Martins and wagtails

Hello

An evening conducting some bird ringing near to the dam at Pitsford Res led to the capture and ringing of a Swallow, a House Martin, three Sand Martins, two Pied Wagtails, a Yellow Wagtail and singles of Robin, Linnet, Goldfinch and Moorhen. Three Grey Wagtails, about a dozen Yellow Wagtails and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were in the same area and earlier four Red-crested Pochard and two Common Sandpipers were noted in the Scaldwell Bay.

Regards

Neil M

Sand Martin

House Martin
All images courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Harrington Friday morning

Hello

A circuit around Harrington Airfield this morning was pleasant with a warmish autumnal breeze and lazy sunshine.

A Meadow Pipit was likely to have been a migrant and no doubt the precursor to the usual large movements in most autumns of this species through the county.

Small numbers of common warblers were busy in the bushes and an elusive Redstart was on the old airstrip in bushes between the second and third bunkers. Up to eight Red Kites patrolled the skies and the two Ravens enjoyed a little skirmish with a couple of them.

Regards

Neil M

Thursday's birds

Hello

Apologies for the late posting which refers to birds on Thursday 21st Aug...

A ringing session in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res in the morning followed on from efforts the previous evening and resulted in the total capture of 90 birds. This total included a female Sparrowhawk, three Kingfishers, 13 Wrens, 10 Bullfinches, 9 Robins, 6 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 9 Blackcaps, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, a Reed Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher. Extra birds caught near the dam during the evening included 5 House Martins, a Sand Martin, a Swallow and a Pied Wagtail.

A Hobby was in the Scaldwell Bay this morning and there was one worrying the martins by the dam in the evening. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was the only larid of interest.

Harrington Airfield in the morning hosted two Ravens and two Turtle Doves and there were again two Ravens around Hanging Houghton village.

Regards

Neil M

Migration is back on!

Hello

Today was the first day of several planned days of bird ringing at Pitsford Reservoir, extending in to the week-end.

The initial session was in the Walgrave Bay and then at locations in the Scaldwell Bay and at the Old Scaldwell Road by Maytrees Hide in the late afternoon/evening.

Eighty birds were processed in the Walgrave Bay with no surprises but some good numbers of common warblers and tits in particular. It was a similar story in the back of the Scaldwell Bay, but with the Old Scaldwell Road location also producing three new Moorhens and a Yellow Wagtail.

An Osprey fished the reserve for over thirty minutes from 5pm, before finally catching it's trout supper!

Other birds noted included at least four Red-crested Pochard, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, several Little Egrets, the two Black Swans still pus a Grey Wagtail and a Tree Pipit over. A Wheatear was on adjacent farmland to the west of the Walgrave Bay.

At Harrington Airfield this morning there were two Wheatears but little else.

This afternoon there was an apparent fall of migrants in the Brampton Valley and in particular around Blueberry Farm which hosted three Redstarts (including two stunning males), two Whinchats and a Tree Pipit on the ground.  Raptors included the same summering cream-crown Marsh Harrier and the seemingly now regular female Peregrine.  Two further Whinchats were in a field near to the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton village.

Regards

Neil M

Ravensthorpe insects...

Hello

Gary Burrows kindly forwarded some images through of some insects he located on the dam at Ravensthorpe Reservoir yesterday. 

Three Clouded Yellow butterflies were finding the meadow-like conditions to their liking as were more common small butterflies...

My thanks to Gary for his colourful contribution!

Regards

Neil M

Common Blue

Common Darter

Clouded Yellow

Small Copper

Autumn lull?

Hello

The impression is that the early tempo of a busy early autumn migration has flattened out and we are possibly in something of a comparative lull.

This afternoon a Grey Wagtail was again at Brixworth Sewer Works and two Ravens were again in a sheep field on the outskirts of Hanging Houghton. A couple of Swifts were noted in my travels around South Northants.

Eleanor spent time in the Brampton Valley and Harrington Airfield today but struggled to find anything much out of the ordinary.

Regards

Neil M

Evening at Blueberry Farm...

