SP55 Long Day Count

 

Hello

I've been fortunate to have managed two more tours in the Camargue region of France this month

and I will be adding some pages/tabs to the blog depicting images of some of the wildlife

encountered.

Helen Franklin completed the annual Long Day Count in SP55 in the south west of the county

and her summary is as follows:-

'Saturday 3rd May was the day for the Banbury Ornithological Society’s Long Day Count in SP55.The day started dry and chilly with the sight of a Tawny Owl sitting in the middle of the road just

inside the border of the square - a very good start!! The Fawsely Estate looked superb as the

sun came up and counting began in earnest. And the day went well - against a par score of 65

and by half time the total was growing nicely. Highlights were a gorgeous male Grey Wagtail

on the ground not 10 yards away, its beautiful black throat in full view. But then a Pied Wagtail

was only seen at the very last minute before the 12 hours was up, it’s funny when common

birds can lead you such a dance. A field on the brow of a hill outside Hellidon contained no less

than 9 Buzzards and 2 Red Kite - there must have been some very tasty invertebrates in amongst

the vegetation. Sadly par was not achieved, possibly because some of the expected summer

migrants were nowhere to be found, seemingly still to arrive in the square, but it was nevertheless

a good day to be out and about in the square.'

Regards

Neil M

Mallard courtesy
of Jonathan Pitt.

Small Copper butterfly
courtesy of Jonathan Pitt.

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

All about the timing !!!

It has been all about the timing today.!!! At approx 07.30 hrs Chris Gibbs located and photographed a Red Footed Falcon at Clifford Hill GP and when he left a little while later he was unsure as to the whereabouts of the bird.  There have been a few records of this species nationally and there has been one very close to us in Buckinghamshire, so it was only a matter of time before one turned up. 

When the news broke I was at Blueberry trying to find a bird as it was extremely quiet this morning.  I was then heading off to Turvey for my agility training class. I was rather hoping that the bird would be relocated and that I would have a chance to catch up with it later.                                                      I took my usual route to Turvey but when I got to Billing Garden Centre the Police had closed the road and it was all a bit chaotic. I was cursing as I sat in stationery traffic.  Anyway I could eventually turn around and headed to the A45 where I had to make a spur of the moment decision to either go towards Northampton or Wellingborough.  As I found myself in the left hand lane I took the A45 towards Northampton and then the A428 towards Bedford.  I managed to stop so that I could message my friends to let them know that I was going to be late. I had literally just sent my message when Bob's message came through on the Northants Birds WhatsApp group that the Red Footed Falcon had been relocated and was sitting on a telegraph pole between the lake and the Bedford Road!!!. A sudden realisation that I was actually on the Bedford Road galvanised me into action.  It's not a road that I use very often so was unsure whether I would be able to park and I couldn't drive too slowly as the road was very busy.  Thankfully I found a layby . As I looked towards the lake I could see Bob and a small group of birders watching the Red Footed Falcon so I just followed their gaze.  Obviously I would have liked to have been closer as I watched it flying around before it gained height and drifted away,  but as I never expected to see it this was a bonus and all because of a road being closed and my timing.  My friends had taken the same route only a couple of minutes ahead of me and although the Police were present the road was open.   My lucky day.

Very little else reported today, a Whimbrel at Clifford Hill GP and Little Gull,  6 Common Sandpipers and Hobby at Stanford Reservoir.             Although Harrington Airfield is quiet for birds at the moment,  Dingy Skipper,  Green Hairstreak and Small Heath were on the wing this afternoon. 

Regards Eleanor 

Whimbrel courtesy
of Nick Parker.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grey Partridges courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Arctic Terns

Few "new records " from the last couple of days apart from a movement of Arctic Terns which are always nice to see.  Yesterday they were passing through Summer Leys,  Stanwick GP and Stanford Reservoir. Today they continued to favour the Nene Valley and were recorded at Summer Leys and Thrapston town lake. 

