After the Storm

It was certainly a very wild weekend with trees uprooted,  more flooding, road closures, gales and torrential rain. Infact I decided not to travel on Saturday and so my birding was limited to the garden which was extremely quiet due to all the birds keeping their heads down.  I didn't really venture very far on Sunday and only went out to top up a couple of feeding stations. The birds were very pleased to see me. One cheeky Robin met me at the gate and almost sat on my shoulder as I walked to the feeding station and as soon as I put the bucket of food down it flew and sat on top of the seed. I literally had to pick it up and move it out of the way so that I could get to the seed!!!. Not to be left out the Blue Tits were very vocal and scalding me and even the Nuthatches were joining in.                                                         As I drove to the next feeding station I was aware of several birds of prey sitting on the grass verge. They didn't offer to move as I approached and drove slowly past. It was a group of 2 Common Buzzards and 3 Red Kites who were clearly interested in something on the grass verge. I  just had to stop and find out what they were doing.  Reluctantly the birds took flight but only went over the hedge and into a field. When I checked the grass verge I found the remains of a Pheasant which they had been eating.  I threw the remains over into the field and watched from a distance as the 2 Common Buzzards returned and continued their feast whilst the Red Kites remained watching from the air.    Nothings rare but that was the highlight of my weekend's birding, just close encounters with some of our amazing common birds.

A few hardy folk braved the elements and reported  4 Hawfinches at Blatherwycke Churchyard and on the lake an immature female Greater Scaup,  Great Northern Diver at Pitsford Reservoir,  Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys,  Cattle Egret at Stanwick GP and a Red Crested Pochard at Earls Barton GP. 

Today there have been a few Whooper Swans in the county. 4 were seen flying NE over Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows at 08.50hrs, a single bird was at Stanford Reservoir for most of the day and 3 adults spent the afternoon at Titchmarsh LNR.  Three Hawfinches were present at Blatherwycke Churchyard which is a favourite site for them, the Great Northern Diver remains at Pitsford and a Red Crested Pochard was found at Daventry CP.            I fully intended to visit Harrington Airfield this afternoon but changed my plans when I remembered that Monday is "Pheasant " shooting day so I ended up walking below Hanging Houghton.  I'm so glad that I had to change my plans as both Short Eared Owl and Barn Owl appeared infront of me and started hunting,  totally oblivious to myself and the dogs.

Regards Eleanor 

Calm before the Storm!!

Weather wise today it has been lovely,  hard to believe that we could be in for another battering if the approaching "storm Darragh" is as severe as predicted. Luckily I have been out and about today but my sum total of birds seen were Great Northern Diver,  Pink Footed Goose and pair of Stonechat on my early morning run around Pitsford Reservoir.                                                                                           It seems that everyone else has been struggling too as the only birds reported today were 6 Cattle Egrets on the islands at Kinewell Lake (Ringstead),5 Stonechats at Hollowell Reservoir and 4 Redpolls at Upton Country Park.  Yesterday there was  Glossy Ibis, 2 Great White Egrets and Water Rail at Summer Leys  Caspian Gull at Stanford Reservoir and Mediterranean and Yellow Legged Gull at Pitsford Reservoir.                                                                            On Wednesday there was a pair of Goosander on the river at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows, Red Crested Pochard, 2 Green Sandpipers and 2 Stonechats at Earls Barton new workings and the  Bearded Tit showed again at Stanwick GP on the visitor centre lake. 

Take care over the weekend. 

Regards Eleanor 

Cool birds

Hello

A cool air stream with little wind provided a calm and pleasant weather day.

The Great Northern Diver remained in situ in the vicinity of Pintail Bay at Pitsford Reservoir and the Pink-footed Goose and Yellow-legged Gull were again further north nearer the causeway. Birds north of the causeway in the Scaldwell Bay included a drake Pintail, sixty-four Common Snipe, a Chiffchaff and a Stonechat. Hollowell Reservoir provided an adult Caspian Gull and two Stonechats.

A Raven and a Grey Wagtail were in Hanging Houghton village today and two Short-eared Owls flew over the B576 at Harrington Airfield late this afternoon.

In the Nene Valley a Bittern was again at Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits, the Glossy Ibis was by the feeding station on the Summer Leys LNR and three Cattle Egrets were at Ringstead Pits again in horse paddocks along Ham Lane at the juncture of the old railway line footpath. At Stanwick Pits a Cattle Egret was on Roadside Pit and other sightings were eight Goosanders, two Redshank and a Dunlin.

Two Woodcock were seen at dusk at Stanford Reservoir and other birds were a Great White Egret and a Cetti's Warbler. The drake Smew was on show again at Eyebrook Reservoir and two Caspian Gulls and the adult Glaucous Gull were at Shawell Sand Pit.

