Cold weather birds

Hello

The cold weather has changed the dynamics of garden feeding here at Hanging Houghton and new arrivals included seven Fieldfares coming for apples and our first singletons of Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer of the season.

Birds at Harrington Airfield were again limited today but it was great to see Linnets taking advantage of broadcast seed on the ringing rides there. Eight Golden Plovers were mobile and a Raven flew over.

Two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton this morning with another noted at Kelmarsh and the adult Yellow-legged Gull returned to Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon.

Two Otters were showing exceptionally well at Market Harborough today with many crazy images taken on mobile phones as they really performed next to the River Welland in the town centre.

The female Scaup, with perhaps a few feature anomalies, was still at Hollowell Reservoir today and other birds included a Great White Egret, an adult Caspian Gull, three Common Snipe and a female Stonechat and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir the Pink-footed Goose and a drake Mandarin Duck were present.

Two Goosanders were at Abington Park, Northampton today and ten Smew were at Eyebrook Reservoir this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Little Owls courtesy of
John Tilly.

Mute Swan courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Drake Goldeneye courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Pitsford WeBS Count.

Hello

A cold night last night and much the same tonight set the scene for a lovely winter's day - hard and crunchy underfoot, light winds, bright skies, warm sunshine and a pleasant sunset - so much better then wind and rain!

The change in the weather brought lots of birds to the garden including seven Pied Wagtails and a first year male Sparrowhawk is currently making daily visits.

The WeBS count was completed at Pitsford Reservoir today, the numbers of birds has reduced a great deal lately as has the diversity of species. A drake Smew was initially in the Walgrave Bay but then not seen again, three or four Little Egrets were south of the causeway, at least seven Pintail were mostly in the Scaldwell Bay as was a male Stonechat. At least forty Common Snipe were on-site and a Barn Owl was found dead in Scaldwell Meadows.

A Jack Snipe, two Water Rails and two Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth and a Barn Owl and two Woodcock were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell with another Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

At Summer Leys LNR there was a Jack Snipe visible from the Paul Britten Hide and a roadside Barn Owl was seen between there and Wollaston (a regular spot apparently).

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a Red-crested Pochard, a Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper and two Kingfishers. Three Long-tailed Tits captured at Kelmarsh Hall yesterday were all ringed together at Stanford Reservoir on 12th October 2021 - further proof that these flocks stick together no matter where they go!

The female Scaup was still at Hollowell Reservoir today near the eastern shore and a Black Swan was there too.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzards.

Drake Teal.

Pied Wagtail.

Moorhen.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Ringing at Kelmarsh Hall.

Hello

The first hints today of some colder, wintry weather ahead of us with hail, sleet and snow and even a peal of thunder being recorded locally today!

Some bird ringing at Kelmarsh Hall provided captures of a Blackbird, four Dunnocks, three Robins, a Wren, fifteen Great Tits, twenty-two Blue Tits, two Coal Tits, two Marsh Tits, five Long-tailed Tits (including birds bearing rings not associated with the site), thirteen Goldfinches, a Chaffinch and four Greenfinches. Other birds on-site included two Ravens, a Kingfisher and up to twenty-five Siskins.

At Hollowell Reservoir today a female Scaup was a good find (off the eastern end of the dam) and other birds there included two Caspian Gulls, four Common Snipe and a female Stonechat. Three drake Pintail and a Stonechat were in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir and a Red-crested Pochard remains at Stanford Reservoir.

Five Great White Egrets, thirteen Goosanders and a Redshank were noted at Stanwick Pits this morning and a Stonechat was again at Upton Country Park.

An Otter and a Peregrine were again seen in Market Harborough town centre.

Regards

Neil M

Red Kite.

Muntjac.

Carrion Crow.

Ringing at Scotland Wood

Hello

A ringing session was held at the sheltered site of Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today which resulted in eighty-five birds being processed in this mixed woodland. The birds amounted to a Great Spotted Woodpecker, four Dunnocks, seventeen Great Tits, forty-three Blue Tits, nine Coal Tits, two Marsh Tits, six Long-tailed Tits and three Chaffinches. Birds seen whilst we were there included about four Woodcock, a male Peregrine, two Ravens first thing and a couple of Siskins.

Four more Woodcock were seen at Glapthorn Cow Pasture first thing this morning, a male Blackcap was in a New Duston garden and a female Blackcap was in a Woodford Halse garden again with six Redpolls nearby.

