Birding a little subdued

Hello

Some strong gusts and sudden squalls today associated with Storm Floris which hit the UK to the north of us. The birding was rather subdued today.

At Stanford Reservoir a Marsh Harrier paid a brief visit and other birds were a Hobby, three Ravens and a Kingfisher.

At Pitsford Reservoir there were three Yellow-legged Gulls off the dam and six Great White Egrets, two Yellow-legged Gulls, a Common Sandpiper and three Green Sandpipers to the north of the causeway.

A Greenshank and six Egyptian Geese were at Hollowell Reservoir this morning, a Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a Common Redstart and a juvenile Marsh Harrier were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and near to shrike hedge.

Two Common Redstarts were at Woodford Halse LNR.

Regards

Neil M

Heavily cropped images
of a flying juvenile
Cormorant at Pitsford Reservoir
hopelessly hooked and tangled in
fishing equipment - and
why course fishing should
never be permitted at a SSSI.
This bird will suffer before dying
of starvation/exhaustion.

Juvenile Stonechat
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Goldfinch courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Carrion Crow courtesy
of Peter Walmsley.

Redstarts and others

Hello 

A day of mixed weather but seemingly some new migrants on the ground.

A Wood Sandpiper was at Eyebrook Reservoir today and the Ruddy Shelduck was again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

At Hollowell Reservoir there was an Osprey and a Greenshank and this afternoon a small flock of Crossbills were noted at Bucknell Wood.

Three Common Redstarts were at Firetail Covert, Cold Ashby, two were vocal in hedgerows off the footpath running south east from Bridle Road, Old village (fourth field along from beginning of the footpath) this afternoon, a first year bird was at Woodford Halse LNR, another was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell, two more were at shrike hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton plus another single was by the brook in the valley.

Other birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included two Whinchats and a juvenile Marsh Harrier near shrike hedge with the family of Spotted Flycatchers still by the brook.

A field full of flowers including Alfalfa off the footpath south east of Cherry Hill attracted huge numbers of butterflies including whites, Red Admirals, Small Coppers, Small Heaths, hundreds of Common Blues and at least six Clouded Yellows. Two more Clouded Yellows were seen near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Over at Stanford Reservoir 292 birds were ringed yesterday as the warblers continue to flow through.

Regards

Neil M

Small Copper.

Grey Partridge.

Greenfinch courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Blue Tit courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Bullfinch courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Saturday ringing

Hello

A remarkably cool 12/13 degrees Centigrade for most of the early morning was the working temperature for small groups of ringers from the Northants Ringing Group processing birds at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes and Harrington Airfield.

At Linford Lakes some experimental mist net erection and use of a whoosh net provided an excellent array of interesting birds of thirteen species, amounting to seventy-three birds. At this time of the year the warblers come to the fore as we assess breeding success with the numbers of juveniles raised locally or from elsewhere. Six Willow Warblers are likely to be passage birds from the north, a super twenty-five Reed Warblers will be a mixture and included a four year old bird and six Sedge Warblers are likely to include offspring from pairs to the north or west. Five Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, eight Garden Warblers, a Common Whitethroat and a Cetti's Warbler were also encountered.

Twelve Reed Buntings was an excellent total and presumably included many fledged juveniles and the whoosh net caught two Lapwings, a Moorhen and a Pied Wagtail. Fully grown Lapwings are a rare capture and the Pied Wagtail was the first ringed on-site. A pair of copulating Poplar Hawk-moths were something different but didn't get ringed!

At Harrington Airfield just over ninety birds were processed from this essentially 'dry site'. Linnet was again the most common bird encountered with fifty birds ringed during the last two days and Common Whitethroat was second with thirty birds processed. Rather more tits hit the mist nets today with new Blue Tits and re-trap Long-tailed Tits providing 'entertainment'! Other warblers were few and far between but included a few Willow Warblers, a couple of Blackcaps and a Sedge Warbler. Three Song Thrushes were newly-ringed and other finches included three Goldfinches, two juvenile Chaffinches and Bullfinch.

A juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen hunting around the bunkers and at least one Raven was present.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today, sightings included two Ospreys, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, four Ravens, a Hobby and the family party of Spotted Flycatchers.

A Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and three Common Redstarts were at Firetail Covert, Cold Ashby.

Regards

Neil M

Lapwings and Moorhen ready for
release courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Juvenile Pied Wagtail courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Poplar Hawk-moths in cop
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

First day of August

Hello

A cooler day with some quite aggressive showers in the middle.

