Ringing at Pitsford etc

Hi

Dave Francis managed a ringing session at Pitsford Res yesterday afternoon and this morning, using the old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station.  Seventy new birds were ringed which included 4 Goldcrests, 6 Long-tailed Tits, 26 Tree Sparrows, 6 Chaffinches, 7 Greenfinches, 10 Goldfinches, 5 Yellowhammers and a Moorhen.  This brings the annual total of new Tree Sparrows ringed at this site to 170.

A walk at Harrington Airfield this morning failed to locate any particular birds of note in rather raw conditions.  There were still 4 mobile redpoll sp, winter thrushes and the usual flock of Linnets.  The Brampton Valley below Brixworth and Hanging Houghton also seemed unremarkable with just a few redpoll sp, the odd Siskin and winter thrushes.

And yet again this afternoon we made our way to Boddington Res in another effort to pin down the Bonaparte's Gull.  The gull roost was proportionately large and although the light was initially okay it soon became just too grey and dismal to properly check the furthest birds.  Despite the best efforts of the 7 birders present we didn't locate it.  Other birds present included a Kingfisher and 2 Grey Wagtails.

E & N

On the roam...

Hi

First thing this morning I took a walk at Harrington Airfield.  Loads of passerines present in the bushes and flying over which included 2 Bramblings and a couple of Tree Sparrows amongst the birds coming down for the seed on the concrete track just inside the entrance barrier.  A female Merlin showed well at the opposite end of the concrete track.  Other birds included 2 Ravens and 4 mobile redpoll sp.

Birds near to Kelmarsh Hall included several Siskins and a couple of Lesser Redpolls plus the usual Nuthatches.

A visit to Stanford Res was next but birders on-site informed me that the Black-throated Diver from the last few days was nowhere to be seen, so on I went to Borough Hill CP which provided a fine male Peregrine perched on the mast, 2 Ravens, 2-3 Crossbills, c6 Siskins and c6 flying repoll sp.

A short walk in to Badby Wood from the small car park next to Badby village produced a surprise in the shape of a Corn Bunting with c30 Yellowhammers in a stubble field.  In the wood itself there were c4 Crossbills, 20+ Siskins, a couple of redpoll sp and large numbers of very vocal Nuthatches.  There were two Ravens 'cronking' well here too.  I would strongly recommend a visit to the wood now, the autumn colours are just sensational!

And of course my final destination was Boddington Res where despite Gary Pullan's best efforts we failed again to find the Bonaparte's Gull - confounded thing!  Birds noted included a Goosander that flew in, plus a couple of Kingfishers

Regards

Eleanor

Rain and some!

Hi

Clearly the interesting weather conditions locally made birding somewhat difficult so this morning was spent filling up feeders at wild bird feed stations in very wet conditions.

This afternoon we again went west to Boddington Res but were unable to pick out the Bonaparte's Gull amongst the throng of other gulls in poor lighting conditions.  Such was the behaviour of the birds and their late arrival, it could easily have been there.

Other birds included a first winter Mediterranean Gull, a drake Red-crested Pochard, a Little Egret, up to 3 Kingfishers and a Water Rail.

E & N

Ringing & Bonaparte's

Hi

A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall this morning resulted in 60+ captures of woodland birds which included a male Blackcap, a Nuthatch and both Marsh and Willow Tits.  Some images from Neil H below.  Other birds seen included Raven, a Kingfisher, several Siskins and a couple of redpoll sp. 

At Blueberry Farm this morning there were 4 Bramblings, a few Siskins and 2 Lesser Redpolls.

At Boddington Res this afternoon the maestro Gary Pullan skilfully located the adult Bonaparte's Gull in the gull roost.  The bird was present until dusk and showed well if distantly.  Some images below...

 

Willow Tit

 

Willow Tit (left) and Marsh Tit (right)

The Willow Tit is an adult and the Marsh

Tit was considered a young bird of the year.

Visual features of the Willow Tit include pale-edged

secondaries, creamy and prominent cheeks, mostly

dark bill, diffuse and extended chin spot and variation

in the individual tail lengths.  At this time of

the year the crown is often quite glossy.

The Marsh Tit has a more uniform upperside, whiter and

less prominent cheeks, a smaller and more

intense chin spot, a small silver 'triangle'

at the base of the upper mandible and more evenly

lengthened tail feathers.  The crown is glossy.

