A murky Sunday

Hello

Misty, murky conditions with rain at times was the weather for the day but at least it was mild.

The Glossy Ibis was again at the Embankment at Wellingborough today.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Black-necked Grebe was in the Narrows and there was a massive flock of two hundred and twenty-eight Cormorants in the Catwalk Bay. North of the causeway there were twenty plus Common Snipe, two male Stonechats and a Redpoll. A Blackcap was in Brixworth village.

Thrapston Pits was again the venue for a Firecrest in the scrub at the Willowbrook Angling Club pit and two Red-crested Pochard and a Black-tailed Godwit were on the Titchmarsh reserve with a drake Greater Scaup on Town Lake.

Eleven Goosanders and a Cetti's Warbler were at Clifford Hill Pits. Six Siskins were at Lings Wood, Northampton.

A Crossbill flew over Lower Wellingborough Lock in the Nene Valley where also an Oystercatcher. A pair of Stonechats were at Chester House Lake plus two Great White Egrets.

Single Blackcaps were at Brixworth village, Brington Feed Station and Moulton village. Six Bramblings were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Stanford Reservoir was the venue for ten European White-fronted Geese, five Great White Egrets, a Pintail, fifty-six Pochard and two Kingfishers.

Some garden ringing at Greens Norton provided captures of thirty-four Goldfinches, five Greenfinches, five Blue Tits, a Robin and a Siskin.

Regards

Neil M

Redwing.

Male Stonechat.

Male Siskin courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Some images of locally processed birds 
at the week-end. The Stonechat is a 
wintering bird at Pitsford Reservoir
originally ringed on 9th November 2025
and the Siskin was the Greens Norton
bird caught and ringed today.

And the rain came down again!

Hello

The wet weather today severely affected ringing sessions at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes and Pitsford Reservoir. A Canada Goose, three Redwings and three Greenfinches were the best at Linford and at Pitsford it was possible to ring five Redwings between showers and we processed another forty-six birds which included six Coal Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A Raven, a Siskin and White-fronted Geese were heard calling in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were four Great White Egrets, two Goosanders and thirty Siskins. Hollowell Reservoir again hosted a European White-fronted Goose, two Great White Egrets, two Stonechats and two Common Snipe.

Four Ring-necked Parakeets were in a garden this morning off Billing Lane, Northampton and ten were on garden feeders in Cogenhoe village.

Nine European White-fronted Geese and two Goosanders were at Blatherwycke Lake this afternoon and birds at Deene Lake were a Raven, seven Shelducks and a pair of Stonechats. Several Crossbills were at nearby Wakerley Wood.

At least ten Crossbills were still at Gamboro' Plantation this morning and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton were two Ravens, six Bramblings, a pair of Stonechats and a female Peregrine successfully hunted a Fieldfare. An estimated thousand Fieldfares were feeding on the ground and in the bushes at Harrington Airfield this afternoon plus two Woodcock.

At least two Corn Buntings were in fields between Deanshanger and Wicken this afternoon.

At Thrapston Pits the Firecrest showed again in the south west corner of the Willowbrook Fishing Lake this afternoon and a Black-tailed Godwit was still on the Titchmarsh reserve.

Regards

Neil M

Canada Goose ringed at
Linford Lakes today.
Courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Linford Lakes after the showers!
Courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Eastern Black Redstart from
Sheringham yesterday.

Ring-necked Parakeet
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Black-winged Kite and county Firecrests

Hello

I couldn't resist it any longer so today saw me drive over to the Norfolk Broads to see the wintering Black-winged Kite which showed well but distantly about a mile north of Stubbs Mill. The supporting cast included lots of harriers, Common Cranes and a smart male Merlin and we finished the day with a quick visit to Sheringham to see the very smart Eastern Black Redstart.

In the meantime the county was lively today with a host of good birds on offer.

At Thrapston Pits the Firecrest re-appeared in the south-west corner scrub of the Willowbrook Angling Pit probably best reached from Islip and at Islip Water Treatment Works there was an outstanding winter count of thirty-two Chiffchaffs! Two European White-fronted Geese were on the Titchmarsh reserve opposite North Hide and two Greater Scaup and two Red-crested Pochard continued to grace Town Lake. Other birds included the Black-tailed Godwit still, thirty-seven Golden Plovers over and a Peregrine.

Two Marsh Harriers were at Summer Leys LNR today with a Pink-footed Goose reported and ten European White-fronted Geese and an orange-tagged Marsh Harrier were at North Lake, Stanwick Pits.

A Firecrest was a great find in a roving tit flock on the west side of Wakerley Wood between the main track and the new quarry workings, twenty-five Crossbills were high up in larches at the main car park and small numbers of Crossbills and Siskins were mobile throughout the wood.

