Hi
Birds noted this morning at Harlestone Heath included 2-3 Crossbills, ca15 Siskins and a couple of Tawny Owls. Passerines in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Res this morning included a Crossbill, a Spotted Flycatcher and a singing Reed Warbler which was a particularly excellent mimic and able to copy about a dozen recognisable Western Palearctic species and a couple of African ones too!
TTFN
Eleanor and Neil
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Tuesday 24 July 2012
Fermyn insects
Hi
This morning we spent some time in the Fermyn CP/Fermyn Wood/Lady Wood/Souther Wood area looking for butterflies and other interesting insects. Birds were minimal but there was a Kingfisher on the fishing pool in the country park. Yesterday the Purple Emperors had showed particularly well and apparently they did so again today during the early morning, but then quickly dispersed and became very flighty. In warm conditions we eventually found a few individuals of the core species as depicted below...
At Pitsford Res this evening there were 2 Common Sandpipers on the dam and 9 Red-crested Pochard in the Walgrave Bay. Other birds noted north of the causeway included 2 Shelduck, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Red Kite and at least 2 Oystercatchers.
This morning we spent some time in the Fermyn CP/Fermyn Wood/Lady Wood/Souther Wood area looking for butterflies and other interesting insects. Birds were minimal but there was a Kingfisher on the fishing pool in the country park. Yesterday the Purple Emperors had showed particularly well and apparently they did so again today during the early morning, but then quickly dispersed and became very flighty. In warm conditions we eventually found a few individuals of the core species as depicted below...
At Pitsford Res this evening there were 2 Common Sandpipers on the dam and 9 Red-crested Pochard in the Walgrave Bay. Other birds noted north of the causeway included 2 Shelduck, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Red Kite and at least 2 Oystercatchers.
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| Moorhen |
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| Blue-tailed Damselfly |
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| White Admiral |
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| White Admiral |
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| Purple Hairstreak |
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| Comma |
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| Purple Emperor |
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| Purple Emperor |
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| Silver-washed Fritillary |
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| White-letter Hairstreak |
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| White-letter Hairstreak |
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| Emerald Damselfly |
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| Emperor Dragonfly |
Monday 23 July 2012
Sunny birding!
Hi
A few commitments curtailed birding opportunities today but Eleanor managed to find a pair of Red-legged Partridge with about 6 young in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and the white Common Buzzard was very vocal at Blueberry Farm so may also have a couple of young nearby. A couple of begging juvenile Common Buzzards in the fields behind our house originate from a different pair. A pair of Grey Partridge below the village are still without chicks.
A brief stop on the causeway at Ravensthorpe Res late afternoon confirmed the continuing presence still of at least one Red-crested Pochard, with an eclipse drake visible on the small side. I was surprised to see adult Blue Tits still feeding fledged young, surely a late replacement brood?
A short ringing session yesterday evening in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford was very modest but included just-fledged Garden Warblers. A juvenile Willow Warbler exhibited significant fault bars in the tail, a sure sign that it suffered periods of hardship and minimal food as a nestling.
Regards
Neil
A few commitments curtailed birding opportunities today but Eleanor managed to find a pair of Red-legged Partridge with about 6 young in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and the white Common Buzzard was very vocal at Blueberry Farm so may also have a couple of young nearby. A couple of begging juvenile Common Buzzards in the fields behind our house originate from a different pair. A pair of Grey Partridge below the village are still without chicks.
A brief stop on the causeway at Ravensthorpe Res late afternoon confirmed the continuing presence still of at least one Red-crested Pochard, with an eclipse drake visible on the small side. I was surprised to see adult Blue Tits still feeding fledged young, surely a late replacement brood?
A short ringing session yesterday evening in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford was very modest but included just-fledged Garden Warblers. A juvenile Willow Warbler exhibited significant fault bars in the tail, a sure sign that it suffered periods of hardship and minimal food as a nestling.
Regards
Neil
Sunday 22 July 2012
Pitsford Pics
Hi
Some images from Pitsford yesterday, courtesy of Neil Hasdell...
