Harrington between the rain

 I timed my walk at Harrington perfectly this morning and managed to avoid a soaking.

 

Getting out of the car by the chippings compound the first thing I heard was a calling Golden Plover, my first locally this autumn. I couldn't locate the bird(s) and didn't hear it again.

3 Kestrels were hunting together over the field making me wonder if they were a family group. 

Further on a Hare popped out in front of me before disappearing back into the undergrowth, the first of 3 sightings, all equally brief.

A flock of Linnets and Goldfinches, roughly 40 strong were on the wing and vocal for most of the walk.

 

A Common Blue butterfly was taking advantage of the weather window to get some nectar.

A Peacock, Red Admiral and unidentified White were also on the wing along with a pair of mating Common Darter dragonflies.

2 separate, very vocal Ravens were both heading elsewhere at speed, whilst the improved conditions saw multiple Buzzards and a lone Kite taking advantage of the thermals to gain height. One of the Buzzards, although extremely distant stood out as being a noticeably paler bird.

Reports from elsewhere in the county have been somewhat limited with sites in the Nene Valley suffering severe flooding.

Boddington Res has had Red-crested Pochard, Common Sandpiper, Stonechat and Yellow-legged Gull today.

The 4 Black Terns were again on the Main Barrage Lake at Clifford Hill. Also present 2 Northern Wheatears, 2 Common Sands and a Hobby.

The Stanford Reservoir Bittern was seen again in reed on the south side of the Res along with 7 Red-crested Pochard.

    Regards,

              Neil H.

Birds of the season

Hello

Another quiet day in the county today but at Stanford Reservoir a Bittern was seen several times and other birds were six Red-crested Pochard still, a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Water Rail, two Cetti's Warblers and singles of Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler.

A regular adult Caspian Gull was again at Naseby Reservoir and single Hobbies were seen at Piddington and just inside Bedfordshire at Poddington and over the village of Cogenhoe. At Summer Leys LNR there were two Hobbies there too plus singles of Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and two Pintail. The Hobbies are no doubt feeding up before they follow the martins and Swallows south to Africa.

A Garganey and a Turnstone were at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Hobby courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Bittern courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Yellow-browed Warbler 
courtesy of Robin Gossage.
A major arrival is occurring in the
north and east of the nation with
a scattering elsewhere...

Rock Pipit courtesy of
Tony Stanford.
This is the best time of year and
into October to chance across
this scarce species in the county.
They seem to have become much
more difficult to see in recent years.

September marches on

Hello

A Black-necked Grebe at Daventry Country Park is presumably a fresh bird in with these NNE winds.

The six Red-crested Pochard remain at Stanford Reservoir today with other birds being two Pintail, an influx of Wigeon, a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby and two Cetti's Warblers. A Garganey was recorded at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Three Yellow-legged Gulls, a Dunlin and two Ringed Plovers were in the dam area at Pitsford Reservoir today and there were at least two Great White Egrets north of the causeway. A Grey Wagtail was at Hanging Houghton.

A Bittern was seen at Layby Pit North at Stanwick Pits this morning with a remaining Black-tailed Godwit and a Pintail on the main lake. Summer Leys LNR provided a female Stonechat and three Green Sandpipers.

A significant influx of Great White Egrets nationally is having some influence on birds locally with one bird seen flying over Brackley town at 8.30am this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Dunnock courtesy
of John Tilly.

Stonechat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Sparrowhawk courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Starling courtesy of
John Tilly.

Long-tailed Tits courtesy
of John Gamble.

A quiet Wednesday in September

Hello

A quiet day in the county today with little that is new.

Stanwick Pits led the way with two Cattle Egrets, two Black-tailed Godwits and a Yellow-legged Gull on the main lake early this morning. An adult Yellow-legged Gull and three Dunlin were still on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits. A Hobby was noted at Clifford Hill Pits.

Away from the Nene Valley there were three Yellow-legged Gulls off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir early this afternoon and two Ravens were about all that was noteworthy at Harrington Airfield this afternoon.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning two Whinchats and two Stonechats were still in situ plus a Marsh Harrier, a Little Egret, a Green Sandpiper and two Grey Wagtails.

Regards

Neil M

Dunlin courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Goldcrest courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Common Buzzard courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Kestrel courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Brown Hawker dragonfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Late surge of butterflies and odonata

Hello

Birds of interest at Stanford Reservoir saw the Red-crested Pochard flock increase to six birds, two Pintails, a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby and a Cetti's Warbler. Ringers operating at the reservoir this morning ringed another huge total of 367 new birds, this following 193 new birds ringed yesterday, demonstrating the sheer number of passerine migrants passing through there.

A much more humble ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir this morning however didn't fail on quality with forty-six birds processed by one ringer around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station which included ten Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, two Sedge Warblers, four Reed Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, fifteen Blackcaps and a Meadow Pipit. A Great White Egret and a Kingfisher and a Raven were in the Walgrave Bay with Willow Emerald Damselflies amongst other odonata on show in the shelter of Christies Copse. Two Ravens were on the outskirts of Scaldwell village and a Grey Wagtail was at Hanging Houghton.

