Hello
The smaller passerine species have been churning out young birds for some weeks now, and many of the water-birds have achieved much the same. In the crow family it is the Raven that nests earliest and their broods have been out for some time now. Then it's the Rooks who aren't far behind and many of the cut haylage fields now are full of both adults and begging juveniles. About now, the majority of the Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw and Jay youngsters are fledging. Technically it is still the season of spring, but the breeding season is generally early this year so in the birds' world this season is very much summer now!
And there are birds on the move that are failed breeders which are already beginning to navigate back to safe feeding and moulting sites. Perhaps the most obvious locally is the Lapwing with quite a number of birds gently moving south for about a week or so now, and there are breeding plumage Black-headed Gulls starting to disperse from breeding areas. Other species will be involved soon, including waders such as Green Sandpiper, and in some respects it can become confusing as to which way some of these migrants are going! Failed breeding adult and juvenile Chiffchaffs will be another species that begins to move soon and those species which are single-brooded and have failed or off-loaded their offspring may soon begin their annual moult or move on to a safe place to do so.
Eleanor tried birding at some different locations today including Daventry Country Park, Borough Hill Country Park and Harlestone Heath. A single pair of Spotted Flycatcher was located at all three sites but apart from this Eleanor assures me she can't think of any other out of the ordinary birds out there! At least one Willow Tit was along the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton at lunch-time.
Regards
Neil M
Thursday 12 June 2014
Wednesday 11 June 2014
Pitsford nest-boxes
Hello
A small team of us spent time at Pitsford Reservoir today erecting some more large nest-boxes on the Wildlife Trust reserve We managed to achieve our objective and also check on other recently placed boxes, adding sawdust and shavings as appropriate for nesting birds. Most of this work is in preparation for the 2015 season and beyond, hopefully providing appropriate nesting opportunities primarily for owls but also Kestrel, Stock Dove and Jackdaw and occasionally something else. Some twenty-two large boxes are now up and in good condition, and are in addition to a couple of hundred small nest-boxes for the local tits and Treecreepers.
No birds out of the ordinary to report today, but it was good to hear a Grey Partridge calling away on the outskirts of Hanging Houghton this evening.
Regards
Neil M
A small team of us spent time at Pitsford Reservoir today erecting some more large nest-boxes on the Wildlife Trust reserve We managed to achieve our objective and also check on other recently placed boxes, adding sawdust and shavings as appropriate for nesting birds. Most of this work is in preparation for the 2015 season and beyond, hopefully providing appropriate nesting opportunities primarily for owls but also Kestrel, Stock Dove and Jackdaw and occasionally something else. Some twenty-two large boxes are now up and in good condition, and are in addition to a couple of hundred small nest-boxes for the local tits and Treecreepers.
No birds out of the ordinary to report today, but it was good to hear a Grey Partridge calling away on the outskirts of Hanging Houghton this evening.
Regards
Neil M
Tuesday 10 June 2014
Birds of Middle England
Hello
Despite spending a fair bit of time out yesterday (9th), there wasn't much to show for our airing, the best being a Hobby near Brixworth.
Today (10th) and Eleanor again checked out Harrington Airfield this morning and again there were two 'purring' Turtle Doves and a pair of Grey Partridge. Yellow Wagtails remain on territory there too.
This evening and a wander around the Blueberry Farm near Maidwell produced a singing Grasshopper Warbler, one or two Barn Owls(s) and a family of Tawny Owls.
Regards
Neil M
Despite spending a fair bit of time out yesterday (9th), there wasn't much to show for our airing, the best being a Hobby near Brixworth.
Today (10th) and Eleanor again checked out Harrington Airfield this morning and again there were two 'purring' Turtle Doves and a pair of Grey Partridge. Yellow Wagtails remain on territory there too.
This evening and a wander around the Blueberry Farm near Maidwell produced a singing Grasshopper Warbler, one or two Barn Owls(s) and a family of Tawny Owls.
Regards
Neil M
Sunday 8 June 2014
Sunday pm
Hello
At risk of sounding repetitive, Eleanor wandered the Harrington Airfield complex this afternoon and again came across two Turtle Doves and two Grey Partridges. This time the birds were around bushes and rough pasture on land to the north of the main concrete track where it connects with the old airstrip (opposite the old firing range wall).