Hello

Eleanor ventured out to Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this evening and saw a hunting Barn Owl and a Cuckoo.

Neil H and I were down at the yacht club at Pitsford Res this evening but the gulls et al all kept their distance. The best birds noted was a Hobby, 2 Swifts, a Little Egret and 3+ Yellow-legged Gulls (one adult).  Birds caught and ringed included five House Martins and a Sand Martin.

The geese flocks were gleaning the stubble fields adjacent to the reservoir and included the Bar-headed Goose.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford WeBs

Hello

Much of today was taken up completing the WeBs count at Pitsford Reservoir. Decent numbers of wildfowl and other water-birds were present but nothing particularly remarkable was seen. 

Highlights included the pair of Ruddy Shelduck still (Pintail Bay), the Bar-headed Goose, two Black Swans, six Red-crested Pochard (again two drakes in the Walgrave Bay and a drake and three females in the Scaldwell Bay), up to six Little Egrets, a couple of Hobby, c6 Common Sandpipers, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Kingfisher and 20 Yellow Wagtails. 

Good numbers of Sand Martins were again feeding over the reservoir and Swallows and House Martins were moving through. Common butterflies on the wing included Small Copper.

Regards

Neil M

The wildlife subjects
didn't want to be photographed
today, so a couple of
'machinery' images from
Pitsford Res instead!

British Bird-watching Fair

Hello

No birding news from us today as we have been at the British Bird-watching Fair at Rutland Water and as usual spent far too much money!

As good as ever, this event has to be a big must for anyone who is interested in bird-watching and like-minded interests.  Huge marquees packed with art, optics, holidays, information services, books, outdoor clothing and much more makes it easy to look at and potentially purchase items at competitive prices, to the extent that each year we often wait for the fair to buy any bird-watching commodities.

The local Nuthatches were on our garden feeders first thing this morning, but apart from a few birds at Rutland Water and plenty of Common Buzzards en-route, nothing else to report!

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford and the rest...

Hello

Eleanor visited Harrington Airfield this morning and again saw the 'cream-crown' Marsh Harrier.  Passerines in good numbers included plenty of Whitethroat and Willow Warbler and the large mixed flock of Goldfinch and Linnet had returned. Two Ravens were also present.

With much of the day spent at Pitsford Reservoir, there was a reasonable day list of birds which included an Osprey in the Scaldwell Bay at 2.45pm, at least one Hobby, 6 Red-crested Pochard (two drakes Walgrave Bay, a drake and three females in the Scaldwell Bay), 2 Kingfishers, 3-6 Common Sandpipers, a Redshank, a Snipe, a Curlew, 4+ Little Egrets, a Bar-headed Goose, the pair of Ruddy Shelduck, 2 Black Swans, a Goldeneye, ca6 Yellow-legged Gulls (2 adults), and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull in the evening roost.

Ringing operations there today led to 102 birds being caught, perhaps the most interesting being a Green Woodpecker, a Marsh Tit, 6 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, 24 Chiffchaff, 11 Willow Warbler and 4 House Martin.  Large numbers of migrant Sand Martins were whizzing over the water all day.

Nick Wood and Chris Payne were ringing at Stortons GP this morning and caught a number of warblers which included 9 Whitethroat and several each of Blackcap and Garden Warbler as well as the usual Reed Warbler.  They also noted several Kingfishers and a Peregrine.

This evening two Ravens were in a sheep field at Hanging Houghton adjacent to the A508.

Regards

Neil M

Hornets seem to be
occupying several
nest-boxes at Pitsford
this year, this one being
in Christies Copse.

Eclipse and flightless
drake Goldeneye
Scaldwell Bay.

Pitsford Reservoir looking
towards the Maytrees Hide from
the New James Fisher Hide.

Birds at Pitsford

Hello

Overall a quiet day for birds today.  The reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir is beginning to show a significant drop in the water level so hopefully the muddy margins will increase and begin to attract some south-bound waders.  Birds noted north of the causeway included a Common Sandpiper, two Little Egrets and about a dozen Yellow Wagtails.  