Willow Emerald Damselflies seem to have very much colonised much of Northamptonshire during the last few years and eleven were seen at Sywell Country Park this afternoon. This sunny weather seems to be providing a late fling of butterflies after such an awful season and there are plenty of Large Whites, Red Admirals, Speckled Woods and Commas on the wing. Concentrations of Small Coppers have shown very well on the grassy banks of the dams at both of Pitsford and Ravensthorpe Reservoirs the last couple of days.

At Stanwick Pits today the best birds noted were two Cattle Egrets, an adult Caspian Gull, five Yellow-legged Gulls and a Black-tailed Godwit. Just down the road at Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull, three Dunlin and a Hobby.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today included four Whinchats, two Stonechats and two Ravens and there were two Ring-necked Parakeets yesterday.

Regards

Neil M

Long-tailed Tits.

Jay courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Male Bullfinch courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Male Greenfinch courtesy 
of Robin Gossage. Locally
 they appear to have enjoyed a
very productive breeding season.

A visit to Barnwell Country Park

Hello

A recce out to the east of the county for a change found us at Barnwell Country Park where the stunning weather brought forth many insects with odonata comprising of a late Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawkers, a couple of Southern Hawkers, Common Darter, Banded Demoiselle and Willow Emerald. Plenty of common butterflies were on the wing including Comma and Small Copper and the birds provided a splash of colour with at least two Kingfishers, a Spotted Flycatcher, a couple of Nuthatches and a Reed Warbler. As elsewhere in the county there were plenty of shrill-sounding Chiffchaffs gleaning the bushes and trees.

An adult Peregrine was perched on the spire of St Peter's church in Oundle and a Marsh Harrier and a Cetti's Warbler were noted at Wadenhoe Water Meadows.

Eleanor's morning visit to Harrington Airfield provided a view of a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier which then headed towards the Brampton Valley, a pair of Stonechats, a Wheatear, two Ravens and numbers of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits on the move.

A subsequent visit to the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton produced four Whinchats, a Common Redstart, common warblers, lots of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and a Marsh Harrier. Three silent small geese flew over Hanging Houghton early morning, quickly disappearing from view before optics could be brought to bear!

Four Red-crested Pochard remained at Stanford Reservoir today and other birds amounted to a Hobby, a Common Sandpiper and a Cetti's Warbler.

Two Whinchats and a Stonechat were at Priors Hall, Corby today late morning and migrants at Borough Hill CP, Daventry included a Stonechat, a Whinchat and a Wheatear. Two Ravens were over Mawsley village at lunchtime.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Mallard.

Willow Emerald Damselfly.

Cormorant.

Robin.

Brown Rat.

All images from Barnwell
Country Park today.

Ringing recoveries

Hello

Two Bitterns together on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR was a surprise this morning and other birds included a Marsh Harrier, two Hobbies, three Greenshanks, a Little Ringed Plover and two Green Sandpipers.

A young male Marsh Harrier was present at the Titchmarsh Reserve this afternoon and a few waders were three Dunlin, two Common Sandpipers and a Green Sandpiper.

At Stanwick Pits today a Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Snipe, four Egyptian Geese and a Mandarin Duck were all noted. The Black-necked Grebe was still at Clifford Hill Pits today.

A wander around Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry this afternoon provided plenty of migrants including a Common Redstart, a pair of Stonechats, four Whinchats, a Wheatear, Blackcaps, a Spotted Flycatcher, two Common Whitethroats plus plenty of Chiffchaffs, Meadow Pipits, hirundines and 'alba' wagtails.

Ravens were again present at Harrington Airfield and Hanging Houghton today.

A juvenile Gannet was apparently photographed at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning but not seen subsequently and other birds there included a Cattle Egret and two Garganey.

A few ringing recoveries associated with Northants Ringing Group activities are as follows:-

1. A first year Garden Warbler was ringed at North Luffenham Airfield, Rutland on 28th August 2024 and captured again three days later when caught at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 31st August, sixty kilometers further SSW;

2. A first year female Blackcap was ringed at Stanford Reservoir on 24th August 2023 and encountered again at Linford Lakes on 29th June 2024, 310 days later;

3. An adult male Barn Owl was ringed at Shutlanger, South Northants on 28th June 2019 and caught again but this time at Courteenhall on 22nd August 2024, nine kilometers from where first ringed and 1882 days later;

4. An adult male Siskin was ringed at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate on 29th March this year and caught again by a ringer at Morar, Highland, Scotland on 1st August 2024, 125 days later with a distance of of 597km between the sites;

5. A first year Reed Warbler was ringed at Rutland Water on 4th August 2024 and recaptured at Pitsford Reservoir on 17th August 2024, thirteen days later with the bird travelling just 39km;

6. A first year Willow Warbler was ringed at Carse of Ardersier near Nairn, Highland, Scotland on 6th August 2022 and caught at Linford Lakes on 18th August 2024, 743 days later with the distance between the two sites being 645km and with the bird no doubt heading south to Africa for its third winter.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Willow Emerald Damselfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Starling, a first year bird
moulting into winter plumage.

A quiet Saturday

Hello

Very little in the way of reported sightings of notable birds in the county today despite pleasant weather conditions.

