Raven on my shoulder, plenty of Red Kites too!

Hello 

A warm day and it's due to become warmer again it seems.

A wander at Harrington Airfield today provided views of a freshly moulted female Common Redstart between the Chipping Compound and Bunker One, three Ravens and the Grey Partridge family with about ten half-grown youngsters. A fresh emergence of Small Heath butterflies was apparent, Common Blues were in small numbers and I had a brief view of what appeared to be a Dingy Skipper.

A Common Redstart, two Whinchats and a juvenile Marsh Harrier were around shrike hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and a Crossbill flew south-west over the village.

At Stanford Reservoir the ringers processed one hundred and ninety-nine birds, ninety-four of them being Sedge Warblers! A Kingfisher was also ringed and birds noted on-site included two Marsh Harriers again, a Hobby and at least twelve Spotted Flycatchers.

At Pitsford Reservoir waders in the Scaldwell Bay included four Green Sandpipers, one or two Common Sandpiper(s) and a Dunlin. Two Great White Egrets, a Hobby and an Osprey were also seen north of the causeway. Odonata around Christies Copse ponds included Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Blue Emperor, Common Darter, Common Emerald Damselfly and Willow Emerald Damselfly.

The two Sandwich Terns were again at Eyebrook Reservoir and the Ruddy Shelduck remained at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. A Grey Wagtail was at Brafield Pond with Siskins in the churchyard there. Two Curlews flew over Hollowell village this evening heading towards Hollowell Reservoir.

Wherever I've been today there have been Ravens with two at Hanging Houghton, the three at Harrington, three at Pitsford Reservoir and two in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

Regards

Neil M

Common Redstart at
Harrington Airfield today.

Common Blue.

Little Egret.

Green Sandpipers and Dunlin.

Red Fox.

Above four images all taken at
Pitsford Reservoir today courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Birds at wheat harvest time

Hello

A breezier and duller day which failed to provide anything much different in the county today.

The two Marsh Harriers were again at Stanford Reservoir today but it seems like the Black-necked Grebes have moved on. Other birds were a Hobby, two Common Sandpipers and two Spotted Flycatchers.

The White Stork was again seen in flight around the new Moulton housing estates off the A43 between Round Spinney and the Moulton A43 roundabout.

The two Sandwich Terns were still at Eyebrook Reservoir, the Ruddy Shelduck was at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and the Wood Sandpiper was still at Clifford Hill Pits.

Birds noted at Pitsford Reservoir today included a Whimbrel, a Dunlin, five Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, at least three Yellow-legged Gulls, two Hobbies and five Great White Egrets.

Hollowell Reservoir hosted a Greenshank, a Common Snipe and six Egyptian Geese, a Hobby was seen at Summer Leys LNR and this evening a Marsh Harrier was hunting the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A male Common Redstart was still at Woodford Halse LNR today and the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits attracted an Osprey and a Cattle Egret.

Clouded Yellows were still showing in the alfalfa field just south-east of Cherry Hill.

Regards

Neil M

Roesel's Bush-cricket.

Lesser Emperor.

Swifts at their nest boxes
in Spratton last month. Seven
pairs used boxes in the village
courtesy of John Hunt.

A buck Roe Deer yesterday in the
alfalfa fields near Cherry Hill 
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Migration on-going

Hello

At Stanford Reservoir today the two Marsh Harriers were seen again and three Black-necked Grebes were discovered. Other birds noted included two Spotted Flycatchers, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Goosander and a Peregrine. Two hundred and eleven birds were newly ringed on-site by the Stanford Ringing Group which included seventy Sedge Warblers and forty-two Reed Warblers.

A ringing session in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth today processed one hundred and eighty new birds of twenty-two species which included five Grey Wagtails, four Pied Wagtails, good numbers of warblers, forty-six Blue Tits, a Treecreeper and small numbers of finches. A Hobby was seen harassing the local Swallows.

A White Stork was spotted in Northampton yesterday, apparently on the grass verge next to the A43 between Round Spinney and Moulton.

Two Sandwich Terns were at Eyebrook Reservoir today and the female Ruddy Shelduck was still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. Birds for Hollowell Reservoir were an Osprey, a Hobby, a Greenshank and a Common Snipe.

At Clifford Hill Pits the Wood Sandpiper was still present this morning plus the Common Sandpiper, a Dunlin and a Hobby.

At least three Common Redstarts and a Spotted Flycatcher were discovered in a small copse by a red brick barn along the track leading from Brington to Brockhall. Two more Common Redstarts were still at Firetail Covert, Cold Ashby. Four Spotted Flycatchers were found at Old Quarry Pond, Priors Hall, Corby.

Regards

Neil M

Gadwall.

Starling.

Holly Blue butterfly.

Wood Sandpipers, Clouded Yellows and more August treats

Hello

Another blustery day but decent temperatures and essentially dry.

A Wood Sandpiper was reported at Cransley Reservoir and like next door Thorpe Malsor Reservoir, an under-watched site that probably requires more attention.

Another Wood Sandpiper was at Clifford Hill Pits this morning where also a Common Sandpiper and four Oystercatchers.

Sixteen Black-tailed Godwits were in Wader Bay at Summer Leys LNR plus a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby.

At Pitsford Reservoir birds south of the causeway amounted to an Osprey, a Great White Egret, a Greenshank, six Common Sandpipers and a Common Redstart (in hedgerow by The Pigs). Birds north of the causeway included a Marsh Harrier, four Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper.

At Hollowell Reservoir there were singles of Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Common Snipe. A returning colour-ringed Caspian Gull was noted at Naseby Reservoir.

Two Marsh Harriers were at Stanford Reservoir today plus a Common Sandpiper and the butterflies included Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady and Small Copper.

Additions to the Common Redstart tally included one at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and two or three again along the footpath in field hedges from Bridle Road, Old village heading south east.

A juvenile Marsh Harrier and an adult Grey Partridge with ten half-grown young were at Harrington Airfield. Several Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

More Clouded Yellows included at least eight in the Alfalfa field south east of Cherry Hill off the footpath from Bridle Road, Old with at least six in a similar field just north of Collyweston Bridge in the north of the county.

Regards

Neil M

Common Tern.

Gatekeeper.

Dunnock courtesy
of John Tilly.

Female Broad-bodied Chaser
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

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.