Spring sunshine!

Hello

Sadly another Barn Owl casualty was lying at the side of the road alongside the A508 between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell this morning, only a couple of hundred yards where I picked up a Common Buzzard last week which had suffered a similar fate...

The Stonechat count went up to seven individuals in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and an evening wander at Harrington Airfield indicated three pairs of Grey Partridge on territory and plenty of buntings coming down for seed and grain.

Chris Payne took a couple of hours out this morning in lovely spring sunshine to commit to a little ringing at Bradden in South Northants which culminated in processing 35 birds made up of 16 Goldfinches, 4 Chaffinches, a Greenfinch, a Goldcrest, 6 Blue Tits, 6 Great Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Eric Graham spent some time on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston today and saw plenty of birds including a Great White Egret, three Little Egrets, four Goosanders, a pair of Oystercatchers, three redpoll sp, six Cetti's Warblers and two singing Chiffchaffs.

Jacob saw a third winter Caspian Gull in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon plus a Green Sandpiper and two Redshanks.

Regards

Neil M

Rainbow over Maytrees
Hide at Pitsford Reservoir
on Sunday!

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Great Crested Grebe versus Pike...errr
no contest really!

Pictures courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Kelmarsh Hall ringing

Hello

Jacob was at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and saw two Shelducks, a White-fronted Goose, two Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, a pair of courting Kingfishers and a Grey Wagtail.

Five Stonechats were in the Brampton Valley between the Brampton Valley Way and the Gamboro' Plantation today, one of which was caught and ringed.

A ringing session today at Kelmarsh Hall provided 86 birds of 14 species amounting to 57 new birds and 29 re-trapped birds. Finches were well represented with 4 Greenfinches, 12 Goldfinches, 8 Chaffinches and 3 Siskins. A House Sparrow and two Tree Sparrows were not anticipated!

Regards

Neil M

Goldfinch.
Courtesy of Cathy Ryden.

Greenfinch.
Courtesy of Cathy Ryden.

Cock Pheasant.
Courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Yet more garden birds!

Hello

Yesterday Steve Bennison noted five Mandarin Ducks and a Great White Egret at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Two pairs of Stonechats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and two Ravens were near the village later.

Today Pitsford Reservoir hosted a White-fronted Goose, two Redshank, an Oystercatcher and a male Stonechat all on the reserve north of the causeway.

Regards

Neil M

Siskin.

Robin.

Male Brambling.

Male Sparrowhawk.

It's all action in the Duston garden
belonging to Steve Bennison! Two pairs
of Brambling have remained throughout
the winter and Siskins are appearing on
passage. Today Steve thought it odd that the
garden was empty of birds, then he spotted
this stunning Sparrowhawk and realised why!
All images taken by Steve in his garden.

Finches on the move...

Hello

This morning just one pair of Stonechat were visible in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and higher water levels at Ravensthorpe Reservoir haven't put off the Otters with two animals on show from the causeway this morning.

Chris Payne enjoyed a brief spell of ringing at Greens Norton today, catching 14 Goldfinches and 2 Siskins and reported that Goldfinches were clearly on the move all day.

A ringing session at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today caused 127 birds to be processed made up of 61 new birds and 67 re-trapped individuals. These were made up of 9 Dunnocks, 4 Nuthatches, 29 Great Tits, 3 Blackbirds, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Song Thrushes, 3 Wrens, 3 Goldcrests, 11 Robins, 31 Blue Tits, 9 Chaffinches, 3 Siskins, 16 Coal Tits, a Treecreeper and 2 Long-tailed Tits. Another dozen or so Chaffinches were released from the nets due to diseased legs.

At least one of the Chaffinches processed today was a typical continental bird and was carrying a great deal of fat and weighing on average a third more than the average bird. I think he will be on his way any day now...

Siskins seemed to be on the move with small flocks arriving and departing during the day, a Crossbill spent some time in the trees above us before moving on and other birds included anything between six to a dozen Woodcocks active just before dawn. Other birds noted include several Marsh Tits, a singing Willow Tit, a redpoll sp and a couple of Ravens.

Regards

Neil M

A stunning adult male
Siskin courtesy of Chris Payne.

