birding

Hello

Another cold but pleasant winter's day with some lovely sunshine.

More evidence of cold weather movement today with more finches and extra Woodcock locally.

Yesterday (Thursday) and a large flock of about three hundred and fifty Linnets were discovered in the Brampton Valley at Merry Tom Lane. Today and still a hundred Linnets and a hundred Goldfinches, two Bramblings and thirty Skylarks plus the usual two Grey Wagtails were in the valley below Hanging Houghton. Three Woodcock and hundreds of Starlings, Redwings and Fieldfares were busy in the fields in the Blueberry Farm area near Maidwell.

A large adult female Peregrine was perched in a field to the west of the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon where there was also a vocal Raven, and two Tree Sparrows were at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station.

A Barn Owl, a Raven, a Golden Plover and fifty Skylarks were at Harrington Airfield today and birds noted at Lamport Hall this afternoon included a flock of fifteen Pink-footed Geese low and vocal heading off towards Pitsford Reservoir, a Barn Owl and two Woodcock. Single Siskins were at Scotland Wood and Kelmarsh Hall.

Eyebrook Reservoir hung on to three Smew again today, the two White-fronted Geese and two Egyptian Geese were in fields between the reservoir and Ravensthorpe village and the former were also on the reservoir at one point. The long-staying Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys LNR and the Black-tailed Godwit also remained.

Three Goosanders were at Daventry Country Park, a Goosander was at Stortons Pits, up to five Hawfinches were counted at Blatherwycke Churchyard and nearby Deene Lake hosted eight Shelducks, over two hundred Teal, two Black Swans and a Green Sandpiper.

A Hawfinch was seen in Cottesbrooke village this afternoon, in yews near to the Old Rectory and two pairs of Stonechat were along the river at Towcester.

Regards

Neil M

This adult Jay was recently
trapped in Scaldwell village
and found to be a ringed bird.
It was originally ringed at Pitsford
Reservoir in September 2014 as an
adult and has been caught there
 twice since. This bird is at least
eleven years old.

Image courtesy of
Charlotte Foote.

Tawny Owl courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Goosander courtesy
of Tony Stanford.