Windy but sunny out there!

Hello

Good news from the Higham Ferrers church Peregrine nest yesterday was that the female has now laid her second egg! Yesterday evening two of my ringing colleagues went out to try and catch and ring Tawny Owls at a site in Milton Keynes and ended up catching a Woodcock instead!

At Summer Leys LNR there were still some Black-tailed Godwits on-site at dawn this morning but then seemed to leave the reserve with numbers dropping from fifty to thirty-five and it appears they had all left by 7.30am. However seventeen Black-tailed Godwits arrived on the reserve at about 9.20am and a couple of minutes later there were thirty birds. Two Oystercatchers were also present and the sunshine produced twelve Brimstones, a Peacock and a Red Admiral butterfly, a Bee Fly and a basking Grass Snake. Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks were on the wing in a variety of locations in the county today.

At least one Curlew and displaying Lapwings were present on the Lilbourne Meadows reserve this morning with a pair of Ringed Plovers on the muddy pools nearby off the A5 near the Pro Logis and Royal Mail warehouses.

A male Peregrine and about two hundred and fifty Fieldfares were the highlights to a visit to a very windy Honey Hill near Cold Ashby. The female Ring-necked Duck was back off the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today. A Brambling was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning and a Water Rail was heard squealing at Spring Marsh in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth. A Barn Owl was the only noteworthy bird at Harrington Airfield this afternoon.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included three Goosanders, a Shelduck, a Kingfisher, an Oystercatcher plus ten Sand Martins and more than a dozen Chiffchaffs.

Regards

Neil M

Fieldfare courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Mistle Thrush caught and
ringed recently.

Woodcock caught and ringed last
night, courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Garden Stock Dove courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Black-tailed Godwits.

Hello

Black-tailed Godwits were the birds of the moment today when a fabulous flock of about one hundred and sixty-three turned up at Summer Leys LNR this morning and stayed all day, moving around the reserve. Likely to be Iceland-bound these birds appeared on a strong southerly wind today and may have roosted overnight.

Other birds at Summer Leys today included the long-staying female Red-crested Pochard, two Great White Egrets, six Common Snipe, six Redshank, two Oystercatchers, a Little Ringed Plover and a Chiffchaff. An adult male Sparrowhawk had a go at catching Snipe and Redshank but failed - perhaps the same bird photographed so well last year carrying a Common Snipe?

A Common Bird Census was completed around the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir today, the early surveys are always valuable in assessing the strength in numbers of resident birds before they are swallowed up in the foliage later in the spring. With seventy-four singing Wrens and fifty-two singing Robins I think we can assume that these two species wintered successfully. Over thirty Chiffchaffs were noted on the reserve - they have really moved in during the last few days - and sixteen pairs of Long-tailed Tits were probably a significant underestimate. Fifteen Goldcrests (twelve singing) and eighteen Treecreepers (seven singing) suggest that most small birds on-site suffered minimal mortality during the cold months.

Three Kingfishers were seen, a Raven was noisy in the Walgrave Bay, there were a couple of small groups of Siskins probably numbering no more than half a dozen individuals and waders included an Oystercatcher, a Common Snipe and three Black-tailed Godwits. I saw at least thirteen Muntjac on my walk around the reserve and there were plenty of Redwings foraging in the leaf litter or sub-singing in trees.

A Yellow Wagtail and a hundred Fieldfares were in a field near Lamport Hall late this morning. Another flock of over a hundred Fieldfares were in fields between Showsley and Stoke Bruerne. A Wheatear and a Green Sandpiper were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton early this afternoon. Blackcaps were in gardens at Overstone Park and Scaldwell yesterday.

Ospreys were noted at three locations in the county today.

Jacob did well to photograph a ringed female Chaffinch in a Scaldwell garden back on 10th February 2023 and this has been confirmed as a Belgium-ringed individual first ringed as a first year bird on 10th November 2020 at Berendrecht, Antwerpen, Belgium.

Regards

Neil M

Map depicting locations of
Chaffinch first ringed in Belgium
and subsequently photographed in
Scaldwell. Map courtesy of Nick Wood.

Chaffinch courtesy of
John Tilly.

Male Sparrowhawk at Summer Leys
LNR today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Black-tailed Godwits at Summer Leys
LNR today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Black-tailed Godwits at Summer Leys LNR
today courtesy of Jim Dunkley.

Barn Owls, and an early Yellow Wagtail.

