Finally some rain!

Hello

The first substantial rain for some time hit us today but the morning was mild and dry with the rain coming later.

The American Golden Plover was still with Golden Plovers at Eyebrook Reservoir today (plus a Scaup) and Stanford Reservoir hosted the Bittern still, five Great White Egrets of which one was colour-ringed, about twenty-five Little Egrets, an adult Caspian Gull, a Common Snipe, two Water Rails, two Cetti's Warblers and a fly-over Crossbill.

At Summer Leys LNR the three Glossy Ibis were again reported and other birds included an adult Caspian Gull, a Jack Snipe, a Dunlin and two Pintail.

At Pitsford Reservoir there were six Pintail north of the causeway plus a Ruff and two Stonechats. Singles of Brambling and Siskin were in the vicinity of Christies Copse and this evening there was an adult Caspian Gull at roost off the dam (where also three Great White Egrets). Four Tree Sparrows were at Rectory Farm, Old.

The Pectoral Sandpiper was again reported at Hollowell Reservoir, a small party of Crossbills were heard calling in New Covert, Kelmarsh this morning and at least one Raven was in Hanging Houghton village. Two Stonechats and two Golden Plovers were visible in the rain in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon with a Barn Owl showing in much better weather this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Common Toadflax and Field
Scabious still in full bloom at
Kelmarsh this morning.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Kingfisher courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Robin courtesy
of John Tilly.

Static Glossy Ibis and Golden Plovers on the move

Hello

Garden bird ringing at Greens Norton resulted in a catch of sixty-one Goldfinches for Chris Payne this morning plus a few Greenfinches, Blue Tits and a Great Tit.

A ringing session at Linford Lakes on the edge of Milton Keynes also pulled in the birds with one hundred and sixty-four captures of eighteen species. Highlights were thirteen Redwings, two Song Thrushes, twelve Goldcrests and a re-trap Water Rail first ringed there last year. Warblers were still about with fourteen Chiffchaffs caught and ringed, eight Blackcaps and a Cetti's Warbler.

A large flock of Siskins were on-site but didn't hit the nets but twelve Goldfinches, four Chaffinches and two Greenfinches did. At this time of the year the tits can very much get in the way when you are trying to target other species and fifty-four Blue Tits and twenty Great Tits did just that!

An American Golden Plover was located at Eyebrook Reservoir today (plus a Grey Plover and a Knot) and birds at Stanford Reservoir were two Glossy Ibis, a late Osprey, four Great White Egrets, sixteen Little Egrets, about three hundred Golden Plovers, two Pintail, a Stonechat, thirty-one Siskins (one caught and ringed) and an 'acredula' Willow Warbler caught and ringed. A belated report was received of a Black Redstart being by the spillway yesterday morning.

In the Nene Valley four Cattle Egret left their roost site at Stanwick Pits and at Summer Leys quality birding was in the shape of three Glossy Ibis, a Bittern, two Jack Snipe, two Water Rails and a covey of Grey Partridges. A Glossy Ibis remained at Titchmarsh, Thrapston Pits this afternoon and thirty-nine Golden Plovers flew east.

Harrington Airfield provided two pairs of Stonechats, six Bramblings and twenty-five Golden Plovers with a Crossbill and four Great White Egrets flying over. A Short-eared Owl and five Swallows were near Wootton this evening and garden birds at Hanging Houghton were a Grey Wagtail, four Redpolls and a nearby Raven. A Brambling and two Stonechats were near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. Another Brambling was recorded on a trail camera in a garden at Brampton Ash.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Spoonbill wasn't reported after seemingly going absent yesterday afternoon but other birds in the Scaldwell Bay today were a Ruff, about ninety Golden Plovers, at least three Common Snipe, three Dunlin and one or two Stonechat(s).

The Pectoral Sandpiper, Common Scoter and two Rock Pipits were reported as being present at Hollowell Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Blackbird courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Redwing courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Stonechat near Blueberry Farm
courtesy of Phil West.

Grey Partridges at Summer Leys
courtesy of David Smith.

Black-headed Gull.

