Diver in the murk

Hello

Yesterday's Red-throated Diver was still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today providing great views at times in murky and sometimes wet conditions.

The wintering Black-necked Grebe appeared in the vicinity of Moulton Grange Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, this bird has changed it's behaviour since a huge rise in water levels and travels the length of expansive water between the causeway and dam. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were also at the dam-end of the reservoir this afternoon.

The drake Smew was still at Clifford Hill Pits today and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included two Bramblings, a Barn Owl and the pair of Stonechats.

A Raven was at Harrington Airfield, two Crossbills were seen in flight at Wakerley Wood, again by a seat next to an oak tree along the main track about three quarters of a mile from the car park. A Grey Wagtail and ten Siskins were along the Billing Brook at Fishponds Road, Little Billing today.

Regards

Neil M

The adult Red-throated Diver
at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today
courtesy of Chris Gibbs.

Wow sunshine!

Hello 

A lovely day's weather which was mild, dry and even with some winter sunshine! It seems the whole nation has been suffering from very wet weather, low cloud and stormy conditions for much of the winter but for us there was something of a reprieve today. Mild temperatures provided opportunities for insects to emerge which included day-flying moths and even a rather soggy bumblebee!

The new bird of the day was a find this afternoon by Jon our county recorder of a Red-throated Diver at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, not a common bird in the county.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were forty-two Eurasian White-fronted Geese located in fields but with no apparent sign of any Pink-footed or Bean Geese. Other birds were three Great White Egrets and a Goosander.

At Pitsford Reservoir the Black-necked Grebe was swimming around quite a bit south of the causeway and there were two Ravens and two Yellow-legged Gulls at the dam end. Another Raven and two Woodcock were in the Walgrave Bay and two pairs of Stonechats were in the Scaldwell Bay.

Seven European White-fronted Geese were seen at Cransley Reservoir this afternoon.

A Raven was vocal at Hanging Houghton and a pair of Stonechats and four Bramblings were in the Brampton Valley below the village with two Woodcock at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. There was no sign of Crossbills at Gamboro' Plantation today.

The drake Smew was still at Clifford Hill Pits today plus a Great White Egret and three Pintails with a Blackcap singing nearby at Abington Meadows.

The Glossy Ibis was reported at Summer Leys LNR today and two Marsh Harriers were also present (one wing-tagged).

Regards

Neil M

Great Spotted Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Marsh Tit.

Pied Wagtail courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

Little Egret.

White-fronted Geese and the rest

Hello

Clifford Hill Pits hosted the drake Smew, the drake Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid, a pair of Pintail, eight Goosanders, a Raven and a flock of twenty-five European White-fronted Geese flew in and stayed for a time before departing.

The Glossy Ibis and the wing-tagged Marsh Harrier were at Summer Leys LNR and at Pitsford Reservoir the Black-necked Grebe had wandered to the Cliffs section between the causeway and the dam.

Up to fifteen Crossbills were still at Gamboro' Plantation between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton today, perhaps showing better this afternoon.

Although sometimes difficult viewing, the wild geese flock in fields near Stanford Reservoir included four Tundra Bean Geese, three Pink-footed Geese and forty European White-fronted Geese.

A flock of twenty-six European White-fronted Geese were in a field at Warmington this afternoon.

A very productive garden ringing session at Greens Norton provided forty-eight Goldfinches, six Greenfinches, two House Sparrows, four Starlings, a Blackbird, Blue Tits and Great Tits and a Collared Dove.

A Siskin, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and a Raven was at Hanging Houghton. Eleven Lesser Redpolls were still at Stortons Pits today.

Regards

Neil M

European White-fronted Geese
at Clifford Hill Pits today courtesy
of Tyler Atkinson.

Close-up of Starlings, male above
 and female below, courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Collared Dove courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Rare geese again

Hello

Another grey and mild day with just weak showers and another arrival of wild geese in the county.

At least ten Crossbills and about twenty Siskins were at Gamboro' Plantation this morning, although the dull light didn't really do them justice. A pair of Stonechats and a Golden Plover were in the Brampton Valley fields.

Yesterday there were still four Tree Sparrows at Rectory Farm, Old and a Blackcap was singing in short bursts in Brixworth village. Today saw three Grey Wagtails in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

A goose fest at Stanford Reservoir today provided quality sightings of thirty-three European White-fronted Geese, three Pink-footed Geese and four Tundra Bean Geese. Other birds were six Great White Egrets, five Goosanders and a Chiffchaff.