At Blatherwycke Lake the Tundra Bean Goose conveniently placed itself in front of the huge Greylag flock but there may have been more than the five European White-fronted Geese seen. A Marsh Harrier was attracted to the tiny phragmites bed and eight Egyptian Geese were present.

In the south of the county there were twenty Corn Buntings on power cables over a field between Deanshanger and Wicken, by a small building.

A drake Smew was in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon plus two Stonechats. Three Great White Egrets were at Stanford Reservoir today where there was also two Water Rails, a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

In recent days there has been quite a
gathering of surface-feeding ducks
in the Scaldwell Bay, Pitsford Reservoir,
 the rising water levels releasing food
 from the margins.

Dunnock.

After a glut of berries in the
autumn there is still plenty on
the bushes for the winter thrushes
to consume like these sloe berries.

Image and video of the 
Black-winged Kite today
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

And down came the rain!

Hello

With heavy rain for much of the day the local reports were few and far between!

A late report from yesterday (14th) was of a Tundra Bean Goose and nine European White-fronted Geese at Blatherwycke Lake.

A Yellow-browed Warbler was photographed and video'd in a garden in Raunds today but there is no public access at present.

A huge count of seventy-five European White-fronted Geese at Stanford Reservoir is quite incredible and other birds were seven Great White Egrets, two Water Rails, four Goosanders and a Cetti's Warbler.

Two Egyptian Geese were in the Welland Valley below Cottingham and to the south there were still several Corn Buntings between Deanshanger and Wicken this morning.

Two Marsh Harriers at Stanwick Pits provides more evidence of a small number successfully wintering in the Nene Valley and perhaps a pair will at long last breed in the county this year! Fifteen Redpolls and a Redshank were also present.

A Black-tailed Godwit was reported on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today and yesterday there were two Greater Scaup and two Red-crested Pochard still on Town Lake. A Kingfisher was at Summer Leys LNR.

Regards

Neil M

European White-fronted Geese
courtesy of David Smith.

Yellow-browed Warbler
(not the Raunds bird).

I'd know those concrete posts
anywhere! Stonechats at
Pitsford Reservoir.

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Cold and frosty this morning gave way to a lovely winter day with sunshine and a light breeze.

An ideal day to complete the Pitsford Reservoir WeBS count which south of the causeway provided the Black-necked Grebe, a 'redhead' Smew, nine European White-fronted Geese, two Grey Wagtails, over thirty Siskins, about eight Redpolls, one Chiffchaff and four Ravens. North of the causeway there was a female Peregrine, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, two Jack Snipe, thirty-one Common Snipe, two Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail and a Siskin.

At Wellingborough the Glossy Ibis was again in a wet field next to the Embankment near the Premier Inn.

A small flock of Crossbills were on the west side of Harlestone Heath today where also two Ravens. Up to fifteen Crossbills were again at Gamboro' Plantation showing well this morning (a small block of woodland between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton). One Stonechat was seen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Grey Wagtail was in the village.

A flock of no less than twenty-two Corn Buntings were between Wicken and Deanshanger again today, showing well and singing from the overhead wires.

Little news from the Nene Valley today but three Goosanders were along the River Nene at Hardwater Mill.

Three Blackcaps were visiting a Duston, Northampton garden this morning feeding on ivy berries. A Peregrine was seen over Daventry town today.

Regards

Neil M

Some pictures of the
Gamboro' Plantation
Common Crossbills
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Quiet day in January

Hello

Another mild day provided little that was new.

The Glossy Ibis appeared again at The Embankment, Wellingborough and other birds in the near vicinity were a Cattle Egret and two Egyptian Geese.

Ten European White-fronted Geese and the Tundra Bean Goose were again at Stanwick Pits, still around North Lake and a Marsh Harrier was again at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows.

The drake American Wigeon was again reported at the north end of Aldwincle Lake, Titchmarsh reserve, Thrapston Pits.

It was quiet in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today but the female Merlin was present just before dusk, trying to catch Skylarks as they were going to roost. Two Common Snipe were also in the valley and two Redpolls were at Scotland Wood.

Ten European White-fronted Geese were in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir today and the pair of Stonechats were still in the Scaldwell Bay.

A Kingfisher was at Clifford Hill Pits and a flock of twenty-eight Magpies at Billing Fishponds, Little Billing was a large and no doubt noisy gathering.

A Blackcap continues to visit a garden in Wellingborough, being attracted to apples impaled on bushes. I find if you cut the apples in half and impale the convex section other birds are quickly attracted, particularly Blue Tits.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret.