A change of scenery was required this evening with a walk around Welford Reservoir which produced sightings of Spotted Flycatcher and a Grass Snake.
Regards
Neil M
At risk of sounding repetitive, Eleanor wandered the Harrington Airfield complex this afternoon and again came across two Turtle Doves and two Grey Partridges. This time the birds were around bushes and rough pasture on land to the north of the main concrete track where it connects with the old airstrip (opposite the old firing range wall).
A change of scenery was required this evening with a walk around Welford Reservoir which produced sightings of Spotted Flycatcher and a Grass Snake.
Regards
Neil M
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| Great Crested Grebe Welford Res |
 |
First Year (hatched last year) male Blackbird
Welford Res. The end of tail shape and brown
worn wing feathers indicate that this is not a full
adult male Blackbird. In addition, most mature males
would exhibit a brighter bill and eye-ring and the body
feathers would be blacker and glossier. Even so the
behaviour of this bird indicated that it was foraging for
food for it's young so despite it's young age it has
presumably been successful in finding and defending
a territory.
|
Dawn Chorus
Hello
A little late in the season but this morning we had a go at a guided dawn chorus at Pitsford Reservoir, at the request of Pitsford Women's Institute. A 4.30am start is always a little daunting for some - luckily I am a morning person! The walk took in the north bank of the Holcot Bay and we walked to the Lagoon Hide and back. Initially we were distracted because a family unit of Tawny Owls (including two mobile and vocal youngsters) were close to our rendezvous spot. A Jay was seen and a Sparrowhawk heard and then it was back on the agenda to listen to singing small birds.
There are plenty of Wrens on site this year, no doubt more numerous due to the mild winter, and their song velocity was in danger of drowning out the remainder of the songsters! However the Song Thrushes were not to be outdone and we quickly tracked down the monotonous song of Chiffchaff and others amongst the throng.
A couple of Muntjac sprang away from us and we espied water birds as the bushes gave way to open water viewing. The Coots seem to be doing well this year with plenty of youngsters in evidence and Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swans also have broods on-site.
Other songsters included hidden Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Blackcap but Garden Warblers were much more showy. A good view of a Grass Snake was a bonus. Common Buzzard was seen and Green Woodpecker heard and then we meandered back to the cars - where did two and a half hours go?
Breeding Oystercatchers and Common Terns are an assured sight in the Scaldwell Bay and the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station is supporting adult and juvenile Tree Sparrows and Great Spotted Woodpeckers in addition to more standard fare.
Regards
Neil M
A little late in the season but this morning we had a go at a guided dawn chorus at Pitsford Reservoir, at the request of Pitsford Women's Institute. A 4.30am start is always a little daunting for some - luckily I am a morning person! The walk took in the north bank of the Holcot Bay and we walked to the Lagoon Hide and back. Initially we were distracted because a family unit of Tawny Owls (including two mobile and vocal youngsters) were close to our rendezvous spot. A Jay was seen and a Sparrowhawk heard and then it was back on the agenda to listen to singing small birds.
There are plenty of Wrens on site this year, no doubt more numerous due to the mild winter, and their song velocity was in danger of drowning out the remainder of the songsters! However the Song Thrushes were not to be outdone and we quickly tracked down the monotonous song of Chiffchaff and others amongst the throng.
A couple of Muntjac sprang away from us and we espied water birds as the bushes gave way to open water viewing. The Coots seem to be doing well this year with plenty of youngsters in evidence and Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swans also have broods on-site.
Other songsters included hidden Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Blackcap but Garden Warblers were much more showy. A good view of a Grass Snake was a bonus. Common Buzzard was seen and Green Woodpecker heard and then we meandered back to the cars - where did two and a half hours go?
Breeding Oystercatchers and Common Terns are an assured sight in the Scaldwell Bay and the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station is supporting adult and juvenile Tree Sparrows and Great Spotted Woodpeckers in addition to more standard fare.
Regards
Neil M
Saturday 7 June 2014
Soggy Saturday !