A ringing session at Harrington Airfield was a five hour affair before the rain hit with the intention of returning tomorrow and finishing off the session. Sixty birds were processed in that time with Linnet and Common Whitethroat being the most common species encountered. Some of the Common Whitethroats were adults in full moult and barely able to fly whereas the majority of the Linnets were fresh juveniles probably only having left the nest during the last two weeks.

A juvenile Marsh Harrier was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with the party of Spotted Flycatchers there still this evening.

Another Marsh Harrier paid Stanford Reservoir a brief visit today and there were four Ravens there.

The female Ruddy Shelduck was again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and at Hollowell Reservoir there was a mobile Crossbill and two Dunlin. A Greenshank and two Common Sandpipers were in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir. Two Common Redstarts were at Firetail Covert, Cold Ashby.

A Bittern and an Osprey were photographed at Titchmarsh Reserve, Thrapston Pits yesterday and today a juvenile Mediterranean Gull took centre stage there with a Great White Egret and a Common Sandpiper too.

Two Barnacle Geese, a Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover were at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and at Summer Leys LNR there were two Great White Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, a Green Sandpiper and at least six Wasp Spiders on show.

Regards

Neil M

Harrington Airfield sunrise.

Juvenile Yellowhammer
courtesy of Peter Walmsley.

Juvenile male Linnet
courtesy of Peter Walmsley.

Wasp Spider courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

An eagle on it's travels!

Hello

The Caspian Tern absented itself from Eyebrook Reservoir for much of the day and was subsequently at Rutland Water this evening.

There was some excitement when Dave Jackson spotted an immature White-tailed Eagle over Pitsford Reservoir just before 10am this morning, the big raptor being pursued by Common Buzzards and corvids. Sadly it wasn't seen again locally despite a number of birders spending the next couple of hours scanning over the reservoir. It would appear that this bird is an individual that fledged from a nest in West Sussex in 2023 (G625) and has spent much of this summer in the Cairngorms, Scotland. It's a ringed and satellite-tracked bird that apparently roosted between Naseby and Clipston last night. All the indications are that this bird is heading south back down to Sussex. Traditionally it seems that most of the young birds roam considerably before returning to the natal area and consider breeding themselves.

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today included an Osprey, two Hobbies, three Great White Egrets, three Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers and at least one Yellow-legged Gull.

A male Common Redstart was still at Firetail Covert (apt name) near Cold Ashby today and another male was found between Harlestone and Duston at Fleetland Farm. The male bird was still at Woodford Halse LNR today

At Harrington Airfield this morning at least one Crossbill was flying around for a while and a pair of Grey Partridges were looking after ten or eleven youngsters. This evening a juvenile Marsh Harrier was hunting extensively around the bunkers and top fields for two hours. A ringing session is planned for there tomorrow morning and possibly Saturday morning too when there will be access restrictions in place around the bunkers and between the Chipping Compound and the concrete track.

Elsewhere and the Black-tailed Godwit was still at Stanwick Pits with further Marsh Harriers at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows this morning and Summer Leys LNR this evening. A Caspian Gull was a brief visitor to Daventry Country Park this morning.

The Ruddy Shelduck was seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir at 1pm and the family party of Spotted Flycatchers and two juvenile Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

White-tailed Eagle G625 as
photographed at Poole Harbour
earlier this year, courtesy of
Aidan Brown.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Male Broad-bodied Chaser.

More Crossbills, Redstarts and Yellow-legged Gulls.

Hello

At Eyebrook Reservoir today the Caspian Tern was again seen for most of the day and at Stanford Reservoir seventy-nine new birds were ringed which included a Common Redstart.

A rather odd ringing event involves an adult Sedge Warbler ringed at Stanford Reservoir on 18th July 2025 with the bird being caught again at Stanwick Pits on 27th July, a very gentle ESE passage of no more than 37km in nine days! It's likely that this adult bird was attempting to breed elsewhere and is using Northamptonshire to fatten up before the next leg to the continent on it's way to Africa.

Birds noted at Stanwick Pits today included a Caspian Gull, at least eleven Yellow-legged Gulls and a Black-tailed Godwit.

Clifford Hill hosted two Black-necked Grebes on the main lake from early this morning when for a time a Turnstone was present too.

The Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits yielded sightings of Bittern, Osprey, Cattle Egret, Peregrine, Yellow-legged Gull and Common Sandpiper this morning.

A Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys LNR this evening. Details of a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit seen and photographed at Summer Leys on 31st March 2025 have now been forwarded - it's a 'head-started' bird from the project with the bird being released from captivity in June 2022 at the Welney Wildfowl and Wetlands reserve on the Ouse Washes. Since then it has been sighted mostly on the Nene and Ouse Washes but has also explored Spain.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were three Great White Egrets, four Common Sandpipers and a Yellow-legged Gull in the Scaldwell Bay with two Yellow-legged Gulls and three Common Sandpipers by the dam this evening. A family party of Spotted Flycatchers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and a Wheatear showed briefly in the valley not far from shrike hedge.

A flock of about eighteen Crossbills were at Hollowell Reservoir this morning in trees south of the dam plus two Common Sandpipers with a Common Redstart in a hedge at the north end of the reservoir on the west side.

Thirteen Crossbills flew south at Boddington Reservoir this afternoon and five Little Ringed Plovers were present.

Regards

Neil M

Sunrise at Hanging Houghton.

Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Reed Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Willow Emerald Damselfly.

End of July birding

Hello

Just over the border and a Caspian Tern has been present at Eyebrook Reservoir on and off during the day and luring Northants birders into Leicestershire to see it! The Wood Sandpiper was there this morning too. Stanford Reservoir had a quieter day with a fly-through Redshank being the only noteworthy bird.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were a couple of sightings of a mobile Osprey both this morning and this evening and other birds present included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, four Yellow-legged Gulls and four Common Sandpipers off the dam this evening.

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was on the Guilsborough Point at Hollowell Reservoir this morning.

A Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher were at Whiston Wetlands today and Summer Leys LNR hosted two Great White Egrets, two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and an Otter.

At Stanwick Pits today there were eight Yellow-legged Gulls and a Black-tailed Godwit on the main pit and trail cameras have picked up on a family of Otters there recently.

Regards

Neil M

This male Sparrowhawk was
perched next to House Martin
nests and refused to budge! On
this occasion he was out of luck
as they were either cruising the
airspace above him or hidden
in their nests.

Green Sandpipers courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Otter courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Harvest-time birding

Hello

The ringers were busy at Stanford Reservoir again today with a further 216 new birds ringed and other birds noted on-site were a juvenile Cuckoo, a Common Gull and a Hobby.

Birds at Eyebrook Reservoir amounted to the Wood Sandpiper still plus three Green Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers and a Redshank.

An Osprey was north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir again this morning and three Common Redstarts were still in scant hedging next to Woodford Halse LNR.

In the Nene Valley a Bittern was seen to fly over the A45 at Ditchford Pits late this morning and sixteen or more Cattle Egrets were reported from the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits before moving off south-west.

A Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys LNR plus a Common Snipe, a Common Sandpiper and a family party of Egyptian Geese. Spotted Flycatchers and a Little Owl were audible in Hanging Houghton village today and two Barn Owls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Dark Bush-cricket.

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Whitethroat
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Ruddy Darter.

Pitsford Reservoir.

Warblers on the move

Hello

The Wood Sandpiper remained at Eyebrook Reservoir today and at Stanford Reservoir there was a Hobby, three family parties of Great Crested Grebes and a Cetti's Warbler. Yesterday at Stanford Reservoir a staggering 316 new birds were caught and ringed which included seventy-seven Reed Warblers, one hundred and seventeen Sedge Warblers and two Grasshopper Warblers. Birds on-site included an Osprey, a Great White Egret and a Common Sandpiper. A Bedstraw Hawkmoth was also found, a rare moth inland.

Also yesterday there was some ringing at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes which yielded seventy-two birds which included twenty Reed Warblers, twenty Garden Warblers, twelve Chiffchaffs, nine Blackcaps, three Sedge Warblers and three Reed Buntings. Two Great White Egrets and a Green Sandpiper were also there. Six Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and several Sand Martins were similarly processed at Pitsford Reservoir.

Two Common Sandpipers were at Boddington Reservoir today, a male Common Redstart was in a hedgerow just north of Woodford Halse LNR, another Common Redstart was between the gates at Everdon Stubbs and two Common Redstarts were at the traditional stop-over at Fawsley Granary with an audible Little Owl nearby.

A male Common Redstart was between Guilsborough and Cold Ashby this afternoon and a Crossbill flew over East Hunsbury, Northampton.

At Summer Leys LNR a Bittern was seen in flight briefly and a juvenile Marsh Harrier showed well there. Clifford Hill Pits attracted a Barnacle Goose, a Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover.

