Hello
This afternoon's birds included a male Ring Ouzel at Harrington Airfield (second bunker) and four Wheatears, with another four Wheatears in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.
At 5pm the drake Scaup was visible just south of the road causeway at Pitsford Res and a Raven flew over. Andrew Tyrrell has kindly communicated to state that the Egyptian Goose is still present at the Nene Barrage/N'pton Washlands this afternoon.
Regards
Neil M
Thursday 24 April 2014
Wednesday 23 April 2014
All beak and no trousers!
Hello
For much of the day, Neil Hasdell and I checked the large nest-boxes on the reserve at Pitsford Res and found three of them occupied by Tawny Owls with others occupied by Jackdaws, Stock Doves and Grey Squirrels! Below are some images of a Tawny Owl chick and it's parent.
Other birds noted on the reserve today included a drake Scaup in the Holcot Bay (first seen by Robin Gossage on Saturday), two Common Terns, two Oystercatchers and two Goldeneye.
Eleanor located six Wheatears at Harrington Airfield - please see images below by Dave Jackson.
In the meantime, John Woollett, Chris Payne and John Boland managed to access a Raven nest in the south of the county and ringed the absolutely beautiful occupants!
Regards
Neil M
For much of the day, Neil Hasdell and I checked the large nest-boxes on the reserve at Pitsford Res and found three of them occupied by Tawny Owls with others occupied by Jackdaws, Stock Doves and Grey Squirrels! Below are some images of a Tawny Owl chick and it's parent.
Other birds noted on the reserve today included a drake Scaup in the Holcot Bay (first seen by Robin Gossage on Saturday), two Common Terns, two Oystercatchers and two Goldeneye.
Eleanor located six Wheatears at Harrington Airfield - please see images below by Dave Jackson.
In the meantime, John Woollett, Chris Payne and John Boland managed to access a Raven nest in the south of the county and ringed the absolutely beautiful occupants!
Regards
Neil M
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| Tawny Owls at Pitsford Res courtesy of Neil Hasdell |
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| Wheatear at Harrington Airfield courtesy of Dave Jackson |
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| All beak and no trousers! That's the Ravens not you Chris! |
Tuesday 22 April 2014
Tuesday late morning...
Hello
Further checks of the bean fields below Hanging Houghton late morning indicates that the majority of the migrants including the Black Redstart have already moved on as it has warmed up.
Brief visits to Pitsford Res causeway and dam succeeded only in locating a single Swift and a couple of Oystercatchers.
Regards
Neil M
Further checks of the bean fields below Hanging Houghton late morning indicates that the majority of the migrants including the Black Redstart have already moved on as it has warmed up.
Brief visits to Pitsford Res causeway and dam succeeded only in locating a single Swift and a couple of Oystercatchers.
Regards
Neil M
Tuesday am
Hello
An early morning jaunt to Harrington Airfield this morning provided views of two male Ring Ouzels at the second bunker, which subsequently flew towards the third bunker at 7.15am. Two Wheatears were also present, generally between the first and second bunkers.
Eleanor in the meantime continued her methodical checking of the bean fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning. The best bird was an adult male Black Redstart with other passerines at about SP737734. Other birds in these collection of fields included four Wheatears, at least a dozen Yellow Wagtails, plenty of Skylarks and half a dozen Golden Plovers. However, no Dotterel as yet!
Regards
Neil M
An early morning jaunt to Harrington Airfield this morning provided views of two male Ring Ouzels at the second bunker, which subsequently flew towards the third bunker at 7.15am. Two Wheatears were also present, generally between the first and second bunkers.
Eleanor in the meantime continued her methodical checking of the bean fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning. The best bird was an adult male Black Redstart with other passerines at about SP737734. Other birds in these collection of fields included four Wheatears, at least a dozen Yellow Wagtails, plenty of Skylarks and half a dozen Golden Plovers. However, no Dotterel as yet!