 

Nuthatch

 

Coal Tit with abnormal growth

 

Bonaparte's Gull (smaller bird below

centre of image)

New birds in...

Hi

Birds at Blueberry Farm this morning included 2 Short-eared Owls and a fine female Merlin all in the southern-most field.

At Harrington Airfield later there were plenty of common birds present plus an adult female Peregrine and 2 Ravens.

At Pitsford Res there was a Water Pipit in the vicinity of the Maytrees Hide at about 11.15am.  At the same time three adult Whooper Swans were espied in the Scaldwell Bay.  The swans later moved in to the Walgrave Bay where they were still present at 2.15pm.

Unfortunately the Bonaparte's Gull wasn't picked out amongst the Black-headed Gulls at Boddington Res this afternoon.  A couple of Kingfishers, 2 Grey Wagtails and singles of Brambling and redpoll sp were rather poor compensation.

Regards

E & N

Bonaparte's Gull

Hi

Gary Pullan found an adult Bonaparte's Gull in the gull roost at Boddington Res this afternoon, first located at about 4.15pm and still present at 5pm.  This is believed to be the first reported instance of this species in Northants.  Access to this location is free and there are car parking facilities.  No doubt there will be quite a number of birders present tomorrow afternoon to see if it returns!

This afternoon an adult female Peregrine tore through a flock of gulls in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and successfully caught, killed and consumed a Black-headed Gull.

Eleanor

Ring Ouzel

Hi

This morning, at about 7.45am, there was a male Ring Ouzel with Fieldfares in field hedging just east of the Blueberry Farm complex at SP735748.  Also 2 Bramblings mobile in the immediate area.

Regards

Eleanor

Damp birds

Hi

A trundle in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning produced an adult female Peregrine perched on the field seemingly awaiting passing prey.  With all the Fieldfares moving through she wasn't short of a tasty target!

This afternoon and the two Short-eared Owls were again present in the southern-most field at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Eleanor

Pitsford and places...

Hi

Dave Francis completed a ringing session at the feeding station at Pitsford Res this morning, capturing some 55 birds.  New birds included 16 Tree Sparrows, 15 Long-tailed Tits, 10 Chaffinches, 3 Goldfinches and a Lesser Redpoll.  A retrapped Chaffinch was first ringed in 2008.  This session brings the Pitsford Tree Sparrow total to 144 for the year.  Dave also had a hunting Barn Owl in the Scaldwell Meadow yesterday evening and again this morning.

This afternoon I wandered up to the old airstrip at Harrington Airfield, the reason being a combination of further dog walking duties and excellent light.  Harrington tends to be a morning place to see the best birds but I took my camera to take advantage of the seemingly rare decent light this month.  Images of some common birds are as below.

At Pitsford Res this afternoon, careful checking of the dam and the yacht club area produced the Black-necked Grebe again, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose with the Canada Geese, a Kingfisher, a Barn Owl, a Rock Pipit, 4 Bramblings and 2 fly-over redpoll sps.

An evening wander around Blueberry Farm, Maidwell confirmed the continuing presence of 2 Short-eared Owls and 2 Barn Owls.

Regards

Neil M

 

Common Buzzard

 

Fieldfare

 

Long-tailed Tit

 

Kestrel

 

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

The Fieldfares just keep coming...

Hi

Just back in from taking the dogs for a nice long walk.  This included our new foster rescue dog Alma who seemed to enjoy herself but is new to the game after being in dog rescue compounds all her life.  In very pleasant conditions, Fieldfares were again the most obvious species as we wandered from Maidwell village along footpaths to connect with Maidwell Dales and the Blueberry Farm complex.  Back then across the width of the Brampton Valley and up the hill to Hanging Houghton.  Still plenty of Redwings and Starlings going the same way as the 'chacking' Fieldfares and the sunny breezy conditions meant that the raptors were up cruising around and included 1-2 Red Kite(s) which seem to be maintaining an almost permanent presence now.  Other passerines on the move included finches, 4 Bramblings and 3 Siskins being the most noteworthy.  A couple of Ravens greeted us over the hill at HH.

