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- Wallcreepers and the Camargue Dec 2022.
- The Algarve at Christmas 2022
- Cambodia - January/February 2023.
- Poland March 2023
- Provence in Spring April 2023
- Camargue in Spring 1st - 5th May 2023
- Camargue in Spring 5th - 9th May 2023
- Undiscovered Iceland May 2023.
- Iceland in Spring 2023
- Norway - Whales & Seabirds of Norway's Lofoten Islands 2023
- Hebridean Cruise July 2023
- Romania - Carpathian Mountains and Danube Delta Sept 2023.
- Islay Jura October 2023
- Autumn on Mull Oct 2023.
- Islay's Winter Wildfowl Nov 2023
- Wallcreeper & the Camargue Nov/Dec 2023
- Algarve at Christmas 2023
- Gambia in Style Jan 2024
- The Best of Cambodia Jan/Feb 2024.
- Provence in Spring 2024
- Camargue in Spring 2024
Saturday 7 October 2017
Ringing and migration studies
Hello
On Wednesday Chris Payne completed some small bird ringing at Bradden in South Northants, catching and processing over eighty birds. Great Tits (32) and Blue Tits (40) dominated but Chris also processed Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Blackbird.
Back on 18th September, Jacob was completing another Patchwork Challenge session at Pitsford Reservoir and saw a Great Black-backed Gull sporting a colour ring - a black ring with white letters JJ080. It transpires this bird was ringed as a nestling at Hordaland, Norway on 2nd July 2013.
Pitford attracts plenty of big gulls which are attracted to dead and dying fish at the reservoir, so this is an indication of where at least some of them come from!
On Friday (6th) several members of the Northants Ringing Group worked at Stortons Gravel Pits, capturing and processing 76 birds including 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Goldcrests, 28 Blue Tits, 17 Great Tits, a Dunnock, a Robin, 6 Long-tailed Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Blackbird, a Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinches and 3 Reed Buntings.
Regards
Neil M
On Wednesday Chris Payne completed some small bird ringing at Bradden in South Northants, catching and processing over eighty birds. Great Tits (32) and Blue Tits (40) dominated but Chris also processed Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Robin, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Blackbird.
Back on 18th September, Jacob was completing another Patchwork Challenge session at Pitsford Reservoir and saw a Great Black-backed Gull sporting a colour ring - a black ring with white letters JJ080. It transpires this bird was ringed as a nestling at Hordaland, Norway on 2nd July 2013.
Pitford attracts plenty of big gulls which are attracted to dead and dying fish at the reservoir, so this is an indication of where at least some of them come from!
On Friday (6th) several members of the Northants Ringing Group worked at Stortons Gravel Pits, capturing and processing 76 birds including 5 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 4 Goldcrests, 28 Blue Tits, 17 Great Tits, a Dunnock, a Robin, 6 Long-tailed Tits, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Blackbird, a Goldfinch, 4 Chaffinches and 3 Reed Buntings.
Regards
Neil M
Great Black-backed Gull. |
Reed Bunting. Courtesy of John Tilly. |
Blue Tit. Courtesy of Cathy Ryden. |
Tuesday 3 October 2017
Scillies Birding
Hello
The Scillies birding scene during the last week or so has been somewhat reminiscent of the 'good old days' back in the eighties... a series of weather systems from across the Atlantic have been the dominant force providing visitors from across 'the Pond'. In addition the warm conditions have been good for butterflies and other insects, that is between the many soggy periods!
The below images reflect our experiences of the last ten days...!
Regards
Neil M
The Scillies birding scene during the last week or so has been somewhat reminiscent of the 'good old days' back in the eighties... a series of weather systems from across the Atlantic have been the dominant force providing visitors from across 'the Pond'. In addition the warm conditions have been good for butterflies and other insects, that is between the many soggy periods!
The below images reflect our experiences of the last ten days...!
Regards
Neil M
Grey Wagtail. |
Bee-eater! |
Firecrest. |
American Golden Plover. |
Painted Lady butterfly. |
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. |
Bird Club Meeting tomorrow evening!
Hello
The next indoor meeting of the Northants Bird Club is tomorrow evening, 4th October at the usual venue of the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir, Brixworth Road, Holcot.
The presenter is Nicholas Watts MBE, a successful Lincolnshire farmer and ardent conservationist who will show us the way to farm our land AND provide appropriate wildlife habitat.
Nicholas also runs Vine House Farm Birdfood, and his farm is utilised to cultivate wild bird food in addition to standard cereal produce.
The meeting commences at 7.30pm and there will be hot drinks and biscuits available during the evening.
All welcome!
Neil M
The next indoor meeting of the Northants Bird Club is tomorrow evening, 4th October at the usual venue of the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir, Brixworth Road, Holcot.
The presenter is Nicholas Watts MBE, a successful Lincolnshire farmer and ardent conservationist who will show us the way to farm our land AND provide appropriate wildlife habitat.
Nicholas also runs Vine House Farm Birdfood, and his farm is utilised to cultivate wild bird food in addition to standard cereal produce.