Mute Swans.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

Another ringing session in the county today with a visit to Woodford Halse providing eighty-six captures with Blue Tits (thirty-nine) and Great Tits (twenty-eight) very much dominating! However amongst the eleven species encountered star birds were two Lesser Redpolls, a 'continental' Blackbird, a Moorhen and a Kingfisher.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Spoonbill was still present north of the causeway as were three Dunlin and one hundred and twelve Golden Plovers. A Redpoll was in a Spratton garden today.

Hollowell Reservoir provided more views of the Pectoral Sandpiper and one or two Rock Pipit(s) were feeding along the shoreline. Other birds were a Common Snipe, six Stonechats and a Wheatear.

The Glossy Ibis was still on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston (in front of the Peter Scott hide) and the three Glossy Ibis were still on the Summer Leys reserve at Earls Barton Pits.

A Great White Egret, a Peregrine, a Water Rail and four Redshanks were at Clifford Hill Pits and this afternoon there was a Marsh Harrier and six Stonechats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, in the vicinity of shrike hedge.

The two Glossy Ibis appeared at Stanford Reservoir but weren't there at their more typical early morning slot. The Bittern was seen again and other birds noted were a Redshank, a Great White Egret, twenty Little Egrets, two Water Rails and two Kingfishers.

A WeBS count was completed at Ditchford Pits today and two adult Whooper Swans flew east at about 11.05am. Birds west of Ditchford Lane were four Great White Egrets, eight Egyptian Geese, a Pintail, a Goldeneye, a Green Sandpiper, five Water Rails, five Cetti's Warblers, four Grey Partridges, a Grey Wagtail, a Kingfisher and two Stonechats. East of Ditchford Lane provided a Jack Snipe, a Great White Egret, a Kingfisher, a Water Rail, four Grey Wagtails and six Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

The Pitsford Spoonbill
courtesy of Neil Hasdell
and Tony Stanford.

Lesser Redpoll courtesy
of Nick Wood.

Lesser Redpoll courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Kingfisher courtesy
of Chris Payne.

First year Moorhen
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Honey Fungus.

Monitoring the autumn migration

Hello

Plenty of birds at Stanford Reservoir again this morning with the two Glossy Ibis, the long-staying Bittern, two Great White Egrets, two Kingfishers, three Swallows, sixty Fieldfares, a Water Rail, a Pintail, a second winter Mediterranean Gull, a Stonechat and a roost of about 1,000 Starlings.

Pitsford Reservoir continued to host the Spoonbill for much of the day and other birds north of the causeway included a Grey Plover, seventy-two Golden Plovers, four or five Green Sandpipers and two Kingfishers. An adult Caspian Gull, five Yellow-legged Gulls, three Great White Egrets and a Kingfisher were off the dam this evening.

Hollowell Reservoir continued to host the now very long-staying Pectoral Sandpiper and a female-type Common Scoter and two Crossbills were west of the dam early morning.  Naseby Reservoir continues to be the day-time venue for an adult Caspian Gull.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today included a brief Rock Pipit, a couple of Bramblings and Redpolls, at least five Stonechats and calling Grey Partridge and Little Owl. Stuart saw a/the Spoonbill fly through the valley this afternoon heading towards Cottesbrooke - presumably the bird from Pitsford and perhaps on it's way to Hollowell?

An adult male Hen Harrier at Harrington Airfield appeared to fly through and other birds there were a pair of Stonechats and two Bramblings.

Two Bramblings were again in our garden at Hanging Houghton today and Chris enjoyed one in his East Hunsbury garden and also had three Crossbills flying over. A Water Rail, a Common Snipe and two Great White Egrets were at Clifford Hill Pits this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Spoonbill at Pitsford
Reservoir courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Jays courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Redwing courtesy of
Jane Neill.

Male 'continental' Chaffinch.

Female Brambling.

Stonechat courtesy of
David Smith.

All 'in hand' images were of birds
ringed in the county today by members
of the Northants Ringing Group.

Pitsford Spoonbill

Hello

Another mostly still and grey day but without the drizzle.

At Earls Barton Pits the three Glossy Ibis were on the Summer Leys reserve and a pre-roost gathering of gulls on Mary's Lake provided a Caspian Gull and three Yellow-legged Gulls. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Titchmarsh LNR at Thrapston Pits.

