When the wind blows

Hello

Despite some constant wind, blustery at times, from the north-east, there is little change on the birding front in the county.

The exception seems to be Stanford Reservoir which had brief visitations from a Sandwich Tern this morning and a juvenile Little Gull this evening. A Hobby was also there with an Osprey at lunchtime.

Eyebrook Reservoir hosted a Black Tern, an Arctic Tern and two Wood Sandpipers.

The south end of Pitsford Reservoir was unremarkable despite a couple of visits there today, the best being four Yellow-legged Gulls, a Hobby and a Grey Wagtail.

A first winter Caspian Gull was seen at Daventry Country Park, two Common Sandpipers were at Boddington Reservoir and a juvenile Common Sandpiper showed well at Sixfields Lake Weir.

Clifford Hill Pits still hangs on to its Black-necked Grebe and Summer Leys LNR exhibited a Marsh Harrier, a Ruff, a Common Snipe and four Great White Egrets. The Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits hosted a Hobby, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and a Common Snipe.

A Wheatear and a Green Sandpiper were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Common Sandpiper.

Grey Wagtail.

Gadwall.

Above images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grey Heron.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Birds of early September

Hello

An early start at Pitsford Reservoir provided an opportunity to see an Osprey several times in the morning including fishing in the Scaldwell Bay. Other birds included four Great White Egrets, a Wheatear, a Kingfisher and two Common Sandpipers all north of the causeway.

An Osprey caught a fish at Hollowell Reservoir and a Whinchat was still present. A Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper were all still at Eyebrook Reservoir today. Stanford Reservoir provided the Ruddy Shelduck, a Hobby and a Common Sandpiper.

Two Marsh Harriers were at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and a Bittern was at the Titchmarsh Reserve, Thrapston Pits (visible from North Hide) and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was also present.

Six Spotted Flycatchers and lots of Chiffchaffs were at Lamport Hall this afternoon and the Black-necked Grebe was still at Clifford Hill Pits today where there were also two Whinchats.

This evening there were four Whinchats, a Wheatear, a Hobby and two Barn Owls in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Wheatear.

Common Buzzard.

Red Admiral.

Images today from Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Ferruginous Duck, Ospreys and chats.

Hello

A female Ferruginous Duck was found at Stanford Reservoir this morning where there were still three juvenile Arctic Terns, the Ruddy Shelduck, a Great White Egret, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby. Eyebrook Reservoir still retained a Little Stint and also a Curlew Sandpiper, two Wood Sandpipers and a Black Tern.

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Clifford Hill Pits and Summer Leys LNR boasted two Ospreys, a Marsh Harrier, three Garganey, two Great White Egrets, a Greenshank, two Green Sandpipers and a Ruff. An Osprey was also at Titchmarsh reserve, Thrapston Pits and other birds included two Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, three Common Snipe and a Hobby.

A Wheatear, two Whinchats and a Stonechat were all early morning birds at Hollowell Reservoir plus a Common Sandpiper and a Peregrine. Six Yellow-legged Gulls, a Hobby and a Great White Egret were at nearby Ravensthorpe Reservoir. A Raven was between Teeton and Spratton.

A Wheatear and a Grey Partridge were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with Harrington Airfield still retaining a Common Redstart, a Whinchat and a Wheatear. Three Yellow-legged Gulls were off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Cormorants at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Images of the Greenshank and
Ruff at Summer Leys LNR
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Dull weather but not the birding

Hello

At lunchtime today a Whimbrel was on the dam at Pitsford Reservoir before flying off south calling loudly. It subsequently returned and flew north down the reservoir. Birds north of the causeway included three Great White Egrets, a Kingfisher, a Hobby, a Green Sandpiper, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Raven.

Two Whinchats and a Stonechat remain at Hollowell Reservoir today plus a Yellow-legged Gull.

Two Ospreys spent some time at the Titchmarsh reserve, Thrapston Pits today and birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Marsh Harrier and at Clifford Hill Pits the Black-necked Grebe was seen again plus two Common Sandpipers, a Ruff and two Egyptian Geese.

Stanford Reservoir hosted three Arctic Terns, two Great White Egrets, the Ruddy Shelduck and a Common Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint plus six Turnstones were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Passage Swifts were noted over Towcester and Barton Seagrave today and a new Common Redstart, a Hobby and a Peregrine were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

Two Whinchats, a Stonechat, a Wheatear and a Marsh Harrier were all in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with Harrington Airfield providing sightings of a Marsh Harrier, six Ravens, three Common Redstarts and a Whinchat.

Another Common Redstart and up to ten Spotted Flycatchers were mobile at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

A Green Sandpiper and three Yellow-legged Gulls were at the dam-end of Pitsford Reservoir this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Sunbathing Grey Heron
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Whimbrel at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

Hawthorn Shieldbug
courtesy of John Tilly.

September already!

Hello

A fairly blustery wind for the last twenty-four hours with spells of hazy sunshine and pleasant conditions.

