Harrington visible migration

Hello

A visit to Harrington Airfield, the first time in over four weeks, provided a steady flow of over-flying migrants with plenty of Woodpigeons, Starlings and Redwings streaming south west with others in the bushes. Chaffinches were passing over in good numbers with some arcing down into the scrubby areas and Skylarks were both visual and vocal. About two hundred Golden Plovers were on the top fields, fifteen Bramblings were lingering and a Short-eared Owl flew from the straw bales on the concrete track. Two or three more Bramblings were down near the museum and there were six Grey Partridges in the valley below Hanging Houghton.

Subsequent birds included two Ravens over the garden here at Hanging Houghton, a Chiffchaff in the garden and a Grey Wagtail on the house roof!

Elsewhere and a Pink-footed Goose was at Hollowell Reservoir as were four Great White Egrets, five Stonechats and a fly-over Brambling. An Osprey flew west over Moulton this afternoon and Adrian's evening roost check at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits revealed an excellent nine Cattle Egrets and a Great White Egret.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Meadow Pipit.

Rook.

Linford Lakes ringing

Hello

A team of four ringers, led by Kenny Cramer conducted another interesting ringing session at Linford Lakes on the outskirts of Milton Keynes yesterday resulting in fifty captures of sixteen species of which thirty-six individuals were newly-ringed. A Barn Owl is the second bird caught in recent times but four Jackdaws were something of a surprise as was a young male Sparrowhawk. Other birds included five Blackbirds, four Redwings, two Song Thrushes, five Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and two Lesser Redpolls.

Regards

Neil M

Goldcrest.

Barn Owl.

Jackdaws.

Sparrowhawk.

Lesser Redpoll.
All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

The Isles of Scilly

Hello

Just back from four weeks on the wonderful Isles of Scilly! We enjoyed a mixture of weather and although it is already recognised as being a quiet year in many respects there was still plenty to look at! As well as general birding, Eleanor was running around the island coastal paths most days with her collies, I did a little ringing and conducted a Naturetrek tour and managed to complete a couple of pelagic trips too. And of course these islands are fabulous walking terrain with every island subtly different to each other and yes I took plenty of photos.

Anyway a few images from the islands, no doubt there will be more over the next few days...

Regards

Neil M

Gannet.

Snow Bunting.

Hottentot-Fig flower.

Small Copper.

Bathing Song Thrush.

More autumn birding

Hello

Yesterday (Thursday) a Whinchat was at shrike hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Common Redstart lingered in the usual hedge at Lamport Hall. Three Grey Wagtails visited our rooftop and that of our neighbour at Hanging Houghton.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir included a Peregrine, three Great White Egrets, a Garganey and two Pintails.

Today (Friday) provided six Golden Plovers for Harrington Airfield plus three Stonechats, a Whinchat, a Snipe and a Great White Egret at Hollowell Reservoir. Daventry Country Park produced two Great White Egrets, a Greenshank, two Green Sandpipers and two Pintails.

The now rare Willow Tit still persists at Stanford Reservoir with one or two birds in residence and there was a Great White Egret there today too.

A ringing session took place at Woodford Halse today and yielded eighty-four birds of fifteen species which included four Chiffchaffs, five Blackcaps, three Meadow Pipits, three Goldfinches, a Marsh Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Regards

Neil M

Mute Swan courtesy
of John Tilly.

Common Snipe
courtesy of John Tilly.

Great White Egret
courtesy of John Tilly.

Cattle Egrets courtesy
of John Gamble.

Little Egret courtesy
of John Tilly.

The Summer Leys Bittern
courtesy of Stuart Munday.

September birds

Hello

Yesterday the WeBS count was completed at Pitsford Reservoir in pleasant, warm conditions. Five Great White Egrets stalked the shallows and other birds included nine Pintail, an adult Yellow-legged Gull eating one of many dead fish, three Green Sandpipers and a juvenile Black Tern that spent much of its time hawking insects in the Scaldwell Bay. Other birds included a Snipe, three Grey Wagtails, a Goldeneye and a good build up of Wigeon. Yesterday afternoon and this morning Dave Francis conducted some ringing around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station and netted a re-trap Sparrowhawk, a staggering forty-four Blackcaps, fourteen Chiffchaffs, four Meadow Pipits, three Tree Sparrows, two Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat plus more regular birds. The lowering water levels are now providing muddy edges and hence why three Ruff and a Black-tailed Godwit were seen there today and the Great White Egret count went up to six.

