Hello
Fleeting birding opportunities today but Eleanor located two Wheatears and c50 Golden Plovers on fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and a couple of Common Buzzards were hassling a Raven over Clint Hill which is near to the village.
Regards
Neil M
Thursday 10 April 2014
Snake's Head Fritillaries
Hello
Birding highlights yesterday (Wednesday) were minimal in the cool breeze but warm sunshine. The Green Sandpiper remained below the dam at Pitsford Res in the morning and a Little Ringed Plover was heard overhead. Small numbers of Sand Martins and a couple of Swallows were also present as was a singing Grey Wagtail and on-territory Meadow Pipits
The daily visit to Harrington Airfield yielded 6 Bramblings, 2 Wheatears and a pair of Grey Partridge and a couple of Ravens were present at Kelmarsh village.
The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton produced c100 Golden Plovers and 2 Wheatears on the fields.
The wild flowers looked splendid at Kelmarsh Hall and included Wood Anemones, Primroses and Snake's Head Fritillaries.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Birding highlights yesterday (Wednesday) were minimal in the cool breeze but warm sunshine. The Green Sandpiper remained below the dam at Pitsford Res in the morning and a Little Ringed Plover was heard overhead. Small numbers of Sand Martins and a couple of Swallows were also present as was a singing Grey Wagtail and on-territory Meadow Pipits
The daily visit to Harrington Airfield yielded 6 Bramblings, 2 Wheatears and a pair of Grey Partridge and a couple of Ravens were present at Kelmarsh village.
The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton produced c100 Golden Plovers and 2 Wheatears on the fields.
The wild flowers looked splendid at Kelmarsh Hall and included Wood Anemones, Primroses and Snake's Head Fritillaries.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
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| Snake's Head Fritillaries |
Tuesday 8 April 2014
The migrants are arriving...
Hello
Two Bramblings were present at Harrington Airfield this morning and the white wing-tagged Common Buzzard made an appearance near to Hanging Houghton.
This evening two Curlew flew east over the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, a flock of c500 Golden Plovers were in the fields there which is presumably why the adult female Peregrine was there too!
At Pitsford Res, birds visible from the dam this evening included the Red-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, two male Grey Wagtails and plenty of hirundines made up of c50 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins and at least 6 Swallows.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Two Bramblings were present at Harrington Airfield this morning and the white wing-tagged Common Buzzard made an appearance near to Hanging Houghton.
This evening two Curlew flew east over the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, a flock of c500 Golden Plovers were in the fields there which is presumably why the adult female Peregrine was there too!
At Pitsford Res, birds visible from the dam this evening included the Red-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, two male Grey Wagtails and plenty of hirundines made up of c50 Sand Martins, 2 House Martins and at least 6 Swallows.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
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| Close-up image of a Coal Tit courtesy of Jacob Spinks |
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| Cormorant Pitsford Res |
Monday 7 April 2014
Red is the colour of summer!
Hello
Still plenty of small birds coming down to the seed at Harrington Airfield today, but only one Brambling was noted.
The Red-necked Grebe was again present off the valve tower at the dam of Pitsford Reservoir at lunch-time today. The bird is now progressing well in to summer plumage. The Green Sandpiper was on floodwater still below the dam and three Swallows and seven Sand Martins were spiraling around in the strong breeze.
Ravens were noted at Lamport, Maidwell and Kelmarsh today, probably amounting to four birds in total.
Regards
Neil M
Still plenty of small birds coming down to the seed at Harrington Airfield today, but only one Brambling was noted.
The Red-necked Grebe was again present off the valve tower at the dam of Pitsford Reservoir at lunch-time today. The bird is now progressing well in to summer plumage. The Green Sandpiper was on floodwater still below the dam and three Swallows and seven Sand Martins were spiraling around in the strong breeze.
Ravens were noted at Lamport, Maidwell and Kelmarsh today, probably amounting to four birds in total.
