Long-staying winterers

Hello

Grey, drizzly and little sunshine for most people in Northamptonshire today!

The Glossy Ibis continued to delight visitors to Summer Leys LNR, the Great Northern Diver was still at Pitsford Reservoir, this time not far south from the causeway and two Hawfinches were seen again in Cottesbrooke village. Potentially all these birds have been here since November!

The Ruddy Shelduck was again at Winwick Pools today and Eyebrook Reservoir showed off with six drake Smew.

The last day of the month saw a Jack Snipe at Stanford Reservoir and a Great White Egret and there were two Great White Egrets again in the Nene Valley between Cogenhoe Mill and Billing Lake.

Blackcaps continue to visit county gardens, with one finally turning up in Jim's garden at Sywell and Steve enjoying his daily individual in Brixworth plus a Lesser Redpoll today on the feeders.

A female Merlin was over Milton Malsor early this afternoon and birds at Harrington Airfield this afternoon included a Barn Owl, three Woodcock and twenty-seven Golden Plovers.

Two Grey Wagtails and thirty Yellowhammers were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth with two Green Sandpipers, two Little Egrets and two Grey Wagtails on wet fields in the valley below Hanging Houghton. Two Barn Owls were also there as were two Short-eared Owls stubbornly remaining on private land near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Red Fox...and can you
spot the Stonechat?
Images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Tawny Owl courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Male Blackcap courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

More subdued winter birding

Hello

After the local burst of bird and birdwatcher activity yesterday, a quieter day today in cold but bright conditions.

Back to five Smew and a Scaup at Eyebrook Reservoir today and no Smew seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir suggests they may have had a day out yesterday!

The reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir was quiet today with just a Great White Egret and a few Siskins noted. Stanford Reservoir was also subdued with a Great White Egret and three Goosanders the best on offer.

The Glossy Ibis was still on show at Summer Leys LNR however and a Chiffchaff was in song at Ditchford Pits.

Barn Owls were hunting this afternoon at Harrington Airfield and Lamport Hall.

Please see the below video clips from Dave Smith, the first a Kingfisher consuming a Roach on the canal at Market Harborough yesterday and one of the drake Smew at Ravensthorpe also yesterday...

Regards

Neil M

Colliedrops!

Hello

Some much brighter and sunnier weather today brought out the birders and the birds too it seems!

An excellent garden ringing session at Greens Norton today yielded a high number of forty-eight Goldfinches, four Greenfinches and two Siskins amongst others.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir today played host to two drake Smew which at times were showing very well just off the causeway and the two long-staying White-fronted Geese.

Stanford Reservoir provided a Great White Egret and three Water Rails today and the Great Northern Diver was close to Pintail Bay at Pitsford Reservoir (plus two Ravens) this morning.

At least two Hawfinches were still present in Cottesbrooke village today and were seen in flight towards the village church from the playing fields area. Noisy Ravens were signaling their intentions today at Little Billing, Northampton, Hanging Houghton and Lamport Hall.

In the Nene Valley today the White-fronted Goose was still with Greylags below Cogenhoe village and opposite the caravan site with two Great White Egrets in a nearby flooded field and at Summer Leys LNR the Glossy Ibis was still present plus an Oystercatcher, a Shelduck, five Pintail and a Water Rail.

Two Goosanders were at Stortons Pits and a Stonechat was at Sixfields and the two Cattle Egrets were again at Stanwick Pits in the area of North Lake.

Just one Smew was reported at Eyebrook Reservoir today which may hint at where the Ravensthorpe birds came from, and the Ruddy Shelduck was again logged at Winwick Pools.

Two Short-eared Owls were again on private land not too far from Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today and Harrington Airfield provided views of a hunting Barn Owl, an adult male Peregrine and thirteen Golden Plovers this afternoon. One Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton also this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Colliedrops! Rouzel and Jaeger
amongst the snowdrops at
Lamport Hall today.

Goldfinch.

Male Siskin.

Above three images
courtesy of Chris Payne.

A winter afternoon at
Harrington Airfield.

A wet Tuesday

Hello

A mostly wet day creating more local flooding but hopefully more settled weather is on the horizon.

The Glossy Ibis popped up at Summer Leys LNR again today and the adult White-fronted Goose was again in the Cogenhoe Mill/Whiston Pits area with the Greylag flock.

At Stanford Reservoir a Jack Snipe was seen and other birds were a Common Snipe, a Great White Egret and three Goosanders.

Single Ravens were at Hanging Houghton and between Rushton and Pipewell and a Barn Owl was between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell villages early this morning.

A Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl and two Woodcock were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon with a vocal Oystercatcher and twenty-five Golden Plovers flying over.

Regards

Neil M

Herring and Black-headed Gulls.

Cormorant courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Tawny Owl courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Otter in the rain today
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

More ringing recoveries

Hello

Nothing new reported in the county today but the now very long-staying Glossy Ibis was spotted again at Summer Leys LNR. Just over the border at Eyebrook Reservoir the five drake Smew and the Scaup were still present and two Egyptian Geese were in the Welland Valley below Cottingham.