Regards

Neil M

Garden Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Poplar Hawk-moth.

Harlequin Ladybird
courtesy of John Tilly.

During the past few days I have visited my usual hedgerows and bushes at Harrington Airfield,  Blueberry Farm area and around Hanging Houghton and it has been disappointingly quiet.  These areas have turned into "birdless zones" !! My best birds today were 2 Common Sandpipers and a family of Grey Wagtails on the dam at Pitsford Reservoir.                                    It seems to have been quiet everywhere today. A Marsh Harrier was again at Summer Leys,  Crossbills at Hollowell Reservoir and Yardley Chase, 2 Common Redstarts at Woodford Halse nature reserve  and another bird at Everdon. 

Yesterday following a successful day competing with Jaeger and Rouzel I came home via Boddington Reservoir.  Its somewhere that I haven't been for a while and it looks really interesting with plenty of mud and low water levels.  During my short visit I notched up an adult Mediterranean Gull but didn't find the 2 juveniles which have been present,  5+ Common Sandpipers, 4 Ringed Plovers and a Common Redstart.   3 Black Tailed Godwits and Green Sandpipers had been seen earlier.                                   My next stop off was Borough Hill and another short visit produced 2 Common Redstarts,  Whinchat and Northern Wheatear,  plus a Clouded Yellow Butterfly.     A very short stop at Ravensthorpe Reservoir to catch up with the 2 Black Terns which had been found earlier rounded off my day.                                          Other birds reported yesterday include a Marsh Harrier at both Hollowell and Pitsford Reservoirs,  Ospreys at Pitsford Reservoir and Titchmarsh LNR , Arctic Tern and Crossbills at Stanford Reservoir,  9 Cattle Egrets at Titchmarsh LNR and 3 at Kinewell Lake and 2 Curlews at Lilbourne Meadows. 

Regards Eleanor 

Remnant Tree Sparrows and a Honey Buzzard

Hello

Eyebrook Reservoir today hosted the Wood Sandpiper still plus a Common Gull, a Dunlin and two Redshanks.

Stanford Reservoir today attracted three Common Sandpipers, three Ravens and a Kingfisher and further proof of significant warbler passage already comes in the fact that ringers on-site ringed 109 new birds.

The Ruddy Shelduck was today sighted at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and birds at Pitsford Reservoir included four Yellow-legged Gulls and three Common Sandpipers in the vicinity of the dam and at least four Great White Egrets north of the causeway. Nine Tree Sparrows were at Rectory Farm, Old this afternoon.

The Brampton Valley was productive again with a Honey Buzzard (probably a female) relatively low over the valley below Brixworth heading west this afternoon, plus a Grey Wagtail and at least two Crossbills flying north. In the valley below Hanging Houghton there was a Common Redstart and two Whinchats near to shrike hedge and nearby two Common Redstarts at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Birds in Hanging Houghton village today included Little Owl, Spotted Flycatcher and Raven.

Harrington Airfield this afternoon hosted a Common Redstart, a Whinchat, a juvenile Marsh Harrier and a pair of Grey Partridges with ten young. A male Common Redstart remained at Woodford Halse LNR.

A Eurasian Bittern was at Summer Leys LNR at lunch-time, flushing up in front of Pioneer Hide.

Regards

Neil M

Tree Sparrow courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Five-spot Burnett.

Four-spotted Chaser.

A moulting Robin
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Male Greenfinch courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Little Bittern?

Hello

The juvenile Cuckoo was still at Stanford Reservoir today and there were also two Common Sandpipers present.

At Summer Leys LNR today a Teal with ducklings was a great and rare sighting locally. Other birds there were a Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper and three Common Sandpipers.

A Birdguides report is of a Little Bittern being seen in flight at Earls Barton Pits yesterday afternoon. Little else is known but the Birdguides report hints that the Hardwater Lake may have been the location of the observation with the bird disappearing into reeds.

Four Crossbills flew west over Stanwick Pits early this morning and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was noted at Pitsford Reservoir by the causeway car park and two Greenshanks were seen in the Scaldwell Bay.

A Whinchat was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today, close to 'shrike hedge'. At least one vocal Raven was around Hanging Houghton today.

Three Common Redstarts and a Whinchat were at Woodford Halse LNR today in the traditional stop-over hedge at the north end of the reserve.

Regards

Neil M

Southern Hawker courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Dunnock courtesy of
John Tilly.

Mother of Pearl moth
on Ragwort.

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Tony Stanford.