Hello

Unseen but tracked by satellite, a White-tailed Eagle from the re-introduction scheme flew south through the county yesterday afternoon, flying over Hollowell and Ravensthorpe Reservoirs at about 3pm. 

A Barn Owl was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell yesterday afternoon and this evening there was another in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. The bird found dead at Blueberry Farm a few days ago had been ringed locally so hadn't wandered far from it's natal area during it's life of nine and half years. Two Wheatears were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning, a Brambling and a Grey Wagtail were in our garden briefly and four Ravens were at Blueberry Farm.

Another Barn Owl was at Harrington Airfield this afternoon plus a pair of Grey Partridges and seventy Fieldfares flew north-east.

A Yellow Wagtail with a flock of 'alba' wagtails next to Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits was a very good early season find by Nick today.

A female Red-crested Pochard was at Summer Leys LNR today and the adult Mediterranean Gull was seen as were eight Redshanks, four Common Snipe, a Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff. There was a liberal sprinkling of Chiffchaffs in the county today as they continue to arrive in numbers.

In the Brampton Valley below Brixworth birds noted included three Water Rails, three Grey Wagtails and several Chiffchaffs and the female Ruddy Shelduck was still at Winwick Pools today.

A ringing recovery was received today of a Redwing initially ringed at Harrington Airfield on 11th December 2021 which was subsequently recovered in Portugal at Mata de Lobos, Guarda on 11th February 2023 after being shot, sadly a common outcome for thrushes wintering in Iberia.

Regards

Neil M

Map depicting locations of
ringing and recovery of the
Redwing ringed at Harrington
Airfield and shot the following
winter in Portugal, courtesy
 of Nick Wood.

Barn Owl courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Yellow Wagtail courtesy
of Nathan Jones.

White-tailed Eagle.

Ringing Scotland Wood.

Hello

Another ringing session at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate took place this morning in further efforts to assess numbers of small birds using this woodland and assessing species longevity. Most of the hundred or so birds were members of the tit family which generally are short-lived birds with many lucky to achieve survival beyond the first year. Over fifty Blue Tits were processed in all probability the oldest bird being little more than four years. Of twenty-four Great Tits two were five years old. Of four Coal Tits assessed one was a remarkable individual in being at least seven years old and possibly older. Three re-trap Marsh Tits were of an unremarkable age and Scotland Wood is clearly their territory. Ten Dunnocks seems to be a continuing theme of good numbers being processed in the county this winter/spring.

Other wildlife noted in this mixed woodland alongside the A508 and A14 included a couple of Woodcock, a Brambling, at least half a dozen Siskins, two pairs of Sparrowhawks, bickering Nuthatches, a singing Chiffchaff and a couple of smart Roe Deer.

Birds at Summer Leys LNR included two Great White Egrets, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Dunlin and a Pintail with a Green Sandpiper on the Earls Barton New Workings North complex. Three Dunlin were briefly at Stanwick Pits this morning. A Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were at Woodford Halse today and three Wheatears were noted at Polebrook Airfield in a field at the end of the main track.

Three Grey Wagtails, a Barn Owl and two Chiffchaffs were in the Stortons Pits/Duston Mill area this morning.

Two Ospreys turned up at Eyebrook Reservoir today and a third bird returned to Rutland Water. Other good news from the Peregrine pair at Higham Ferrers church is that the first egg was laid at 11.40am this morning!

Regards

Neil M

Cormorant courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grey Wagtail at Duston
Mill today courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Coal Tit courtesy of
John Tilly.

Peregrine.

Sparrowhawk.

Birding highlights of Saturday

Hello

In my part of the world the threat of rain didn't come to anything until this afternoon with some very heavy deluges, otherwise it was mild and pleasant conditions with plenty of bumblebees bimbling about and I know others have seen butterflies today too.

A pair of Garganey were bang on time at Summer Leys LNR this morning and there was a Little Ringed Plover there too. The Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits attracted three Great White Egrets, a Kingfisher and seven singing Chiffchaffs and a Barn Owl was seen at Stanwick Pits.

A Water Rail was seen and photographed at Spring Marsh in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth with a Barn Owl hunting the Hanging Houghton section of the valley this morning.

Two Caspian Gulls presented themselves at Daventry Country Park this morning, a Wheatear was at the west end of Hinton Airfield and two Blackcaps were around a Wellingborough garden. A Blackcap and a Siskin were in a Scaldwell village garden and a Blackcap was caught and ringed at Greens Norton today.

Regards

Neil M

Male Blackcap.