This evening birds noted in the vicinity of the dam and yacht club at Pitsford Res included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, four Yellow-legged Gulls, a Little Egret and a Green Sandpiper.

Regards

Neil M

Quiet at Harrington?

Hello

Eleanor has not long returned from an excursion to Harrington Airfield, but her impression was that there had been a significant shift in the transient migrants that have been present and many have left.  There were still plenty of Whitethroats moving around the bushes and the agricultural activities had attracted Red Kites and a large flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, but few passerines of note.

However this site has a habit of luring you in to a sense of  'there's nothing here' and then some bright spark goes and find something good, so we will see what develops!

At Hanging Houghton this morning a calling Tree Pipit flew south at about 6.45am.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford update

Hello

Minimal birding opportunities today I'm afraid, but a family party of Spotted Flycatchers around the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir this evening was a pleasant surprise.

The Pitsford Reservoir reserve as managed by Wildlife Trust wardens has for many years attracted a team of volunteers keen to monitor all aspects of wildlife on-site. We enjoy regular meetings, and it is a fine opportunity to share information and support one another in all aspects of wildlife disciplines.

Although a warm (and wet) summer, the numbers of moths captured and monitored on-site this year has only been about on par with average years. Two moth traps are run every night and all specimens attracted are examined, identified and released every morning. A Small Rufous moth captured on 1st August was a first for Pitsford, despite being a wetland species. A recent 'moth night' event held at The Fishing Lodge to coincide with National Moth Night was successful and well-attended, despite a very poor weather forecast.

National Moth Night for 2015 will be 12th - 15th September and again Pitsford will be holding an event on the reserve.

To date, about 1730 birds have been ringed at the reservoir this year which includes juvenile Common Terns on the rafts, juvenile Tawny Owls from the boxes, some waterfowl and of course plenty of warblers, tits etc. Ten of the required twelve Constant Effort Site sessions have been completed.

Other breeding bird monitoring requires eight Common Bird Census visits to the reserve, whereby a recorder walks a set transect around the whole of the reserve recording all relevant birds seen and heard in an effort to successfully plot breeding territories. All these CBC visits were completed by the end of July and these sheets will be scrutinised in an effort to evaluate such territories and the health of most species.

Plenty of other monitoring is on-going, which by example includes identification of freshwater plankton and the recent discovery of a very rare slime mould. Much of this activity is documented in an annual report which is due to be published this month.

To conclude, Sarah Gibbs the Senior Reserve Warden, took to the air recently on a private light aircraft flight and some of her images of Pitsford Reservoir feature as the footer to this blog (please scroll down to the bottom to view).

Regards

Neil M

Ditchford WeBs

Hello

The first part of today was taken up completing a WeBs count at Ditchford Gravel Pits. In breezy but sunny conditions, large numbers of dragonflies and butterflies were on the wing, the best perhaps being quite a number of Clouded Yellow butterflies. Seven species of raptor included two Hobby, three Peregrine and a juvenile Marsh Harrier heading west. A pair of Egyptian Geese with eight goslings was a nice surprise, and a brood of Tufted Duck were noted too. A family party of Cetti's Warblers with just-fledged youngsters were a treat and a Willow Tit was the first recorded here for many long years. Waders were poorly represented with just a Common Sandpiper and three Oystercatchers but there were at least nine Kingfishers whizzing around. Other birds included four Little Egrets and about half a dozen Grey Wagtails.

At Pitsford Res this evening, the gull roost provided two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls and three adult Yellow-legged Gulls. The Common Scoter was still present just north of Pintail Bay and the pair of Ruddy Shelduck flew in with the geese. Other birds included singles of Little Egret and Common Sandpiper.

Regards

Neil M

Egyptian Geese

Hobby

Peregrine

Common Tern

Female Banded Demoiselle

Greylags

Pitsford Res from the
yacht club looking towards
Holcot church

Tuesday Part Three!

Hello

Eleanor is just back in from a good hike around the Blueberry Farm complex this afternoon.  Birds on show included a female Peregrine, a Barn Owl, a Redstart and two Whinchats...