Summer Leys remains attractive to a good variety of species including Avocets, Bittern, Ringed Plover,  Black Tern, Hobby, Wood and Common Sandpiper.  Nearby at the New Workings Earls Barton GP a Pink Footed Goose,  Red Crested Pochard,Greenshank,Common Sandpiper and Hobby.  A little further north at Stanwick GP and Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and Cattle Egret.                              A Greenshank remains at Lilbourne Meadows and Osprey at both Hollowell and Pitsford Reservoir

I have visited Harrington Airfield a couple of times but haven't seen anything new. However after much searching I was very pleased and surprised to find the Lapwing chick's. Keeping my fingers crossed for them.  They have somehow managed to survive longer than I anticipated.    I always find this a very stressful time of year when the fledglings appear. Today we have had some very noisy and dopey young Blackbirds hoping about in the open on the lawn telling everybody where they are.No doubt the local Sparrowhawk has made a note !! 

Tomorrow evening the Northamptonshire Bird Club will be meeting at 19.30hrs at the Lodge,  Pitsford Water.  It will be a good evening and we are in for some amazing photographs taken by Club member Dave Jackson where we will be transported through the "Wildlife of Spain - Highlands to Islands ".            Everyone is very welcome to come along.

Regards Eleanor 

Lapwing courtesy
of John Tilly.

Pink-footed Goose
courtesy of Nick Parker.

A Quiet Weekend

It has been a quiet weekend in the county which is just as well as I have been busy competing with the collies.  Jaeger did well and picked up 3 first places. Hence my birding has been virtually non existent.   It doesn't look as if I have missed very much.                         Yesterday there were 4 Cattle Egrets and 3 Greenshanks at Stanwick GP,  2 Wood Sandpipers and Osprey at Summer Leys,  Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank,  Ringed Plover and Avocets at the New Workings Earls Barton and 2 Ospreys at Hollowell Reservoir.                                                                                       There haven't been many records for today. At Summer Leys there were 4 Wood Sandpipers,  Black Tern,  Whimbrel and Hobby. 6 Egyptian Geese at Hardwater Crossing lake, Greenshank at Lilbourne Meadows,  Whimbrel at Titchmarsh LNR and a Spotted Flycatcher in Flore Churchyard.

Hopefully a new week will bring a few new birds, we just need to find them!

Regards Eleanor 

Jaeger.

Dutch Spotted sheep and lambs.

Wheatear courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Spoonbill and Waders

Another couple of busy days particularly along the Nene Valley.  This morning Steve found a Spoonbill on his early morning visit to Stanwick GP.  The bird was seen to head off towards Ditchford GP at 06.30hrs and was subsequently seen at Summer Leys 08.00hrs.      Other birds at Summer Leys today included 2 Wood Sandpipers ( yesterday 3 were reported), Whimbrel,  Curlew,  Little Ringed Plovers and a Nightingale.                                                                            An unusual record from Titchmarsh LNR when a female Smew was found.  I can't remember one at this time of year before.  Also present a Common Sandpiper and 2 Hobbies.                                           At Lilbourne Meadows there was Greenshank,  Redshank and Little Ringed Plover and on a flooded area adjacent to the canal just west of Braunston a Wood Sandpiper.     A male Whinchat was at Hollowell Reservoir. 

Yesterday both Bittern and Purple Heron were seen in flight at Summer Leys, Whimbrel and Greenshanks at Clifford Hill GP and 4 Common Sandpipers at Stortons GP.  There was a Whinchat near Blueberry and the Great Northern Diver was showing well at Pitsford Reservoir. 

For a variety of reasons my birding has been limited.  I did see a Hobby near Blueberry today and spent time watching the gathering of Red Kites and Common Buzzards on one of the bean fields.  They are clearly finding things to eat and are quite comical to watch.  Both species are showing an array of colours and plumages.               Harrington Airfield has been very quiet.  There have been 3 pairs of Lapwings present for a while and this morning I finally managed to confirm breeding when I saw 2 youngsters.  So far they have managed to survive the tractor fertilising the fields and the numerous corvids present.  Fingers crossed for them. 