At Stanford Reservoir the two Glossy Ibis showed up again early morning and other birds were two Great White Egrets, fifteen Little Egrets, at least five hundred and fifty Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the roost, two Water Rails, a Kingfisher, a Siskin, ten Redpolls, approximately seven hundred and fifty Redwings and thirty Fieldfares.

A Rock Pipit was on the reservoir bank at Boddington Reservoir where there was also a Kingfisher and a Tree Sparrow. Two Ravens were at Clifford Hill Pits and a Corn Bunting lingered in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton in the vicinity of shrike hedge where there were also three Stonechats, twenty Golden Plovers, a Grey Partridge and a couple of Redpolls and Bramblings. Six or more Bramblings and eighty Chaffinches were near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and a flock of four hundred Chaffinches at Courteenhall also held at least four Bramblings.

At Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon a first year Spoonbill lingered north of the causeway and was feeding in the mouth of the Walgrave Bay. There were also at least six Great White Egrets, fourteen Pintail, sixty-seven Golden Plovers and a Ruff on the reserve with morning observations of a Stonechat and in the Holcot Bay two Kingfishers and two Green Sandpipers.

Regards

Neil M

Skylark.

Redwing.

Stonechat.

Ringing birds on the move
in the open countryside today.

Birds of the low cloud and drizzle

Hello

Still birds on the move today in grey, drizzly conditions but less in the way of scarce birds.

The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton provided a hunting Marsh Harrier, up to five Stonechats, two Grey Wagtails and six Bramblings and plenty of thrushes. At Blueberry Farm, Maidwell there were another pair of Stonechats and a Brambling.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today were two Glossy Ibis, a Bittern, two Great White Egrets, sixteen Little Egrets, a late Sand Martin, a Swallow, a Reed Warbler ringed, at least five hundred Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the roost, two Kingfishers, two Water Rails and about thirty Fieldfares.

Three Glossy Ibis were again at Summer Leys LNR today and Hollowell Reservoir hung on to the Pectoral Sandpiper plus also a female-type Common Scoter, a first year Mediterranean Gull, three Common Snipe and four Stonechats.  A female Scaup was at Eyebrook Reservoir.

At Pitsford Reservoir birds between the dam and causeway were three Great White Egrets, two Yellow-legged Gulls, a Greenshank, a Kingfisher, three Stonechats and a Swallow.

A female Red-crested Pochard was at Ravensthorpe Reservoir plus a hybrid Red-crested Pochard x Mallard.

Regards

Neil M

Mute Swan.

Robin.

Cormorant.

Grey Heron.

Monday's migrants

Hello

A busy day in the county with heavy migration and oddities mixed in too! Redwings, Skylarks and Siskins and many others were moving all day as the conditions permitted south-bound migration with some flurries of Fieldfares too.

A Yellow-browed Warbler was discovered at Daventry Country Park but this elusive bird apparently wasn't seen after the initial sighting.

Stanford Reservoir had a busy day with two Glossy Ibis, a Bittern, five Red-crested Pochards (almost certainly the same birds from yesterday at Hollowell Reservoir), an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Kingfisher and a Brambling.

An adult Caspian Gull was off the dam at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and a Pintail was north of the causeway; the Pectoral Sandpiper was again at Hollowell Reservoir. Two adult Caspian Gulls were at Naseby Reservoir plus an adult Yellow-legged Gull and with thirty Golden Plovers flying over.

Another adult Caspian Gull was off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir where there were also two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, three Great White Egrets, fifteen Little Egrets, seventy Cormorants and two Grey Wagtails.

Two Grey Wagtails and a pair of Stonechats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and two Bramblings were in our Hanging Houghton garden this afternoon.

Clifford Hill Pits hosted four Common Scoters this morning plus a Great White Egret, a Common Sandpiper, fifty plus Meadow Pipits and over a hundred Linnets.

A Black Redstart was a seasonal but scarce visitor to Rectory Farm near Old village today.

Summer Leys LNR provided for three Glossy Ibis, a Jack Snipe, six Pintail, several Redpoll and up to fifty Golden Plovers with a Yellow-legged Gull, a Mediterranean Gull and one hundred and sixty-four Gadwall at nearby Mary's Lake.