The two Cattle Egrets were again at Stanwick Pits, in a sheep field near North Lake this morning.

Two Great White Egrets were north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and a Great White Egret was at Stanford Reservoir where there were also four Goosanders and a Water Rail.

Three Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon, a Raven and a Grey Wagtail were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and four Ravens were near Rushton.

A few more ringing recoveries from the activities of Northants Ringing Group are as follows:-

1. A Goldfinch was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 3rd March 2024 and unfortunately collided with a window at Haversham, Milton Keynes and died on or about 1st August 2024 151 days later;

2. An adult male Starling was ringed at Brixworth Treatment Works on 20th June 2023 and found recently dead in Brixworth village 406 days later on 30th July 2024;

3. A second year Mute Swan was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 27th August 2022 and seen with the ring read in the field at Furzton Lake, Milton Keynes on 13th December 2024, 839 days later and only a few kilometres away;

4. A first year Black-headed Gull was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 12th October 2024 and the bird and ring was photographed at Furzton Lake, Milton Keynes on 18th December 2024, 67 days later;

5. A first year male Sparrowhawk was ringed at Brixworth Treatment Works on 8th September 2024 but was found dead after flying into a wooden fence in Brixworth village on 18th December 2024, 101 days later;

6. A first year Mallard was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 8th June 2021 and was seen there again on 28th December 2024 when the ring details were photographed and the gender was confirmed as a female, 1299 days later;

7. An adult male Mallard was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 18th November 2020 and was seen there again on 30th December 2024 when the ring details were photographed, 1503 days later;

8. A first year female Blackcap was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on the rather late date of 2nd November 2024 and taken by a cat in Banbury 59 days later on 31st December 2024, 59 days later with the bird having moved 43km in a south westerly direction and presumably trying to overwinter;

9. A second year Blue Tit was ringed at Stortons Pits on 12th January 2022 but died on 7th January this year when it hit a window in Dallington, Northampton, 1091 days later.

Regards

Neil M

Roe Deer courtesy of
Jonathan Pitt.

Cetti's Warbler courtesy
of Stuart Munday.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Robin courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Wet end to a dry month

Hello

A cool breezy morning turning to rain by lunchtime which then finished at dusk. The birds in the garden seemed particularly hungry today and it was a job to keep up!

The Glossy Ibis again put in an appearance at Summer Leys LNR and at Stanwick Pits the two Cattle Egrets were again in a sheep field near to North Lake and three Great White Egrets were on the complex. A Short-eared Owl flew over the A45 at the Wilby roundabout at 9.20am this morning.

Four Chiffchaffs at Ecton SF included a colder-coloured bird with some similarity to Siberian Chiffchaff.

The Great Northern Diver was seen again at Pitsford Reservoir, between The Narrows and Catwalk Bay late morning.

A Cattle Egret was a good local find near to Blatherwycke Lake next to Home Farm and the Scaup was still present on the lake.

An adult male Peregrine and a Woodcock were at Harrington Airfield today and a Grey Wagtail was at Kelmarsh.

Four drake Smew and the Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Mute Swans courtesy
of John Tilly.

Reed Buntings courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

A Perch with a Water Rail as Stuart
calls it! This is the Water Rail photographed
catching fish at Summer Leys LNR yesterday
courtesy of Stuart Munday. Water Rails are
known for their diverse diet including small
fish but this seems a little large!

Ringing at Scotland Wood

Hello

A ringing session at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate took place this morning with the majority of the catch being common tits, with the Blue Tits dominating the proceedings, the azure adult males looking particularly stunning now! Two Nuthatches included one new bird, six Robins included four birds from previous years including one from August 2021 and six Coal Tits provided some variety. Other birds noted in the wood included at least eight Siskins, a Redpoll and a Woodcock.

A Barn Owl was seen on the outskirts of Maidwell village this morning and at Harrington Airfield this afternoon there was a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl and three Woodcock.

The two White-fronted Geese were in fields adjacent to Ravensthorpe Reservoir this afternoon, in a field near to the Fishing Lodge and two Grey Wagtails were present too.

The Glossy Ibis was at Summer Leys LNR again today, plus three Pintail and a Water Rail was photographed proving it's adeptness at catching fish! A Pink-footed Goose, a Great White Egret, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Stonechat were present at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and two Cattle Egrets were again in a field just north of North Lake at Stanwick Pits.

A single Hawfinch was again at Blatherwycke Churchyard this morning and at least two drake Smew were present at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Stanford Reservoir today hosted two Great White Egrets, two Goosanders, two Water Rails, a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

Water Rail courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Sparrowhawk courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Male Nuthatch at
Scotland Wood today.

Quiet winter lull

Hello

A breezy day but mild and mostly bright but again a day with few reports.

The Glossy Ibis continues to show at Summer Leys LNR and other birds there included a Water Rail (in front of Rotary Hide), two Great White Egrets, a female Pintail and a fly-over flock of Golden Plovers.

A Great White Egret and a Woodcock were in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, a Grey Wagtail was noted at Kelmarsh and the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton continued to attract two Green Sandpipers, two Grey Wagtails and a Barn Owl.