Some images from Pitsford yesterday, courtesy of Neil Hasdell...
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| A bit of a Common Tern.... |
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| A complete Oystercatcher! |
Sunday morning walk
Hi
Out and about early this morning with a three hour walk with the dogs around the footpaths connecting Maidwell village, the Dales, Blueberry Hill and then in to the Brampton Valley and up to Hanging Houghton. In general it was pretty quiet with the best birds being both Little and Tawny Owl showing nicely and a couple each of Lesser Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher. The bird song has dwindled significantly during the last couple of weeks and the adults of many species are already in the early stages of moult and as a result are hiding themselves away. Anyway after the early morning heavy dew and even a couple of very light showers, today looks like being a super summer day. Enjoy!
Neil
Out and about early this morning with a three hour walk with the dogs around the footpaths connecting Maidwell village, the Dales, Blueberry Hill and then in to the Brampton Valley and up to Hanging Houghton. In general it was pretty quiet with the best birds being both Little and Tawny Owl showing nicely and a couple each of Lesser Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher. The bird song has dwindled significantly during the last couple of weeks and the adults of many species are already in the early stages of moult and as a result are hiding themselves away. Anyway after the early morning heavy dew and even a couple of very light showers, today looks like being a super summer day. Enjoy!
Neil
Friday 20 July 2012
Pitsford
Hi
Early this afternoon I popped in to Pitsford Res to fill up the feeders at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station. There was a vocal male Redstart in the field hedge that parallels the perimeter fence as you walk towards the Scaldwell Bay (on the LHS) by the very large oak tree. This is a traditional spot for migrant Redstarts. The three Oystercatchers were present and there was a loafing flock of 14 Shelduck in the mouth of the Walgrave Bay, no doubt on a short stop-over en-route to Bridgewater Bay where most of the British population moult.
Regards
Neil
Early this afternoon I popped in to Pitsford Res to fill up the feeders at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station. There was a vocal male Redstart in the field hedge that parallels the perimeter fence as you walk towards the Scaldwell Bay (on the LHS) by the very large oak tree. This is a traditional spot for migrant Redstarts. The three Oystercatchers were present and there was a loafing flock of 14 Shelduck in the mouth of the Walgrave Bay, no doubt on a short stop-over en-route to Bridgewater Bay where most of the British population moult.
Regards
Neil
Thursday 19 July 2012
Reservoir Dogs!
Hi
Eleanor took a stroll around Sywell CP with the dogs this afternoon (well it was a reservoir once)!
Birds noted included a family party of Kingfishers, 4 Crossbills and 2-3 Siskins.
Visible from the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this evening was a pair of Red-crested Pochard in eclipse plumage, a drake Wigeon also in eclipse, a female Shelduck and a family party of Spotted Flycatchers. Sadly a large Grass Snake lay dead in the road there.
Regards
Neil
Eleanor took a stroll around Sywell CP with the dogs this afternoon (well it was a reservoir once)!
Birds noted included a family party of Kingfishers, 4 Crossbills and 2-3 Siskins.
Visible from the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this evening was a pair of Red-crested Pochard in eclipse plumage, a drake Wigeon also in eclipse, a female Shelduck and a family party of Spotted Flycatchers. Sadly a large Grass Snake lay dead in the road there.
Regards
Neil
Wednesday 18 July 2012
Bits and Bobs
Hi
Yesterday afternoon there was a single Crossbill flying around at Hanging Houghton before moving off south east. Amazingly a female Pheasant was chaperoning 6 half-grown youngsters below the village (I do not know how she has managed it in these weather conditions).
This morning the white Common Buzzard was still at Blueberry Farm plus a pair of Grey Partridge (no young sadly).
This afternoon a walk around Pitsford Res south of the causeway included a couple of movers in the shape of a Common Gull and 4 Common Sandpipers. There were new Coot and Mallard broods noted too.
