Spring into Summer

Hello

Local birds of interest were again limited today but at Pitsford Reservoir there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull off the dam and an Osprey and two Hobbies were north of the causeway.

At Stanford Reservoir there were three Oystercatchers, two Cuckoos and a Kingfisher and at Clifford Hill Pits this morning there was a Cattle Egret and two Avocets. Summer Leys LNR attracted a Dunlin plus Redshanks and Little Ringed Plovers.

An adult Kittiwake was briefly at Titchmarsh LNR at Thrapston Pits at lunchtime before flying south. A pair of Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Brooding skies over
Harrington Airfield
this evening.

Cattle Egret at Clifford
Hill Pits this morning.

Great White Egret.

Little Egret.

All egret images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Ringing recoveries

Hello

A wet and windy day and consequently there were few reported sightings in the county.

Two Avocets were at Clifford Hill Pits again this morning and Eyebrook Reservoir attracted five Sanderling and twenty-two Ringed Plovers. At Stanwick Pits there was a drake Mandarin Duck, four Ringed Plovers and a hepatic female Cuckoo.

A Ringed Plover was at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon and two Yellow-legged Gulls were off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this morning with three Kingfishers and a Cuckoo at Stanford Reservoir.

Recent ringing recoveries associated with Northants Ringing Group activities are as follows:-

1. A nestling Sand Martin was ringed at Lax Hill, Rutland Water on 8th July 2022 and caught in a mist net at Pitsford Reservoir on 24th April 2025 when believed to be a breeding female. Although the two sites are only 37km apart this small hirundine will have visited and wintered in Africa on three occasions;

2. A first year male Blackcap was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 18th August 2024 and found dead in a garden, perhaps having collided with a patio window, at Harpenden, Hertfordshire on12th April 2025, 237 days later and 42km away;

3. A nestling Barn Owl was ringed at a confidential site in Northamptonshire on 8th August 2024 and watched hunting at Piddington on 11th April 2025 when the ring was successfully read in the field, 246 days later and 10km from where first ringed;

4. An adult male Blackbird was ringed in Scaldwell village on 8th June 2024 but was found dead after hitting a window in the same village on 12th April 2025, 308 days later;

5. A juvenile female Starling was ringed at Hanging Houghton on 15th September 2021 and photographed feeding on a Kingsthorpe lawn 9km to the south on 26th April 2025, 1319 days later;

6. A juvenile male Starling was ringed at Hanging Houghton on 26th June 2020 and it's remnants were found in a Peregrine pellet at Kettering on 19th April 2025, 1758 days later and 14km to the north-east. Starlings are a favourite Peregrine prey item;

7. An adult Reed Warbler was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 30th August 2020 and it was seen at Bradville, Milton Keynes on 21st April 2025 1695 days later when amazingly the ring was read in the field;

8. An adult Reed Warbler was ringed near Brixworth on 17th July 2020 and re-trapped again at Stanford Reservoir on 30th April 2025, 1748 days later with at least six visits to Africa under it's belt;

9. Three Goldfinches ringed in Northants have been re-trapped in Scotland as follows...

(i) A bird ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 27th December 2024 was caught again at Barsalloch Point near Monreith, Dumfries and Galloway on 13th April 2025, 107 days later with the finch having travelled 362km to the North West;

(ii) A first year male was ringed at Greens Norton on 16th November 2024 and caught again at Leswalt, Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway on 15th April and 21st April this year, 410 km away;

(iii) A first year male was ringed at Courteenhall on 12th October 2023 and caught again at Sliddery, North Ayrshire on 14th April 2025 550 days later and 466km away on a North West trajectory.

Regards

Neil M

Reed Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Pied Wagtail courtesy
of John Tilly.

Starling courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Goldfinch courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Monday Bank Holiday

Hello

For much of the day I was checking nest boxes on the Kelmarsh Estate where the take-up rate in the tit boxes have been good with many broods having already dispersed. The larger boxes have been utilised by Jackdaws and Stock Doves and with no Tawny Owls this year. Good numbers of Speckled Wood butterflies plus a few Orange-tips were at Scotland Wood and Beautiful Demoiselles were noted on brambles at Sunderland Wood. There were a couple of vocal Spotted Flycatchers at Kelmarsh Hall.

Two Avocets and a Ringed Plover were still at Lilbourne Meadows reserve today, a Little Ringed Plover was in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and a Bittern has again been showing well on the Summer Leys LNR where also a Little Ringed Plover, a Great White Egret and two Egyptian Geese.

Two Spotted Flycatchers were at Woodford Halse LNR today.

Regards

Neil M

Beautiful Demoiselle.

Little Ringed Plover.

Egyptian Geese.