Regards
Neil M
Monday 21 April 2014
Firecrest
Hello
A visit to Harrington Airfield this afternoon provided a view of an adult male Ring Ouzel and four Wheatears.
David Arden is to be congratulated on finding a Firecrest at Pitsford Res this morning, the bird was located in the Scaldwell Bay in larches near to the New James Fisher Hide. This evening birds noted north of the causeway at Pitsford included the Ross's Goose still, a Goldeneye and at least one Oystercatcher.
Regards
Neil M
A visit to Harrington Airfield this afternoon provided a view of an adult male Ring Ouzel and four Wheatears.
David Arden is to be congratulated on finding a Firecrest at Pitsford Res this morning, the bird was located in the Scaldwell Bay in larches near to the New James Fisher Hide. This evening birds noted north of the causeway at Pitsford included the Ross's Goose still, a Goldeneye and at least one Oystercatcher.
Regards
Neil M
Harrington Ouzels
I decided that I would start the day with an early morning walk at Harrington Airfield. First job was to feed the birds, even though it would appear that the Bramblings have moved off there are still plenty of birds enjoying the seed. There were good numbers of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Chaffinch. A single Tree Sparrow and 2 Lesser Redpoll made a brief appearance.
There were 2 Grey Partridge, 4 Wheatears and a Cuckoo on the rough area.
As I loitered around the second bunker I could hear at least 2 Ring Ouzel "chacking" away and one of these birds, a super male, perched on top of a bush and started to sing and he was really showing off. It is certainly the best view which I've had of these birds. Another male, not so well marked broke cover and perched out in the open on the concrete bunker and I could still hear another bird calling, so pretty sure 3 birds remain.
Regards Eleanor
There were 2 Grey Partridge, 4 Wheatears and a Cuckoo on the rough area.
As I loitered around the second bunker I could hear at least 2 Ring Ouzel "chacking" away and one of these birds, a super male, perched on top of a bush and started to sing and he was really showing off. It is certainly the best view which I've had of these birds. Another male, not so well marked broke cover and perched out in the open on the concrete bunker and I could still hear another bird calling, so pretty sure 3 birds remain.
Regards Eleanor
Sunday 20 April 2014
A quiet Easter Sunday
Hello
Yesterday evening (Saturday) saw me padding around parts of the Blueberry Farm complex at Maidwell, but the only birds a little different included a single Wheatear and a pair of Grey Partridge.
With a blocking north-easterly breeze and Arctic Terns on the move in the UK today, I fully expected to see some evidence of visible migration at Pitsford Res. Two visitations failed to find much of anything new - and it seems that yesterday's Black-necked Grebes have already moved on.
A quick circuit at Harrington Airfield early afternoon was also a quiet affair with a single male Wheatear being the highlight. Eleanor managed to find two Wheatears on the extensive bean fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and I finally caught up with my first singing Sedge Warbler of the year near Brixworth.
Regards
Neil M
Yesterday evening (Saturday) saw me padding around parts of the Blueberry Farm complex at Maidwell, but the only birds a little different included a single Wheatear and a pair of Grey Partridge.
With a blocking north-easterly breeze and Arctic Terns on the move in the UK today, I fully expected to see some evidence of visible migration at Pitsford Res. Two visitations failed to find much of anything new - and it seems that yesterday's Black-necked Grebes have already moved on.
A quick circuit at Harrington Airfield early afternoon was also a quiet affair with a single male Wheatear being the highlight. Eleanor managed to find two Wheatears on the extensive bean fields in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and I finally caught up with my first singing Sedge Warbler of the year near Brixworth.
Regards
Neil M
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| Great Crested Grebe Pitsford Res |
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| Adult Grey Heron Pitsford Res |
Saturday 19 April 2014
Pitsford CBC
Hello
It's that time of the year again - the Common Bird Census at Pitsford Res! Starting at 6am this morning on a cold and frosty morning, there was a surprising number of avian songsters despite the initial grey conditions. By way of example there were six singing Song Thrushes in the Holcot Bay banging out their repeated volleys of musical noise!