At Harrington Airfield a ringing session this morning provided ninety-four captures of thirteen species regularly encountered here, the majority of birds being Yellowhammers, Meadow Pipits, Dunnocks, Goldfinches and Blackcaps. A Blackcap was bearing a British ring from elsewhere, seemingly first ringed in August 2020 but we will have to await further details. A Wheatear and a Whinchat were at the old airfield yesterday afternoon and today a Wheatear showed briefly at Bunker Two. Other birds noted today included a Golden Plover and overflying migrants included three Grey Wagtails.

Down at Linford Lakes Kenny and Keith worked the nets both yesterday morning and this morning, catching and processing 118 birds of eighteen species which included twenty Chiffchaffs, twenty-eight Blackcaps, twelve Meadow Pipits, eight Reed Buntings, nine Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, two Cetti's Warblers, four Kingfishers, a Marsh Tit, a Black-headed Gull, two Snipe and the star bird a splendid Green Sandpiper.

Jacob was with a small team working on Short-eared Owls at Spurn last night, trialing a few amended catching techniques which paid off with six birds caught and ringed!

A Whinchat was at 'shrike hedge' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and birds at Borough Hill Country Park included three Stonechats and a Whinchat. A Marsh Harrier was seen over Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and the Bittern was still there yesterday.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher.

Clifden Nonpareil courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Wheatear courtesy of
John Gamble.

Apologies

Hello

My apologies for the lack of blogs recently. We are currently experiencing all sorts of connectivity problems which as yet remain unresolved. Both our laptops have recently expired and all in all it has been a very frustrating period trying to stay connected!

I've been lucky enough to lead two recent tours to the Ardnamurchan Peninsular in Scotland and also the Naturetrek Poland in Autumn tour and have other tours coming up.

Today Eleanor's daily visit to the Blueberry Farm near Maidwell paid off this morning with a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier flying towards Cottesbrooke and a female Merlin chasing passerines nearby. A Common Redstart still remains at Blueberry Farm and there was at least one Whinchat in fields between there and the Brampton Valley Way near shrike hedge.

I completed a rather late WeBS count at Ditchford Pits today - birds west of Ditchford Lane included seven Egyptian Geese, a Peregrine and a Green Sandpiper and birds east of Ditchford Lane included a flying Great White Egret and a Garganey on the Main Pit. Chris Green also noted a Cattle Egret on Dragonfly Lakes and an Otter and new insects for me were about four Willow Emerald damselflies.

David Arden noted a Red-crested Pochard, three or four Great White Egrets and a Green Sandpiper all north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

 

Drake Mallard.

Juvenile Knot.

Eurasian Bison.

Catch Up

 Another few lovely Autumn days where I have been lucky enough to spend a fair bit of time outdoors.  The dogs have certainly had a good amount of exercise so will probably be glad of a rest tomorrow if the predicted rainy day happens.                                                    I am still bumping into plenty of Common Redstarts.  There are still at least 2 individuals showing well at Blueberry and they were flitting along the fence in one of the horse paddocks this morning.  These birds have been the easiest to view. There are still a couple at Harrington Airfield but elusive,  although yesterday one perched right out in the open but I had both hands full at the time with a dog and bird food so by the time I could get to my binoculars it had flown further on, never to be seen again !!.   There have also been a couple regularly in the hedge at Lamport Hall,  these have also been easy to view. This evening a female type was calling and dropping onto the ground and back up onto the fence next to the footpath.         Yesterday I took the opportunity to check out the hedgerows between Old and the Walgrave Bay of Pitsford Reservoir.  Again another favourite area for these birds. I have checked the hedgerows several times recently and haven't seen anything and was expecting the same result yesterday.  But was pleasantly surprised to find at least 6 individuals,  3 of whom were chasing each other around,  then further on 2 were flycatching and then another bird further along the hedge calling.  Needless to say I spent quite a while simply watching and enjoying these beauties. 