At Stanford Reservoir there were four Red-crested Pochard today plus a Cackling Goose, two Hobbies, one Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and a Cetti's Warbler. Three hundred and twenty new birds were ringed there today and three birds were caught with rings on from elsewhere.

A Whinchat was at Pitsford Reservoir today in the Scaldwell Bay near the Sand Martin hut and at least one Great White Egret was present.

A male Hen Harrier seen distantly at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell was heading east just before midday and a Whinchat was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton near to shrike hedge.

Two more Whinchats were at Harrington Airfield today plus a pair of Ravens. Other Ravens included a single over Great Billing towards Weston Favell this morning and two were over Wollaston this afternoon.

Other birds were a Hobby over Blakesley and at Boddington Reservoir there were two Caspian Gulls this afternoon plus two Yellow-legged Gulls and two Common Sandpipers.

Regards

Neil M

Kestrel caught and ringed today.
These birds are often feisty and
 this bird was no exception!

Mute Swan.

Reed Bunting courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Chaffinch courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Still conditions and a ground frost

Hello

A cold night last night and with a ground frost post-dawn but it didn't stop Northants Ringing Group members from conducting early morning ringing sessions at Stortons Pits and Pitsford Reservoir now the winds had stilled.

Three ringers at Stortons processed 74 birds of fourteen species, nearly all the birds being newly ringed. Blackcaps are expected to feature at this time of the year but thirty was still a good total and other warblers included seven Chiffchaffs, a Sedge Warbler and two Reed Warblers. Nine Robins and ten Goldfinches were high totals and highlights included the now much scarcer Bullfinch, a Song Thrush, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and another splash of colour with a fabulous Kingfisher.

Three ringers at Pitsford manage to process 119 birds of fifteen species with Blackcaps totaling forty and Chiffchaffs thirty; other warblers were two Common Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, six Reed Warblers, four Sedge Warblers and a single Willow Warbler. Additional birds were two Song Thrushes, twelve Greenfinches and nine Meadow Pipits. A Common Snipe was flushed from the shoreline and a surprising number of butterflies in the morning sunshine included some late Meadow Browns and a very fresh Small Copper.

At Summer Leys LNR the Bittern showed well and a Marsh Harrier was on-site again plus five Great White Egrets and a Green Sandpiper. The Black-necked Grebe remained at Clifford Hill Pits and a Whinchat and a Wheatear were present too. A drake Common Scoter was found at the north end of Titchmarsh Reserve today by Nick and other birds were five Dunlin, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and a Common Snipe.

Stanford Reservoir attracted a pair of Red-crested Pochard today plus a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby and a Cetti's Warbler. Ringers there caught a whopping 362 new birds, the majority no doubt being Blackcaps!

A Caspian Gull was noted at Naseby Reservoir today and a Black-tailed Godwit circled Hollowell Reservoir before moving on.

A Common Redstart was at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry this afternoon with a supporting cast of at least fifteen Chiffchaffs, a pair of Stonechats, two Whinchats, three Wheatears and plenty of Meadow Pipits. Other sightings included a garden Raven in Little Harrowden and a gathering of eighteen Ring-necked Parakeets mobbing a Grey Heron at Fishponds Road, Little Billing this afternoon!

Regards

Neil M

Bittern at Summer Leys LNR
today courtesy of Sandra Bletchley.

A first year male Great Spotted
Woodpecker losing it's red crown
and gaining a red nape, Stortons Pits,
 courtesy of Chris Payne.

Kingfisher at Stortons Pits
today courtesy of Chris Payne.

Speckled Wood butterfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Rabbits courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Both the Speckled Wood and the Rabbits were
also at Stortons Pits today enjoying the
warm sunshine.

Red-legged Shieldbug courtesy
of John Tilly.

Cold nights in September

Hello

A cold start to the morning and apparently an even cooler one tomorrow morning! Plenty of sunshine, a blustery breeze and showers today too.

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir included a Whinchat, four Great White Egrets, five Green Sandpipers and a 'Commic' Tern. Stanford Reservoir hosted a Black Tern still, a Wheatear, two Hobbies, two Common Sandpipers and a Kingfisher. Hollowell Reservoir managed an adult Caspian Gull, a Wheatear and three Stonechats.

In the Nene Valley there were two Marsh Harriers at Summer Leys LNR plus a Pintail, Great White Egrets, two Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper. Another Marsh Harrier was seen at the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits this morning. The Black-necked Grebe was again reported from Clifford Hill Pits this morning.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton were two Grey Wagtails and a Green Sandpiper at the Brampton Brook and four Whinchats, two Stonechats, a Wheatear and a Marsh Harrier in the shrike hedge area.

Harrington Airfield provided sightings of a Common Redstart, two Wheatears and a Marsh Harrier this afternoon. Meadow Pipits, wagtails and hirundines were again moving through the county in good numbers today.

Regards

Neil M

Grey Heron.

Whinchat at Pitsford Reservoir
today courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Green Sandpipers at Pitsford
Reservoir today courtesy of
Neil Hasdell.

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Woodpigeon squabs
courtesy of John Tilly.