Lesser Scaup and Corn Bunting

The drake Lesser Scaup remains on the big lake at Ditchford GP and continues to show well much to the delight of birders and photographers.  At the moment it appears very settled. I intend to go over and see it again as I find that when you go back for a second look you often see things that you missed the first time. 

A Corn Bunting remains at shrike hedge area (between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke), although it isn't as rare as the Lesser Scaup it is certainly an extremely scare bird in the county and as such has attracted many birders/photographers.  However it can be hard to find amongst the many Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers present.   

Yesterday I visited Harrington Airfield and thankfully there were plenty of birds around.  As I walked very slowly through the bushes I noticed a dark bird fly out a bush which I thought looked suspiciously like a Ring Ouzel. After a couple of minutes spent loitering I heard the very distinct harsh chacking call of a Ring Ouzel and saw the bird again before it flew off through the bushes.  I continued my slow walk and when I reached bunker 3 I saw and heard the Ring Ouzel (male) again before it disappeared low into the bushes.  This bird was certainly hard work. 

The Pectoral Sandpiper remains at Hollowell Reservoir and Northern Wheatear at Clifford Hill GP.  At Summer Leys the 3 Glossy Ibis seem to have reduced to a single bird. Also present Pintail, Water Rails, Stonechats,  Golden Plovers,  Common and Jack Snipe.  A  Caspian Gull,  Black Tailed Godwit and 2 drake Red Crested Pochards were reported from Daventry Reservoir and a Mediterranean and Yellow Legged Gull at Stanford Reservoir. 

Regards Eleanor 

The Hanging Houghton
Corn Bunting courtesy
of Stuart Munday.

Drake Lesser Scaup Ditchford Pits

Hello

Please find images of the drake Lesser Scaup at Ditchford Pits with kind contributions from local photographers. With not many in the UK currently there has to be a strong possibility that this is the same bird previously seen at Draycote and Stanford Reservoirs earlier in the month. The first of this species to be recorded in Northamptonshire - we have waited a long time!

Regards

Neil M

Images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Image courtesy of
Stuart Munday.

Images courtesy of
Bob Bullock.

Lesser Scaup on my "county list " at last!!

Having missed the first county record of Lesser Scaup at Stanford Reservoir last month I was very relieved when one was found at Ditchford GP yesterday.  However I just couldn't get over there yesterday so had to endure a nail biting wait to see whether the bird stayed overnight.  Thankfully it did and I was able to get over to Ditchford GP this morning and join with the many other birders who also missed the Stanford bird. In fact it turned out to be quite a social occasion as lots of birders came out of the woodwork and I caught up with many folk whom I hadn't seen for years.     The bird itself was showing very well and appeared to like the company of Gadwall.  It preened, loafed around, dived and stretched his wings giving everyone some amazing views and hopefully there should be a lot of photographs.                                                                    It was definitely one of the easiest "twitches " I have been on.  The bird is on the Big Lake at Ditchford GP and is accessed via the Rushden Lakes Complex.  Park between the cinema and restaurants and it is literally a 5 minute walk on a good track on the east side of this lake.  It was visible from an obvious angling spot behind a padlocked gate.  This track is well used by folk out for a walk and was quite busy today as it is half term and nice weather.  Afterwards there is the opportunity to go and look for the Beavers or indulge in some retail therapy!!

Just a few birds of note in the county today.  A few of the long staying birds remain, Pectoral Sandpiper at Hollowell Reservoir,  2 Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys and Northern Wheatear at Clifford Hill GP.   There was a Marsh Harrier at Titchmarsh LNR and over at Stanford Reservoir a Mediterranean, Caspian and Yellow Legged Gull.                     I visited Harrington Airfield yesterday and today and it was a birdless zone. I couldn't find anything.  This is so typical of Harrington,  it is either all or nothing.  Despite sitting around and waiting for the birds/wildlife to show, nothing happened.                This tactic certainly worked well for Stuart this afternoon at shrike hedge where he was rewarded with a Corn Bunting,  Merlin and Stonechat . I walked around the general area and saw nothing of note. Maybe I should have sat around but somehow I don't think that the dogs would have been too impressed!!

Regards Eleanor 

Jack Snipe.

Stonechat.

Pintail.

Images from Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

It has certainly been a few degrees cooler this weekend and even a ground frost.  A slight change in wind direction may have influenced the movement of Whooper Swans with 3 at Clifford Hill GP, 5 over Stanford Reservoir and 6 at Pitsford Reservoir.  It is also that time of year when the "wild" geese are also on the move and this morning 6 Pink Footed Geese flew over Hanging Houghton calling. I just love their call.      The Pectoral Sandpiper remains at Hollowell Reservoir and the 3 Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys.  Three sightings of Merlin,  Stanford Reservoir,  Gayton and a male at Harrington Airfield. Crossbills were reported from Salcey Forest and a group of 4 flying over Allen Road in Northampton. A late Northern Wheatear remains at Clifford Hill GP.  Other birds around this weekend include a Woodcock at Harrington Airfield,  Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys, Caspian and Yellow Legged Gull at Earls Barton GP. 

Kenny Cramer and his team held a ringing session at Milton Keynes today where 69 birds were processed, 51 of which were new birds.  There were 17 species of bird present including 4 Redwings, 2 Chiffchaffs,  9 Goldfinches,  1 Siskin,  3 Lesser Redpolls,  4 Goldcrests and a Kingfisher. 

Regards Eleanor 

Goldcrest.

Kingfisher.

Lesser Redpoll.