Although I've spent plenty of time outdoors today I haven't much to show for my efforts....apart from a big pile of soggy clothes and wet dogs !!!! We had a good early walk around Blueberry Farm area, but only saw the usual Common Buzzards, Red Kites, Meadow Pipits etc.
I decided to go for a run and take Tor with me. All was going well until a pesky squirrel jumped onto the track in front of us and Tor nearly pulled me through the hedge in his quest to chase it! Some time later we both squelched our way back home, managing (as usual) to be out when the rain was at it's heaviest!
As it was a nice evening I went back to Blueberry area and again plenty of Common Buzzards, but also a hunting Barn Owl and a pair of Grey Partridge.
We all jumped with fright when the calm quiet evening was broken by the close barking of a Muntjac deer which was literally just the other side of the hedge. Our young foster dog squealed with fright and sat quaking behind "old" Bazra for protection.
Regards
Eleanor
I decided to go for a run and take Tor with me. All was going well until a pesky squirrel jumped onto the track in front of us and Tor nearly pulled me through the hedge in his quest to chase it! Some time later we both squelched our way back home, managing (as usual) to be out when the rain was at it's heaviest!
As it was a nice evening I went back to Blueberry area and again plenty of Common Buzzards, but also a hunting Barn Owl and a pair of Grey Partridge.
We all jumped with fright when the calm quiet evening was broken by the close barking of a Muntjac deer which was literally just the other side of the hedge. Our young foster dog squealed with fright and sat quaking behind "old" Bazra for protection.
Regards
Eleanor
Friday 6 June 2014
Harrington Orchids
Hello
Although not in huge numbers, the Common Spotted Orchids at Harrington Airfield along the old airstrip are blooming, with significant variation in colours and petal structure. The Bee Orchids are fewer in number and not as well-developed yet...
Regards
Neil M
Although not in huge numbers, the Common Spotted Orchids at Harrington Airfield along the old airstrip are blooming, with significant variation in colours and petal structure. The Bee Orchids are fewer in number and not as well-developed yet...
Regards
Neil M
 |
| Common Spotted Orchids |
 |
| Bee Orchid |
Brixworth raptors
Hello
Brixworth was the place to be today if you like raptors, with two Red Kites scouting low over the village cricket pitch following a grass-mowing session, a Hobby over the middle of the village (making the village Swifts very apprehensive), and an Osprey over towards Pitsford Res at 2.50pm.
Eleanor again noted two 'purring' Turtle Doves at Harrington Airfield this morning (from the main concrete track found off the minor road to Draughton).
Regards
Neil M
Brixworth was the place to be today if you like raptors, with two Red Kites scouting low over the village cricket pitch following a grass-mowing session, a Hobby over the middle of the village (making the village Swifts very apprehensive), and an Osprey over towards Pitsford Res at 2.50pm.
Eleanor again noted two 'purring' Turtle Doves at Harrington Airfield this morning (from the main concrete track found off the minor road to Draughton).
Regards
Neil M
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| Ragged Robin Kelmarsh |
Wednesday 4 June 2014
House Martins
Hello
A ringing session held locally was productive today with the capture of 47 new House Martins. This is not a species I catch very often and they are quite different from the norm with their incredible soft feathery legs and stunning two-tone plumage. Up close of course the mantle emanates a resplendent metallic blue colour (similar to Swallow), with the upper-side of the wings being more variable and often brown-based and of course the birds also sport a clean white underside and rump. Birds from a previous session this spring at the same site means that we have managed to catch and process a total of 76 House Martins locally - it is assumed that most of these will be local breeders.
Other new birds caught today included 8 Swallows, 5 Pied Wagtails and 4 Magpies. A Grey Wagtail present was seemingly too clever to catch!
Yesterday (3rd) and Eleanor again saw the two Turtle Doves at Harrington Airfield and on the evening of the 2nd a Barn Owl was hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton (they seem very scarce this year).