And the thrushes are not just moving during the day.  For a short period last night I spent time listening to birds moving south over Hanging Houghton (just after 10pm when there was almost a full moon showing and not too much other noise).  Not surprisingly Redwings were the most common audible migrant with many emitting their high-pitched 'se-eep' call note.  There were Blackbirds on the move too, their nocturnal call-note also similar to a Redwing but it is not so high-pitched, is a little longer and wavers in its consistency.  Such are the numbers of Fieldfares moving at the moment, there were even Fieldfares calling last night.  Song Thrushes are identified from their high pitched but gentle 'stic' call which is bunting-like.  Quite a number of other birds can be identified as they migrate at night.  Typical species for this time of the year includes the ducks (Wigeon are the easiest with their whistling call), occasionally geese, and Moorhen and Coot which remain audible the year round.

Regards

Neil M

Owls and gulls.

Hi

Birds this afternoon included 2 Short-eared Owls and 2 Barn Owls at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell plus hundreds of Fieldfares in the hawthorn hedges.  At Pitsford Res, the gull roost produced a smart 3rd year Yellow-legged Gull that was curiously small, plus the first real pulse of Herring Gulls of the autumn with both 'argenteus' and 'argentatus' types present.  The Black-necked Grebe was still in the vicinity of Yacht Bay next to the Yacht Club.

Regards

E & N

Bird Club trip to Norfolk

Hi

Members of the Northants Bird Club ventured to the Norfolk coast yesterday on the monthly car trip.  They enjoyed the spectacle of coastal migration which tends to be more spectacular and varied than inland.  Below are some images taken by Robin Gossage who did well to combat the very grey conditions.  As is usual on these car trips, NBC members tend to notch up some interesting species, and on this occasion came across a Barred Warbler moments after it had been found in a garden at Salthouse...

Neil M

 

Barred Warbler

 

Little Egret

 

Redshank

 

Redshank

Harrington Monday am

Hi

A pleasant if squelchy walk at Harrington Airfield this morning provided a further opportunity to witness visible diurnal migration.  Fieldfares were the most obvious with undulating flocks steadily progressing south over the top fields, often at low level.  Starlings and Redwings were probably the next most numerous with smaller numbers again of Woodpigeons and gulls moving in the same direction.  At Harrington it is difficult to ascertain Skylark passage as most of them seem to be simply flying around and chasing each other and often with many singing.  Persistent viewing seems to indicate that they do gradually disappear off the south or west, but I think that some birds do recirculate and appear over the fields again once they have completed a circuit or two.

The Linnet flock attracted Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and a Brambling.  At least two Short-eared Owls flushed up from the long grass and there were Common Buzzards and Sparrowhawks on the prowl.  Sparse migrants included Meadow Pipit, Tree Sparrow and redpoll sp.  The broadcast seed at the concrete entrance track is attracting common birds with Chaffinch and Yellowhammer being the most numerous.

Regards

E & N

Harrington migration

Hi

A wander around Harrington Airfield this morning and plenty of winter thrushes on the move.  Many of the Fieldfares were resting in the hawthorns and eating the haws, with smaller numbers of Redwing and appreciably more Song Thrushes and Blackbirds joining in.  With reasonable numbers of migrant Starlings moving over low to the south, a flock of a hundred or so stayed to feed on the top fields.  There were also plenty of finches again this morning with good numbers in particular of Linnet and Chaffinch.  Many of the latter were feeding on scattered mixed seed just inside the concrete track entrance.  A single male Brambling was present by the roadside early on.  Raptors included a Red Kite, and a Raven was with other corvids to the west of the concrete track.  A couple of flighty redpolls included a large-looking individual which for a time was with the Linnet flock.  It also had a lower-toned call than is usual for Lesser Redpoll but only ever presented as a silhoutte in flight so I'm afraid no specific identification was possible.  Migrant Woodpigeons moved over is small fast-moving flocks early on and quite a number of the same species were feeding on the stubble fields.  Other visible movers and shakers included Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and common finches but nothing of particular note was picked out.  Never mind, the thrill of migration was enough to keep me happy in cool and dank conditions!

Regards

Neil M

Ringing Scotland Wood

Hi

Neil Hasdell and I completed a short ringing session at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today.  Birds captured included 9 Goldcrests, a couple of Nuthatches and typical woodland birds.  Neil H suffered a slight occupational hazard injury (see below) as inflicted by a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming on his hand!

Good numbers of Fieldfares swirled over the wood in the strong wind and a couple each of Siskin and redpoll sp lingered briefly.

Neil M