A drake Smew, two Oystercatchers, a drake hybrid Pochard x Tufted Duck and six Pintail were at Clifford Hill Pits.

A/the Nene Valley drake Ring-necked Duck was located at Ringstead Pits by Adrian on the Kinewell Lake but it flew off in a westerly direction (late morning). Six Goosanders and at least fifty-five Pochard were present too.

Nick located a single Tundra Bean Goose at Islip Meadows, Thrapston Pits this afternoon, in company with twenty-three European White-fronted Geese.

An Oystercatcher was at Earls Barton New Workings, a Redpoll was at Little Billing and the Black-necked Grebe popped up at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon, just off the east shore between the dam and Moulton Grange Bay (but last seen swimming rapidly north).

Regards

Neil M

Woodcock at Glapthorn Cow Pastures
courtesy of John Hunt.

Garden Goldfinches courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Drake Shoveler at Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Yet more rain!

Hello

More dire weather today but at least it was relatively mild! The photographers out there are managing to obtain quality photographs despite very challenging overcast conditions.

A flooded Nene Valley provided some interesting birds today with two Marsh Harriers, three or four Great White Egrets, a Cetti's Warbler and a Chiffchaff on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits.

Four White-fronted Geese were again on fields north of main lake at Stanwick Pits plus five Oystercatchers, sixteen Redpoll and an Otter. Summer Leys LNR provided again for a Glossy Ibis, two Marsh Harriers, a Great White Egret, nine Common Snipe and a pair of Grey Partridge.

Eleven Lesser Redpolls were at Stortons Pits and at least seven others were in birches at the car park of Brixworth Country Park. A Siskin was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and at least one Green Sandpiper(s) was calling in the fog at the dam-end of Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon produced two hunting Barn Owls, a pair of Stonechats and a couple of Bramblings.

Six Great White Egrets were at Stanford Reservoir plus five Goosanders, a Water Rail and a Kingfisher and the female Ruddy Shelduck was at Lilbourne Water Meadows reserve.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll at Stortons Pits
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys LNR
yesterday courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Wing-tagged Marsh Harrier at
Summer Leys LNR today courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Better start building the Ark

Hello

Appalling weather today and the rain seems set to continue for the next couple of days.

Summer Leys LNR at least provides some respite from the weather with the provision of great hides. There today was the Glossy Ibis again plus the smart adult Caspian Gull too and an Oystercatcher.

At Stanwick Pits today the White-fronted Goose flock rose to four again, still using a field just north of the main lake.

A Raven was near Brixworth and sodden birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included the pair of Stonechats and good numbers of finches including several Bramblings.

Regards

Neil M

Adult Caspian Gull at Summer Leys 
LNR today courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Female Stonechat at Upton Country Park
yesterday courtesy of Tony Stanford.

The below video clip relates to a 
Black Redstart seen at a farm 
between Lamport and Scaldwell
on Tuesday, courtesy of Olivia Neilson.

Birds of the valleys

Hello

A milder and much more pleasant day in the county.

Initially this morning only two Crossbills were showing poorly in the Gamboro' Plantation between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton, but the usual number of fifteen or more were flying around there this afternoon. A male Siskin was singing there and a Woodcock flew out.

The nearby Brampton Valley fields yielded a Jack Snipe and four Common Snipe again, a Great White Egret flying over, the pair of Stonechats, a Brambling, a Redpoll, a Golden Plover, a Barn Owl and a pair of Grey Partridges.

Two Bramblings were at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir today and a Green Sandpiper was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

At Daventry Country Park, two Siberian Chiffchaffs were at the viewpoint near to the grit trap (southern end of the complex).

In the Nene Valley the drake Smew was again on the Nene Barrage at Clifford Hill Pits and a Glossy Ibis was again at Summer Leys LNR. Two White-fronted Geese were in a field north of the main lake at Stanwick Pits at lunchtime. and seven drake Pintail were on gravel pits near Warmington.

A Stonechat was at Upton Country Park and six Goosanders were at Harlestone Lake.

Regards

Neil M

Barn Owl.

Goosander.

Drake Smew courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

And then it snowed...

Hello

A colder day with plenty of cloud and even some snow this evening.