Regards
Neil M
A ringing session held locally was productive today with the capture of 47 new House Martins. This is not a species I catch very often and they are quite different from the norm with their incredible soft feathery legs and stunning two-tone plumage. Up close of course the mantle emanates a resplendent metallic blue colour (similar to Swallow), with the upper-side of the wings being more variable and often brown-based and of course the birds also sport a clean white underside and rump. Birds from a previous session this spring at the same site means that we have managed to catch and process a total of 76 House Martins locally - it is assumed that most of these will be local breeders.
Other new birds caught today included 8 Swallows, 5 Pied Wagtails and 4 Magpies. A Grey Wagtail present was seemingly too clever to catch!
Yesterday (3rd) and Eleanor again saw the two Turtle Doves at Harrington Airfield and on the evening of the 2nd a Barn Owl was hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton (they seem very scarce this year).
Regards
Neil M
Tuesday 3 June 2014
Red in tooth and claw
Nature's harsher realities have been in evidence at Summer Leys for the last week or so.
A pair of Shelduck had a brood of 12 ducklings a little over a week ago. This number has steadily dwindled as predation has occurred and there are now only 5 ducklings left. A second brood of 7 from a different set of parents lost a duckling within 24 hrs.
Today a pair of Coots were industriously feeding their brood of six under the predatory gaze of an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Within about 30 mins the gull had picked off and eaten 4 of the youngsters and very nearly managed a 5th, despite the best efforts of the adults to discourage it.
Clearly birds have large broods in order to cope with predation, it is however difficult not to feel sympathy for the parents and for the tiny, defenceless victims of the predators.
Neil H.
A pair of Shelduck had a brood of 12 ducklings a little over a week ago. This number has steadily dwindled as predation has occurred and there are now only 5 ducklings left. A second brood of 7 from a different set of parents lost a duckling within 24 hrs.
Today a pair of Coots were industriously feeding their brood of six under the predatory gaze of an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Within about 30 mins the gull had picked off and eaten 4 of the youngsters and very nearly managed a 5th, despite the best efforts of the adults to discourage it.
Clearly birds have large broods in order to cope with predation, it is however difficult not to feel sympathy for the parents and for the tiny, defenceless victims of the predators.
Neil H.
Monday 2 June 2014
Harrington Airfield pm
Hello
Eleanor was again up at Harrington Airfield this afternoon where it was generally quiet. However a flurry of birds at about 4.45pm at the very end of the concrete track included the 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier again plus two Turtle Doves, two Grey Partridges and a Hobby. The Common Spotted Orchids on the old airstrip are in pristine condition at the moment.
Regards
Neil M
Eleanor was again up at Harrington Airfield this afternoon where it was generally quiet. However a flurry of birds at about 4.45pm at the very end of the concrete track included the 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier again plus two Turtle Doves, two Grey Partridges and a Hobby. The Common Spotted Orchids on the old airstrip are in pristine condition at the moment.
Regards
Neil M
Sunday 1 June 2014
Sunday update
Hello
Whilst out and about today and driving, Eleanor saw an egret sp in flight near Nether Heyford flying west which seemed big, and an Osprey was over Brixworth village at 12.15pm. I saw a Hobby at Lamport and a brief excursion to Kelmarsh Hall provided views of a singing male Grey Wagtail, a pair of Spotted Flycatcher and a confused 'phylloscopus' warbler singing both Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler songs phrases in the same burst. An evening walk at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this evening produced two calling Grey Partridges plus singing singles of Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler.
Dave Francis and Lynne Barnett paid a visit to the floating tern rafts at Pitsford Res today. Thirty-three Common Tern nests was a good number, with many females still to lay more eggs. A dead adult Common Tern on one of the rafts bore a ring, but the number is not a recognised Pitsford sequence so no doubt we will hear more of the origins of this bird to the future. Three Oystercatcher chicks were alive and well on one of the rafts (a fourth had died) and these birds were ringed.
In the meantime a team of ringers were active at Stortons Gravel Pits this morning, the still and pleasant conditions providing a catch of 62 birds. Of these, twelve were new Reed Warblers and seven were new Sedge Warblers. In addition John Woollett and the team identified one 'control' of each species (birds originally ringed elsewhere), and an individual Reed Warbler ringed at Stortons GP in 2010 but not recorded again until today.