Goldeneye.

Magpie.

Quality January birding

Hello

A very mild day in complete contrast to recent weather.

Yet another good find for Nick today with the discovery of a Firecrest at Thrapston Pits in scrub/willows at the south-west corner of the Willowbrook Fishing Lake. Two Black-tailed Godwits, two Marsh Harriers and the drake American Wigeon were all on the Titchmarsh LNR and two Greater Scaup and two Red-crested Pochard were on Town Lake. Six European White-fronted Geese were just down river in fields by Warmington Lock.

A Marsh Harrier was at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows this morning and quality birds at Stanwick Pits were the Tundra Bean Goose and a Marsh Harrier.

A Glossy Ibis was in a wet field by the Embankment at Wellingborough this morning.

The Black-necked Grebe was reported at Pitsford Reservoir again in the Pintail Bay and north of the causeway there was a male Peregrine, a pair of Stonechats, two Common Snipe and a Great White Egret. Eight European White-fronted Geese were in fields west of the Walgrave Bay this morning and then flew to the reservoir. Six Tree Sparrows were at Rectory Farm, Old.

A single European White-fronted Goose was still at Hollowell Reservoir plus the female Ruddy Shelduck, a Jack Snipe, two Common Snipe and three Stonechats.

At least ten Crossbills were at Gamboro' Plantation this morning and two Stonechats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Stanford Reservoir retains it's flock of sixty or so European White-fronted Geese and other birds were two hundred Lapwings, three Great White Egrets, two Water Rails and a Kingfisher.

Regards

Neil M

Black-tailed Godwit
Thrapston Pits today
courtesy of Nick Parker.

Red-crested Pochards at
Thrapston Pits today courtesy
of Nick Parker.

Mute Swans.

Firecrest, but not the one
at Thrapston Pits today!

A break in the cold spell

Hello

A cold night but temperatures soon rose and with it more wind and showers.

Fifteen Crossbills were again located at Gamboro' Plantation (between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton) this morning plus a flock of Siskins. Nearby a Peregrine and two Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and the female Merlin was in the Brampton Valley near to shrike hedge with several Bramblings also present.

I spent much of the day checking nest boxes on the Kelmarsh Estate and in my wanderings encountered two Woodcock at Sunderland Wood, another Woodcock at Rabbithill Spinney and a Siskin at Scotland Wood.

The Black-necked Grebe was reported at Pitsford Reservoir today, again in Pintail Bay.

About sixty European White-fronted Geese were again at Stanford Reservoir today plus ten Goosanders, an adult Caspian Gull and two Kingfishers.

The female Ruddy Shelduck and a single European White-fronted Goose were at Hollowell Reservoir and another seven European White-fronted Geese were at Blatherwycke Lake together with a Great White Egret and three Pintail.

At Thrapston Pits today the excellent list of birds included the Tundra Bean Goose, fourteen European White-fronted Geese, a drake Ring-necked Duck, a pair of Red-crested Pochard and a drake American Wigeon. A Cattle Egret flew over Stanwick Pits and eight European White-fronted Geese were to the west of North Lake. A Marsh Harrier was seen at Summer Leys LNR.

A Glossy Ibis was still in a field at The Embankment at Wellingborough near to the Premier Inn. A Cattle Egret flew over Bants Lane, Duston at lunchtime and five Corn Buntings were again between Deanshanger and Wicken where also Grey Partridges. Four European White-fronted Geese were at Clifford Hill Pits this morning in the southern fields. A male and a female Blackcap were still in a garden at Woodford Halse today.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Yellowhammer.

A stooping Kestrel courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

White-fronted Geese galore

Hello

A sharp frost this morning after a wet first half of the night brough treacherous conditions on untreated roads.

Thrapston Pits proved a popular venue today with the Tundra Bean Goose and fourteen European White-fronted Geese still at Islip Meadows and occasionally visiting Town Lake when disturbed. The drake American Wigeon was on the Titchmarsh reserve as were two Marsh Harriers, a Black-tailed Godwit and two Great White Egrets. Two Greater Scaup were near the Sailing Club on Town Lake.

At Stanwick Pits the Tundra Bean Goose was eventually found on fields near North Lake and ten European White-fronted Geese were also still present.

A flock of ten European White-fronted Geese by Warmington Mill were yet another local flock of these normally very scarce geese in the county; in excess of a hundred birds are currently wintering in Northamptonshire.

Stanford Reservoir still hosts up to about sixty European White-fronted Geese where also twelve Goosanders, two Kingfishers, two Water Rails and a Cetti's Warbler. A single European White-fronted Goose was with Greylags in the Cherwell Valley just west of Great Western between Aynho and Clifton.