A rather wet Friday!

Hello

Our garden was a good place to be this morning with a brief visitation by four Waxwings and subsequently from a flock of Reed Buntings, several Yellowhammers, a Tree Sparrow and Tree x House Sparrow hybrid and finally a male Sparrowhawk.

Harrington Airfield still fielded a flock of over a hundred Golden Plovers and birds at Pitsford Reservoir included a Redshank and a Shelduck. A Grey Wagtail was at Kelmarsh Hall and Scotland Wood hosted a Siskin and a Willow Tit.

Some evidence of passage today with now three pairs of Stonechats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and with a quartering Short-eared Owl and a Peregrine there this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Tree Sparrow.

Sparrowhawk.

Grey Wagtail.

All images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Winter waders

Hello

Eleanor took Tor the hound for a run around the south section of Pitsford Reservoir this morning and observed the Red-necked Grebe immediately north of the causeway right next to the causeway tunnel, plus a couple of Grey Wagtails.

The regular Barn Owl hunting alongside a minor road on the outskirts of Scaldwell village was there again this evening...

Regards

Neil M

Oystercatcher

Redshanks.

Green Sandpiper.

Some recently-taken images of waders
at Pitsford Reservoir courtesy of Robin
Gossage. Two each of Redshank and Green
Sandpiper have successfully wintered here
and the first spring Oystercatchers have already
paid the reservoir a visit with the potential
of coming back a little later and trying to
breed again.

More garden birds...

Hello

A quick wander around Harrington Airfield today where I fed the Yellowhammers and their friends; other birds included a pair of Grey Partridge and about 140 mobile Golden Plovers. At least one Raven was in Hanging Houghton today and two others were seen in flight between Holcot and Brixworth. A Brambling was noted in Scaldwell village.

Chris Payne was ringing for a couple of hours at Bradden today and caught 43 birds made up of 5 Chaffinches, 7 Goldfinches, 3 Greenfinches, 17 Blue Tits, 8 Great Tits, a Robin, a Goldcrest and a Dunnock. There were two Ravens there too...

Regards

Neil M

Kestrel

Adult male Siskin.

Greenfinch and Siskin.

All images taken by Cathy Ryden
in her garden today...

Garden Birds

Hello

Cathy Ryden enjoyed a Brambling, a Bullfinch and Reed Bunting in her Guilsborough garden this morning and Jacob Spinks noted about forty Golden Plovers in fields between Holcot and Moulton this afternoon.

No birding opportunities for Eleanor or me today but our rather morose Little Owl continues to call from a neighbouring garden and the field behind our garden. This chap didn't find a mate last year and from the calls it is emitting currently it seems he hasn't managed to find a partner for the 2017 season thus far. Mind you it could be this evening's heavy rain that is making him a touch glum! 

Less than ten years ago we enjoyed three pairs of Little Owls breeding around the village but they have sadly thinned out and I don't think any young were raised last year.

Regards

Neil M

Little Owl

Starling.

Starling.

Male House Sparrow.

Male Bullfinch.

Brambling.

Images courtesy of
Cathy Ryden.

Monday's birds...

Hello

Diane Freeman noted a Barn Owl at Rectory Farm, Old this morning and this afternoon Andrew Tyrrell located a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Salcey Forest, about 100 yards from the old 'Green Woodpecker car park', associating with Long-tailed Tits.

Two Waxwings were perched on our next door neighbour's television aerial (Hanging Houghton) at 8.45am this morning, trilling well before flying off! Two Grey Wagtails were at Brixworth Water Treatment Works today and a Chiffchaff was calling from a hedge there too. Harrington Airfield hosted a flock of about a hundred Golden Plovers plus two or three Brown Hares.

A couple of hours surveying an area near Spratton this morning (before the rain arrived) was productive with sightings of four Ravens, three Goosanders, two Woodcock and a Common Snipe.

A few thousand Starlings were producing a 'murmuration' at Kettering General Hospital this afternoon.

This Wednesday evening is the AGM of the Northants Bird Club at the usual venue of the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir. The business of the AGM will not take long, and following presentation of the Graham Soden Trophy, the main part of the evening will be a presentation by Mike Alibone on birding in the Middle East hot spot of Israel. We look forward to seeing you there!