A flock of Crossbills were still at Gamboro' Plantation this morning with at least nine birds staying fairly deep in the north-east of the plantation in breezy conditions.

During the course of the day birds in the Brampton Valley fields below Hanging Houghton included one or two Barn Owl(s), a Jack Snipe, four Common Snipe, two Golden Plovers, at least four Bramblings and a calling Grey Partridge.

At least four Tree Sparrows remained in situ at Rectory Farm, Old and a Black Redstart re-appeared at a private farmstead between Lamport and Scaldwell.

Summer Leys LNR provided views of a Glossy Ibis, the now regular adult Caspian Gull and a flock of Siskins. Two White-fronted Geese were at Stanwick Pits this morning, in fields north of the main lake. 

A dozen Siskins were on alders at the back of the Nationwide Building Society at Moulton Park, Northampton. A female Blackcap was on fatballs in a Wellingborough garden.

The drake Smew was again at Clifford Hill Pits this morning.

Sixteen European White-fronted Geese were at Stanford Reservoir this evening and other birds were six Great White Egrets and eleven Goosanders.

Regards

Neil M

Robin.

Reed Bunting.

Pied Wagtail.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

All images courtesy of Tony Stanford.

A grimy day for birding

Hello

Another dull and grimy day with showers which did little to inspire!

Birders at Summer Leys LNR pretty much saved the day with sightings of a Glossy Ibis, two Marsh Harriers (together at one point) and a Cattle Egret, an adult Caspian Gull and two Great White Egrets. Nearby there was a Stonechat at Whiston Lock and a Green Sandpiper at the New Workings North section of Earls Barton Pits.

At Stanwick Pits there were four White-fronted Geese with Greylags on fields north of the main lake this morning. The drake Smew was at the south west end of Clifford Hill Pits this afternoon.

Up to fifteen Crossbills were on show first thing at Gamboro' Plantation between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton but seemingly not subsequently. A Chiffchaff was singing at Islip Treatment Works.

Stanford Reservoir hosted a Caspian Gull, twelve Common Snipe and six Great White Egrets.

Regards

Neil M

A Mute Swan's perspective
of a grey day at Pitsford Reservoir.

Flock of Gadwall.

Fabulous Starlings.

A mild and moist start to February

Hello

A mild, cloudy day with light rain and drizzle at times and seemingly nothing new found in the county of note. The conditions seemed to stimulate plenty of bird song today with the Robins and Song Thrushes sounding particularly vibrant and widespread.

At Pitsford Reservoir there was a Jack Snipe north of the causeway plus about twenty-five Common Snipe, two Stonechats and singles of Redpoll and Brambling with a Grey Wagtail at the dam end.

At Hollowell Reservoir there was a single European White-fronted Goose, a Jack Snipe, a Caspian Gull and three Stonechats. Seven Egyptian Geese and a Shelduck were at Blatherwycke Lake with a Brambling along the track to the church. Two Ravens were at Grafton Underwood.

Gamboro' Plantation hosted up to twenty-two Crossbills today plus two Woodcock and a pair of Stonechats and four Bramblings were nearby at shrike hedge in the Brampton Valley fields. Three Goosanders were at Harlestone Lake.

A drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid was at Clifford Hill Pits today and Summer Leys LNR was good for a Cattle Egret, a Caspian Gull, a drake Pintail and a Marsh Harrier.

The Glossy Ibis was again in fields off the Embankment, Wellingborough and four White-fronted Geese appeared again on the main lake at Stanwick Pits.

A Red-crested Pochard or hybrid was at Stanford Reservoir where also six Great White Egrets, four Goosanders and a Redpoll.

Regards

Neil M

Kestrel.

Roe Deer.

Great White Egret
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Last day of January

Hello

A mostly still day but yet again some rain crept in!

The long-staying Glossy Ibis was again in wet fields at the Embankment, Wellingborough and bird further east along the Nene Valley were a Marsh Harrier at the western end of Ditchford Pits plus four Stonechats and a Great White Egret.

A Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys LNR where also an adult Caspian Gull and also a Marsh Harrier at nearby Whiston Lock.

Stanwick Pits hosted four White-fronted Geese first thing on Main Lake and an orange-tagged Marsh Harrier, nine Great White Egrets, thirteen Goosanders, two Redshanks and two Otters.

Ten European White-fronted Geese were at Warmington Meadows near Warmington Mill today and birds on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits included two or three Great White Egrets, a Pintail and two Egyptian Geese.