In the Welland Valley there were three Egyptian Geese again below Cottingham plus four Little Egrets.

Further north and two Hawfinches were at Blatherwycke Church with the drained lake providing a Pink-footed Goose, six Egyptian Geese, two Goosanders, four Mandarin Ducks, fifteen Little Egrets, a Green Sandpiper, a Water Rail and two Grey Wagtails. Two or three Hawfinches were in Deene Churchyard and the lake attracted three Goosanders, nine Shelduck, four Egyptian Geese and a pair of Stonechats. A pair of Ravens were at both Fineshade Wood and Wakerley Wood.

Regards

Neil M

Pink-footed Goose (on the right).

Great Northern Diver.

Pied Wagtail.

All above images from Pitsford
Reservoir today courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Male Sparrowhawk caught
and ringed today.

December migrants

Hello

A cooler and breezy day with some drizzle at times. As is often the way during the first week of December, a few new arrivals in the county which proves that migration never really stops.

Pitsford Reservoir hasn't featured strongly of late but today the crayfish-crunching juvenile Great Northern Diver remained in the vicinity of the Pintail Bay where a fresh-in drake Smew was also found. Just south of the causeway and a Pink-footed Goose was associating with Greylags and an adult Yellow-legged Gull lingered off the car park. A Woodcock and a Siskin were in Christies Copse in the Walgrave Bay and a Raven was by the dam.

A Black-necked Grebe at Stanford Reservoir this morning was also a new bird just arrived and other sightings included a Great White Egret, an adult Caspian Gull and one hundred and eighty-three Great Black-backed Gulls at roost.

Not too far away was an adult Glaucous Gull at Shawell Sand Pits in Leicestershire, in all probability the returning bird that has been roosting recently at Draycote Water (Warks). A Grey Wagtail was on the River Welland at Market Harborough.

Two Russian/European White-fronted Geese were a good find in fields adjacent to Ravensthorpe Reservoir today, loosely associating with two Egyptian Geese and Greylags in fields between the Fishing Lodge and the causeway on the west bank.

The now long-staying Glossy Ibis was on show at Summer Leys LNR again today.

At least one Raven was at Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

A male Blackbird already consuming
the rather unpalatable rose hips courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

 

Drake Smew courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Jay courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

A rather quiet Sunday

Hello

The drake Smew was again at Eyebrook Reservoir today and sightings at Stanford Reservoir included a Mediterranean Gull, two Caspian Gulls and two Chiffchaffs.

A pair of Stonechats were at Harrington Airfield today and five Golden Plovers flew over.

In the Nene Valley a Bittern was visible from North Hide on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits this afternoon and the Glossy Ibis was again on show at Summer Leys LNR. A Whooper Swan was seen in flight at Ringstead Pits and later relocated in a flooded field with Canada Geese near Woodford. Other birds nearby included a Cattle Egret and at least four Great White Egrets.

At Hollowell Reservoir a Water Rail was seen plus nine Common Snipe, a Chiffchaff and a pair of Stonechats. A female Blackcap was again in a garden at Mawsley and a Siskin was noted at Kelmarsh Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Female Reed Bunting
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Female Stonechat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Great Crested Grebe and a rather
large Perch courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Great White Egret performing it's
flying threat display courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

November's last blast

Hello

Mild temperatures today and a remarkable number of small insects were active all day.

The drake Smew was again at Eyebrook Reservoir and today there were also two Black-necked Grebes. Birds at Stanford Reservoir were a Mediterranean Gull, two Kingfishers, an excellent count of one hundred and forty-one Great Black-backed Gulls, a Great White Egret and two Redpolls.

At Pitsford Reservoir the juvenile Great Northern Diver was again in the vicinity of Pintail Bay and a first year Caspian Gull was seen at Hollowell Reservoir.

The Glossy Ibis was again at Summer Leys LNR today and still showing from the screen hide.

In the west of the county a Hawfinch was again at Thenford churchyard and three Cattle Egrets were in a field alongside the A361 near to Chacombe.

A male Blackcap was in our Hanging Houghton garden this afternoon and there were three Bramblings and a Grey Wagtail in the village with two each of Grey Wagtail and Green Sandpiper on wet fields in the Brampton Valley below the village.

In the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning there were two Ravens, at least two Grey Wagtails, a Siskin, a Chiffchaff and two Golden Plovers flying over.

Regards

Neil M

Female Blackbird gobbling up
the berries courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Redwing courtesy of
Jane Neill.