Five Smew and a Scaup were still at Eyebrook Reservoir and Stanford Reservoir could only muster a Great White Egret, a Goosander, two Ravens and a Cetti's Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Woodpigeon.

Shoveler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Wren courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Stoat courtesy of
David Arden.

Blackcap courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Scant reports today

Hello

The first rain for quite a while didn't amount to much today and it appears that the imminent violent Storm Eowyn is liable to be more disruptive to the north of the UK.

Just two Smew were reported at Eyebrook Reservoir today and at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today the only bird of note was a Peregrine. Yesterday a female Sparrowhawk was disturbed from a half-eaten Fieldfare kill near there and today it was just feathers left.

Two Barn Owls and two Green Sandpipers linger in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at least one Raven was in the village, with a Grey Wagtail at the sewer works.

Two Great White Egrets were in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon where the local corvid roost numbering in the thousands was beginning to take shape, and Tree Sparrows could be heard in the bushes at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station.

A Marsh Harrier was noted at Summer Leys LNR at lunchtime today and a Raven was over Kings Wood, Corby.

Regards

Neil M

Robin courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Stonechat on reedmace
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Magpie.

Brown Hares are capable
of producing youngsters as early
as February when the fields are
mostly bare.

Local waterbirds

Hello

Birding at Stanford Reservoir today yielded about 1200 Common Gulls coming into roost, a Great White Egret, a Pintail, ten Goosanders and four Ravens. Just across the border, Eyebrook Reservoir continues to hang on to six Smew and a Scaup.

The Glossy Ibis put in a series of appearances at Summer Leys LNR and the White-fronted Goose remained at Whiston Pits. At Stanwick Pits there were two Cattle Egrets in a sheep field at North Lake and a Water Rail was espied. A Pink-footed Goose and a Great White Egret were at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and nearby there was a Jack Snipe and a Woodcock at Barnes Meadow LNR.

The Great Northern Diver may have eaten most of the crayfish at Pitsford Reservoir but was still in situ in The Narrows late this morning.

An afternoon wander at Harrington Airfield was good for a Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl, twelve Grey Partridges, two Woodcock and two Ravens. Another Barn Owl was seen at Newton Bromswold and another was picked up dead alongside the busy A508 between Brixworth and Hanging Houghton, this road claiming multiple such victims each year.

A male Merlin, a Stonechat and later a Brambling were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and two Green Sandpipers were on ponds near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

The Pitsford Great Northern Diver
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Great Crested Grebe.

Drake Mallard.

Tufted Duck.

Drake Wigeon.

Above four images courtesy
of Jonathan Pitt.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

Much of the day was spent completing a waterbird census at part of the Ditchford Pits complex. Although initially murky the weather came good with some weak sunshine and dry conditions.

Birds east of Ditchford Lane included three Great White Egrets, ten Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, a Goosander, six Common Snipe, a Water Rail, two Chiffchaffs, four Redpolls and at least three Grey Wagtails. West of Ditchford Lane there were three more Great White Egrets, two Little Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, a drake Pintail, two Goosanders, a Water Rail, a Jack Snipe, thirteen Common Snipe, an Oystercatcher, four Cetti's Warblers and a Stonechat. A Cattle Egret flew west towards Wellingborough at 12.40pm.

At Earls Barton Pits today the Glossy Ibis was on the Summer Leys LNR and a Whooper Swan was initially on the reserve and moved to Hardwater Lake. Other birds included three Great White Egrets, two Goosanders, ten Golden Plovers, a Cetti's Warbler and a mixed flock of Siskin and Redpoll.

At Cogenhoe Mill Alan found six Ring-necked Parakeets, a Green Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail and several Chiffchaffs and the adult White-fronted Goose was still at Whiston Pits.

Two more Goosanders were at Harlestone Lake this afternoon and birds at Stanford Reservoir were two Great White Egrets, two Water Rails and two Ravens and another Raven was noted at Kelmarsh. 

Six Smew and a Scaup remained at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Great Crested Grebe.

Female Chaffinch.

Redpolls.

Common Buzzard.

Images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

The monthly waterbird census was completed at Pitsford Reservoir today and a continuing trend is relatively low numbers of wildfowl and other birds using the water. The Great Northern Diver was again present in The Narrows south of the causeway and two pairs of Stonechat were present too. North of the causeway where the water is still brown with sediment from the early winter rains it was quiet with the only birds of note being two Great White Egrets which appear to be new arrivals, a drake Pintail, about a hundred Common Snipe and two Jack Snipe with three Tree Sparrows at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station.

At Stanford Reservoir there was a Caspian Gull, two Goosanders, three Egyptian Geese, two Great White Egrets, a Water Rail and a Chiffchaff.

The White-fronted Goose was again reported at Whiston Pits with other geese and the Scaup was also reported at Blatherwycke Lake.

A Short-eared Owl and two Common Snipe were again on private land near Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon and two Green Sandpipers and two Barn Owls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Long-tailed Tits and
Blue Tits.

Magpie.

Goldfinch eating Vibena seeds
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.