Regards

Neil M

Coots (arguing as usual)!

Grey Heron.

Drake Tufted Duck.

Water Rail (and Mallard).

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Three of us committed to the monthly wetland bird count at Pitsford Reservoir today, and incorporating the gull roost it took us ten hours to complete. There was little that was new but we enjoyed the old favourites as we counted the more common fare. The Red-necked Grebe was off the causeway, but for the first time this was on the north side (keeping out of the wind). The Slavonian Grebe was initially in the Pintail Bay but later moved to Yacht Bay.

At least two Great White Egrets were north of the causeway and waders amounted to a Woodcock, a Jack Snipe, ninety Common Snipe, two Green Sandpipers and two Redshanks. A drake Pintail was in the Scaldwell Bay, we noted two Kingfishers and interesting passerines included four Grey Wagtails, two Stonechats, two Marsh Tits and two Willow Tits. The more interesting gulls included a first winter Yellow-legged Gull and a first winter Mediterranean Gull.

A Brambling was in Jacob's Scaldwell garden this morning and birds at Harrington Airfield included four Grey Partridges and four Tree Sparrows on the feed.

Regards

Neil M

Great White Egret.

Female Yellowhammer.

Gadwall.

Slavonian Grebe.

Another old bird!

Hello

Eric Graham and Ken Spriggs were out at Thrapston Gravel Pits today and they again located the Great White Egret plus seven Goosanders, an Egyptian Goose and a singing Cetti's Warbler.

The pair of Stonechat were in the valley below Hanging Houghton again this morning, keeping low in breezy conditions. Eleanor saw her regular pair of Raven at Staverton today and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir watched two Otters playing in the water, at least six drake Mandarin Ducks, two Kingfishers and a Great White Egret following a brief stop on the causeway at 1.30pm.

Jacob Spinks located a Mediterranean Gull at Pitsford Reservoir in the Moulton Grange Bay this afternoon.

Ringing at Sunderland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today provided 69 captures of woodland birds made up of a single Blackbird, 25 Blue Tits, 17 Great Tits, 2 Coal Tits, 5 Marsh Tits, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Treecreepers, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Wrens, 2 Dunnocks, 4 Robins, 2 Nuthatches and 2 Chaffinches.

One of the re-trap Blue Tits was a very old bird, being first ringed there on 27th November 2010 and re-trapped in the same wood on 21st November 2011 and 10th April 2013. When first captured in 2010 the bird was already an adult which means it was hatched in 2009 or earlier. On the assumption that this bird will survive to this summer, it will then be at least eight years old. The oldest known British Blue Tit is ten years and three months.

Two or three Woodcock were noted in Sunderland Wood and a Raven was at Kelmarsh village.

Regards

Neil M

Nuthatch.

Treecreeper.

Symonds Yat and Forest of Dean

Hello

Just back in from a day out in Gloucestershire and to one of my favourite places, Symonds Yat Rock and the nearby Forest of Dean. Sunshine and breeze is key to success at these sites early in the year so today seemed the best recent opportunity...

We started at Symond's Yat Rock overlooking the River Wye and were the first ones there. Most of the action was over and done by 9.30am with two or three male Goshawks (mostly at long range) careering around high up, displaying and interacting. One did arrive overhead but as usual we still didn't manage nice close views. The Peregrines were on form and came closer as they gained height to attack passing pigeons and as the strength of the breeze grew, battalions of Common Buzzards filled the air with as many as thirty individuals displaying and calling. The Ravens were active too and fly-over finches included Crossbill.

In the Forest of Dean we encountered Mandarin Ducks at two sites, eight Goosanders, another three or four Goshawks, plenty more Buzzards and Ravens, three Hawfinches, the wintering Great Grey Shrike at Crab Tree Hill and the usual supporting cast of woodland birds.

Regards

Neil M

Nuthatch

Immature male Goshawk

Peregrine, showing considerably
closer than the Goshawks!

Drake Mandarin Duck.

Male Crossbill.

Sadly the only Wild Boar
we saw in the forest
was this dead one
beside the road...