                         Hawfinch at Cottesbrooke earlier in the month courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Autumn into winter birds

Hello

A bright and milder day with a fabulous sunrise provided some impetus for local birders today.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Great Northern Diver continued to put on a good display in the general vicinity of the Pintail Bay with a tendency to wander down to the Cliffs too. The Pink-footed Goose was just south of the causeway and other birds noted included two Great White Egrets, a pair of Stonechats and a Green Sandpiper.

Birds at Harrington Arfield this afternoon included a Short-eared Owl, a Woodcock, about eighty Golden Plovers, a pair of Stonechats and two Bramblings.

Two Hawfinches were on show again at Cottesbrooke this morning and a noisy Raven was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth where also two Grey Wagtails.

At Summer Leys LNR a Bar-tailed Godwit was a good seasonal record with the Lapwing flock and the Glossy Ibis put in an appearance too (seen from Screen Hide). A drake Pintail was at Clifford Hill Pits on the main lake and three Cattle Egrets were in a field near to Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits.

Garden Blackcaps included a single in a Cogenhoe garden and now a pair in a garden at Mawsley.

A drake Smew was at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning but the Bewick's Swan from yesterday at Stanford Reservoir wasn't seen today.

Regards

Neil M

Raven courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Stonechat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Pheasant courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

More November variety

Hello

A cold but sunny day but seemingly with milder conditions for tomorrow and the week-end.

An adult Bewick's Swan was a good local find at Stanford Reservoir today and other birds included nine Redpolls caught and ringed, a Great White Egret, a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff.

The Glossy Ibis was again seen at Summer Leys LNR, a Cattle Egret was seen in flight and a Barn Owl was around the scrape, with a Stonechat visible from Pioneer Hide. A Cattle Egret was at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits in a field with cattle this afternoon and a female Bearded Tit was by the visitor centre at Stanwick Pits this morning and still present early in the afternoon.

In the Brampton Valley below Brixworth there were two Grey Wagtails, a Chiffchaff and two Lesser Redpolls with 2-3 Redpolls and 2-3 Bramblings in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. A flock of about a hundred Siskins were in trees and shrubs alongside the entrance track to Brixworth Country Park this afternoon, not far from the dam at Pitsford Reservoir.

At Pitsford Reservoir the juvenile Great Northern Diver was showing well in and close to the Pintail Bay catching crayfish, shaking off the pincers and devouring them (please see video below courtesy of Neil Hasdell). Other birds included a Raven and a Stonechat.

A male Stonechat was at Sandy Lane Attenuation Pond, Duston and birds at Sywell Country Park this afternoon included two pairs of Stonechat, a Cetti's Warbler, a Water Rail, two Grey Wagtails, about twenty Siskins and about six Redpolls. A couple of Redpolls were also at Stortons Pits today and a flock of one hundred and fifty Golden Plovers were found near Yardley Hastings. A female Goosander was on Delapre Lake, Northampton.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Tit and Blue Tit
Christies Copse, Pitsford
Reservoir.

Kestrel courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Black-headed Gull.

Scratching, taking flight and stretching!

Hello

Thankfully Storm Conall has proved to be much briefer and less-impactive locally than Storm Bert.

A Short-eared Owl was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon and later the same bird or another was at 'shrike hedge' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

A Pink-footed Goose was with a Greylag flock at Pitsford Reservoir today and visible from the causeway and a female Blackcap was again in a Mawsley garden.

A Great White Egret was on the River Ise flood plane near Wicksteed Park and a Barn Owl was noted at Newton Bromswold this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Pintail enjoying a scratch.

Drake Mallard taking to the air.

...and a wing-stretching Common Snipe.

All images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

A day of November variety

Hello

A day of calm and cool temperatures provided some good local sightings.

At Stanford Reservoir there were two Red-crested Pochards, a Goosander, a Kingfisher and two Redpolls.

A Caspian Gull was seen at Daventry Country Park this morning and up to three Hawfinches were still in Cottesbrooke village this morning with four at Blatherwycke Lake later in the morning.

A Great Northern Diver was again at Clifford Hill Pits this morning but seemed to fly off at about 7.45am. Subsequently a Great Northern Diver was found at Pitsford Reservoir in the Pintail Bay and other birds on-site included two Goosanders, a pair of Stonechats, a Chiffchaff, two Redpolls, several Siskins and this afternoon a Barn Owl was hunting below the dam.

A Stonechat and a Kingfisher were at Upton Country Park today and three Egyptian Geese and a drake Pintail were in the Welland Valley below Cottingham. Three Pintail were noted at a flooded Titchmarsh LNR at Thrapston Pits.

Two Ravens were over Mawsley this morning and this afternoon there were two fresh-in Short-eared Owls near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell with a Barn Owl and two Green Sandpipers in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

An interesting Redpoll at Westhay Wood with a Lesser Redpoll appeared to be a Mealy Redpoll and a Brambling was seen there too.