Have a good weekend.                                                                                     Regards Eleanor 

Lapwing courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Kestrel.

Avocets courtesy
of John Tilly.

More sunny and warm weather

Hello

The warm and sunny weather continues and later summer migrants are still arriving.

The wintering Great Northern Diver remained at Pitsford Reservoir in the vicinity of The Narrows and Pintail Bay and north of the causeway there was a Great White Egret, three Yellow-legged Gulls and a Common Snipe.

Eyebrook Reservoir today hosted two Little Gulls and a Whinchat and Stanford Reservoir, straddling the Leicestershire/Northants border, has hosted a couple of Cuckoos the last few days with a Whimbrel on the 28th and six Black Terns flew through this evening.

At Hollowell Reservoir there was a remarkable flock of fifteen Common Sandpipers on the dam this morning with an Osprey this afternoon. Ravensthorpe Reservoir also attracted eight Common Sandpipers, an Osprey flying over high, a pair of Mandarin Ducks and a Yellow-legged Gull.

On the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits another remarkable flock of waders - this time fifteen Ruff - must be one of the highest ever counts in Northamptonshire in recent years. Clifford Hill Pits also entertained two Common Sandpipers and Summer Leys LNR was the venue for a booming Bittern first thing, a Hobby and this evening a first year Little Gull and two Ruff. A Whimbrel flew north-east over Stanwick Pits early this morning and the Whiston Wetlands continued to host six Avocets, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Greenshank.

A Spotted Flycatcher was near Braunston today and a concentration of forty raptors in a bean field in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening were roughly ten Red Kites and thirty Common Buzzards. A calling Cuckoo and a Stoat were seen at Harrington Airfield today.

Regards

Neil M

Ruff.

Sand Martins.

Sedge Warbler.

All images courtesy
of John Tilly.

Purple Heron(s)

Hello

I spent the day at Rectory Farm, Great Easton and the margins of Eyebrook Reservoir today assisting on a Naturetrek Day Tour looking at Farming and Conservation. We spent some time looking for wildlife on the farm which included Brown Hares, a good view of a Stoat, Small Copper butterflies, a variety of summer migrants (including three singing Lesser Whitethroats), a pair of Grey Partridges and a just-fledged Raven with parents still in attendance. After some refreshments we finished at Eyebrook Reservoir which provided a Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, a fishing Osprey, five Black Terns, four Little Gulls, a Caspian Gull and four more Lesser Whitethroats. A Black Redstart was reported there in the morning.

Eleanor's run around Pitsford Reservoir between the causeway and the dam was eventful with the discovery of a fishing Purple Heron at the water's edge which remained there for some time before flying towards the reserve north of the causeway. The wintering Great Northern Diver was also present and was calling evocatively and flapping it's wings a great deal, perhaps in preparation of leaving any time soon. Two Greenshank flew through and a Cuckoo was also present.

North of the causeway there was an Osprey, a pair of Common Terns and a Small Copper butterfly. A distant bird seen in flight up to 1km away may well have been the Purple Heron (at about 9.15am).

Summer Leys LNR had a busy time today too with a possible sighting of the/a Purple Heron in flight there at about 6.10pm and earlier there were two Little Terns, an Osprey, three Black Terns, three Little Gulls, six Common Terns, six Ruff, two Wood Sandpipers, a Black-tailed Godwit, five Greenshanks, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Great White Egrets and a Cuckoo.

The Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits was also interesting with a Whimbrel, a Spotted Redshank and a brief Little Tern. Clifford Hill Pits attracted three Little Gulls, two Ringed Plovers, a Little Ringed Plover and a Dunlin. A Cuckoo was at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve.

A Nightingale was at Old Sulehay again today and a Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening with a Whinchat near 'shrike hedge' and a gathering of thirty-five Red Kites and twelve Common Buzzards on a bean field.