Small Tortoiseshell.

Red-headed Cardinal Beetle.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Tystie

Hello

A 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler was near the dam at Stanford Reservoir today and other birds included two Oystercatchers, a Kingfisher and two Cuckoos. Just over the county border, Eyebrook Reservoir had a good day with a Little Tern, a Pink-footed Goose, three Sanderlings, four Dunlin, a huge thirty-eight Ringed Plovers, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Caspian Gull.

A Sanderling was at Lilbourne Water Meadow this morning and another was at Summer Leys LNR as well as a Dunlin, seven Ringed Plovers and a Bittern showing well at times.

Five Cattle Egrets were at North Lake, Stanwick Pits early this morning and four Avocets were present at the Whiston Wetlands complex.

Two or three Spotted Flycatchers were in Hanging Houghton village today.

Regards

Neil M

Meet the latest addition to the family -
ten week old Tystie!

Redshank courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Dunnock courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Swift moth.

Common Blue butterfly courtesy
of David Arden.

Four-spotted Chaser courtesy
of David Arden.

Late May in the county

Hello

I'm just back in from a trip to Romania where I was fortunate to help out on a tour in the Carpathian Mountains, Danube Delta and the steppe lands to the east. I have created a page/tab with some images from the tour and with others to be added in due course.

A mostly grey and dull day with some overnight rain (at last) and there were three each of Turnstone and Sanderling at Eyebrook Reservoir and two Avocets turned up at Lilbourne Meadows reserve this morning and stayed for much of the day.

An Osprey was noted over the Whiston Wetlands area this morning where there was also a Ringed Plover and at Pitsford Reservoir there was a second calendar year Caspian Gull off the dam plus a Greenshank and a Cuckoo.

Two Spotted Flycatchers were in the Brampton Valley just north of the Draughton Crossing and a pair of Grey Partridges were near Maidwell village. A Raven was at New Duston.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Garganey courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Chimney Sweeper moth
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Broad-bodied Chasers courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

It's mid week already!!

It's mid week already and following all the excitement at the weekend it has gone very quiet. Maybe it's the "calm before the storm " or simply wishful thinking on my part. The weather is predicted to change at the weekend so who knows what affect this will have on the birds ?

Meanwhile the birds reported since the weekend are found predominantly along the Nene Valley.  At Clifford Hill GP there has been Grey Plover, 3 Sanderlings, Ringed Plovers,  Dunlin, Knot, Turnstones and Avocets. At the New Workings area of Earls Barton GP there has been Sanderling, Ruff,Greenshanks,  Ringed Plovers and Red Crested Pochard.  The Bittern has been seen again at Summer Leys.  A Purple Heron was reported from Kinewell Lake Ringstead whilst a little further along the valley at Titchmarsh LNR Turnstones,  Ringed Plovers and Common Sandpiper.                            Away from the Nene Valley,  an Osprey at Hollowell Reservoir,  Oystercatcher on the dam at Pitsford Reservoir and a Wood Sandpiper at Lilbourne Meadows. 

Regards Eleanor 

Garden Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Muntjac courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Cormorant and Black-headed Gull
courtesy of John Tilly.

Gadwall courtesy of
John Tilly.

A Good Weekend!!

It has been a very good weekend for me as I indulged in both of my hobbies,  agility and birdwatching.  Both Jaeger and Rouzel had a good time competing and both bagged a first place.  It was whilst I was competing today at Leighton Buzzard that I checked my phone and saw the news that a White Winged Black Tern had been found at Summer Leys!!! What a great find for someone.   Now I was in a dilemma,  do I stay at the agility competition or jump into my car and head to Summer Leys??? I decided to stay put and keep my fingers crossed that the Tern stayed. I'm sure that there must have been a frantic rush from everyone to get to Summer Leys.    I regularly checked my phone and was very pleased to see that the Tern appeared settled.              As soon as I had done my last run I jumped into the car and had an uneventful journey back via the M1 and to Summer Leys where I saw the White Winged Black Tern.  It was showing well, flying around and looked stunning against the vegetation and blue skies. 

Other birds seen today include Bittern,  Ringed Plovers and Dunlin also at Summer Leys.  At Clifford Hill this morning there was Grey Plover and 2 Sanderling.  The Sanderling were disturbed and then 2 were seen at Whiston New Workings which could be the same birds.  There were 2 Black Terns briefly at Stanwick GP.    A Pied Flycatcher was found at Bucknell Wood by Stuart Mundy but he didn't have time to relocate it before rushing off to Summer Leys for the Tern.     I  can just picture the scene!!                                                 Of interest,  a Hoopoe was reported near Long Bucky on Friday, but I don't have any further details. 

