Warm but cooling off

Hello

Another warm day but a shift in the wind direction this evening should make it a cooler affair.

At Stanford Reservoir today the ringers had another busy day with two hundred and sixty-four birds newly ringed which included a Grasshopper Warbler and two Common Redstarts. Again two Marsh Harriers were present plus three Ravens and four Common Sandpipers.

A Wood Sandpiper remained at Eyebrook Reservoir and birds for Pitsford Reservoir included ten Yellow-legged Gulls, three Greenshanks, at least three Green Sandpipers, two Common Snipe and a Common Redshank

Hollowell Reservoir attracted an adult Caspian Gull, a Whinchat, two Greenshanks and a Common Sandpiper. Five Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and five Hobbies were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Two Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village.

Summer Leys LNR was busy with waders today with six Black-tailed Godwits in flight first thing, two Wood Sandpipers, a Ruff, two Greenshanks, two Common Sandpipers and three Green Sandpipers. A Marsh Harrier and a Hobby made brief visits.

Elsewhere and an Osprey was over the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston and a couple of Kingfishers and Mandarin Ducks were at Barnwell Country Park. Odonata at Barnwell CP included Willow Emerald Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle and Southern, Migrant and Brown Hawkers.

Spotted Flycatchers were reported from Glapthorn Cow Pastures and ten were at Lamport Hall where there was also a Common Redstart.

Regards

Neil M

Collared Dove courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Mute Swan family
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Common Tern courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Gadwall.

Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar.

Ringing the passage migrants

Hello

A bird-filled ringing session at Linford lakes LNR began last night with the capture of birds coming into roost and continued this morning from dawn. The small team of ringers led by Kenny Cramer succeeded in processing no less than a staggering one hundred and ninety-seven birds of twenty-three species.

This total included thirty Swallows, thirteen Sand Martins, a Yellow Wagtail, sixteen Reed Warblers, eleven Sedge Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler, thirty-eight Blackcaps, five Garden Warblers, twelve Chiffchaffs, seventeen Willow Warblers, three Common Whitethroats, five Robins, seven Reed Buntings and a Treecreeper. In addition to the Yellow Wagtail, further star birds trapped included a male Sparrowhawk and a migrant Tree Pipit. One of the Garden Warblers bore a ring from elsewhere.

In comparison a more leisurely morning's ringing in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth provided ninety-eight captures with warblers dominating - twenty Blackcaps, two Garden Warblers, four Lesser Whitethroats, eight Common Whitethroats, three Sedge Warblers, five Reed Warblers, fifteen Chiffchaffs and seven Willow Warblers. Other birds were a young Kingfisher, two Magpies, two Goldcrests and two Grey Wagtails. A Blackcap and a Reed Warbler already with rings were from Stanford Reservoir where they were ringed as juveniles during the summer. A Hobby and a Raven were seen.

At Stanford Reservoir a hundred and seventy new birds were ringed which included three Common Redstarts and two Grasshopper Warblers. Birds noted on-site included two Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, two Common Sandpipers and at least four Spotted Flycatchers.

Eyebrook Reservoir today attracted a Wood Sandpiper and an Arctic Tern with the female Ruddy Shelduck again being seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Naseby Reservoir was good for the German-ringed Caspian Gull again plus two Common Sandpipers and a Common Snipe. A Common Redstart and two Spotted Flycatchers were at nearby Welford Quarry.

Hollowell Reservoir provided a Crossbill, two Whinchats, one Common Sandpiper, three Greenshanks and a Ringed Plover and Pitsford Reservoir produced three Greenshanks, three Green Sandpipers, three Common Snipe, a Dunlin, a Common Redshank and a Spotted Flycatcher.

The Blueberry Farm area near Maidwell yielded a Marsh Harrier, two Common Redstarts, two Whinchats, a Hobby Family and six Crossbills flying south-west. Two Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village.

Summer Leys LNR was the venue for two Wood Sandpipers, three Greenshanks, two Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers and a juvenile Marsh Harrier.

Regards

Neil M

Sand Martin.

Sparrowhawk.

Swallow.

Tree Pipit.

Yellow Wagtail.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Some like it Hot!

Hello

The heat continues but new arrivals on the bird scene seem minimal.