Most birds noted were very much the norm, with plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs on territory and some Willow Warblers too. An early Reed Warbler had to do with some Blackthorn to sing from and it will be some weeks yet before any reeds have grown up! On territory Marsh Tits were in two areas and a couple of Lesser Redpolls were buzzing about. One pair of Oystercatcher had doubled to two pairs. Other birders noted a Garden Warbler and Peregrine.
Just as I was about to leave, a last scan with the binoculars revealed a summer plumage Black-necked Grebe near to the Lagoon Hide. Subsequently two more appeared from underneath waterside willows and all three were watched as they dived and took insects off the surface of the water.
Regards
Neil M
It's that time of the year again - the Common Bird Census at Pitsford Res! Starting at 6am this morning on a cold and frosty morning, there was a surprising number of avian songsters despite the initial grey conditions. By way of example there were six singing Song Thrushes in the Holcot Bay banging out their repeated volleys of musical noise!
Most birds noted were very much the norm, with plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs on territory and some Willow Warblers too. An early Reed Warbler had to do with some Blackthorn to sing from and it will be some weeks yet before any reeds have grown up! On territory Marsh Tits were in two areas and a couple of Lesser Redpolls were buzzing about. One pair of Oystercatcher had doubled to two pairs. Other birders noted a Garden Warbler and Peregrine.
Just as I was about to leave, a last scan with the binoculars revealed a summer plumage Black-necked Grebe near to the Lagoon Hide. Subsequently two more appeared from underneath waterside willows and all three were watched as they dived and took insects off the surface of the water.
Regards
Neil M
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| Orange-tip Butterfly |
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| Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower |
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| Mallard with ducklings |
Harrington am
This morning at Harrington Airfield there was a Ring Ouzel favouring the area between the first and second bunkers. Sometimes the bird was on full show, but more often than not was seen in flight before disappearing into the bushes. With a bit of patience I'm sure you will see this bird and who knows what might drop in as you wait ?. There were several Wheatear around the bunkers.
I fed the birds by the entrance and when I returned to the car I could hear the familiar harsh "chack" of a Ring Ouzel and there was a stunning male sitting on top of a roadside bush !! As it dropped out of the bush I was aware that another similar size bird was also lower down in the bush, but I didn't see this clearly enough , but probably another one.
Regards Eleanor
I fed the birds by the entrance and when I returned to the car I could hear the familiar harsh "chack" of a Ring Ouzel and there was a stunning male sitting on top of a roadside bush !! As it dropped out of the bush I was aware that another similar size bird was also lower down in the bush, but I didn't see this clearly enough , but probably another one.
Regards Eleanor
Friday 18 April 2014
Ringing at Harrington
Hello
Despite often quite bright sunshine and a cool northerly breeze, the planned ringing session at Harrington Airfield took place this morning. My thanks to those visiting birders who changed their plans on arriving at this disused airfield this morning, enabling us to catch 24 birds safely. Seven Willow Warblers were among the catch, we assume a combination of birds intending to breed on the old airstrip but also migrants aiming for more northern climes.
What was probably the same individual Ring Ouzel was seen a number of times, often elusive and very mobile around the site. For a short time there was a group of seven Wheatears, but they were disturbed and hadn't returned by the time we left. Other birds included a mobile Yellow Wagtail, singing Lesser and Common Whitethroats and a Raven. There was no sign of yesterday's Stone Curlew.
The leaves of Common Spotted Orchid were visible and Grizzled Skipper was the pick of the butterflies on the wing there today.
Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon included a dozen Golden Plovers and four Wheatears on the bean fields.
Regards
Neil M
Despite often quite bright sunshine and a cool northerly breeze, the planned ringing session at Harrington Airfield took place this morning. My thanks to those visiting birders who changed their plans on arriving at this disused airfield this morning, enabling us to catch 24 birds safely. Seven Willow Warblers were among the catch, we assume a combination of birds intending to breed on the old airstrip but also migrants aiming for more northern climes.