I wonder what this new week will bring? Looks like the wind will be coming from a westerly direction and we could get some much needed rain at the end of the week.   

Regards Eleanor 

Turnstones at Thrapston
Pits courtesy of Nick Parker.

                       Images of a Water Rail family courtesy of John Boland.

                                                                   

                                                               

The Waders Continue

 The 'waders' continue to dominate the bird sightings with most being recorded along the Nene Valley.                                                        Starting at Clifford Hill GP there has been Avocet, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, and  Turnstones.                                    Heading north to the new workings at Earls Barton GP there have been 4 Avocets and at nearby Summer Leys Glossy Ibis, Turnstones, Ringed Plovers and Wood Sandpiper.                                                        A little further north at Stanwick GP there has been a Glossy Ibis and Whimbrel and finally at Titchmarsh LNR, Turnstone,  Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper.                                                           Away from the Nene Valley there have been Common Sandpipers at Pitsford and Hollowell Reservoir, Dunlin at Stanford Reservoir and a Wood Sandpiper at Lilbourne Meadows. 

Other birds which have been seen over the last few days include Bittern at Summer Leys and Titchmarsh LNR, Osprey at Stanford and Hollowell Reservoir,  Nightingale near the visitor centre at Stanwick GP,  Cattle Egret at Thrapston GP near Elinor Lake and Red Crested Pochard on the River Nene adjacent to the new workings at Earls Barton GP. 

Have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor 

Little Egret courtesy
of John Tilly.

Bittern courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Whitethroat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Little Ringed Plover
courtesy of John Tilly.

Nene Valley waders

Hello

More warm and sunny weather today but with a cooling, breezy northerly wind.

Waders still seem to be the main attraction with the Nene Valley providing most of the action.

A Whimbrel was still at Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits, a Turnstone was on the layby pit at Stanwick Pits, a Sanderling and two Avocets were at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows and Clifford Hill Pits attracted three Turnstones first thing plus an Avocet, a Ringed Plover and a Little Ringed Plover with a Common Sandpiper at nearby Hardingstone Lake.

The Glossy Ibis continued to find Lilbourne Meadows to its liking today, there were three Black Terns at Eyebrook Reservoir and Spotted Flycatchers were at the Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir and also at Kelmarsh Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kite.

Spotted Flycatcher courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grey Heron courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

All images taken today at
 Pitsford Reservoir.

Migrants in May

Hello

The last of the summer migrants are just about in now which leaves the high arctic waders and any vagrants that might like to wander our way now please!

Lilbourne Meadows attracted a Glossy Ibis this evening, perhaps the one that had been in Warwickshire this morning. Other birds there this morning included a Ruff, a Redshank, three Oystercatchers and up to six Little Ringed Plovers.

At Pitsford Reservoir a Turnstone appeared on the dam this afternoon and odonata on the ponds at Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay included four male Broad-bodied Chasers and ovipositing Azure Damselflies.

The two Lapwing chicks at Harrington Airfield were still present today, the first successful breeding there in over forty years.

A summer plumage Sanderling was on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits and Clifford Hill Pits provided for an early morning Grey Plover, a Black Tern, a Pink-footed Goose and a Ringed Plover. Four Black Terns were on Mary's Lake at Earls Barton Pits late morning and five Little Terns were reportedly spotted flying towards Stanwick Pits from the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve late morning.

A Cuckoo was at Stortons Pits where odonata included both Banded and Beautiful Demoiselles, Broad-bodied Chasers and Common Blue Damselflies. Stanford Reservoir attracted two Cuckoos, a Kingfisher, a Hobby and three Oystercatchers. A Green-eyed Hawker and Variable Damselflies were on the wing at Wicksteed Park Lake today.

A Black Tern and a Grey Plover were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

A Spotted Flycatcher was back at Hanging Houghton yesterday.

Regards

Neil M

Cuckoo courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Four-spotted Chaser
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Grass Snake courtesy
of David Arden.

Lilbourne Lambs.

Broad-bodied Chaser at
Pitsford Reservoir today.

SP55 Long Day Count

 

Hello

I've been fortunate to have managed two more tours in the Camargue region of France this month

and I will be adding some pages/tabs to the blog depicting images of some of the wildlife

encountered.