Regards

Neil M

Small Copper butterfly
at Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of David Arden.

Black Tern.

Great White Egret.

Grey Heron and spawning Carp.

Above three images taken at Summer Leys
LNR today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Warm and sunny spring

Hello

Seemingly a rather quiet day in the county with few new birds noted.

It was gratifying today to note some fledged Mistle Thrush youngsters at Kelmarsh Hall and witness a Swift dive into one of the regular nest holes at Lamport Hall. Ravens were at Lamport and Kelmarsh and the earlier breeding Starlings are now feeding noisy youngsters in the nest.

Just over the border and a Wood Sandpiper was at Eyebrook Reservoir whilst at Whiston Wetlands the key birds were six Avocets, two Little Ringed Plovers, four Shelduck, two Oystercatchers, five Whimbrel flying east, a Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret and two Cuckoos. A Ruff was noted at Summer Leys LNR and Clifford Hill Pits hosted three Common Sandpipers, two Green Sandpipers, Oystercatchers and singles of Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover.

Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve provided for a Great White Egret, a Redshank, a Common Sandpiper and a Cuckoo. A Nightingale was plotted at the Wansford-end of the main track of the reserve at Old Sulehay.

This evening there was a Whinchat and two Wheatears north of Bunker Three at Harrington Airfield.

Regards

Neil M

A Yellow Wagtail taking advantage
of a big fly hatch at Pitsford Reservoir
beautifully captured by John Tilly.

Ringing at Linford Lakes

Hello

The conditions were right for a ringing session at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes this morning which resulted in an interesting selection of thirty birds of fourteen species, twenty-four of which were newly-ringed. Perhaps the star bird was a Cuckoo which was first ringed there in 2022 and caught twice again in 2023 so clearly tries to summer in this area. A new Kingfisher was much appreciated and warblers included two Cetti's Warblers, four Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, three Reed Warblers, two Garden Warblers, three Reed Warblers, two Common Whitethroats and four Lesser Whitethroats. One of the Chiffchaffs was a particularly bright bird with pale legs and bright beak and caused something of a debate as to it's exact identity. The bird didn't call on release so will go down as a 'bright Chiffchaff'!

One of the Blackcaps was ringed as an adult in 2021 and a Garden Warbler was first ringed in 2022 and re-trapped five times during the last three years - like the Cuckoo showing significant site fidelity. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was a re-trap, first ringed as an adult in 2021.

Other birds seen were another Cuckoo, a Ringed Plover, a Common Snipe, a Great White Egret and two Common Terns.

An early morning walk at Harrington Airfield provided a calling Corn Bunting flying south, two Ravens and two Wheatears in the field north of Bunker Three.

A Sanderling and a Spotted Redshank were seen at Eyebrook Reservoir today and a photograph in circulation on Whatsapp suggests a Purple Heron was photographed in flight at Summer Leys LNR at 8pm this evening. An Osprey flew over Whiston Wetlands today, a Black-tailed Godwit was at Summer Leys LNR and a pair of Mediterranean Gulls ranged along the Nene Valley between Whiston and Mary's Lake. Whiston Wetlands also hosted a drake Red-crested Pochard, six Avocets and a Common Sandpiper.

Regards

Neil M

Cuckoo.

Garden Warbler.

A bright 'Chiffchaff'.

Reed Warbler.

Two Common Whitethroats
and a Lesser Whitethroat.

All images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Saturday's birds

Hello

A greyer, cloudier day provided more migrants which included a drake Garganey in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth plus two Grey Wagtails, a couple of Sedge Warblers and a Water Rail.

Swifts made an appearance across the county today including breeding sites, a Wood Sandpiper remained at Eyebrook Reservoir and at Pitsford Reservoir there was an Osprey, two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Common Tern north of the causeway this afternoon.

A Ring Ouzel was at Bunker Three Harrington Airfield this afternoon and a Wheatear was seen there earlier and an Osprey was fishing at Stanford Reservoir this evening, where also a Cuckoo.