What was probably the same individual Ring Ouzel was seen a number of times, often elusive and very mobile around the site. For a short time there was a group of seven Wheatears, but they were disturbed and hadn't returned by the time we left. Other birds included a mobile Yellow Wagtail, singing Lesser and Common Whitethroats and a Raven. There was no sign of yesterday's Stone Curlew.
The leaves of Common Spotted Orchid were visible and Grizzled Skipper was the pick of the butterflies on the wing there today.
Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon included a dozen Golden Plovers and four Wheatears on the bean fields.
Regards
Neil M
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| Yellowhammer at Harrington Airfield, courtesy of Clive Bowley. |
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| Record shot of yesterday's Stone Curlew at Harrington Airfield. |
Thursday 17 April 2014
Harrington Airfield update
Hello
This evening at Harrington Airfield there were three Ring Ouzels still present in bushes along the old airstrip and a mobile group of 6 - 10 Wheatears, mostly around the second bunker.
Visiting birders are reminded that there is no public access to the old airstrip and that the public footpath runs along the concrete track which is accessible from the minor road to Draughton. The land-owners show no huge concerns for the occasional regular birder straying off the footpath but the downside of finding a rare bird which we all naturally want to see at this site, causes them alarm. This is partly associated with the quite dangerous state of the concrete bunkers with plenty of opportunity of falling in to unguarded holes, tripping over concrete and wires and the amount of broken glass strewn over the area etc. Clumsy and thoughtless parking in front of the gates to both the chipping compound and the vehicle access point to the concrete track causes further frustration. As perhaps the most regular birders visiting this site, we are keen to ensure that access for local birders is not compromised and that we all stand a chance of seeing good birds there to the future.
We are also at the very early stages of potentially creating a regular ringing station on the airfield. This is very much at the development stage. Tomorrow morning it is hoped to run a ringing session on the airstrip as arranged with the land-owner and public access is restricted to invitees only. Mist nets and other devices create further hazards to walkers and themselves are prone to damage by people and animals simply wandering in to them! In due course as we find our feet and can properly assess the risks, it is likely that such restrictions may be relaxed and all interests accommodated. Your forbearance is much appreciated.
Regards
Neil M
This evening at Harrington Airfield there were three Ring Ouzels still present in bushes along the old airstrip and a mobile group of 6 - 10 Wheatears, mostly around the second bunker.
Visiting birders are reminded that there is no public access to the old airstrip and that the public footpath runs along the concrete track which is accessible from the minor road to Draughton. The land-owners show no huge concerns for the occasional regular birder straying off the footpath but the downside of finding a rare bird which we all naturally want to see at this site, causes them alarm. This is partly associated with the quite dangerous state of the concrete bunkers with plenty of opportunity of falling in to unguarded holes, tripping over concrete and wires and the amount of broken glass strewn over the area etc. Clumsy and thoughtless parking in front of the gates to both the chipping compound and the vehicle access point to the concrete track causes further frustration. As perhaps the most regular birders visiting this site, we are keen to ensure that access for local birders is not compromised and that we all stand a chance of seeing good birds there to the future.
We are also at the very early stages of potentially creating a regular ringing station on the airfield. This is very much at the development stage. Tomorrow morning it is hoped to run a ringing session on the airstrip as arranged with the land-owner and public access is restricted to invitees only. Mist nets and other devices create further hazards to walkers and themselves are prone to damage by people and animals simply wandering in to them! In due course as we find our feet and can properly assess the risks, it is likely that such restrictions may be relaxed and all interests accommodated. Your forbearance is much appreciated.