Two Marsh Harriers were at Summer Leys LNR today and a single Glossy Ibis turned up in fields at the Embankment, Wellingborough near to the Premier Inn. Four European White-fronted Geese remain at Clifford Hill Pits.

Five Corn Buntings still persist in fields between Deanshanger and Wicken and birds at Pitsford Reservoir include the Black-necked Grebe and the Common Sandpiper in the Pintail Bay, a Grey Wagtail and a Redpoll with an adult Caspian Gull and two Yellow-legged Gulls (one adult and one first year) in the gull roost off the dam.

At least fifteen Crossbills were showing very well at Gamboro' Plantation first thing this morning where also two Redpolls and a few Siskins. Easily three hundred Fieldfares were in top fields at Harrington Airfield between the bunkers and the B576 and Bramblings were heard calling in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton where also three Common Snipe.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret Thrapston Pits
courtesy of Jonathan Pitt.

Common Gull.

Black-tailed Godwit courtesy 
of Tony Stanford.

Water Rail courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

More wild goose chases

Hello

Clearly some parts of the country suffered at the hands of Storm Goretti but despite some amber weather warnings it seems that locally we were spared the worst of it.

Nick was on fire at Thrapston Pits today, finding a Tundra Bean Goose with fifteen European White-fronted Geese at Islip Meadows, two Greater Scaup and a Goosander on Town Lake and the drake American Wigeon on the north section of the Titchmarsh reserve where also a long-staying Marsh Harrier.

Adrian managed to find the Tundra Bean Goose at Stanwick Pits today with at least seven European White-fronted Geese. These birds were being disturbed but were generally in a field north of the black metal bridge and sometimes out of view.

The Slavonian Grebe wasn't reported at Pitsford Reservoir today (I looked too) but the Black-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were in the general vicinity of Pintail Bay with an adult Yellow-legged Gull on buoys further south on the reservoir. In excess of a hundred Great Crested Grebes were between the Gorse Bushes and the dam and in excess of twenty Redpolls were in birches at the adjacent Brixworth Country Park car park.

An adult Caspian Gull was seen flying over Hollowell village this morning heading towards the reservoir and two Blackcaps were in a garden there. Later at the reservoir the female Ruddy Shelduck was present plus a pair of Goosanders, a Jack Snipe, two Common Snipe and a Stonechat.

At least sixty European White-fronted Geese and six Goosanders were at Stanford Reservoir today.

A Blackcap was in a Sywell garden today and two Ring-necked Parakeets returned to a garden off Billing Lane, Northampton to enjoy bird food offerings.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included a Jack Snipe and two Common Snipe with two Ravens around the village.

Regards

Neil M

Ruddy Shelduck.

Video grab of the Tundra Bean Goose
at Thrapston Pits courtesy of Nick Parker.
 
The below video clip is of the same flock
of geese with Greylags, European White-fronted
Geese and the Tundra Bean Goose all depicted,
again courtesy of Nick.

Storm Goretti is here!

Hello

Stanwick Pits today was again the venue for the Tundra Bean Goose and ten European White-fronted Geese, this afternoon they were again adjacent to North Lake on the complex.

The drake Ring-necked Duck was again on Town Lake, Thrapston Pits where also two Greater Scaup.

A Bittern was a good find at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, in flight by the reed bed on the east bank.

At Pitsford Reservoir at least nine European White-fronted Geese were in a field behind Catwalk Bay and both singletons of Slavonian Grebe and a Black-necked Grebe were seen in the Pintail Bay but intriguingly not at the same time! Three Great White Egrets were in the Holcot Bay and the Common Sandpiper was also in the Pintail Bay. A drake Smew was found in the Scaldwell Bay this afternoon where there were still a pair of Stonechats. Nearby there was a Peregrine and four Tree Sparrows at Rectory Farm, Old.

A Siberian Chiffchaff was at the Sandy Lane attenuation pond, Duston, Northampton where also thirty Siskins. A Barn Owl was hunting at Upton Country Park this afternoon.

This afternoon between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton birds seen included the female Merlin again - this time hunting Skylarks, a Woodcock, two Common Snipe, two Barn Owls and eight Bramblings with three Crossbills and at least ten Siskins at Gamboro' Plantation.

Regards

Neil M

Male Stonechat.

Chiffchaff.

Rook.

Images courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Weather-driven birds

Hello

A short reprieve in the weather but we'll have to see what Storm Goretti delivers!

The drake Ring-necked Duck was found again today on Town Lake, Thrapston Pits, with a female Greater Scaup in close attendance.

