More images from Spurn...

Hello

Please find a few more images of birds from Spurn on Sunday...

Neil M

Pied Flycatcher
Robin Gossage

Redstart
Robin Gossage

Roe Deer
Robin Gossage

Wheatear
Robin Gossage

Masked Shrike
Robin Gossage

Jack Snipe
Robin Gossage

Barred Warbler
Robin Gossage

Snipe
Jacob Spinks

Pitsford Ringing

Hello

A period of ringing at the main feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday afternoon and this morning was responsible for the capture of  93 birds, 78 of them being new birds. The new birds were 4 Wrens, 8 Dunnocks, 5 Robins, 1 Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blue Tits, 5 Great Tits, an impressive 37 Tree Sparrows, 6 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches, a Goldfinch and a Reed Bunting.

Seven Little Egrets were noted flying from the overnight roost this morning.

I'm grateful to Dave Francis and Lynne Barnett for their efforts and disclosure.

Regards

Neil M

Images of the Sparrowhawk
captured at Pitsford last Saturday.
This was a re-trap male, first
caught and ringed at Pitsford
in 2013, then being aged as a
 bird hatched that year.
Image courtesy of Pete Gilbert

Masked Shrike

Hello

Neil H has kindly forwarded some images of the Masked Shrike at Spurn as seen on Sunday...

Please click on the images for maximum benefit.

Regards

Neil M

Summer Leys

I decided to visit Summer Leys this morning after yesterday's sighting of a Bittern. Disappointingly the bird didn't make a return visit.
There were compensations however. A Great White Egret was fishing on the Scrape when I arrived in the Pioneer Hide. It was accompanied by a Little Egret and a rather possessive Grey Heron. The latter bird was particularly envious of the Egret's fishing success and attempted to steal fish from it before eventually displacing it from it's preferred fishing spot.
An eclipse plumage Garganey was also feeding on the scrape. A pair of Grey Wagtail's flew in and started feeding in front of the hide. Shortly afterwards a juvenile Peregrine Falcon flew low over the scrape and gave a Wood Pigeon a nasty surprise. The bird wasn't really in hunting mode and the Pigeon easily evaded its half hearted stoop. None of the other birds on the scrape noticed the Peregrine's passage!
A pair of Snipe were on Brayshaw's Bund with a second pair on Eddy's Island. A lone Hobby was hawking insects high over the car park.

              Regards,

                        Neil H.

Autumn sunshine

Hello

A stunning autumnal day meant that Eleanor was soon out of the door this morning, joined by me a little later with a few chores completed.

A 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier flew along the Brampton Valley towards Brixworth from below Hanging Houghton at about 10.45am, but there was little else to report with the valley fields being very dry at the moment.

A quick late morning walk at Harrington Airfield was profitable if you like looking at good numbers of soaring Kestrels, Common Buzzards and Red Kites as there were plenty in every direction. A female Peregrine, presumably the Blueberry bird, came over the airfield causing some consternation among the gulls feeding on the fields. Passerines were generally in low numbers with just a few common warblers, Yellowhammers, Goldfinches and Meadow Pipits perhaps being the most obvious on show.

Early afternoon saw us in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res where there were five Red-crested Pochard (including a leucistic individual) and a Little Egret. The bay was disturbed due to some tree felling which will hopefully improve viewing conditions around the Bird Club hide.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kite
Harrington Airfield

Spurn

Hello

Yesterday  (Sunday 21st Sept) I was fortunate to be able to visit the Spurn/Kilnsea area in East Yorkshire with fellow Northants birders Jacob Spinks, Andrew Tyrrell and Neil Hasdell.  There were plenty of birders on the ground when we arrived and good numbers of other would-be observers from Northants too! This migration hot-spot attracts large numbers of birders from around the country, the quality and concentration of birds making the long journey worthwhile. 

Many there had come to see a juvenile Masked Shrike which was on show all day along a particular shielded hedge-line, and this was my first opportunity of seeing one in juvenile plumage. The bird was just a little too far away for my lens to cope with so I'm hoping my colleagues will supply me an image over the next few days or so!