Regards

Neil M

Tufted Duck.

Goosander.

Jay courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Kingfisher courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

After the storm...

Hello

With a huge volume of water being deposited in to the county over the week-end following the gales and constant rain we are not back to normal yet!

A Great Northern Diver was located on the main basin at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and a Pink-footed Goose was found with Greylags at Wicksteed Park, Kettering also this morning. The Glossy Ibis was seen again at a very flooded Summer Leys LNR.

An adult Caspian Gull and two Stonechats were at Hollowell Reservoir, a female Blackcap was in a Mawsley garden and at Harrington Airfield there were at least twenty-six Skylarks, thirty Golden Plovers and nine Grey Partridges.

A pair of Stonechats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning plus four Bramblings and two Green Sandpipers. The field behind Christies Copse at Pitsford Reservoir continues to attract a flock of about a hundred finches which today included about sixty Greenfinches and a single Brambling.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kite.

Robin courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Reed Bunting courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Gull
in afternoon sunshine.

Storm Bert

Hello

In the absence of any bird or wildlife activity due to the gales and heavy rainfall of Storm Bert over the week-end, a few images kindly forwarded by Dave Jackson...

Regards

Neil M

Grey Heron

Carrion Crow.

Red Fox.

Absent birds

Hello

Still pretty hard work out there finding not very much at all!

A Rock Pipit calling and flying over Daventry first thing was a good record courtesy of Ian.

The female Red-crested Pochard was still present at Kislingbury Country Park as were two Ravens, a Stonechat and a Goosander.

The Glossy Ibis, not reported for a few days, was still present at Summer Leys LNR as were two Great White Egrets, a Marsh Harrier, at least two Common Snipe and a Stonechat.

A flock of about three hundred Fieldfares were between Bulwick and Southwick.

The Hawfinches at Cottesbrooke haven't been seen for a couple of days and efforts at Blatherwycke, Deene and Southwick today also failed to connect with these big finches. Sadly it has been some weeks now since any Tree Sparrows have been seen at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir - hopefully they will return but we always knew this day would come when almost the last of the Tree Sparrows disappeared.

Regards

Neil M

A Chiffchaff and a Stonechat
taking note of the notice and 
not straying into the training
area (adjacent to Pitsford
 Reservoir)!

Raven.

Female Red-crested Pochard.

Both images above courtesy
 of Tony Stanford.

Lesser Black-backed Gull
 in afternoon sunshine.

Quiet and cold

Hello

A quiet and cold day in the county today with few reports of birds on the move.

The dam area at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon continued to host a pair of Stonechats, a Redshank and a Grey Wagtail with two Grey Wagtails in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

A small field at the back of Christies Copse at Pitsford Reservoir appears to be a bird food crop with plenty of spent sunflowers. Yesterday the Greenfinch flock there had grown to at least sixty birds with smaller numbers of Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Linnets. Marsh Tits from the reserve were exploiting the seeds on offer in the field with short flights in and out from neighbouring hedges.

Back to today and a Grey Wagtail was in Hanging Houghton village and birds at Harrington Airfield this afternoon amounted to a pair of Stonechats and fifteen Golden Plovers with small flocks of Skylark, Yellowhammer and Starling feeding in the top fields.

A pair of Stonechats and two Ravens were at Upton Country Park today.

Regards

Neil M

Carrion Crow courtesy
of John Tilly.

Stonechats today at Upton
Country Park courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

A morning garden ringing
session began with a Tawny Owl!

Birds of a cold, sunny day

Hello

Another cold day but with some smashing sunshine too!

Seven Pink-footed Geese headed east over Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included twenty Golden Plovers in flight, two coveys of Grey Partridge with groups of ten and five and a Barn Owl.

In the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this evening there were two Barn Owls, two Grey Wagtails and a vocal Water Rail.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there was a Woodcock at Christies Copse and at the dam area this afternoon there was a Redshank, a Grey Wagtail, three Stonechats and two Chiffchaffs.

Five Hawfinches were again around the churchyard at Blatherwycke today, a Marsh Harrier was a Summer Leys LNR, a Grey Wagtail was at Kelmarsh Hall and a Woodcock was at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh estate.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were two Red-crested Pochard, a Mediterranean Gull, an adult Caspian Gull and a Redshank.

At Summer Leys LNR today birds included at least three Great White Egrets, three Pintail and five Common Snipe. Four Goosanders were at Rushden Lakes.

Regards

Neil M

Goosander courtesy
of John Tilly.

Blue Tit.

Chaffinch.

Pintail.

Above three images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.