Regards
N & E
Yesterday afternoon there was a single Crossbill flying around at Hanging Houghton before moving off south east. Amazingly a female Pheasant was chaperoning 6 half-grown youngsters below the village (I do not know how she has managed it in these weather conditions).
This morning the white Common Buzzard was still at Blueberry Farm plus a pair of Grey Partridge (no young sadly).
This afternoon a walk around Pitsford Res south of the causeway included a couple of movers in the shape of a Common Gull and 4 Common Sandpipers. There were new Coot and Mallard broods noted too.
Regards
N & E
More Pitsford moths!
Hi
The Pitsford moth team were busy again this morning and some spectacular moths were caught overnight. Please see a few of them below...
I had a quick scan for birds from the feeding station at Pitsford late morning. The best was the Goldeneye still, a successfully fledged juvenile Common Tern and the two adult Oystercatchers with just one well-grown youngster. I don't know what happened to the second youngster but it clearly isn't around any more unfortunately. A rare bird for Pitsford this year was a singing Sedge Warbler not far from the Maytrees Hide!
Happy Birding!
Neil
The Pitsford moth team were busy again this morning and some spectacular moths were caught overnight. Please see a few of them below...
I had a quick scan for birds from the feeding station at Pitsford late morning. The best was the Goldeneye still, a successfully fledged juvenile Common Tern and the two adult Oystercatchers with just one well-grown youngster. I don't know what happened to the second youngster but it clearly isn't around any more unfortunately. A rare bird for Pitsford this year was a singing Sedge Warbler not far from the Maytrees Hide!
Happy Birding!
Neil
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| Leopard |
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| Elephant Hawk-Moth and Burnished Brass |
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| Elephant Hawk-Moth warming up |
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| Light Emerald |
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| Privet Hawk-Moth |
Tuesday 17 July 2012
Pitsford Moths
Hi
A couple more Pitsford moths from this morning's catch courtesy of Neil Hasdell...
A couple more Pitsford moths from this morning's catch courtesy of Neil Hasdell...
Pitsford CES
Hi
In quite reasonable conditions this morning a CES ringing session was completed at Pitsford Res which resulted in just short of 40 birds being trapped and released. A fair proportion of these included juveniles (please see the images of juvenile Goldcrest and juvenile Treecreeper below).
In addition a Siskin flew over the Scaldwell Bay, there was a Goldeneye by the Maytrees Hide and the pair of Oystercatchers were guarding one youngster on the flooded bank between the Bird Club Hide and the feeding station. A Common Sandpiper was present there too.
Regards
N & E
In quite reasonable conditions this morning a CES ringing session was completed at Pitsford Res which resulted in just short of 40 birds being trapped and released. A fair proportion of these included juveniles (please see the images of juvenile Goldcrest and juvenile Treecreeper below).
In addition a Siskin flew over the Scaldwell Bay, there was a Goldeneye by the Maytrees Hide and the pair of Oystercatchers were guarding one youngster on the flooded bank between the Bird Club Hide and the feeding station. A Common Sandpiper was present there too.
Regards
N & E
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| Juvenile Treecreeper |
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| Juvenile Goldcrest |
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| Treecreeper - underside of tail |
Sunday 15 July 2012
Stortons GP
Hi
Arrived back a short time ago from a ringing session at Stortons Gravel Pits, concentrating in the south east corner. Fifty-three birds captured and released but not many youngsters confirmed that the breeding birds have been struggling here too. Of interest there were a couple of almost full-grown juvenile Water Rails utilising the ringing rides as feeding areas, a good local breeding record. In the rather pleasant conditions this morning there were two Marbled White butterflies on the wing in the same area and during the early part of the morning there was a constant westerly movement of Black-headed Gulls moving over the site. It's nearly autumn!
TTFN
Neil M
Arrived back a short time ago from a ringing session at Stortons Gravel Pits, concentrating in the south east corner. Fifty-three birds captured and released but not many youngsters confirmed that the breeding birds have been struggling here too. Of interest there were a couple of almost full-grown juvenile Water Rails utilising the ringing rides as feeding areas, a good local breeding record. In the rather pleasant conditions this morning there were two Marbled White butterflies on the wing in the same area and during the early part of the morning there was a constant westerly movement of Black-headed Gulls moving over the site. It's nearly autumn!