Harrington Airfield,  Blueberry and the area below Hanging Houghton are favourite places for Whinchat and Northern Wheatear and every day I am bumping into these birds whilst I'm walking the dogs.  The most Whinchat that I have seen together is 5.  It has been encouraging to see that Grey Partridge have successfully bred at Harrington Airfield and below Hanging Houghton.  Fingers crossed that they continue to survive.         Other birds of note that I have bumped into are a Ring Necked Parakeet which I could here long before I saw it at Lamport Hall,  Spotted Flycatcher , Reed Warbler and Barn Owl at Harrington Airfield and Ravens and Hobby below Hanging Houghton. 

We seem to have quite a few long staying birds in the county at the moment.  2 Little Stints remain at Dirft3 along with some common waders, Redshank, Greenshank,  Ringed Plovers and Curlew. At Daventry Country Park the Garganey are still present and at Stanford Reservoir a Red Crested Pochard.  Cattle Egrets remain at Stanwick GP.                   But there have also been a few new birds found, a Black Tern at Hollowell Reservoir,  Black Tailed Godwits at Hollowell and  Summer Leys and Bitterns at both Summer Leys and Stortons GP in the Nene Valley. 

Plenty of birds, old and new, to go and have a look out or better still get out and enjoy this beautiful time of year as you never know what might be sitting in the bushes around the corner or simply flying over as the Autumn migration gets underway. 

Regards Eleanor 

Redstarts and Autumn Birding

 With the mist hanging over the fields and valley,  the hedgerows laden with ripening fruit and the majority of the crops cut it really is Autumn.  But that's fine by me as it is my favourite time of year and I tend to spend most of the day out and about rather than doing the other things that I should be doing like housework and shopping. 

It is quite an exciting time for birding as the Autumn migration gets underway. Already I have noticed a movement of Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails and even Blackbirds.  This morning I went out running first and had several Grey Wagtails,  Siskin and Meadow Pipits flying over. A quick detour to Blueberry where I could see and hear 2 Common Redstart. I also literally ran into an adult with 4 young Grey Partridge. After a  quick coffee it was straight up to Harrington Airfield where I timed it just right as the mist was lifting. I knew that it was promising when the roadside bushes were busy with birds.  One of the first birds I saw was a Tree Pipit perched momentarily on top of one of the bushes near the chipping compound before flying off calling.  There were at least 2 Common Redstart present,  a Whinchat, Northern Wheatear and 8 Blackbirds around bunker 2.  I also bumped into the 2 young Grey Partridge which was nice to see that so far they are doing well.

Over the last few days there have been plenty of typical Autumn birds in the county. Northern Wheatear at Braunston and Harrington,  Whinchats at Borough Hill, Harrington, Stanford Res, Welford Res,Hanging Houghton and Blueberry. Marsh Harrier at Summer Leys, Harrington,  Blueberry and Stanford Res. Garganey at Daventry Res. Red Crested Pochard at Stanford and Pitsford Reservoir.  Little Stint at Dirft3 and Thrapston. Yesterday there were at least 12 Spotted Flycatchers feeding in the hedge near Lamport Hall.  

Many of these birds have been "long stayers " and a species that has been with us for weeks is the Common Redstart.  I never tire of watching these birds and I regard them as a true Autumn bird. They seem to prefer old hedgerows and return each year to the same spot. I  love to watch them flit about in the hedge or sit on a  fence shimmering their tails. Sometimes they can be quite elusive and stay deep in the bushes and tease us with their distinctive call as has been happening at Harrington Airfield.  At other times they are extremely showy like the birds have been at Blueberry.   I  think that huge numbers pass through the county each year but we only see a fraction of them.  Currently they are  being seen near Old, Honey Hill , Lamport Hall,  Stanford Reservoir,  Woodford Halse, Twywell Hills and Dale's, Corby, Hanging Houghton,  Blueberry and Harrington Airfield.     So keep your ears and eyes open for a  flash of red along the hedgerows and take time to enjoy these beauties.

Regards Eleanor 

Hummingbird Hawk-moth
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Hornet courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Common Redstart at
Blueberry Farm courtesy
of  David Smith.