Regards
Neil M
Sunday 6 April 2014
A quiet Sunday
Hello
Quite a bit of time out today but very little of note located.
The two Oystercatchers remain at Pitsford Res and the Harrington Airfield feeding flock contained six Bramblings. Migrants on the old airstrip included an early Cuckoo and two Wheatears.
Regards
Eleanor & Neil
Quite a bit of time out today but very little of note located.
The two Oystercatchers remain at Pitsford Res and the Harrington Airfield feeding flock contained six Bramblings. Migrants on the old airstrip included an early Cuckoo and two Wheatears.
Regards
Eleanor & Neil
Saturday 5 April 2014
East to West
Hello
A excursion to a restricted area to the east of the county this morning was interesting and provided views of a pair of Little Ringed Plover, three pairs of nesting Lapwing, two Snipe, a pair of Shelduck, three Wheatears and a couple of singing Willow Warblers.
An afternoon wander around the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston GP yielded a pair of Shelduck, a 'redhead' Goosander, up to five Little Egrets, a pair of Oystercatcher, three Common Terns, four Swallows, five Cetti's Warbler territories, a couple of Willow Warblers, and a singing Sedge Warbler was reported.
Birds seen from the dam at Pitsford Res this morning included the Great Northern Diver, the Red-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail. About half a dozen Sand Martins were visible from the causeway.
At Harrington Airfield this afternoon, two Lesser Redpolls came down on the track to feed alongside four Bramblings, and a Raven and two Wheatears were also present.
Andrew and Karen Moss and Helen Franklin committed to some ringing this morning in the very west of the county at Glyn Davies Wood. Good numbers of woodland birds were processed and assessed and included a couple of Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, two Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Regards
Neil M
A excursion to a restricted area to the east of the county this morning was interesting and provided views of a pair of Little Ringed Plover, three pairs of nesting Lapwing, two Snipe, a pair of Shelduck, three Wheatears and a couple of singing Willow Warblers.
An afternoon wander around the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston GP yielded a pair of Shelduck, a 'redhead' Goosander, up to five Little Egrets, a pair of Oystercatcher, three Common Terns, four Swallows, five Cetti's Warbler territories, a couple of Willow Warblers, and a singing Sedge Warbler was reported.
Birds seen from the dam at Pitsford Res this morning included the Great Northern Diver, the Red-necked Grebe, a Green Sandpiper and a Yellow Wagtail. About half a dozen Sand Martins were visible from the causeway.
At Harrington Airfield this afternoon, two Lesser Redpolls came down on the track to feed alongside four Bramblings, and a Raven and two Wheatears were also present.
Andrew and Karen Moss and Helen Franklin committed to some ringing this morning in the very west of the county at Glyn Davies Wood. Good numbers of woodland birds were processed and assessed and included a couple of Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, two Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Regards
Neil M
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| The full famous weed dance ceremony of Great Crested Grebe is not often witnessed and it is even more difficult to capture with still photography. These images by Robin Gossage provide an insight in to this spectacular if sometimes rather rapid and ornate ceremony. |
Friday 4 April 2014
Kelmarsh Hall ringing
Hello
A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall this morning provided an opportunity of processing 73 birds which in the main were common finches and tits plus a Nuthatch, four different Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Chiffchaff. Two Ravens were also present.
An Osprey was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at 5.20pm, the bird flying up towards the village and presumably onward to Pitsford Res.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
A ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall this morning provided an opportunity of processing 73 birds which in the main were common finches and tits plus a Nuthatch, four different Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Chiffchaff. Two Ravens were also present.
An Osprey was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at 5.20pm, the bird flying up towards the village and presumably onward to Pitsford Res.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Thursday 3 April 2014
Snow Bunting
Hello
Gary Pullan located a confiding Snow Bunting at Daventry Country Park today, and the bird continued to show well in to the late afternoon. Please see some images below kindly provided by Andrew Tyrrell and Dave Jackson.