Thrapston Pits was in on the action too with a Glossy Ibis, two Common Scoters, a Ruff, a Yellow-legged Gull and a juvenile Hobby.

A wander at Harrington Airfield yielded a male Ring Ouzel, over a hundred Fieldfares, a constant Redwing passage, three or four Bramblings, two Redpolls, a pair of Stonechats, sixty plus Golden Plovers and a female Merlin.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kite.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Common Gull.

Great Black-backed Gull.

Hedgehog.

Ringing success

Hello

The current weather conditions are good for the use of mist nets during bird ringing sessions and members of the Northants Ringing Group were active on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

On Thursday just two nets were deployed at Woodford Halse as an experimental session and resulted in sixty-two captures of ten species which included a juvenile Sparrowhawk, a Grey Wagtail and eleven Goldcrests.

On Friday Stortons Pits was the venue with one hundred and twenty-three birds of fifteen species which included the first Redwing of the autumn, another young Sparrowhawk, eighteen Chiffchaffs, eight Goldcrests, a staggering forty Long-tailed Tits, nine Blackcaps, a Cetti's Warbler, a Treecreeper and four Goldfinches.

On Saturday ringers operating at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes netted one hundred and fifty-one birds of seventeen species which included two re-trap Kingfishers, forty Chiffchaffs, thirteen Blackcaps, five Goldcrests, twelve Long-tailed Tits, a Treecreeper, nine Greenfinches, a Siskin, three Redpolls and two Meadow Pipits. Birds on-site included a Whooper Swan, a Great White Egret, a Common Snipe and a Raven.

Today in the county a Rock Pipit was discovered at Boddington Reservoir and fog patches disrupted early birding efforts but a Common Snipe and ten Redwings were at Lilbourne Water Meadows and Summer Leys LNR hosted the Glossy Ibis still plus a Ruff, two Pintails, fifty Golden Plovers and two Swallows.

Clifford Hill Pits attracted four Common Snipe and a Great Egret and Harrington Airfield was good for a female Merlin, five Bramblings (four males), a pair of Stonechats and eighteen Golden Plovers in flight. A Short-eared Owl, a pair of Stonechat and two Bramblings were in the Blueberry Farm area (Maidwell).

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included two Glossy Ibis, a Cackling Goose of unknown origin, two Great White Egrets, two Kingfishers, a Reed Warbler ringed, a Golden Plover, a Water Rail, a Common Snipe, an adult Caspian Gull and eight Siskins.

After journeying up from Cornwall today I dropped into the feeder stream section of Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon where there were several birders present. The Pectoral Sandpiper was still there but generally elusive in vegetation and a little birding 'purple patch' provided views of two Mediterranean Gulls (adult and first year), five Red-crested Pochard (four drakes), seven Egyptian Geese, no less than three Rock Pipits feeding on the exposed mud, a Siskin, three Stonechats, two Common Snipe, over a hundred Linnets and a Great White Egret.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Sparrowhawk courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Blue Tit courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Meadow Pipit courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Lesser Redpolls courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Male Siskin courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Quiet end to the week

It has been a quiet end to the week.  Very few birds reported and certainly from my own visits to Harrington Airfield and shrike hedge a noticeable decrease in the numbers of birds. I've only managed to find one pair of Stonechat around shrike hedge.  However I  was training today at Newton Bromswold near Rushden and got distracted when I could hear Stonechats calling and found 4 birds in a weedy ditch at the bottom of the field. 

Birds reported over the last couple of days include the long staying Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys,  Stanford Reservoir and Titchmarsh LNR.  The Pectoral Sandpiper is still present at Hollowell Reservoir and the drake Red Crested Pochard at Daventry Reservoir.  Yesterday there was a Merlin at shrike hedge, Caspian Gull at Wicksteed Park Lakes and a Rock Pipit briefly on the dam at Daventry Reservoir.   Today there was a drake Goldeneye at Titchmarsh LNR and 5 Whooper Swans at Clifford Hill GP. 

The weather is looking good for the weekend with a shift in the wind direction from the east on Sunday which may bring a few different birds our way.  Let's get out there and enjoy the weather and beautiful Autumn colours and find those birds !!

Regards Eleanor 

Little Egret courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Reed Bunting courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Stonechat courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Goldfinch.