Collies 3 Owls 3

 I've been away for the weekend competing with my bird themed dogs, Rouzel,  Jaeger and Spot the Birdie twitcher Tor, who did quite well so my birding has been somewhat limited.     I did manage an evening visit to Harrington Airfield where I sat waiting for the Red Arrows to fly over as they made their way back to Lincolnshire and they duly obliged. Whilst waiting for the Reds I spent the time scanning the fields. I had already noticed a large flock of Linnets feeding on the stubble fields so wasn't surprised when a female Merlin appeared and started to chase them around.  A Marsh Harrier flew through and there was a noticeable passage of hirundines,  Yellow and Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.  A Common Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher were in the bushes near to the chipping compound.

Today on my travels I saw at least 2 Common Redstart, 2 Whinchat, Hobby and Peregrine around the Blueberry area plus 3 more Whinchat below Hanging Houghton. 

However due to internet issues and my phone playing up with the WhatsApp not working I haven't got a clue what birds are around in the county at the moment but this does tend to be an exciting time of year as the Autumn migration gets into full swing.

Just as the light was fading this evening I took the 3 collies into the field behind the house for one of their favourite pastimes, a game of football. Bobbie with her gammy legs plays a mean game with the youngsters!!. Mind you I was somewhat distracted by two Little Owls calling to each other and flying around.  A Tawny Owl was also very vocal and a Barn Owl put in an appearance.  All this within the space of half an hour resulting in a draw between the collies and owls !!

Regards Eleanor 

Spotted Flycatcher and Little Stint.

Hello

Having just returned from two tours in north-west Scotland it's a whistle-stop visit to the county before I go off on my travels again! Bethan Clyne has sent through some more stunning images, this time of Spotted Flycatcher which is quite pertinent as they have been very high profile this autumn. Also there is an image of the super juvenile Little Stint from Pitsford Reservoir dam which was found yesterday and is still there today...

Regards

Neil M

Spotted Flycatcher courtesy
of Bethan Clyne.

Little Stint at
Pitsford Reservoir.

Catch-up

 I have been out of county for a  few days and as well as spending today catching up with the mundane tasks of shopping etc, I  have also been trying to catch up with the birds. It certainly looks like there have been plenty of birds around. 

On the morning I left (26th August) I took the dogs out for an early morning walk and flushed a Short Eared Owl as I walked along a hedgerow.  I don't know who was more surprised,  me or it!!.  As far as I'm aware it wasn't relocated.

Despite being out of county I managed a reasonable birding list including Common Redstart, Crossbill, Cettis Warbler  and Barn Owl,  but  I  was wishing that I was at home especially on the day that the Stanford Reservoir ringers caught and ringed a Wryneck and numerous Common Redstarts as there must have been other good birds waiting to be found.                                                                                                                                                    During my absence there were plenty of Common Redstarts at numerous sites including Harrington Airfield, Honey Hill, Braunston, Blueberry and Hardingstone. Whinchats were seen at Borough Hill, Braunston, Hinton Airfield and Welford Reservoir.  Marsh Harrier was recorded at Hollowell and Earls Barton.   All typical Autumn birds.  Plenty of waders moving around including Ringed and Little Ringed Plover,Ruff, Black Tailed Godwit, Dunlin,  Green and Common Sandpiper.  Other good birds which made an appearance were Sandwich Terns and a Little Gull in the Nene Valley and Common Scotors at Hollowell Reservoir. 

Today I wandered around Blueberry early morning and was greeted by the familiar sound and sight of Common Redstart.  Then to Harrington Airfield which was disappointingly quiet and all I could find was a single Common Redstart,  Wheatear and 4 Golden Plovers flying over. I  decided to check Lamport Hall this afternoon but the hedgerows were quiet.  It would seem that the "Flycatcher frenzy "is over.  Only 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Redstart were in the hedge.   I  did find another Common Redstart nearby whilst I was playing football with the collies!!

Plenty of good birds around today including Tree Pipit at Borough Hill,  Garganey at Daventry Reservoir, Little Stint at Dirft3, Spotted Redshank and Mediterranean Gull at Boddington Reservoir.  So it does look as if things are hotting on the birding front but I'm sure that we would like the weather to follow suit. 

Regards Eleanor 

Merlin

Hello

The following spectacular images of a Merlin were taken by Beth Clyne (not in Northants) and depict a bird hunting dragonflies, not normally a prey item associated with this fabulous raptor...enjoy!