I understand that there has been something of an ecological disaster at Stanwick Gravel Pits following sluice management in the week which has caused widespread flooding in and around the pits and sadly swamped all the nests of ground-nesting birds including terns, gulls and breeding warblers.
Regards
Neil M
Whilst out and about today and driving, Eleanor saw an egret sp in flight near Nether Heyford flying west which seemed big, and an Osprey was over Brixworth village at 12.15pm. I saw a Hobby at Lamport and a brief excursion to Kelmarsh Hall provided views of a singing male Grey Wagtail, a pair of Spotted Flycatcher and a confused 'phylloscopus' warbler singing both Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler songs phrases in the same burst. An evening walk at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this evening produced two calling Grey Partridges plus singing singles of Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler.
Dave Francis and Lynne Barnett paid a visit to the floating tern rafts at Pitsford Res today. Thirty-three Common Tern nests was a good number, with many females still to lay more eggs. A dead adult Common Tern on one of the rafts bore a ring, but the number is not a recognised Pitsford sequence so no doubt we will hear more of the origins of this bird to the future. Three Oystercatcher chicks were alive and well on one of the rafts (a fourth had died) and these birds were ringed.
In the meantime a team of ringers were active at Stortons Gravel Pits this morning, the still and pleasant conditions providing a catch of 62 birds. Of these, twelve were new Reed Warblers and seven were new Sedge Warblers. In addition John Woollett and the team identified one 'control' of each species (birds originally ringed elsewhere), and an individual Reed Warbler ringed at Stortons GP in 2010 but not recorded again until today.
I understand that there has been something of an ecological disaster at Stanwick Gravel Pits following sluice management in the week which has caused widespread flooding in and around the pits and sadly swamped all the nests of ground-nesting birds including terns, gulls and breeding warblers.
Regards
Neil M
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| Pitsford tern rafts |
 |
| Dave Francis with an Oystercatcher chick. They both have beards but Dave is the one with the hat and specs! All images courtesy of Lynne Barnett |
Early summer migration
Hello
There are some advantages of being a dog-owner and birder. Certainly most of the birds that Eleanor sees and hears are while she is out exercising both herself and our pack. My contributions to the dog walking regime are much more minimal, but we have developed a routine over the years whereby I take the dogs out last thing at night.
Whilst out at night, even for just a short period, it is rare not to hear birds calling. Sometimes it is just bickering birds roosting together, and of course owls are vocal for most periods of the year, but often fly-over migrants are detectable by sound. Probably the most consistently heard bird for me during the relevant period is the Redwing, a particularly resilient migrant that can be heard calling in all weathers. For me this species is one of our most iconic of migrants.
During the winter wildfowl are regularly heard, sometimes just the sound of the 'singing' wings as they motor overhead, but often vocal calls too.
Many people are surprised when I say that I regularly hear Moorhens and Coots calling as they fly over, and judging from the calls they are flying slowly at low altitude. And this is not a winter theme, in fact I hear them during the summer as much as any other season. Where they are going and what drives them to move around at such times is one of the wonderful mysteries that stimulates my interest in bird migration.
Just gone midnight this morning and it was very still as I meandered my way back home after a short nocturnal walk below the village, and in the space of ten minutes, singles of Coot, Moorhen and a beautifully trilling Whimbrel all over-flew the village.
Anyway, back to more traditional birding methods! This morning Eleanor enjoyed an early walk at Harrington Airfield and saw a 'cream-crown' Marsh Harrier (possibly a young male), two Turtle Doves, a singing Grasshopper Warbler and heard a Quail that called just the once. A Roe Deer showed itself, one of several records from here recently...
Regards
Neil M
There are some advantages of being a dog-owner and birder. Certainly most of the birds that Eleanor sees and hears are while she is out exercising both herself and our pack. My contributions to the dog walking regime are much more minimal, but we have developed a routine over the years whereby I take the dogs out last thing at night.
Whilst out at night, even for just a short period, it is rare not to hear birds calling. Sometimes it is just bickering birds roosting together, and of course owls are vocal for most periods of the year, but often fly-over migrants are detectable by sound. Probably the most consistently heard bird for me during the relevant period is the Redwing, a particularly resilient migrant that can be heard calling in all weathers. For me this species is one of our most iconic of migrants.