The two week period of 'Stanstock' which has seen two weeks of intensive ringing at Stanford Reservoir concluded today, which is not to say that is the end of ringing there for a while, just not every day! The preliminary total of birds newly ringed during that period is 3,528 - the majority of these migrant warblers which pass through the habitat daily. An incredible total! Birds seen there today were an Osprey, two Whinchats and a Common Sandpiper.

The north-easterly blow is currently producing lots of interesting passerines on the east coat of Britain today albeit that the wind direction for the coming week is fluctuating with more north-easterlies predicted towards the end of the week.

These strong winds unfortunately had an adverse affect on the ringing at Harrington Airfield with few birds caught and the only noteworthy birds seen were a juvenile Marsh Harrier and at least two Ravens. A single Meadow Pipit was the first of the autumn for me.

A single Osprey was at Pitsford Reservoir today and Hollowell Reservoir hosted a Stonechat, two Whinchats, a Hobby, a Peregrine and a Common Sandpiper. At Ravensthorpe Reservoir a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and four Yellow-legged Gulls were present this afternoon.

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Clifford Hill Pits today and one of the Common Redstarts was on show near the footpath from the Holiday Inn car park again.

At Summer Leys LNR today sightings included a Marsh Harrier, a Garganey, up to five Ruff, a Greenshank, three Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper.

A Cattle Egret was in the Nene Valley by a footpath between Ecton and Earls Barton. A Little Stint and a Garganey were still at Eyebrook Reservoir today. Three Great White Egrets in flight over Woodford Halse this evening was a good local record.

A Marsh Harrier and two Whinchats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at least eight Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Redstart were at Lamport Hall this afternoon.

This evening a Black Tern was off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir and other birds present were at least seven Yellow-legged Gulls and a Ringed Plover.

A Willow Emerald damselfly in a Great Oxendon garden was a good local record.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Whitethroat courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Blackbird courtesy of
John Tilly.

Teal courtesy of
John Tilly.

Treecreeper courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Goldcrest courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

A breezy day but plenty of birds

Hello

Breezy autumn day and dull but mild.

Stanford Reservoir was again the place for migrating passerines with three hundred and ninety-seven small birds newly ringed which included four Common Redstarts and two Grasshopper Warblers. Other birds seen included a Common Sandpiper, the Ruddy Shelduck and a Kingfisher.

Down at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes Kenny and his team enjoyed another excellent ringing session, encountering one hundred and seventeen birds which included forty-two Blackcaps, three Garden Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, two Sedge Warblers, eight Reed Warblers, eleven Chiffchaffs, three Willow Warblers, a Treecreeper, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Kingfisher, eight Greenfinches and a super Common Redstart. Other birds on-site included a Bittern, a Raven, a Common Sandpiper and several hundred migrating hirundines (mostly House Martins).

At Eyebrook Reservoir today birds included a Little Stint, a Wood Sandpiper and a Knot.

At least seven Cattle Egrets were at Irtlingborough Lakes and Meadows this morning and birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Garganey, a Ruff, a Common Snipe, a Greenshank, three Green Sandpipers, a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine and three Black-tailed Godwits in flight.

Three Whinchats were at Hollowell Reservoir today and a Spotted Flycatcher, a Hobby and a Raven were all at New Covert, Kelmarsh.

Ringing will be taking place at Harrington Airfield tomorrow and possibly Monday which ensures restricted access around the bunkers between the chippings compound and the concrete track. Access along the concrete track is unaffected.

Regards

Neil M

Blackcap.

Kingfisher.

Lesser Whitethroat.

Common Redstart.

All images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Warblers galore!

Hello

Some ringing at Pitsford Reservoir provided some good numbers, in particular common warblers made up of fifty-one Blackcaps, eight Garden Warblers, twenty Common Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, twenty-five Sedge Warblers, twenty-five Reed Warblers, twenty-four Chiffchaffs and two Willow Warblers. An Osprey was again in the Scaldwell Bay this morning and a Hobby was showing particularly well, feeding right in front of the Bird Club hide and perching up to devour some of the dragonflies. At least two Ravens flew over.

Over at Stanford Reservoir the ringers there also enjoyed ideal conditions and processed an amazing five hundred and forty new birds! Again the majority were warblers but a Water Rail was only the second to be ringed at the site. Other birds noted included a Common Sandpiper and a Curlew over.

Clifford Hill Pits continued to host the Black-necked Grebe but it can sometimes be elusive! Three Sandwich Terns there was a good find as were two Common Redstarts next to the footpath from the Holiday Inn car park and a Cattle Egret was present this morning.

Three Cattle Egrets were on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve this morning and a Ruff was on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR. A Garganey was at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Hollowell Reservoir provided views of a Marsh Harrier this afternoon plus two Whinchats and a Hobby. Afternoon visits to Harrington Airfield are not generally recommended but today was the exception with two Common Redstarts, three Whinchats, a Marsh Harrier and six Ravens all there this afternoon.