An Osprey and an influx of Sedge Warblers were at Hollowell Reservoir this morning and the Earls Barton Pits complex including the Whiston Wetlands provided records of a Bittern, two Cuckoos, a Greenshank, two singing Grasshopper Warblers and four Ruff.

Regards

Neil M

Common Sandpiper
courtesy of John Tilly.

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Bittern courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Ringing at Stortons Pits

Hello

Some bird ringing this morning at Stortons Pits provided plenty of diversity with eighteen species encountered which included an early-in-the-season Cuckoo, a Magpie and a variety of warblers which included birds back from Africa which had been ringed at Stortons in previous years. In total thirty-eight birds were processed which also included two Song Thrushes and three Bullfinches.

At Harrington Airfield this morning at least one Ring Ouzel was present in foggy conditions and at Pitsford Reservoir an Osprey caught a fish off the dam where there was also a Common Sandpiper and at least one Yellow-legged Gull. An Osprey was also noted at Hollowell Reservoir today and birds at Stanford Reservoir were a Cuckoo, six Common Terns and two Shelduck.

The Earls Barton complex taking in the New Workings and Summer Leys LNR provided much of today's records with a booming Bittern, a Cuckoo, two Grasshopper Warblers, a Greenshank, a Whimbrel and a Hobby.

A Cattle Egret was on the Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits and Clifford Hill Pits had a quieter day with an Oystercatcher, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and an influx of Sedge Warblers.

A Black Redstart was reported from Yarwell Mill car park and a Bittern at Cransley Reservoir was an excellent record. Three Kingfishers were at Towcester Water Meadows and a couple of Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth with a Raven at Kelmarsh.

A Whimbrel was at Lilbourne Meadows reserve this morning where also a Barn Owl and a Little Ringed Plover.

Regards

Neil M

Cuckoo today at
Stortons Pits courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Blue Tit courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Magpie courtesy of
Suzy Boys and Chris
Payne.

Nene Valley Birding

As expected the Nene Valley always comes into it's own at this time of year. Yesterday Clifford Hill GP was the place to be with Grey Plover, Wood Sandpiper,  Bar Tailed Godwit, Arctic Terns and a female Blue Headed Wagtail being just a few of the birds reported.     There was a Garganey at Earls Barton GP,  2 Common Scotors on Otter Lake Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows and a steady passage of Arctic Terns through Stanwick GP.                                           Arctic Terns were also at Boddington Reservoir and Stanford Reservoir where there were also 2 Black Terns.                                       I visited Harrington Airfield in the afternoon and meandered around for a couple of hours, during which time I notched up female Ring Ouzel,  Grasshopper Warbler,  Cuckoo and 2 Northern Wheatears.                                                                                                         A Tree Pipit along a footpath near to Great Brington was a good find for Stuart Mundy.

Today the Ring Ouzel was proving elusive at Harrington Airfield and seemed to favour bunkers 2 and 3.    The female Blue Headed Wagtail was again at Clifford Hill GP plus 3 Avocets, Little Ringed Plovers and Northern Wheatear.     Nearby at Earls Barton GP there were 5 Avocets, Bittern, Greenshanks and 4 Arctic Terns through.     

Plenty of good quality birds about at the moment,  especially in the Nene Valley , but as we know at this time of year "interesting " birds can and will turn up anywhere.  Keep checking those hedgerows, fields and "your" local patch..............you just never know!!

Regards Eleanor 

Lapwing.

Great Crested Grebe.