A drake Smew was mobile north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this morning where there was also a Pintail and a Stonechat in the Scaldwell Bay.

Two Otters were seen again on the River Welland in Market Harborough today and a concentration of good birds at Eyebrook Reservoir included two Scaup, thirteen Smew (nine drakes) and seven Great White Egrets.

Regards

Neil M

Adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker
at Scotland Wood, Kelmarsh Estate today
courtesy of Lewis Aaron.

Winter wildfowl.

Hello

These blustery, wet and mild conditions seem to be our typical winter weather these days but it's not very inspirational and more difficult to find interesting birds and for completing bird ringing with mist nets.

Yesterday afternoon five Caspian Gulls appeared in the gull roost at Stanford Reservoir and this afternoon two or three individuals were present. This species seems to be numerous in the UK this winter with a few double-figure flocks being reported at east coast localities and singles and twos reported throughout much of England.

Eyebrook Reservoir recorded a Kittiwake, thirteen Smew and a Scaup today and the swollen River Welland at Market Harborough provided views of an Otter near to the Lidl supermarket both yesterday and today.

A Marsh Harrier at Pitsford Reservoir today was a rare mid-winter sighting away from the Nene Valley and at Stanwick Pits this afternoon a Barn Owl was a treat. About two hundred Golden Plovers and three Great White Egrets were at Summer Leys LNR this morning.

Birds on the Kelmarsh Estate today included at least one Brambling, a couple of Siskins and at least two Ravens.

Regards

Neil M

Mallard.

Shoveler.

Teal.

Wigeon.

Winter wildfowl courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

First the wind...and shortly the rain!

Hello

A very blustery if mild day but we now hold our breath for something of a deluge tomorrow it seems!

At least four Ravens were swirling around in the wind this morning at Hanging Houghton but it didn't stop the Marsh Tits and Nuthatches coming for their morning treats below the village at the Brampton Valley Way!

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was again off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and a drake Smew was reported in the Scaldwell Bay. At least two Siskins were in Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate and two Lesser Redpolls were noted at Stanford Reservoir.

The Pink-footed Goose was spotted again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and an adult Caspian Gull and a Great White Egret were at Hollowell Reservoir.

An Otter was showing well from the Rotary Hide at Summer Leys LNR this lunchtime after not being reported for a while, and a male Merlin put in an appearance there this morning. Birds at Eyebrook Reservoir included six Smew and a drake Scaup.

The Pintail was still on floods at Bozenham together with eighty Wigeon, several Gadwall, a Shoveler and a hundred Teal - at least there are some winners when our valleys flood!

Regards

Neil M

Winter waterfowl.

Raven.

Jackdaw.

Rook.

Mild and breezy birding

Hello

Yesterday was a wash-out locally for bird sightings but at least some birds of interest have been seen today!

Yesterday (Wednesday) the Pink-footed Goose and a Great White Egret were again seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and today (Thursday) started with a Barn Owl being seen at Blueberry Farm (last seen with a Common Buzzard in hot pursuit) plus a Woodcock, with a female Peregrine in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon.

A Grey Wagtail was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth this morning and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was off the Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir.

A female Merlin between Harlestone Heath and Duston was a good record and at Harrington Airfield today there was a Brambling, a Chiffchaff and two Ravens.

Four Goosanders, two Great White Egrets and thirteen Little Egrets were at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits this afternoon and at Bozenham Mill floods attracted a Pintail, about sixty Wigeon, one hundred and twenty Lapwings and about thirty Common Snipe.

In the Nene Valley a Caspian Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull were on Chester House Lake east of Wellingborough and an adult Caspian Gull persisted at Hollowell Reservoir late morning.

Eyebrook Reservoir boasted fourteen Smew again including eleven drakes which must look spectacular and birds for Stanford Reservoir today included a first winter Mediterranean Gull in the roost, a Red-crested Pochard, a Pintail and a Great White Egret.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Tit courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Goosanders.

Lapwing.

Winter thrushes

Hello

A wet and windy day but considerably milder...with perhaps not quite so much rain as forecast?

A flock of 'probable' Waxwings, some twenty in number as found by Michelle Sawbridge in Stony Stratford today were seen again and the identity confirmed. Just inside Buckinghamshire but very close to the Northants border, these birds were presumably the flock seen near Cosgrave a couple of days ago. They were last seen flying towards the High Street just before 1pm.