Images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Odds and Ends to finish the week

A mixture of typical Autumn weather over the last few days has seen warm sunshine and blue skies,  showery rain,  blustery winds and even a frost this morning.  The temperature has certainly dropped a few degrees and I even had to dig out my warm coat and gloves today.   Hopefully I have managed to give the lawns their last cut of the year and have put the lawn mower to bed.    The farmers have certainly been very busy around us and most of the fields have been newly ploughed.  I  love the smell of freshly ploughed earth. The ploughing activity has certainly attracted the birds. This afternoon there were a "kettle " of Red Kites over the fields along with numerous Common Buzzards standing around, a mixture of Corvids, Gulls and Pied Wagtails.  A couple of days ago there was even a Northern Wheatear on the fields.                                                  Due to various reasons my birding has been limited.  A couple of days ago the area around shrike hedge/blueberry was really busy with birds including 4 Stonechats,  2 Bramblings and large numbers of Skylarks and other passerines but today it was really quiet.   Harrington Airfield seems to mirror this too with 2 pairs Stonechats and 3 Bramblings a couple of days ago but today I could only find one pair of Stonechat and a Crossbill and 25 Golden Plovers flew over.

On Wednesday there was a late Swallow at Boddington Reservoir,  a Water Pipit and 3 Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys,  Caspian Gull at Naseby Reservoir,  2 drake Red Crested Pochards at Daventry Reservoir and a female at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.  A juvenile Whooper Swan was at Pitsford Reservoir and 2 other Whoopers at Stanford Reservoir.                                                                                            Yesterday a Firecrest was found at Boddington Reservoir, but not seen subsequently.  A Norwegian ringed Greenshank was at Summer Leys along with the 3 Glossy Ibis whilst over at Pitsford Reservoir Caspian and Yellow Legged Gull,  Ruff,Dunlin,  Green Sandpipers,  2 Stonechats and 15 Pintail.                                                                                    Today there was a Ring Ouzel on a private site at Long Buckby, 2 Bitterns at Stanford Reservoir,  Merlin at Boddington Reservoir and the Pectoral Sandpiper at Hollowell Reservoir which can be elusive at times as it hides in the vegetation. 

Have a good weekend and don't forget to put your clocks back an hour !!

Regards Eleanor 

Birds of late October

Hello

A pleasant day of weather and still plenty of visible migration out there but not many reports locally.

Birds logged at Stanford Reservoir today included two Glossy Ibis in flight, the Bittern again, twenty-three Little Egrets, four Great White Egrets, two Water Rails, two Cetti's Warblers and a late Swallow.

The Pectoral Sandpiper continued it's extraordinary long stay at Hollowell Reservoir and other birds were a Rock Pipit near the Sailing Club, a Caspian Gull, a Dunlin and four Stonechats.

A late Wheatear was at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and a Jack Snipe and a Water Rail were also present.

Birds on view for much of the day at Summer Leys LNR from the Pioneer Hide were three Glossy Ibis, a Jack Snipe, a Bittern, two Water Rails and two Stonechats. The Jack Snipe had a narrow escape when either a Weasel or Stoat rushed through the dank vegetation where it was sleeping. A leg-flagged Greenshank was in Wader Bay.

A Swallow was seen flying south at Brackley and at least two Stonechats, a Golden Plover and four Siskins were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Great Crested Grebe
with Perch.

Grey Wagtail.

Pheasant.

Blue Tit.

All images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count

Hello

More rain today but the day was still birdable with mild temperatures and glimpses of sunshine.

Today was the turn of Pitsford Reservoir to be WeBS-counted! North of the causeway there were eleven Pintail, a Goldeneye, a Great White Egret, just three Little Egrets, no Coots or swans, a Ruff, a Dunlin, seven Common Snipe, about seventy-five Golden Plovers, three Green Sandpipers (Holcot Bay), two Kingfishers (using tern rafts as a perch in the Holcot Bay), an adult Yellow-legged Gull, five Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail and several fly-over Siskins.

South of the causeway there were eight Great White Egrets, just three Little Egrets, two Green Sandpipers in the Catwalk Bay, two Goldeneye, a Rock Pipit in the mouth of Moulton Grange Bay, four Stonechats, two Grey Wagtails, small numbers of Siskins and Redpolls moving south and two Ravens.

A Grass Snake was active which seemed rather late and butterflies included Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma reflecting the warmth of the day despite the rain showers.

Up to five thousand Starlings were gathering to roost at Summer Leys LNR this evening and birds on view for much of the day were the three Glossy Ibis, thirteen Common Snipe, a Jack Snipe, a Water Rail, two Great White Egrets, two drake Pintail and a Stonechat.

A Great White Egret and a Water Rail were at Clifford Hill Pits and fifteen Crossbills flew over Salcey Forest mid-morning.

Two pairs of Stonechats were at Harrington Airfield this morning and good numbers of Redwing were moving over with far smaller numbers of Siskins and Redpolls similarly moving south. A Corn Bunting, six Stonechats and four Bramblings were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon.

Eyebrook Reservoir still hosted the American Golden Plover plus a Knot, a Scaup and a Rock Pipit and an adult Whooper Swan remained at Linford Lakes this morning.

A quieter day at Stanford Reservoir still resulted in sightings of four Great White Egrets, twelve Little Egrets, one hundred and fifteen Cormorants, a Kingfisher, two Water Rails and two Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Jack Snipe.

Water Rail and Jack Snipe.

Glossy Ibis.

Two drake Pintail.

All images from Summer Leys LNR
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

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.