Stanford Reservoir hosted a Marsh Harrier, five Common Sandpipers, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Cetti's Warbler and a Wood Sandpiper remained at Eyebrook Reservoir.

The White Stork was seen again, this time flying high up over Northampton General Hospital towards the University early this afternoon.

Thrapston Pits saw action around Elinor Lake with an Osprey seen flying away and a Whinchat and a Common Redstart in hedging in the south-west corner this morning.

Observers at Clifford Hill Pits enjoyed a Hobby, a Great White Egret, a Ringed Plover and a Common Snipe, with a juvenile Cuckoo and two Barnacle Geese being seen later in the day.

Pitsford Reservoir hosted six Green Sandpipers, a Black-tailed Godwit, five Common Snipe, a Dunlin and a Yellow-legged Gull, all in the Scaldwell Bay.

Four Greenshanks and a Green Sandpiper were seen on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR, three Ravens were at Harrington Airfield and the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton attracted a Marsh Harrier, and two Hobbies this evening with a Marsh Harrier, a Common Redstart, a Whinchat, a Wheatear and a few Clouded Yellows earlier at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Jersey Tiger Moths appeared in a Duston Moth Trap and garden from overnight.

Regards

Neil M

Green Tiger Beetle
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Cormorant courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Black-headed Gull courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Robin courtesy of
John Tilly.

Common Tern courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Brown Hare courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

The heat is on!

Hello

With temperatures up to thirty degree Centigrade it was certainly a warm one locally!

Just over the border and Eyebrook Reservoir had a good day with three Spotted Redshanks, two Wood Sandpipers and this evening a White-winged Black Tern.

At Stanford Reservoir there was a Whinchat, two Spotted Flycatchers, two Common Sandpipers and a Kingfisher today.

The Ruddy Shelduck was again seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Stuart was lucky enough to have a Firecrest visitation in his garden in Harlestone Road, Duston, Northampton at lunchtime, the bird moving off with a roving tit flock.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there was an Osprey, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, six Yellow-legged Gulls, three Common Redshanks, a Ringed Plover, six Green Sandpipers, a Dunlin and seven Grey Wagtails.

Two Common Redstarts were again in hedging off the footpath running from Bridle Road, Old to the back of Walgrave village with about ten Clouded Yellows still on the alfalfa field. Extra single Common Redstarts were in a hedgerow just north of Hanging Houghton alongside the A508 and in the Brampton Valley between Spratton and Brixworth.

At Summer Leys LNR today there were three Great White Egrets, a Cattle Egret early morning, a Marsh Harrier, four Greenshanks, two Green Sandpipers and two Common Sandpipers.

A Wheatear was located at Clifford Hill Pits today where there was also a fly-through Ringed Plover and a Peregrine. A Common Snipe, sixty-eight Lapwings and five Grey Wagtails were the best on offer at Lilbourne Water Meadows this morning.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, early morning birding provided a juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Tree Pipit, a Common Redstart and two Whinchats. Five Spotted Flycatchers were in Hazelborough Forest, in the King Richard Copse area and at least one was in Hanging Houghton village.

Regards

Neil M

Greenfinch courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Greenshanks courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Brown Argus courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Willow Emerald Damselfly
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Today was the wetland bird count at Pitsford Reservoir with most birds of interest north of the causeway.

An Osprey was an early morning visitor and waders in the Scaldwell Bay amounted to six Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, three Common Snipe and a Dunlin. At least seven Great White Egrets were present as was Grey Wagtail and Raven. Three Crossbills flew south and low over the Walgrave Bay and a Pied Flycatcher was found in the same bay in waterside vegetation about 200m north of the Walgrave Hide. A Spotted Flycatcher and a Kingfisher were in the Holcot Bay and three Yellow-legged Gulls were generally loafing north of the causeway.

Eyebrook Reservoir hosted two Wood Sandpipers and saw the return of the two Sandwich Terns from Rutland Water. The German-ringed Caspian Gull was again at Naseby Reservoir.

Stanford Reservoir was again the venue for a Marsh Harrier plus three Common Sandpipers, a Hobby and two Ravens. The Stanford Ringing Group ringed two hundred and forty-two new birds which included a Spotted Flycatcher (of three present), a male Common Redstart, a Grasshopper Warbler, forty-six Reed Warblers, thirty-one Sedge Warblers, forty-four Common Whitethroats, six Lesser Whitethroats, thirty-three Garden Warblers, twenty-six Blackcaps and twenty-nine Willow Warblers.