A covey of nine Grey Partridges were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning, a Brambling was at Harrington Airfield and small numbers of Siskins were at Kelmarsh Hall.

A Caspian Gull and two Shelduck were at Stanford Reservoir today and a Little Egret and several Ring-necked Parakeets were in Abington Park, Northampton. A Great White Egret was still visiting gardens in Barton Seagrave today and a female Blackcap was taking berries in a Mawsley village garden.

Regards

Neil M

Fieldfares and Redwings 
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Winter may not be the
favourite season of the year
but here in Northants we are
blessed with great numbers of
both species of winter thrush.

Ditchford WeBS count.

Hello

Today I spent much of the day at Ditchford Pits completing the WeBS count on my allocated section of this very large complex. It remained cold and breezy but dry with some sunshine and there were reasonable numbers of wildfowl present. West of Ditchford Lane and birds located included two Great White Egrets, two Egyptian Geese, two Water Rails, six Cetti's Warblers, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff. East of Ditchford Lane and the best of the rest was a Great White Egret, two Little Egrets, at least one Water Rail, 7-9 Goosanders, three Cetti's Warblers, a Siskin, eight Common Snipe and two Jack Snipe. Sadly I failed to record a Kingfisher anywhere - particularly concerning as the last two Short Day Counts over the week-end also failed to find any; muddy, coloured water is their enemy and periods of heavy rain make their efforts at finding food particularly difficult.

Sadly there were no sightings of Yellow-browed Warbler(s) at Earls Barton Pits today despite some determined looking. Other birds noted there included a small flock of Siskins and a Jack Snipe feeding with Common Snipe on the Summer Leys LNR (the Jack Snipe on the main lake margin as seen from the PB hide).

The Pink-footed Goose was again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir early this afternoon and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a first winter Kittiwake and a Caspian Gull in the roost and a Red-crested Pochard. Birding at Hollowell Reservoir yielded an adult Caspian Gull, a Golden Plover, five Common Snipe and a female Stonechat.

Two Twite near Yardley Gobion next to the Grand Union canal this morning is an unprecedented mid-winter sighting and a male Merlin was seen there too. Two Caspian Gulls (a first winter and a third winter) were on pools behind Royal Mail buildings near Lilbourne on the DIRFT 3 complex today.

Six Smew and two Scaup remained at Eyebrook Reservoir late this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher.

Meadow Pipit.

Only room for two more!
Black-headed and Common
Gulls on a tern raft at
Pitsford Reservoir.

All images courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

SP54 Short Day Count.

Hello

It was the turn of the tetrad SP54 for the short day count today and we began the day at Edgcote and Trafford Bridge with plenty of Red Kites, a couple of Ravens, a Siskin and a Grey Wagtail. Throughout the day there were plenty of winter thrushes with good numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings in all the parishes. Another Siskin was noted at Thenford, a Raven and six Grey Partridges were near Greatworth and Roe Deer were seen at two spots near Middleton Cheney. 

The Yellow-browed Warbler was seen again at Earls Barton Pits at the entrance of Mary's Lake and two drake Smew and a Redshank were north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir. A drake Goosander, a Grey Wagtail and Ring-necked Parakeets were at Abington Park, Northampton, a female Red-crested Pochard was at Delapre Lake/Hardingstone Pits with a Jack Snipe nearby at Barnes Meadow LNR.

Seven Smew and up to three Scaup were at Eyebrook Reservoir today and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a Red-crested Pochard, a Green Sandpiper, a Golden Plover, a Goosander, a Kingfisher and ten Ravens.

Another white Stoat, this one in complete ermine dress was by the Brampton Valley Way at Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Plenty of colour on a raw, grey day
 - Ring-necked Parakeets
 courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Wet bird feeding

Hello

A rather wet day in the county today which I spent much of the time visiting wild bird feeding stations topping up feeders and completing broadcast feeds.

A Grey Wagtail was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth where the recently landscaped pools and wetland areas are taking shape and attracting birds including a sizeable flock of Lapwings. This area which is viewable from the Brampton Valley Way track should provide some interesting sightings to the future.

A Yellow-browed Warbler remained at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits and birds at Stanford Reservoir included two Caspian Gulls, a Red-crested Pochard, two Goosanders and a good count of fifteen Ravens.