In the north of the county Deene Lake held a Green Sandpiper, nine Shelducks, two hundred and thirty Teal, two Egyptian Geese and two Black Swans and nearby Blatherwycke Lake provided a Barnacle Goose and at least nine Egyptian Geese.

Up to fifty Common Snipe, one or two Jack Snipe(s) and a pair of Stonechats were in the Scaldwell Bay, Pitsford Reservoir today and a displaying Raven was at Harrington Airfield. A singing Redpoll was at Scotland Wood and a Woodcock and at least two Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall.

Upton Country Park was the venue for two Jack Snipes, at least thirty Common Snipe, a Great White Egret, a Raven and two pairs of Stonechats. Barnes Meadow LNR was good for a Common Snipe, a Woodcock, three Goosanders and a pair of Stonechats.

Two drake Goosanders were at Harlestone Lake and three Crossbills were in flight nearby with a couple of Crossbills seen again at Wakerley Wood this morning.

Eyebrook Reservoir remained good for eight Smew today plus fifteen European White-fronted Geese and three Greater Scaup.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard.

Male Sparrowhawk courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Drake Goosander.

Common birds on parade

Hello

A Siberian Chiffchaff was located at Daventry Country Park again today, suggesting there is an elusive wintering individual on-site. It was near the grit trap from the viewpoint at the south-east end of the park.

Birders at Eyebrook Reservoir were able to see seven Smew, eight Greater Scaup and sixteen European White-fronted Geese today.

At Stanford Reservoir an adult Mediterranean Gull was again in the afternoon roost and other birds included a Great White Egret and ten Goosanders. A Raven and a drake Goosander were in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning.

Bramblings were heard calling in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with one at Gamboro' Plantation, and Blackcaps included three in a Duston, Northampton garden and a male in a garden at Sywell.

In the Nene Valley four White-fronted Geese were seen briefly on the main lake at Stanwick Pits this morning where also two Oystercatchers, the drake Smew was again at Clifford Hill Pits and an adult Caspian Gull was again on Hawthorn Island at Summer Leys LNR. Five Redpolls were at Upton Country Park and two were noted at Brixworth Country Park.

Six Tree Sparrows were still at Rectory Farm, Old this morning. A Moorhen was a prey item for a female Sparrowhawk at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Treecreeper.

Robins - forever arguing!

Above images from Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Glossy Ibis and Teal
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Blue Tit enjoying its bath - I think!
Courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Mid-winter birding

Hello

As we come towards the end of January we seem to have experienced a real variety of weather during the first month of the year. It's not always easy for us to adapt to changing temperatures and terrain, goodness only knows how the wildlife achieves it! It always amazes me how a barren winter-scape comes alive when the temperatures go up and insects come out from nowhere and the birds begin to sing!

For anyone living in the NN6 post code in Northamptonshire it's been like WW3 with the amount of Pheasant shooting - on seemingly all the surrounding estates and farmland and on almost a daily basis somewhere no matter the weather. With the pheasant shooting concluding at the end of the month I look forward to the relative peace of the countryside without shotguns going off constantly.

A relatively quiet day in the county today but the Wellingborough Glossy Ibis performed again at The Embankment water-logged fields.

A flock of twenty plus Crossbills entertained at Wakerley Wood today, about three quarters of a mile along the main track from the car park next to a seat by an oak tree. Six Crossbills were also found at Harlestone Heath together with about thirty Redpolls and a Great White Egret (the latter next to the flooded brook at the north west edge of the complex).

A Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys LNR where also eight Common Snipe, thirty Golden Plovers and a Kingfisher.

Several Bramblings and a Stonechat were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton near to shrike hedge, plus about a hundred each of Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.

Some bird ringing took place at Stortons Pits yesterday culminating in about sixty-five captures, a session organised specifically for three Trainees to gain some important practice of bird handling, ring application and the complexities of ageing, identification of gender and the confusing world of moult (not confusing for the birds but the coding is for the more simple-minded ringers amongst us)! Hopefully a similar session will take place at Pitsford Reservoir this Sunday.

Regards

Neil M

Hard at work, three ringing Trainees supported
by a scribe, a mist net extractor and a supervisor
at Stortons Pits yesterday.

Image courtesy of Chris Payne.

Pheasants.

Garden birds with Blue Tit
and Long-tailed Tits depicted
by Jim Dunkley.