TTFN
Neil M
Saturday 14 July 2012
Weather check!
Hi
The weather was again wet and miserable this morning to the point where I stayed in to do inside jobs. Those that know me well will be a little surprised but perhaps for the first time this year I felt it wasn't worth going out. Late morning saw a small flock of ca5 Crossbills circling gardens at Hanging Houghton, but they didn't linger in the rain and headed off south. With more pleasant conditions early this afternoon, we took a hike around the Blueberry Farm complex. Reasonable numbers of common grassland butterflies were taking the opportunity of flying in warm conditions and included good numbers of Small Heath and Small Skipper. There was nothing unusual birdwise albeit that the resident mostly white Common Buzzard showed well. This bird has been around for a good number of years now and is believed to be a female. Common Buzzards showing a great deal of white are common-place but this bird exhibits a startling white plumage and interestingly a white upper tail and dark terminal band (which tends to become almost rufous when worn) and has been claimed as quite a variety of raptors! It's not rare but I always enjoy admiring her.
The weather this year is clearly affecting our birds considerably and although there are always winners and losers, to my mind this is the worst breeding year for local birds that I can remember. A Constant Effort ringing session at Pitsford in the week succeeded in catching just 29 birds, the lowest ever at this time in the proceedings. The normal catch would generally be somewhere between 65 - 120 birds! The CES process endeavours to try and duplicate every session in terms of amount of time mist nets are erected and placed in the same way on every occasion and is generally recognised as a particularly strong indicator of trends and population dynamics. Still a few more sessions to go yet but its looking particularly bad for the tits this year.
Regards
N & E
The weather was again wet and miserable this morning to the point where I stayed in to do inside jobs. Those that know me well will be a little surprised but perhaps for the first time this year I felt it wasn't worth going out. Late morning saw a small flock of ca5 Crossbills circling gardens at Hanging Houghton, but they didn't linger in the rain and headed off south. With more pleasant conditions early this afternoon, we took a hike around the Blueberry Farm complex. Reasonable numbers of common grassland butterflies were taking the opportunity of flying in warm conditions and included good numbers of Small Heath and Small Skipper. There was nothing unusual birdwise albeit that the resident mostly white Common Buzzard showed well. This bird has been around for a good number of years now and is believed to be a female. Common Buzzards showing a great deal of white are common-place but this bird exhibits a startling white plumage and interestingly a white upper tail and dark terminal band (which tends to become almost rufous when worn) and has been claimed as quite a variety of raptors! It's not rare but I always enjoy admiring her.
The weather this year is clearly affecting our birds considerably and although there are always winners and losers, to my mind this is the worst breeding year for local birds that I can remember. A Constant Effort ringing session at Pitsford in the week succeeded in catching just 29 birds, the lowest ever at this time in the proceedings. The normal catch would generally be somewhere between 65 - 120 birds! The CES process endeavours to try and duplicate every session in terms of amount of time mist nets are erected and placed in the same way on every occasion and is generally recognised as a particularly strong indicator of trends and population dynamics. Still a few more sessions to go yet but its looking particularly bad for the tits this year.
Regards
N & E
Friday 13 July 2012
Daventry
Hi
Today we spent some time in the Daventry area, initially pitching up at Daventry Country Park. The first year drake Common Scoter was present but viewing was difficult and my efforts at photographing a dark bird on dark water through grass stems and in light drizzle indicate why I haven't posted an image! It was keeping close to the western shore, a short walking distance from the car park. A Little Egret was present and a colony of Marbled White butterflies discovered in the meadow/orchard area (on the same bank but a little closer towards Daventry town centre).