Helen Franklin completed the annual Long Day Count in SP55 in the south west of the county

and her summary is as follows:-

'Saturday 3rd May was the day for the Banbury Ornithological Society’s Long Day Count in SP55.The day started dry and chilly with the sight of a Tawny Owl sitting in the middle of the road just

inside the border of the square - a very good start!! The Fawsely Estate looked superb as the

sun came up and counting began in earnest. And the day went well - against a par score of 65

and by half time the total was growing nicely. Highlights were a gorgeous male Grey Wagtail

on the ground not 10 yards away, its beautiful black throat in full view. But then a Pied Wagtail

was only seen at the very last minute before the 12 hours was up, it’s funny when common

birds can lead you such a dance. A field on the brow of a hill outside Hellidon contained no less

than 9 Buzzards and 2 Red Kite - there must have been some very tasty invertebrates in amongst

the vegetation. Sadly par was not achieved, possibly because some of the expected summer

migrants were nowhere to be found, seemingly still to arrive in the square, but it was nevertheless

a good day to be out and about in the square.'

Regards

Neil M

Mallard courtesy
of Jonathan Pitt.

Small Copper butterfly
courtesy of Jonathan Pitt.

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

All about the timing !!!

It has been all about the timing today.!!! At approx 07.30 hrs Chris Gibbs located and photographed a Red Footed Falcon at Clifford Hill GP and when he left a little while later he was unsure as to the whereabouts of the bird.  There have been a few records of this species nationally and there has been one very close to us in Buckinghamshire, so it was only a matter of time before one turned up. 

When the news broke I was at Blueberry trying to find a bird as it was extremely quiet this morning.  I was then heading off to Turvey for my agility training class. I was rather hoping that the bird would be relocated and that I would have a chance to catch up with it later.                                                      I took my usual route to Turvey but when I got to Billing Garden Centre the Police had closed the road and it was all a bit chaotic. I was cursing as I sat in stationery traffic.  Anyway I could eventually turn around and headed to the A45 where I had to make a spur of the moment decision to either go towards Northampton or Wellingborough.  As I found myself in the left hand lane I took the A45 towards Northampton and then the A428 towards Bedford.  I managed to stop so that I could message my friends to let them know that I was going to be late. I had literally just sent my message when Bob's message came through on the Northants Birds WhatsApp group that the Red Footed Falcon had been relocated and was sitting on a telegraph pole between the lake and the Bedford Road!!!. A sudden realisation that I was actually on the Bedford Road galvanised me into action.  It's not a road that I use very often so was unsure whether I would be able to park and I couldn't drive too slowly as the road was very busy.  Thankfully I found a layby . As I looked towards the lake I could see Bob and a small group of birders watching the Red Footed Falcon so I just followed their gaze.  Obviously I would have liked to have been closer as I watched it flying around before it gained height and drifted away,  but as I never expected to see it this was a bonus and all because of a road being closed and my timing.  My friends had taken the same route only a couple of minutes ahead of me and although the Police were present the road was open.   My lucky day.

Very little else reported today, a Whimbrel at Clifford Hill GP and Little Gull,  6 Common Sandpipers and Hobby at Stanford Reservoir.             Although Harrington Airfield is quiet for birds at the moment,  Dingy Skipper,  Green Hairstreak and Small Heath were on the wing this afternoon. 

Regards Eleanor 

Whimbrel courtesy
of Nick Parker.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grey Partridges courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Arctic Terns

Few "new records " from the last couple of days apart from a movement of Arctic Terns which are always nice to see.  Yesterday they were passing through Summer Leys,  Stanwick GP and Stanford Reservoir. Today they continued to favour the Nene Valley and were recorded at Summer Leys and Thrapston town lake. 

Summer Leys remains attractive to a good variety of species including Avocets, Bittern, Ringed Plover,  Black Tern, Hobby, Wood and Common Sandpiper.  Nearby at the New Workings Earls Barton GP a Pink Footed Goose,  Red Crested Pochard,Greenshank,Common Sandpiper and Hobby.  A little further north at Stanwick GP and Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and Cattle Egret.                              A Greenshank remains at Lilbourne Meadows and Osprey at both Hollowell and Pitsford Reservoir

I have visited Harrington Airfield a couple of times but haven't seen anything new. However after much searching I was very pleased and surprised to find the Lapwing chick's. Keeping my fingers crossed for them.  They have somehow managed to survive longer than I anticipated.    I always find this a very stressful time of year when the fledglings appear. Today we have had some very noisy and dopey young Blackbirds hoping about in the open on the lawn telling everybody where they are.No doubt the local Sparrowhawk has made a note !! 

Tomorrow evening the Northamptonshire Bird Club will be meeting at 19.30hrs at the Lodge,  Pitsford Water.  It will be a good evening and we are in for some amazing photographs taken by Club member Dave Jackson where we will be transported through the "Wildlife of Spain - Highlands to Islands ".            Everyone is very welcome to come along.

Regards Eleanor 

Lapwing courtesy
of John Tilly.

Pink-footed Goose
courtesy of Nick Parker.