The meeting commences at 7.30pm and there will be hot drinks and biscuits available during the evening.
All welcome!
Neil M
Corn Bunting. |
Barn Owl. Two of the species benefiting from pro-wildlife farming methods. |
Sunday 1 October 2017
Linford ringing report
Hi all,
Not quite knowing what to expect today, it quickly became evident that we were in for a bumper session. 118 birds of 16 species found the nets, of which an unprecedented (for Linford) 106 were newly ringed.
Thankfully we had John on hand to help deal with the rush, otherwise we would most likely have had to close the nets.
As tentatively predicted, the catch was made up predominantly of blackcap (25) and chiffchaff (27). A Swiss control blackcap was quite a surprise (after we finally managed to read and translate the ring inscription!)
Other notable captures included 3 cettis warblers, a treecreeper, 6 goldcrests, 4 reed buntings, and 2 kingfishers.
Flocking blue tits boosted the numbers by a further 21.
The only real frustration was dipping on the meadow pipits which were present, but seemingly content to perch on the net poles.
Huge thanks to Sarah and John for working extra hard today!
Cheers
Kenny
Blackbird 2
Robin 3
Blackcap 24 (1)
Chiffchaff 27
Blue tit 17 (4)
Wren 5 (2)
Cettis warbler 2 (1)
Treecreeper 1
Goldcrest 5 (1)
Reed bunting 4
Dunnock 4 (2)
Long tailed tit 5
Great tit 5
Kingfisher 1 (1)
Chaffinch 1
Song thrush (1)
Tuesday 26 September 2017
Images from John and John!
Hello
John Gamble has kindly forwarded some images relating to a recent visit to Dorset and John Tilly took a stroll around the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir and has kindly made some photographic donations...
Thank-you to both of you...
Regards
Neil M
John Gamble has kindly forwarded some images relating to a recent visit to Dorset and John Tilly took a stroll around the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir and has kindly made some photographic donations...
Thank-you to both of you...
Regards
Neil M
Wryneck courtesy of John Gamble. |
Great White Egret courtesy of John Gamble. |
Cattle Egrets courtesy of John Gamble. |
Curlew Sandpiper courtesy of John Gamble. |
Wigeon. |
Red Admiral butterfly. |
Great Crested Grebe. |
Lapwing. |
Little Egret. Above six images from Pitsford Reservoir courtesy of John Tilly. |
Scilly Birds
Hello
After a couple of days in West Cornwall, Eleanor and I braved the sea crossing at the week-end to commence our stay on the Isles of Scilly, a regular venue of ours.
The first few days have been warm and sunny but wetter and greyer conditions will be with us soon!
Images of some of the highlights are as follows...
Regards
Neil M
After a couple of days in West Cornwall, Eleanor and I braved the sea crossing at the week-end to commence our stay on the Isles of Scilly, a regular venue of ours.
The first few days have been warm and sunny but wetter and greyer conditions will be with us soon!
Images of some of the highlights are as follows...
Regards
Neil M
Fulmar. |
Gannet. |
American Golden Plover. |
Wryneck. |
Friday 22 September 2017
More ringing returns...
Hello
A couple of recent ringing returns as follows...
A juvenile Starling was ringed at Scaldwell village on 7th June 2017 and was found dead, seemingly predated, in the Headlands district of Northampton on 21st August, a distance of about 10km. This year seemed to be a good breeding season for Starlings, the sometimes moist conditions providing optimum conditions for adults to find sufficient numbers of leatherjackets, the all-important larvae of Crane Flies, a critical food for Starlings during the breeding season. A large proportion of these flying juveniles are thinned out by predators, in particular they regularly fall prey to domestic cats, Sparrowhawks and Peregrines.
An adult Reed Warbler was caught and ringed at Stortons Gravel Pits on 25th August this year and only six days later was again found in a mist net but this time at Icklesham, Sussex, a distance of 185km in a south-easterly direction. It would be interesting to know if this was a breeding bird at Stortons or indeed was perhaps a passage adult from further north?
The weather in west Cornwall today was blustery and grey and sometimes rather wet but we managed to see a few birds including a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sennen, the third one in two days!
A two hour walk at Kenidjack provided at least five Choughs, a Peregrine and a heavy passage of Gannets offshore, but passerines were minimal. A Firecrest remained secretive on the outskirts of Penzance and the infamous headland of Porthgwarra was the venue for a little sea-watching in challenging conditions; diversity was limited and Gannets and Manx Shearwaters dominated but also a couple of passing Balearic Shearwaters made it more interesting. We finished the day at a very wet Hayle Estuary where the choice waders were Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper.
Regards
Neil M
A couple of recent ringing returns as follows...
A juvenile Starling was ringed at Scaldwell village on 7th June 2017 and was found dead, seemingly predated, in the Headlands district of Northampton on 21st August, a distance of about 10km. This year seemed to be a good breeding season for Starlings, the sometimes moist conditions providing optimum conditions for adults to find sufficient numbers of leatherjackets, the all-important larvae of Crane Flies, a critical food for Starlings during the breeding season. A large proportion of these flying juveniles are thinned out by predators, in particular they regularly fall prey to domestic cats, Sparrowhawks and Peregrines.