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford Pm

I was rather hoping that the strong wind would produce a good bird, but if it has I cannot find it !! Pitsford Reservoir looks interesting as the water level is beginning to fall revealing muddy margins. However the birds have yet to discover this.
The two Ruddy Shelduck were just south of the causeway, whilst birds north of the causeway included 2 Red Crested Pochard, Goldeneye, 2 Black Swans, 4 Little Egret, 2 Common Sandpiper and a Green Sandpiper.


Regards Eleanor

Harrington Am

I was beginning to suffer "withdrawal symptoms" as I hadn't visited Harrington for a few days !!!!! but I'm feeling much better after my visit this morning with my collie companions.
As I drove from the chippings compound to the main gate I was aware of birds flitting about in the roadside bushes, mainly Whitethroat and Blackbird, but also a Redstart. A Marsh Harrier, presumably the same long staying individual, and 2 Red Kites were hunting the obvious harvested field on the left hand side of the road. I later saw the Marsh Harrier again near the pond.
A walk along the main track was fairly quiet. The large flock of Linnets, Goldfinches etc were nowhere to be found and the bushes silent.
At the end of the track there is a grassy area where I play with the dogs and there were 2 Turtle Doves and a bright male Redstart in the bushes.
Around the bunkers were more Whitethroats, a Whinchat, Wheatear and another Redstart.


Regards    Eleanor

Evening birds

Hello 

Despite plenty of effort today it seemed like hard work out there today to find much out of the ordinary.  An early morning recce of the Brampton Valley and Pitsford Res failed to locate anything noteworthy.

This afternoon Eleanor again saw a female Peregrine at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell but the best I could find was a single Grey Wagtail at Brixworth Sewer Works.

This evening a visit to the yacht club at Pitsford Res paid off with a sustained view of a fishing Osprey which successfully caught and took off a wriggling trout.  A juvenile Common Scoter in the Pintail Bay was unexpected.  The relatively small gull roost contained five Yellow-legged Gulls (one juvenile) and three juvenile Mediterranean Gulls (two moulting in to first winter plumage).

Regards

Neil M

Stormy Sunday

Hello

This morning Eleanor located a Redstart in 'shrike hedge' in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Cottesbrooke, and before the deluge from mid-morning!

Garden birds at Hanging Houghton still include the two Nuthatches and a Marsh Tit, coming mostly to a sunflower feeder.

At Pitsford Res this afternoon, I struggled to find anything out of the ordinary on the reserve, a Little Egret, the regular adult Yellow-legged Gull and the Goldeneye being about the best.  Two new broods of Tufted Duck now confirm four successful females on the reserve this year.

Scanning at the gull roost from the yacht club produced a Little Egret, two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls and the pair of Ruddy Shelduck (now capable of flight).

Regards

Neil M

A trip to the west

Hello

Today we wandered towards the west of the county, our first venue being the Hellidon area where we managed to locate a Wheatear and a Redstart. Next we took a circular walk around Boddington Reservoir, which as usual bristled with carp fishermen.  There were plenty of Common Blue butterflies on the wing but the birds were rather minimal with common warblers and a Grey Wagtail being the best.

A visit to Catesby produced a flock of eight Ravens playing in the strong south-westerly and a Hobby. Borough Hill Country Park was our next venue, with two Redstarts on the west side of the hill, a pair of Spotted Flycatcher with nestlings and a juvenile Siskin being the best of the birds.  This site has to be one of the best in the county for Harebells, with small colonies dotted all over the hill grassland.

Daventry Country Park hosted a Garganey, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, two Green Sandpipers and an adult male Peregrine.  Three broods of Tufted Duck was a good breeding record.

A late evening visit to the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir provided views of a Hobby, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, three Little Egrets and a Kingfisher. The southern end of Blueberry Farm attracted two Whinchats and a female Peregrine, the latter putting off a male Kestrel as it was about a rob a Barn Owl of it's prey.

Regards

Neil M

Wheatear

Grasshopper sp

Male Grey Wagtail

Common Blue butterfly

Ravens

Harebells

Spotted Flycatcher nestlings

Garganey