Images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Arctic Terns

Yesterday was certainly a mixed bag of weather.  Initially it was dry and bright but this was soon replaced with showers and low cloud. I was competing with Jaeger and Rouzel at an agility competition near Daventry and it certainly made for challenging conditions at times due to the extremely slippery ground. No rosettes but thankfully no slips either.                                                                               But these weather conditions certainly brought an interesting selection of birds to the county, especially Arctic Terns.  There were 40 at Hollowell Reservoir,  25 at Summer Leys,  20 at Clifford Hill GP and a single at Daventry Reservoir.  No doubt there were many others passing through "unseen " by birders.                                            Summer Leys was certainly the place to be. 2 Spoonbills were reported flying over high NE and 2 stunning adult Mediterranean Gulls were around for most of the day. Other birds included a Marsh Harrier,  Bittern and 2 Cattle Egrets.      Both Bar Tailed and Black Tailed Godwit were reported at Stanwick GP and a Bar Tailed was also at Clifford Hill GP, probably the same bird moving along the valley.                                                                                                           The evening was the best part of the day as the rain had passed through so I visited Harrington Airfield where I found a male Common Redstart and at least 4 Northern Wheatears and noted that there was a steady passage of Swallows flying low over the fields. 

Today has been blue skies and sunshine and very few birds reported.  I visited Blueberry twice and found a male Common Redstart this afternoon, otherwise it was quiet.                                        16 Arctic Terns flew over the North Lake at Thrapston this afternoon,  a Whimbrel flew over the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and at Summer Leys there were 2 Hobbies, Osprey and Bittern.   Cuckoo's have been arriving and have been heard at Oundle,  Titchmarsh and Cogenhoe and no doubt at Other places too.    This evening a female Ring Ouzel was reported from Harrington Airfield. 

I'm sure that there are plenty more migrants heading our way. Always an interesting time of year as you don't know what might turn up and each day can be so very different.   Rain is is forecast again for tomorrow so this might bring another movement of Arctic Terns or something else!!

Regards Eleanor 

Common Scoters courtesy
of Nick Parker.

Reed Bunting courtesy
of John Tilly.

Willow Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Speckled Wood courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Easter Birding Roundup

Inevitably as its a long bank holiday weekend the weather has changed and has been quite variable at times which in turn affects the migrating birds.

Early on Thursday morning I visited Harrington Airfield and as I was scanning the fields a super Black Redstart hopped up onto a rock directly in my line of vision. I continued scanning the fields and bunkers but all appeared quiet. However shortly after I left, other birders notched up at least 9 Northern Wheatears . They must have dropped in after I left.          During the morning there were many other records of Northern Wheatears dotted around the county, 6 at Hinton Airfield,  4 at Clifford Hill GP,  Earls Barton GP and a single bird near Sywell.         Plenty of other birds around including Whimbrel, Common Sandpipers, White Wagtail and both Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers at Clifford Hill GP,  a Pink Footed Goose,  Red Crested Pochard at Earls Barton new workings.     At Lilbourne Meadows there was a Common Redstart and a Mediterranean Gull at Stanford Reservoir. 

Friday seemed a quieter day with fewer birds reported.  2 Garganey at the new workings at Earls Barton GP,  Bittern at Summer Leys,  Marsh Harrier at Stanwick GP and a Northern Wheatear at Borough Hill being "new sightings "

Saturday was a much busier day.  There were an amazing 6 Avocets at Clifford Hill GP along with Whimbrel, Dunlins,  White Wagtails,  and Little Ringed Plovers.  Nearby at Summer Leys Greenshanks, Dunlins, Bittern and the long staying Glossy Ibis.  Thrapston GP hosted both Common and Arctic Tern and there was an Arctic Tern at Boddington Reservoir.  Early morning there were 5 Greenshanks on the dam at Hollowell before they flew off. The first Swift record of the year came courtesy of Lilbourne Meadows. 

Today there was a Cuckoo at Summer Leys but very little else different reported.   There is a steady trickle of migrants arriving.  There are plenty of Yellow and White Wagtails about and a growing selection of Warblers including Common and Lesser Whitethroat,  Grasshopper Warblers, Blackcaps and Garden Warblers etc.                                                                                                            It is an exciting time of year as birds are now on the move and it is possible for anything to turn up..........we just have to find it !!

Regards Eleanor 

Lapwing courtesy of
John Tilly.

Redshank courtesy
of John Tilly.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grasshopper Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.