At Summer Leys LNR today there were five Greenshanks, two Green Sandpipers, two Common Snipe, two Egyptian Geese, a Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier. Two Cattle Egrets flew south-west over Stanwick Pits early in the morning.

A Greenshank was briefly at Hollowell Reservoir this morning and Harrington Airfield was good for two Common Redstarts, two Spotted Flycatchers and a Marsh Harrier. Five Spotted Flycatchers were at Lamport Hall, another visited a Corby Old Village garden and two Ravens were again at Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Mute Swan cygnets at Pitsford
Reservoir. A late brood of five
cygnets includes two white birds
which are generally known as 'Polish'
swans. As youngsters they are white
rather than grey and when mature their
bare parts will be a brighter colour than
their compatriots. They are a scarce
sight locally, I see most of mine on 
the continent.

Common Darter courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Brimstone courtesy of
Neil Hasdell.

Ruddy Darter courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Wasp Spider courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Heat Wave number four?

Hello

With calm conditions first thing a decision was made to try a short ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir this morning before it became too warm. Some fifty-seven birds were caught and processed which included a Tree Pipit (of two present), a Grasshopper Warbler, fourteen Sedge Warblers, four Reed Warblers, a Garden Warbler and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Birds seen at Pitsford Reservoir today included seven Great White Egrets, six Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, a Common Snipe and five Yellow-legged Gulls. A Clouded Yellow and a Purple Hairstreak were noted in the Holcot Bay. Nearby two Marsh Harriers were seen circling over Pitsford village this afternoon.

Fifteen Ravens heading west high over Hollowell Reservoir early this morning was the best sighting there. Two more Ravens were at Hanging Houghton and at least four Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth. The Ruddy Shelduck was again reported from Ravensthorpe Reservoir today.

Stanford Reservoir retained one if it's Marsh Harriers today and other birds included a Common Sandpiper, five Spotted Flycatchers and two Cetti's Warblers.

Two Great White Egrets, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, two Green Sandpipers and three Common Sandpipers were at Summer Leys LNR today and a Spotted Flycatcher was at Stortons Pits.

A Greenshank, five or six Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper were at the Earls Barton New Workings/Whiston Wetlands on the east side this morning.

A female Common Redstart was noted in the wild flower meadow hedge at Woodford Halse LNR this afternoon and a juvenile Little Gull was at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Tree Pipit courtesy
of Sean Gower.

Grasshopper Warbler courtesy
of Sean Gower.

Brown Hawker courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Spotted Flycatcher courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Northants Ringing Group activities

Hello

Northants Ringing Group members were operating at three sites this morning with small teams at Linford Lakes, Stortons Pits and the Brampton Valley below Brixworth. The team at Linford concentrated their efforts at the water margins and reed bed and produced just over fifty birds which included eighteen Reed Warblers, seven Sedge Warblers, two Reed Buntings, a Kingfisher, two Common Whitethroats, seven Willow Warblers and three Moorhens.

The team at Stortons Pits processed seventy-one birds which were mostly new warblers and included a Lesser Whitethroat. Nineteen species were handled at Brixworth totalling eighty-two birds which included two Tree Pipits of four present, a Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail, a Collared Dove, a Kingfisher, sixteen Chiffchaffs, twelve Blackcaps and a Magpie. Two Ravens flew over first thing.

Over at Stanford Reservoir a Common Redstart was caught and ringed and birds on-site included a Marsh Harrier and a Common Sandpiper. The Ruddy Shelduck was at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and the two Sandwich Terns were at Eyebrook Reservoir.

At Pitsford Reservoir birds today were an Osprey mid afternoon and again this evening, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, five Great White Egrets, four Green Sandpipers, a Dunlin and a juvenile female Peregrine.

Harrington Airfield hosted a Hobby, three Ravens and a Clouded Yellow and a Common Redstart was in a hedge near the River Nene midway between Ringstead and Woodford early this afternoon.

A Curlew and two Common Sandpipers were at Summer Leys LNR this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Tree Pipit courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Kingfisher courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Lesser Whitethroat courtesy
of Chris Payne.

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.