At Hanging Houghton, a dead lamb in one of the grass fields adjacent to the village attracted a couple of Ravens and a Red Kite.
I noticed a north-bound Swallow over Brackmills, N'pton this afternoon and a singing Willow Warbler was present at Kelmarsh Hall this evening.
Regards
Neil M
Gary Pullan located a confiding Snow Bunting at Daventry Country Park today, and the bird continued to show well in to the late afternoon. Please see some images below kindly provided by Andrew Tyrrell and Dave Jackson.
At Hanging Houghton, a dead lamb in one of the grass fields adjacent to the village attracted a couple of Ravens and a Red Kite.
I noticed a north-bound Swallow over Brackmills, N'pton this afternoon and a singing Willow Warbler was present at Kelmarsh Hall this evening.
Regards
Neil M
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| Snow Bunting Andrew Tyrrell |
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| Close-up shot of Snow Bunting by Dave Jackson, depicting the classic bunting anvil-shaped lower mandible. |
Wednesday 2 April 2014
Early breeders
Hello
Yesterday Dave Francis spent some time on a boat at Pitsford Reservoir for tern raft maintenance and made a point of counting the nests in the Cormorant colony. Thirty-six nests are in use and many of them have young visible, including one brood that were almost adult-sized! It is possible to hear the young calling from as far away as the Old Scaldwell Road.
An occupied Raven nest was located in the NN6 area today and there were four Bramblings on the seed at Harrington Airfield at about 12.15pm.
Despite spending some time at Pitsford Res this morning, the only birds of note included the Red-necked Grebe off the dam and the pair of Oystercatcher still mostly on the reserve section of the reservoir.
Regards
Neil M
Yesterday Dave Francis spent some time on a boat at Pitsford Reservoir for tern raft maintenance and made a point of counting the nests in the Cormorant colony. Thirty-six nests are in use and many of them have young visible, including one brood that were almost adult-sized! It is possible to hear the young calling from as far away as the Old Scaldwell Road.
An occupied Raven nest was located in the NN6 area today and there were four Bramblings on the seed at Harrington Airfield at about 12.15pm.
Despite spending some time at Pitsford Res this morning, the only birds of note included the Red-necked Grebe off the dam and the pair of Oystercatcher still mostly on the reserve section of the reservoir.
Regards
Neil M
Tuesday 1 April 2014
Blue-winged Teal
Hello
Yesterday (31st March), and it seemed that singing Blackcaps were just about everywhere I was - they are obviously hot on the heels of the now widespread singing Chiffchaffs!
Also late yesterday morning, Eleanor witnessed an impressive 'kettle' of 18 Common Buzzards circling over the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. It wasn't clear if this was an indication of migration or whether it was simply local birds gathered together enjoying the warm air and light breeze.
This morning Stanwick Gravel Pits stalwart Steve Fisher found yet another rare bird on his local patch, this time a very smart drake Blue-winged Teal. The bird was associating with a pair of Shoveler on the A45 layby pit but reportedly flew off some time after 10.30am.
A pair of Shelduck were noted at Pineham today in the Nene Valley and Pitsford Res continued to host the Great Northern Diver and Red-necked Grebe north of the dam this evening. Andrew Tyrrell saw and heard the female Wood Duck on the River Nene at Carlsberg today.
Regards
Neil M
Yesterday (31st March), and it seemed that singing Blackcaps were just about everywhere I was - they are obviously hot on the heels of the now widespread singing Chiffchaffs!
Also late yesterday morning, Eleanor witnessed an impressive 'kettle' of 18 Common Buzzards circling over the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. It wasn't clear if this was an indication of migration or whether it was simply local birds gathered together enjoying the warm air and light breeze.
This morning Stanwick Gravel Pits stalwart Steve Fisher found yet another rare bird on his local patch, this time a very smart drake Blue-winged Teal. The bird was associating with a pair of Shoveler on the A45 layby pit but reportedly flew off some time after 10.30am.