At Pitsford Reservoir at least nine European White-fronted Geese were still present in fields behind Catwalk Bay, the sometimes elusive Slavonian Grebe was again in Pintail Bay where also a 'redhead' Smew, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper, with a Goosander north of the causeway and an adult Yellow-legged Gull north of the dam.

At Stanwick Pits the Tundra Bean Goose was still with ten European White-fronted Geese at North Lake where also a Merlin was seen.

Approximately sixty European White-fronted Geese remain at Stanford Reservoir plus six Goosanders, three hundred Fieldfares, three Great White Egrets, a Peregrine, two Kingfishers, a Common Snipe and a Chiffchaff. A German colour-ringed Common Gull was also seen there and another individual similarly-marked seems to be wintering at Pitsford Reservoir.

At Gamboro' Plantation this morning (between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton), finches included four Crossbills, two Bramblings, two or three Redpolls and fifteen Siskins. Hundreds of winter thrushes arrived in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon - birds being pushed around by hard winter weather elsewhere.

Eighteen Ring-necked Parakeets have been recorded in recent days, feeding on bird food in a garden in Weston Favell, Northampton!

Regards

Neil M

Ring-necked Parakeet.

Wren.

Drake Shoveler.

All images courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Wild geese still dominate proceedings

Hello

Still cold today but tonight should be the first night for a while where the temperatures don't dip below zero, a relief for birds that use a high proportion of their body fat to keep warm at night.

A Tundra Bean Goose and the ten European White-fronted Geese at Stanwick Pits were the choice finds of the day courtesy of Steve, particularly as they gave themselves up later in the day when feeding near North Lake after earlier flying off from the Main Lake. Two Goosanders were noted there too.

Pitsford Reservoir south of the causeway provided eleven European White-fronted Geese in fields behind Catwalk Bay, a 'redhead' Smew, a Slavonian Grebe in the Pintail Bay, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and one hundred and fifty Cormorants at the south end of the reservoir.

The two Glossy Ibis briefly visited the wet fields at the Embankment at Wellingborough again today.

The female Ruddy Shelduck appeared at Hollowell Reservoir today and sightings at Stanford Reservoir amounted to about sixty European White-fronted Geese, two Caspian Gulls in the roost and six Goosanders.

Nine Corn Buntings were visible from a footpath between Deanshanger and Wicken this morning, a male Blackcap was still in a Corby garden with another in a Duston garden. A Stonechat was at Upton Country Park.

An ice-bound Summer Leys LNR provided a brief visit from a Black-tailed Godwit, thirty Siskins, a male Blackcap and a Common Snipe.

Two Ravens were trying to dine on a road casualty Pheasant near Lamport this afternoon and there were a few Siskins at both Scotland Wood and Kelmarsh Hall. A Barn Owl was hunting at Lamport Hall yesterday afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

The Tundra Bean Goose
and European White-fronted
Geese at Stanwick Pits today
courtesy of Steve Fisher.

The cold snap continues

Hello

The deep winter cold continues with more snow and four wild bird feeding stations were replenished today with more to do tomorrow.

At Pitsford Reservoir fifteen European White-fronted Geese and a single Pink-footed Goose were in fields behind Catwalk Bay and other birds south of the causeway included a 'redhead' Smew in Pintail Bay, two pairs of Stonechats, four Grey Wagtails, a Green Sandpiper, a Yellow-legged Gull, six Common Snipe, twenty-five Siskins, six to eight Redpolls and two Ravens. North of the causeway there was a Great White Egret, a pair of Stonechats, a Common Snipe and a Siskin. Four Tree Sparrows were at Rectory Farm, Old village.

Clifford Hill Pits hosted two Goosanders, thirty plus Great Black-backed Gulls, three Great White Egrets, the drake Smew again and four European White-fronted Geese.

At Thrapston Pits today there was a female Greater Scaup on Town Lake, a Jack Snipe was flushed from Harper's Brook plus three Goosanders and a Pintail.

A Crossbill was at Harlestone Heath by the main entrance, two Blackcaps were still in a garden at Woodford Halse and a Woodcock was seen in flight over the A43 at Sywell Range.

Summer Leys LNR proved attractive to a range of birds including nine Great White Egrets, a Marsh Harrier, a Cattle Egret, a Green Sandpiper, a Water Rail and a male Merlin.

At Stanford Reservoir there were a minimum of sixty European White-fronted Geese, nineteen Goosanders, a female Greater Scaup, a Peregrine and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Two Ring-necked Parakeets were feeding in a garden off Billing Lane, Northampton today and yesterday two Peregrines were on St Dionysius church, Market Harborough.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kite.

Grey Plover courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Drake Eurasian Wigeon.