Regards

Neil M

Merlin courtesy
of Beth Clyne.

 Today I started with an early morning visit to Harrington Airfield and as soon as I got out of the car I could hear lots of bird sound and the bushes lining the road were literally alive with finches.  A slow amble around the bunkers produced at least 3 Common Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatchers,  Whinchat and Wheatear. There were good numbers of Goldfinches and Linnets in the bushes.   However there was a noticeable movement of birds flying over, visible migration.  The highlight being a  Tree Pipit which flew over calling.  Other flyovers included Grey Wagtail, Siskin , Swallows and Crossbills.                    This is Harrington at it's best and I love being there when this happens.  Sadly day's like this are infrequent and often I go there and struggle to find anything,  but that's birding!

A quick stop off at Blueberry Farm on my way home to say hello to the Common Redstarts which again were showing well and then no further opportunity for birding until late afternoon when I  walked my old dogs through the village and became aware of at least 10+ Spotted Flycatchers calling and flycatching in the trees lining the road . Then I had to walk the younger dogs so walked across to Lamport Hall where there were more Spotted Flycatchers feeding in their favourite hedge. Not quite as many in number today but still an amazing sight and sound. I assume that the birds in Hanging Houghton were part of the original flock.  

Plenty of birds in the garden at the moment especially Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits and young Starlings.  We are getting big numbers of young Starlings feeding on the mealworm we put out. They are so noisy and entertaining to watch. They provided entertainment in a different way when several of them fell down the chimney and ended up stuck behind the gas fire. When I moved the fire they shot out like rockets and flew around the house in a haphazard manner much to the amusement of our young collie who thought that it was a great game.  Eventually all were safely captured and released. 

Regards Eleanor 

Spotted Flycatchers

Hello

The group of Spotted Flycatchers on the southern edge of Lamport Hall have proved popular recently with twenty birds regularly seen and sometimes more. The below images were taken there and kindly provided by Jim Dunkley.

Regards

Neil M

Spotted Flycatchers courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

More of the same!

Again my birding has been dominated by Common Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers.  It was a case of visiting these areas whilst trying to dodge the rain showers.  This morning at Harrington Airfield there were at least 2 Common Redstart calling well but only giving fleeting glimpses.  I gather that they were skulking in the afternoon as well. A Wheatear did show well as did an adult and two young Grey Partridge.  Then it was a quick stop off at Blueberry Farm where the 2 Common Redstart here were showing well.  Also in the area was a Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher and Peregrine over.  Rain then stopped play !    From mid afternoon the hedgerow at Lamport Hall burst into a frenzy of activity with at least 20 Spotted Flycatchers feeding,  calling and flycatching.  It really is quite an incredible sight. Other birds are mixed in with them and it reminds me of birding in the rain forest and frantically searching through the mixed flock in an effort to identify everything and hope to find an "rarity ". 

Over the past couple of days there have been some ringing sessions taking place at 3 sites with different habitats but all reporting good numbers of Warblers ringed.                             Yesterday Dave Francis was ringing at the feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir where 51 birds of 18 species were processed before the rain stopped things. Warblers were a significant part of the catch including 8 Blackcap, 6 Sedge Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Garden Warbler.    The other bird of interest was a retrap Moorhen which was originally ringed as an adult male in 2014 and is now 8+ years old. He was also retrapped in 2015 and 2016.                                                                                   John Woollett was busy ringing at Stortons Gravel Pits until the rain came. 59 new birds of 17 species and again a good range of Warblers including Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Whitethroat plus Garden, Reed and Sedge Warbler. 

Today Kenny Cramer and team had a ringing session at Linford Lakes Reserve where they managed to ring 105 birds before the rain came. Again good numbers of Warblers, 22 Blackcap,11 Reed Warbler, 5 Garden Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff,  9 Willow Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Cettis Warbler.                                                                                                       Other birds included 3 new Kingfishers, 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers,  Magpie and Sparrowhawk.  But bird of the day was an unexpected Tree Pipit,  a new species for the reserve. 

Regards Eleanor 

Lesser Whitethroat.

Tree Pipit.

Sparrowhawk.
All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.