During the winter wildfowl are regularly heard, sometimes just the sound of the 'singing' wings as they motor overhead, but often vocal calls too.
Many people are surprised when I say that I regularly hear Moorhens and Coots calling as they fly over, and judging from the calls they are flying slowly at low altitude. And this is not a winter theme, in fact I hear them during the summer as much as any other season. Where they are going and what drives them to move around at such times is one of the wonderful mysteries that stimulates my interest in bird migration.
Just gone midnight this morning and it was very still as I meandered my way back home after a short nocturnal walk below the village, and in the space of ten minutes, singles of Coot, Moorhen and a beautifully trilling Whimbrel all over-flew the village.
Anyway, back to more traditional birding methods! This morning Eleanor enjoyed an early walk at Harrington Airfield and saw a 'cream-crown' Marsh Harrier (possibly a young male), two Turtle Doves, a singing Grasshopper Warbler and heard a Quail that called just the once. A Roe Deer showed itself, one of several records from here recently...
Regards
Neil M
Saturday 31 May 2014
Pitsford CBC
Hello
A Common Bird Census took place on the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir today in rather dull, sultry conditions. Nothing remarkable was seen, although a singing Spotted Flycatcher in the Scaldwell Bay may be holding territory. The singing Cuckoo is still present, being quite mobile around the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays. A few Gadwall remain on-site plus a drake Shoveler and of course the breeding Oystercatchers remain. A single Raven flew through.
Only small numbers of Reed Warblers seem to be present this year and I only logged a single Sedge Warbler territory. The Blackbirds on-site are quite curious inasmuch that there is very little in the way of territorial singing early in the season but they are particularly vocal later in the season associated with the attempts at second and third broods. However the Song Thrush shows no such subtlety and their strident and far-carrying songs can be heard throughout the breeding season.
Regards
Neil M
A Common Bird Census took place on the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir today in rather dull, sultry conditions. Nothing remarkable was seen, although a singing Spotted Flycatcher in the Scaldwell Bay may be holding territory. The singing Cuckoo is still present, being quite mobile around the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays. A few Gadwall remain on-site plus a drake Shoveler and of course the breeding Oystercatchers remain. A single Raven flew through.
Only small numbers of Reed Warblers seem to be present this year and I only logged a single Sedge Warbler territory. The Blackbirds on-site are quite curious inasmuch that there is very little in the way of territorial singing early in the season but they are particularly vocal later in the season associated with the attempts at second and third broods. However the Song Thrush shows no such subtlety and their strident and far-carrying songs can be heard throughout the breeding season.
Regards
Neil M
Thursday 29 May 2014
Not much!
Hello
Not much to report during a very soggy week, but Eleanor again saw two Turtle Doves at Harrington Airfield today; the best I could manage was a Hobby near Brixworth...
Regards
Neil M
Not much to report during a very soggy week, but Eleanor again saw two Turtle Doves at Harrington Airfield today; the best I could manage was a Hobby near Brixworth...
Regards
Neil M
Tuesday 27 May 2014
Ringing today
Hello
A ringing session today at a private and restricted site in the county was successful, the weather conditions causing many hirundines to fly low over the ringing area. In total 104 birds were caught which included:-
71 Swallows, 69 of which were new birds and 2 were controls (previously ringed birds from elsewhere)
19 new House Martins
1 new Blue Tit
4 new Pied Wagtails
1 new Reed Bunting
3 new Magpies
2 new Green Woodpeckers
1 new Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 new Starlings
Regards
Neil M
A ringing session today at a private and restricted site in the county was successful, the weather conditions causing many hirundines to fly low over the ringing area. In total 104 birds were caught which included:-
71 Swallows, 69 of which were new birds and 2 were controls (previously ringed birds from elsewhere)
19 new House Martins
1 new Blue Tit
4 new Pied Wagtails
1 new Reed Bunting
3 new Magpies
2 new Green Woodpeckers
1 new Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 new Starlings
Regards
Neil M
Monday 26 May 2014
Pitsford CES ringing
Hello
A Constant Effort Site (CES) ringing session took place at Pitsford Res this morning, as led by Dave Francis. Using established rides in the Scaldwell Bay for lines of mist-nets, some 48 birds were captured and processed as part of a long term study. The captures of 12 juvenile Robins was very significant, strongly suggesting that early broods of this species had fared well this year. A female Willow Tit sporting an active brood patch was also an important catch, suggesting that a pair of this very thinly distributed resident are again breeding in the Scaldwell Bay. Three Chiffchaffs and five Bullfinches were also processed, Pitsford remains a good place to see Bullfinch despite declines elsewhere in the region and country.