An adult Reed Warbler was caught and ringed at Stortons Gravel Pits on 25th August this year and only six days later was again found in a mist net but this time at Icklesham, Sussex, a distance of 185km in a south-easterly direction. It would be interesting to know if this was a breeding bird at Stortons or indeed was perhaps a passage adult from further north?
The weather in west Cornwall today was blustery and grey and sometimes rather wet but we managed to see a few birds including a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sennen, the third one in two days!
A two hour walk at Kenidjack provided at least five Choughs, a Peregrine and a heavy passage of Gannets offshore, but passerines were minimal. A Firecrest remained secretive on the outskirts of Penzance and the infamous headland of Porthgwarra was the venue for a little sea-watching in challenging conditions; diversity was limited and Gannets and Manx Shearwaters dominated but also a couple of passing Balearic Shearwaters made it more interesting. We finished the day at a very wet Hayle Estuary where the choice waders were Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper.
Regards
Neil M
Juvenile Great Black-backed Gull. |
Adult Gannet. |
Little Egret. |
Thursday 21 September 2017
Autumn waders
Hello
Chris Payne committed to some ringing in his Greens Norton garden yesterday morning, quickly catching 47 birds made up mostly of Goldfinches and Greenfinches but a Chiffchaff too. Raw ringing data from all the birds ringed in the UK last year indicates that Goldfinches were the second most common bird ringed (for the first time and second only to Blue Tit), indicating a significant increase in numbers and a growing tendency to utilise garden feeders.
Bob Bullock, Neil Hasdell and Cathy Ryden have all seen a colour-ringed Little Egret at Hollowell Reservoir which was present at the start of the month. It seems that this bird was ringed as a nestling at Netherall in Essex on 7th May 2016, the Northants sightings being nearly 500 days after it was ringed, this bird moving 96km in a north westerly direction.
Jacob notched up some good wader numbers today at Pitsford Reservoir with a Little Stint, 8 Dunlin, 5 Ruff and 24 Ringed Plovers all congregating in the Scaldwell Bay.
A trundle down the road to Davidstow Airfield in Cornwall today provided some close views of waders which included two fine Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and a more distant view of a Spotted Sandpiper on nearby Crowdy Reservoir...
Regards
Neil M
Chris Payne committed to some ringing in his Greens Norton garden yesterday morning, quickly catching 47 birds made up mostly of Goldfinches and Greenfinches but a Chiffchaff too. Raw ringing data from all the birds ringed in the UK last year indicates that Goldfinches were the second most common bird ringed (for the first time and second only to Blue Tit), indicating a significant increase in numbers and a growing tendency to utilise garden feeders.
Bob Bullock, Neil Hasdell and Cathy Ryden have all seen a colour-ringed Little Egret at Hollowell Reservoir which was present at the start of the month. It seems that this bird was ringed as a nestling at Netherall in Essex on 7th May 2016, the Northants sightings being nearly 500 days after it was ringed, this bird moving 96km in a north westerly direction.
Jacob notched up some good wader numbers today at Pitsford Reservoir with a Little Stint, 8 Dunlin, 5 Ruff and 24 Ringed Plovers all congregating in the Scaldwell Bay.
A trundle down the road to Davidstow Airfield in Cornwall today provided some close views of waders which included two fine Buff-breasted Sandpipers, and a more distant view of a Spotted Sandpiper on nearby Crowdy Reservoir...
Regards
Neil M
Ringed Plover. |
Buff-breasted Sandpiper. |
Wednesday 20 September 2017
Chats on the move!
Hello
This morning the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton provided an excellent suite of chats with a single Redstart, two Whinchats, two Stonechats and a Wheatear all on show.
The ringing session at Harrington Airfield today provided 99 captures of 17 species made up of 2 Green Woodpeckers, 9 Blackbirds, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wrens, a Goldcrest, 22 Yellowhammers, 10 Dunnocks, a Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinches, 6 Goldfinches, 4 Linnets, 8 Great Tits, 6 Blue Tits, 6 Robins, 12 Meadow Pipits, a Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Reed Buntings.
Birds noted on-site included a Stonechat, a pair of Ravens and 7 Golden Plovers.
Regards
Neil M
This morning the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton provided an excellent suite of chats with a single Redstart, two Whinchats, two Stonechats and a Wheatear all on show.
The ringing session at Harrington Airfield today provided 99 captures of 17 species made up of 2 Green Woodpeckers, 9 Blackbirds, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Wrens, a Goldcrest, 22 Yellowhammers, 10 Dunnocks, a Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinches, 6 Goldfinches, 4 Linnets, 8 Great Tits, 6 Blue Tits, 6 Robins, 12 Meadow Pipits, a Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Reed Buntings.
Birds noted on-site included a Stonechat, a pair of Ravens and 7 Golden Plovers.
Regards
Neil M
Stonechat, courtesy of Jacob Spinks. |
Whinchat courtesy of Jacob Spinks. |
Wheatear. |
Common Redstart. |
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