A pair of Shelduck were noted at Pineham today in the Nene Valley and Pitsford Res continued to host the Great Northern Diver and Red-necked Grebe north of the dam this evening. Andrew Tyrrell saw and heard the female Wood Duck on the River Nene at Carlsberg today.
Regards
Neil M
Monday 31 March 2014
Pitsford am
Hello
A number of gulls in the Pintail Bay at Pitsford Res this morning included a smart summer plumage Mediterranean Gull and six Little Gulls (all still present at 10.30am). The Great Northern Diver was also in the same bay and the Red-necked Grebe was by the valve tower off the dam...
Regards
Neil M
A number of gulls in the Pintail Bay at Pitsford Res this morning included a smart summer plumage Mediterranean Gull and six Little Gulls (all still present at 10.30am). The Great Northern Diver was also in the same bay and the Red-necked Grebe was by the valve tower off the dam...
Regards
Neil M
Sunday 30 March 2014
Spring migration
Hello
Warm and almost sultry conditions today were perfect for bird ringing, but nobody told the birds! Sessions at two sites at Pitsford Res only caught relatively small numbers of birds, the highlights perhaps being a Chiffchaff, 10 Tree Sparrows, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Yellowhammers, a Marsh Tit, a Willow Tit and a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Chris Payne in the meantime was ringing down at Greens Norton, his garden being particularly good for finches and Reed Buntings. Amongst his usual fare was a splendid male Lesser Redpoll (please see the images below).
The first couple of hours of daylight this morning saw a heavy diurnal passage of birds at Pitsford Res, gulls and finches being the most obvious. Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails joined Siskins, Linnets, Goldfinches redpoll sp and Brambling all moving north over the reservoir, some very high up (and mostly unidentifiable). Crossbills were on the move with two over south west at 7.15am, a flock of eight arrived at Christies Copse and fed in a Scot's Pine before moving south-west at 7.45am, and at 10am a flock of seven did much the same thing.
This evening the Red-necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver were in the Pintail Bay and a fine adult Mediterranean Gull was in the now small gull roost.
Brixworth Sewer Works attracted a Grey Wagtail and a Snipe and Harrington Airfield hosted 8-10 Bramblings, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears and 3 Sand Martins over.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Warm and almost sultry conditions today were perfect for bird ringing, but nobody told the birds! Sessions at two sites at Pitsford Res only caught relatively small numbers of birds, the highlights perhaps being a Chiffchaff, 10 Tree Sparrows, 4 Goldfinches, 4 Yellowhammers, a Marsh Tit, a Willow Tit and a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Chris Payne in the meantime was ringing down at Greens Norton, his garden being particularly good for finches and Reed Buntings. Amongst his usual fare was a splendid male Lesser Redpoll (please see the images below).
The first couple of hours of daylight this morning saw a heavy diurnal passage of birds at Pitsford Res, gulls and finches being the most obvious. Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails joined Siskins, Linnets, Goldfinches redpoll sp and Brambling all moving north over the reservoir, some very high up (and mostly unidentifiable). Crossbills were on the move with two over south west at 7.15am, a flock of eight arrived at Christies Copse and fed in a Scot's Pine before moving south-west at 7.45am, and at 10am a flock of seven did much the same thing.
This evening the Red-necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver were in the Pintail Bay and a fine adult Mediterranean Gull was in the now small gull roost.