Regards
Neil M
Stone Curlew
Recently Harrington airfield has enjoyed some good birds and more coverage by birders. This morning, one lucky birder Gary Burrows, couldn't believe his luck when a STONE CURLEW landed on the field in front of him !!!!!! I think I would have fainted with shock !!. Initially the bird was standing on full view in the open between the first and second bunker before being frightened by the sound of a nearby gas gun. It then flew a short distance to where the crop provided more cover.
Quite a few birders managed to get out and watch the bird before it flew at 10.30am and was lost to view. When I left at 11am it was still being looked for.
Thanks Gary.
Regards Eleanor
Quite a few birders managed to get out and watch the bird before it flew at 10.30am and was lost to view. When I left at 11am it was still being looked for.
Thanks Gary.
Regards Eleanor
Wednesday 16 April 2014
Pitsford by boat
Hello
Eleanor popped up to Harrington Airfield this morning and briefly espied the male Ring Ouzel near the first bunker.
Whilst at Pitsford Res today, Dave Francis and I took a boat out in order to carry out some remedial work on the floating tern rafts. On our way back we checked on the Cormorant colony and various floating nests of other species, and took a few photos of wildfowl whilst doing so (please see below).
Eleanor scoured the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening, and two Wheatears were located in the bean fields.
Regards
Neil M
Eleanor popped up to Harrington Airfield this morning and briefly espied the male Ring Ouzel near the first bunker.
Whilst at Pitsford Res today, Dave Francis and I took a boat out in order to carry out some remedial work on the floating tern rafts. On our way back we checked on the Cormorant colony and various floating nests of other species, and took a few photos of wildfowl whilst doing so (please see below).
Eleanor scoured the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening, and two Wheatears were located in the bean fields.
Regards
Neil M
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| Cormorant |
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| Drake Gadwall |
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| Drake Tufted Duck |
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| Mallard duckling |
Tuesday 15 April 2014
Blueberry and Harrington PM
Mid afternoon found me walking around Blueberry area with my 4 legged companions. As expected on such a bright and breezy day there were plenty of Red Kites and Common Buzzard, including the rather stunning 'white' Buzzard on the wing. As I walked along a hedgerow I heard a Redstart calling and to my surprise I located 2 stunning males following the hedge.
At Blueberry Farm itself there was a male Ring Ouzel in one of the horse paddocks. The fields in the valley have recently been set with beans, so we will be watching them closely. Meanwhile these fields are attractive to the Wheatears and there were at least 4 present.
Plenty of butterflies today, notably some pristine Orange Tips.
I decided to spend the final hours of daylight at Harrington Airfield, where the only birds of note were 2 Wheatear and a Brambling. I just missed a male Ring Ouzel which was being watched as I walked along to the bunkers, but despite searching it was not re located.
Regards Eleanor
At Blueberry Farm itself there was a male Ring Ouzel in one of the horse paddocks. The fields in the valley have recently been set with beans, so we will be watching them closely. Meanwhile these fields are attractive to the Wheatears and there were at least 4 present.
Plenty of butterflies today, notably some pristine Orange Tips.
I decided to spend the final hours of daylight at Harrington Airfield, where the only birds of note were 2 Wheatear and a Brambling. I just missed a male Ring Ouzel which was being watched as I walked along to the bunkers, but despite searching it was not re located.
Regards Eleanor
Harrington a.m.
Hello
A visit to Harrington Airfield this morning provided views of two male Wheatears, a singing Whitethroat, a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a male Yellow Wagtail. After such a clear night and cool frosty morning it was no surprise that we didn't find any Ring Ouzels!
Regards
Neil M
A visit to Harrington Airfield this morning provided views of two male Wheatears, a singing Whitethroat, a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a male Yellow Wagtail. After such a clear night and cool frosty morning it was no surprise that we didn't find any Ring Ouzels!
Regards
Neil M
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| Yesterday's Male Ring Ouzel at HarringtonAirfield, against evening sunshine back-drop |
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| Male Wheatear at Harrington Airfield this morning, perched on a lichen-covered concrete bunker. |
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