At least ten Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Redstart were at Lamport Hall and this evening in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton there were two Whinchats, a Hobby and two Barn Owls.

Regards

Neil M

Ruff courtesy of
John Tilly.

Dunlin courtesy
of John Tilly.

Lapwing courtesy
 of John Tilly.

Blue Emperor dragonfly.

Curlew courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Raven.

Redstarts and waders

Hello

An early morning saunter in to the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton provided sustained views of a juvenile Marsh Harrier hunting over the fields, a Wheatear and a Whinchat. Later on there was a second Whinchat and two Hobbies.

Two Common Redstarts and two Spotted Flycatchers and two Hobbies were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. At least ten Spotted Flycatchers were on view at Lamport Hall this morning but they were pretty mobile.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were two Great White Egrets north of the causeway, a Whinchat in the Scaldwell Bay, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Raven.

An Osprey was again at Stanford Reservoir, a Grasshopper Warbler was caught and ringed and two Ravens flew over. A Whinchat remained at Hollowell Reservoir where there were also two adult Yellow-legged Gulls. Waders at Lilbourne Meadows reserve this afternoon amounted to two Greenshanks, two Common Snipe, three Common Sandpipers and four Green Sandpipers.

Three Common Redstarts remain at Woodford Halse LNR, another Common Redstart was discovered in a hedge south of Hartwell and two more were noted at Harrington Airfield.

An Osprey was over Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits and the Titchmarsh reserve hosted a Ringed Plover, two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and two Common Snipe. Four Cattle Egrets were reported from the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve today with just a Marsh Harrier reported from Summer Leys LNR today.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff courtesy of Tony Stanford. Good numbers of these
and Willow Warblers are moving through the county at the
 moment.

Cormorant courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Avocet courtesy of
John Tilly.

Black-tailed Godwit courtesy
of John Tilly.

Curlew courtesy of
John Tilly.

Tree Sparrow at Pitsford
Reservoir today courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

The few pairs left at and near Pitsford
Reservoir have produced several broods
of young but not enough for a self-sustained
population. It will be interesting to see
if there is any left next year.

Migration in full swing

Hello

A ringing session at Woodford Halse today provided seventy-two birds of fifteen species with perhaps the highlights being eleven Blackcaps, a Treecreeper, a Yellowhammer, a Nuthatch and a young female Green Woodpecker. Two Ravens and a Grey Wagtail were also present.

Over at Stanford Reservoir the concentrated effort of ringers today provided over four hundred new birds, with eight hundred birds being newly ringed in the previous three days. Most of these birds are migrant warblers and yesterday included a northern-type Willow Warbler and today and yesterday single Spotted Flycatchers. Other birds noted there today included a Ruddy Shelduck, a Common Sandpiper and three Ravens.

At Earls Barton Pits an Osprey was over the new workings this afternoon and birds noted at Summer Leys LNR included a Marsh Harrier, three Garganey, two Greenshanks, two Green Sandpipers, two Ringed Plovers and three Common Snipe. A Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were at the Titchmarsh Reserve, Thrapston Pits. A Spotted Flycatcher was at Upton Country Park.

Two Common Redstarts and three Ravens were at Harrington Airfield this morning and at least fifteen Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Redstart were at Lamport Hall. A Whinchat was at Hollowell Reservoir and a single Osprey was seen in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir on two occasions this morning.

Two Common Redstarts were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton were two Whinchats, two Grey Wagtails, five Spotted Flycatchers and this evening a Corn Bunting.

A revival in Robin song is as a result of some of the adult males having now finished the moult process and also juvenile birds which have similarly concluded their post juvenile moult and are now seeking territories of their own.

Regards

Neil M

Spotted Flycatcher Upton
Country Park courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Peacock butterfly.

Treecreeper.

Green Woodpecker at
Woodford Halse today.

Good birds in the Nene Valley

Hello

More warmth today but still periods of strong breezes, hopefully they'll subside for the week-end!

Twelve Cattle Egrets at the north end of Stanwick Pits would have been unheard of not so many years ago but they were there today!

The Black-necked Grebe was still at Clifford Hill Pits today on the main barrage lake and the 'purple patch' at Summer Leys LNR continues with a Bittern again, a Marsh Harrier, a Wood Sandpiper, three Garganey, two Great White Egrets, a Ruff, a Ringed Plover, three Greenshanks and a Green Sandpiper.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Ringed Plover, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby were all at Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits.

At Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon there was a juvenile Caspian Gull with Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the feeder stream end plus a Common Sandpiper and an Osprey flew over heading east at 1.05pm.

A Barn Owl was hunting at Lamport Hall this evening and this morning there was a Green Sandpiper, two Grey Wagtails, two Whinchats and two Hobbies all in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton with a Wheatear and a Reed Warbler there this afternoon. A single very bright male Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Robin.

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe.

Migrant Hawker.

Grey Wagtail.

Wasp Spider.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.