Brixworth Sewer Works attracted a Grey Wagtail and a Snipe and Harrington Airfield hosted 8-10 Bramblings, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears and 3 Sand Martins over.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Saturday 29 March 2014
Birds of a warm south-easterly
Hello
A ringing session at Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today was useful in capturing 75 birds. Most of them were new birds and included new immigrants in the shape of 11 Chaffinches and 3 Chiffchaffs. Resident birds included 7 Coal Tits, 3 Treecreepers and a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
At Harrington Airfield today, birds seen included 6 Bramblings, 58 Golden Plovers and c70 Fieldfares. The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon yielded 2 Wheatears, 20 Golden Plovers and a hunting Barn Owl.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
A ringing session at Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today was useful in capturing 75 birds. Most of them were new birds and included new immigrants in the shape of 11 Chaffinches and 3 Chiffchaffs. Resident birds included 7 Coal Tits, 3 Treecreepers and a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
At Harrington Airfield today, birds seen included 6 Bramblings, 58 Golden Plovers and c70 Fieldfares. The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon yielded 2 Wheatears, 20 Golden Plovers and a hunting Barn Owl.
Regards
Eleanor and Neil
Friday 28 March 2014
Northants Bird Club meeting - 2nd April
Hello
This is a reminder to Northants Bird Club members and an invitation to non-members to attend the next NBC indoor presentation on Wednesday 2nd April at our usual venue of Moulton Village Hall. We aim to start at 7.45pm and our experienced presenter is our very own Paul Fuller, no doubt assisted by John Fuller his son, and the subject will be 'Trinidad and Tobago'. This is a popular venue for British birders and naturalists and the presentation seeks to introduce us to the bird and wildlife highlights of these islands.
We look forward to seeing you there (that's Moulton of course - not Trinidad and Tobago)!
Eleanor and Neil
This is a reminder to Northants Bird Club members and an invitation to non-members to attend the next NBC indoor presentation on Wednesday 2nd April at our usual venue of Moulton Village Hall. We aim to start at 7.45pm and our experienced presenter is our very own Paul Fuller, no doubt assisted by John Fuller his son, and the subject will be 'Trinidad and Tobago'. This is a popular venue for British birders and naturalists and the presentation seeks to introduce us to the bird and wildlife highlights of these islands.
We look forward to seeing you there (that's Moulton of course - not Trinidad and Tobago)!
Eleanor and Neil
Summer Leys taking shape
Hello
Yesterday (27th), four Bramblings were noted on the food-stuff at Harrington Airfield.
This morning (28th), and there were two males feeding at the same spot.
Further waves of newly-arriving Chiffchaffs were evident today - two were even in our garden this morning. However despite spending some time in and around Hanging Houghton and the Brampton Valley and the Kelmarsh Estate today, little else of note was located.
We popped in to the Summer Leys reserve at Earls Barton this afternoon. Again nothing particularly noteworthy but the managed conditions look very good and I'm sure that the work on the islands and around the scrape etc will pay dividends during spring passage over the next couple of months. Pretty much standard birds included a drake Shelduck, small numbers of Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall and Goldeneye, three Little Egrets, three Redshank, on-territory Lapwings, a pair of Oystercatcher and a Kingfisher. It was good to see and hear the beginnings of the Black-headed Gull colony taking shape for the breeding season!
The long-staying Long-tailed Duck was still present on Mary's Lake.
Regards
Neil M
Yesterday (27th), four Bramblings were noted on the food-stuff at Harrington Airfield.
This morning (28th), and there were two males feeding at the same spot.
Further waves of newly-arriving Chiffchaffs were evident today - two were even in our garden this morning. However despite spending some time in and around Hanging Houghton and the Brampton Valley and the Kelmarsh Estate today, little else of note was located.
We popped in to the Summer Leys reserve at Earls Barton this afternoon. Again nothing particularly noteworthy but the managed conditions look very good and I'm sure that the work on the islands and around the scrape etc will pay dividends during spring passage over the next couple of months. Pretty much standard birds included a drake Shelduck, small numbers of Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall and Goldeneye, three Little Egrets, three Redshank, on-territory Lapwings, a pair of Oystercatcher and a Kingfisher. It was good to see and hear the beginnings of the Black-headed Gull colony taking shape for the breeding season!
The long-staying Long-tailed Duck was still present on Mary's Lake.
Regards
Neil M
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