The supporting cast of scarce and rare birds ensured that birders didn't have far to stray and we walked a loop around Kilnsea itself to see most of the birds on offer.  I can watch members of the chat family all day and with good numbers of Stonechats, Whinchats, Wheatears and Redstarts on offer I was very happy with my lot. A juvenile Barred Warbler gave itself up on the second attempt and at one stage I was able to see Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher and Red-breasted Flycatcher all in the same 'scope view! We didn't connect with an elusive Olive-backed Pipit on-site but most patient observers did even if the views were brief. Other birds of the grassy margins included up to three Jack Snipe, Snipe and Water Rail.

Other warblers included Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler and a Yellow-browed was reported. Fly-over migrants included Marsh Harrier, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Brambling and Siskin. A brief spell of sea-watching quickly provided distant views of Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Arctic and Great Skua and good numbers of Red-throated Divers as well as a supporting cast of Kittiwake, Common Tern, Gannet and Guillemot. 

As the tide turned good numbers and variety of estuary waders were pushed up towards us and we noted plenty of Little Egrets and a couple of Brent Geese. A Peregrine was about our last bird of note as we left the area during the late afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Stonechat

Pied Flycatcher

Barred Warbler

Wheatear

Jack Snipe

Snipe

Stortons Ringing

Hello

A ringing session took place at Stortons GP this morning which resulted in 69 birds being caught of which 52 were new. Highlights included some summer migrants still in the shape of a Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Reed Warblers and 9 Blackcaps plus 3 resident Bullfinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Birds noted around Hanging Houghton today included 2 Ravens, a Barn Owl and a Grey Wagtail. An excursion at Harrington Airfield this morning failed to locate much with just a pair of Grey Partridge being noteworthy.

A walk around the fields between Walgrave village and Pitsford Res this afternoon was sufficient to see an Osprey, a Redstart and 3 Golden Plovers.

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford Ringing

Hello

A period of bird ringing in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res today was sufficient to catch and process 73 birds with perhaps the highlights being a Sparrowhawk, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Reed Warbler, 7 Blackcaps, a Goldcrest and 13 Meadow Pipits.

Other birds noted in the bay included at least 2 Hobbys, 13 Red-crested Pochard, a Kingfisher, a Snipe and a Willow Tit.

An adult male Merlin appeared at Harrington Airfield this morning and two Wheatears were present around the bunkers.

At Blueberry Farm this afternoon, the southern-most field hosted a Stonechat and a Whinchat with two mobile Ravens too.

Regards

Neil M

Staying local

Hello

A visit to the village sewer works at Brixworth today provided views of a Hobby and at least five Grey Wagtails (two caught and ringed).

An afternoon visit to the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res confirmed the continued presence of the Great White Egret and adult Yellow-legged Gull plus at least six Red-crested Pochard and four Snipe.

Regards

Neil M

Unidentified fungi
on dead Ash tree near
Pitsford Res. The structure
resembled a coral or cauliflower!
Any suggestions re identity
gratefully received!

And the Hornet nest just became
bigger again!
Pitsford Res.

Great White Egret with
friends, Pitsford Res

Pitsford images

Hello

The Willow Hide is situated in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir, and because it is about a two mile hike to reach it from the causeway, not many visitors utilize this viewing opportunity. Although the wildlife is often not close, the siting of the hide frequently provides good quality light for photography for much of the day...

Regards

Neil M

Ruff
Pitsford Res

Lapwing
Pitsford Res

Grey Heron
Pitsford Res

Drake Pochard
Pitsford Res

Female Pochard
Pitsford Res

Drake Gadwall
Pitsford Res
Normally one of the first
ducks to acquire nuptial plumage
following the eclipse stage

Female Gadwall
Pitsford Res

Roesel's Bush-cricket
Pitsford Res

Little Egret
Pitsford Res

Simon Hales images

Hello

Simon is a keen local naturalist who seems to have the knack of putting himself in prime position for taking excellent images of local wildlife.  Please enjoy the results!

Regards

Neil M

Whinchat
Harrington Airfield

Hornet nest - now much more
advanced Pitsford Res!

Cetti's Warbler
Stanwick GP

Red-legged Partridge