A Cuckoo has remained very vocal in the ringing area in the Scaldwell Bay for a couple of weeks now - there are very few birds in the NN6 postal area these days - and a singing Reed Warbler and a singing Lesser Whitethroat remain in the area of the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station.
Regards
Neil M
A Constant Effort Site (CES) ringing session took place at Pitsford Res this morning, as led by Dave Francis. Using established rides in the Scaldwell Bay for lines of mist-nets, some 48 birds were captured and processed as part of a long term study. The captures of 12 juvenile Robins was very significant, strongly suggesting that early broods of this species had fared well this year. A female Willow Tit sporting an active brood patch was also an important catch, suggesting that a pair of this very thinly distributed resident are again breeding in the Scaldwell Bay. Three Chiffchaffs and five Bullfinches were also processed, Pitsford remains a good place to see Bullfinch despite declines elsewhere in the region and country.
A Cuckoo has remained very vocal in the ringing area in the Scaldwell Bay for a couple of weeks now - there are very few birds in the NN6 postal area these days - and a singing Reed Warbler and a singing Lesser Whitethroat remain in the area of the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station.
Regards
Neil M
Pitsford Res & ringing update
Hello
Typical Bank Holiday weather - heavy rain!
An Osprey was fishing on the reserve north of the causeway at Pitsford Res late morning, much to the annoyance of the summering Great Black-backed Gull there! Surprisingly, of the two it seemed that the gull has the longer wing-span.
The pair of Oystercatcher hatched four young on one of the tern rafts last week, and the adults were ferrying worms to them today. Common Terns have now started laying eggs on the same rafts.
Details have emerged in recent days of some more ringing returns:-
A Blackbird controlled at Pitsford Res on 1st December 2013 was first ringed in Holland as a youngster on 10th September 2012 at a site called Hollum, Ameland. The distance between the two sites is 454 km with the bird having moved in a traditional WSW direction (and presumably over the North Sea). Whether this bird wintered in the UK during the 2012/13 winter is not known.
Also an adult male Lesser Redpoll that was ringed in East Hunsbury, Northampton on 25th February 2013 was subsequently controlled at Market Drayton, Shropshire on 15th March 2014. This little chap had no doubt clocked up many hundreds of kilometres in that time, a straight line between the sites is 131 km over a duration of 383 days.
Regards
Neil M
Typical Bank Holiday weather - heavy rain!
An Osprey was fishing on the reserve north of the causeway at Pitsford Res late morning, much to the annoyance of the summering Great Black-backed Gull there! Surprisingly, of the two it seemed that the gull has the longer wing-span.
The pair of Oystercatcher hatched four young on one of the tern rafts last week, and the adults were ferrying worms to them today. Common Terns have now started laying eggs on the same rafts.
Details have emerged in recent days of some more ringing returns:-
A Blackbird controlled at Pitsford Res on 1st December 2013 was first ringed in Holland as a youngster on 10th September 2012 at a site called Hollum, Ameland. The distance between the two sites is 454 km with the bird having moved in a traditional WSW direction (and presumably over the North Sea). Whether this bird wintered in the UK during the 2012/13 winter is not known.
Also an adult male Lesser Redpoll that was ringed in East Hunsbury, Northampton on 25th February 2013 was subsequently controlled at Market Drayton, Shropshire on 15th March 2014. This little chap had no doubt clocked up many hundreds of kilometres in that time, a straight line between the sites is 131 km over a duration of 383 days.