Another Caspian Gull was located at Hollowell Reservoir, a flock of about twelve small unidentified geese were seen flying south along the Brampton Valley below Lamport this afternoon and a Pink-footed Goose was in fields between Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Ravensthorpe village this morning. Ten Smew remained at Eyebrook Reservoir.

This afternoon a Brambling and a Woodcock were at Harrington Airfield and two Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village. The Great White Egret touring gardens around Barton Seagrave is apparently making itself very unpopular with those that like to preserve goldfish in their garden ponds! The female Red-crested Pochard and a Yellow-legged Gull were at Delapre Lake/Hardingstone Pits.

Regards

Neil M

Caspian Gull.

Red Kite.

Great White Egret.

SP55 Short Day Count

Hello

Today was the Banbury Ornithological Society Short Day Count in SP55, an opportunity to try and see as many species as possible in a 10km square tetrad. The first few hours are traditionally spent in and around Fawsley Park where the varied habitat produces a relatively high number of species. Very few waterfowl were present and some of the traditional species such as Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail were not located but we saw about thirty Siskins and two Cetti's Warblers and at least one Water Rail were vocal. At least six Ravens remained high profile.

Catesby is one of my favourite areas in the tetrad and normally produces good numbers of common birds and today a female Stonechat and four Ravens were the highlight. A large flock of Linnets were attracted to some cover crops near West Farndon and five species of raptor were there which included the best bird of the day - a male Merlin chasing the Linnets. A Chiffchaff was heard calling at Boddington Reservoir.

At least one Yellow-browed Warbler remained at Mary's Lake, Earls Barton Pits today and the female Red-crested Pochard was still at Delapre Lake/Hardingstone Pits. At Sywell Country Park this afternoon there were thirty Siskins, a pair of Stonechats, a single Cetti's Warbler, a Water Rail and a Grey Wagtail. At Pitsford Reservoir the drake Smew was seen in the Scaldwell Bay.

This afternoon twenty-five Mandarin Ducks were visible at Blatherwycke Lake and at Eyebrook Reservoir there were ten Smew on-site plus at least five Great White Egrets.

Regards

Neil M

Merlin.

Raven.

Siskin courtesy of
 Robin Gossage.

Mild January birds

Hello

Birds visible at Pitsford Reservoir today included a drake Smew still in the Holcot Bay and two adult Caspian Gulls briefly this afternoon, a male Goosander and a Grey Wagtail. At least one Siskin was present at Kelmarsh Hall and about thirty were at Harlestone Heath near to the railway line.

About twenty Waxwings were seen flying near Cosgrove in South Northants this morning but sadly were not relocated. The female Red-crested Pochard remained on Delapre Lake/Hardingstone Pits and the two Yellow-browed Warblers were still present at Mary's Lake at Earls Barton Pits - one showing well on occasions when the assembled photographers gave it space - and the other much more elusive and calling in adjacent hedgerows. A Cetti's Warbler also showed well in the same place and a Raven was seen flying over.

An adult Kittiwake was seen on the dam at Daventry Country Park this morning but couldn't be found in a brief search later. Two Green Sandpipers, a Stonechat and at least five Chiffchaffs was good birding in the Nene Valley at Ecton SF. Three Blackcaps are currently regular visitors to David Arden's garden at Spratton.

Eight Smew and two Scaup were reported from Eyebrook Reservoir today and birds at Stanford Reservoir amounted to an adult Caspian Gull, a Great White Egret, a Red-crested Pochard, three Goosanders and thirty-five Goldeneye.

Regards

Neil M

Goldeneye.

Kestrel.

Redshank.

Tufted Duck.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Quiet day in the county

Nuthatch courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Hello

Seemingly a quiet birding day in the county today and despite multiple observers at Pitsford Reservoir little of note was seen.

One of the Yellow-browed Warblers was still present at Earls Barton Pits near to the entrance of Mary's Lake and at times showing well. Three Great White Egrets were on the complex too. A Scaup was reported on Summer Leys LNR near Rotary Island. A Grey Wagtail was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

An incredible fourteen Smew were seen at Eyebrook Reservoir this afternoon.

A Stoat seen near to the A508 at Hanging Houghton today was in almost complete white ermine winter dress!

Regards

Neil M

Common Gulls courtesy
of John Tilly.

Robin courtesy of
John Tilly.

Male Chaffinch.