We subsequently took a circular walk around nearby Borough Hill Country Park but as to be expected it was quiet for birds, the best being on-territory singing Meadow Pipit(s). Plenty of Small Heath butterflies here and smaller numbers of Marbled White and Small Copper. A scan over Ravensthorpe Reservoir on the way home failed to locate a noteworthy bird, with no sign of the summering Shelduck and Mandarin Duck.
Regards
N & E
Today we spent some time in the Daventry area, initially pitching up at Daventry Country Park. The first year drake Common Scoter was present but viewing was difficult and my efforts at photographing a dark bird on dark water through grass stems and in light drizzle indicate why I haven't posted an image! It was keeping close to the western shore, a short walking distance from the car park. A Little Egret was present and a colony of Marbled White butterflies discovered in the meadow/orchard area (on the same bank but a little closer towards Daventry town centre).
We subsequently took a circular walk around nearby Borough Hill Country Park but as to be expected it was quiet for birds, the best being on-territory singing Meadow Pipit(s). Plenty of Small Heath butterflies here and smaller numbers of Marbled White and Small Copper. A scan over Ravensthorpe Reservoir on the way home failed to locate a noteworthy bird, with no sign of the summering Shelduck and Mandarin Duck.
Regards
N & E
Thursday 12 July 2012
Hi
Today was spent in the north of the county in an effort to see some butterflies and other wildlife in addition to birds. Seven species of raptor was a real treat but for much of the day birds took something of a back seat in the very welcome if brief sunshine.
Our first venue was Fineshade Wood and thanks to Chris Andrews we managed to see Great Butterfly, Pyramidal and Common Spotted Orchid. Butterflies were rather scarce but at least three Silver-washed Fritillaries showed well. Three sunning Common Lizards were located on log piles. A couple of Siskins were mobile and a few Crossbills were heard calling at one stage. Spotted Flycatchers were present behind the caravan park.
Fermyn Wood was our next venue in an effort to see Purple Emperor et al. Butterflies were in very short supply and we wandered on to Lady Wood. Eventually we managed to see a few White Admirals and a single Purple Hairstreak but they stayed mostly high in the canopy or mobile. A single Purple Emperor was seen by many in Lady Wood but we managed to miss it! Other insects included Hornet, Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker. Birds in this area included a Raven, several Siskins and a family party of Spotted Flycatchers. A couple of Grass Snakes were basking in secluded areas between the Country Park and Fermyn Wood itself.
However on our way back a freshly-emerged Purple Emperor was located in Fermyn Wood and it showed well to many visitors.
A scan at Blatherwycke Lake provided a Kingfisher, a Little Egret, a Common Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail and a gathering of over 200 Lapwings.
Regards
N & E
Today was spent in the north of the county in an effort to see some butterflies and other wildlife in addition to birds. Seven species of raptor was a real treat but for much of the day birds took something of a back seat in the very welcome if brief sunshine.
Our first venue was Fineshade Wood and thanks to Chris Andrews we managed to see Great Butterfly, Pyramidal and Common Spotted Orchid. Butterflies were rather scarce but at least three Silver-washed Fritillaries showed well. Three sunning Common Lizards were located on log piles. A couple of Siskins were mobile and a few Crossbills were heard calling at one stage. Spotted Flycatchers were present behind the caravan park.
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| Silver-washed Fritillary |
Fermyn Wood was our next venue in an effort to see Purple Emperor et al. Butterflies were in very short supply and we wandered on to Lady Wood. Eventually we managed to see a few White Admirals and a single Purple Hairstreak but they stayed mostly high in the canopy or mobile. A single Purple Emperor was seen by many in Lady Wood but we managed to miss it! Other insects included Hornet, Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker. Birds in this area included a Raven, several Siskins and a family party of Spotted Flycatchers. A couple of Grass Snakes were basking in secluded areas between the Country Park and Fermyn Wood itself.
However on our way back a freshly-emerged Purple Emperor was located in Fermyn Wood and it showed well to many visitors.
A scan at Blatherwycke Lake provided a Kingfisher, a Little Egret, a Common Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail and a gathering of over 200 Lapwings.
Regards
N & E
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