Regards
Neil M
Sunday 25 May 2014
Top Lodge, Fineshade
Hello
Barrie Galpin (BTO rep for the county), has kindly forwarded details of a Planning Application for Fineshade Top Lodge which if successful is likely to have an impact on the local wildlife in this section of the Rockingham Forest complex. As many will know, this area is one of the few available to us in the county where reptiles such as Adder and Common Lizard thrive. There are also several species of orchid, including one rare variety, which grow within a couple of hundred metres of this site.
I think most local naturalists would agree that the current visitor numbers, usage of the current Caravan Club site and the shop complex does not adversely affect the diverse and sensitive wildlife that Top Lodge and the adjacent land is renown for. However, the development of this site as below-indicated is likely to create a local ecological collapse of a number of sensitive and fragile species which appear not to be replicated anywhere else in Northamptonshire.
Please read on and respond as you feel appropriate...
The entrance and two main buildings will be located close to the Whitebeam tree on the left of the picture.
Barrie Galpin (BTO rep for the county), has kindly forwarded details of a Planning Application for Fineshade Top Lodge which if successful is likely to have an impact on the local wildlife in this section of the Rockingham Forest complex. As many will know, this area is one of the few available to us in the county where reptiles such as Adder and Common Lizard thrive. There are also several species of orchid, including one rare variety, which grow within a couple of hundred metres of this site.
I think most local naturalists would agree that the current visitor numbers, usage of the current Caravan Club site and the shop complex does not adversely affect the diverse and sensitive wildlife that Top Lodge and the adjacent land is renown for. However, the development of this site as below-indicated is likely to create a local ecological collapse of a number of sensitive and fragile species which appear not to be replicated anywhere else in Northamptonshire.
Please read on and respond as you feel appropriate...
Urgent - another plan to develop Top Lodge, Fineshade
Since the end of the last year we've been aware that the Forestry Commission have been working on a plan to build a Forest Holidays site in 70 acres of what's almost certainly ancient woodland here. However, last week a planning application has been submitted for another, completely different, development here. This will not affect the woods directly but will have a big impact on Top Lodge.
The application is for a "Change of use" of the privately owned field immediately in front of the Top Lodge offices and Visitor Centre. See picture attached. It is a proposal for:
"Change of use to lodge camping facility including 30 'glamping' pods, car park, wardens residence, reception, welfare building and associated works."
The entrance and two main buildings will be located close to the Whitebeam tree on the left of the picture.
The reference number for the application is 14/00195/FUL and it can be found online at http//:www.east-
or use the direct address:
You will find the Design and Access Statement, Ecological Survey and maps in the External Documents.
Comments can be made online, or very simply emailed to planning@east-
Or by letter to:
Planning comments,East Northamptonshire Council,Cedar Drive,Thrapston NN14 4LZ.
All comments must include your name and address and the reference 14/00195/FUL. The consultation period ends on 2nd June
For more information about responding to this planning application, or to be kept informed of further developments please send an email to fineshade.wood@zen.co.uk
Back to the county!
Hello
We arrived back in the county early this morning after the long drive down from Scotland in very wet weather!
However sunny Northants lived up to it's reputation today with some superb sunshine for much of the day.
Eleanor took a walk at Harrington Airfield late this morning and located two 'purring' Turtle Doves in the bushes on the north west side of the complex. This is a regular site for them but they are often very elusive and don't call particularly loudly.
A hunting Hobby was noted between Old and Pitsford Res and another pair were seen in NN6 clearly checking out a crow's nest.
I checked on the NN6 Raven nest today and found the adults with just one fledged juvenile in evidence.
Regards
Neil M
We arrived back in the county early this morning after the long drive down from Scotland in very wet weather!
However sunny Northants lived up to it's reputation today with some superb sunshine for much of the day.
Eleanor took a walk at Harrington Airfield late this morning and located two 'purring' Turtle Doves in the bushes on the north west side of the complex. This is a regular site for them but they are often very elusive and don't call particularly loudly.
A hunting Hobby was noted between Old and Pitsford Res and another pair were seen in NN6 clearly checking out a crow's nest.
I checked on the NN6 Raven nest today and found the adults with just one fledged juvenile in evidence.
Regards
Neil M
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