Treecreeper.

Long-tailed Tit.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Here they come!

Hello

Mild conditions, some minor showers and gently breezes was conducive for more in-coming migrants today and the day felt exciting with lots of birds on the move!

An Osprey made it to Northamptonshire today and was spotted on a regular nest, so only a day or two behind the Rutland birds and with birds also arriving in Scotland today.

In the Nene Valley there were thirteen Redshanks and a Ringed Plover at Stanwick Pits first thing with Summer Leys LNR hosting a Wheatear, a Pintail, a Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover. Birds on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve included two Black-tailed Godwits and a drake Pintail.

In the Brampton Valley there was a Merlin and two Siskins near to Boughton Crossing, a Water Rail at Spring Marsh (below Brixworth), a Wheatear, an Oystercatcher and a Grey Wagtail associated with the new wetlands below Brixworth, a Woodcock and a pair of Stonechats along the stretch between Spratton Crossing and Merry Tom Lane, a Barn Owl below Hanging Houghton and at least four singing Chiffchaffs along the stretch between HH and Brampton Halt.

Reservoir birding provided four Shelduck, a Water Rail and a singing Chiffchaff at Pitsford Reservoir, the female Scaup was still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir with the female Ring-necked Duck now moving to Hollowell Reservoir where seen just off the dam. A Swallow was seen at Eyebrook Reservoir and a Caspian Gull was noted at Daventry Country Park.

Two Wheatears graced Bunker Two at Harrington Airfield today, a Blackcap was seen in an Arbours (Northampton) garden and birds in Hanging Houghton village included a Grey Wagtail and a Brambling. A drake Mandarin Duck was at Barnwell Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Osprey courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Little Ringed Plover courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Mid March sightings

Hello

A mild but rather gloomy day with gusts and showers didn't stop more migrants arriving today.

A second Osprey, this time a male is back at Rutland Water so hopefully so we'll have a couple lingering in the county soon (the likelihood is that both Rutland Ospreys flew over Northamptonshire to get there)!

At Pitsford Reservoir the adult Yellow-legged Gull was present off the Sailing Club this morning, paired with a Lesser Black-backed Gull. This afternoon a flock of Sand Martins were present which at one stage formed into one flock of forty - a few birds flying through later may have been different birds. Also a Barn Owl was hunting rough pasture by the Gorse Bushes on the Brixworth bank.

A dead unmarked Barn Owl was located at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon, it's prominent breast bone suggesting it may have starved to death. The bird was ringed and preliminary information indicates that it was ringed as a nestling on 12th August 2013, location as yet unknown. Ten years is a good age for a Barn Owl.

Two Siskins and plenty of Brown Hares was the only noteworthy sightings at Harrington Airfield this afternoon and birds in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth included a Grey Wagtail, a Chiffchaff and a Common Snipe.

Ten Little Egrets were in a field off Mill Lane, Greens Norton this morning, a Wheatear was at Eyebrook Reservoir and birds at Clifford Hill Pits amounted to a Great White Egret, a Redshank, two Oystercatchers and two Stonechats. A male Blackcap was in a Scaldwell garden and a Raven was at Great Oxendon.

A Sand Martin was seen at Summer Leys LNR this morning and at Lilbourne there were two Black-tailed Godwits, two Curlews, two Oystercatchers, a Redshank and a Sand Martin on the Wildlife Trust Meadows reserve with three Little Ringed Plovers and two Ringed Plovers on pools behind the nearby Post Office Distribution Centre.

Regards

Neil M

Great Crested Grebe.

Water Pipit.

Common Frog - a lot of them
are busy spawning right now!

Images courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) and birds around the new wetland site in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth included a number of Wigeon, a Woodcock flushed from a hedge and a hunting Barn Owl.

Today (Wednesday) it was the turn of Ditchford Pits to receive a waterbird and wetland bird count and despite plenty of water in the valley it was generally okay to navigate around. Birds west of Ditchford Lane included a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, a female Stonechat, four Oystercatchers, three Egyptian Geese, two Water Rails, two Grey Wagtails, a Chiffchaff, five Cetti's Warblers and a Redpoll. Birds east of Ditchford Pits included a Jack Snipe, nine Common Snipe, two Oystercatchers, three Little Egrets, two Goosanders, at least one Grey Wagtail, a Cetti's Warbler and two Chiffchaffs.

Cormorants and Grey Herons are occupying their nests and are currently visible - at least one Cormorant nest contained begging young.

Further east along the Nene Valley the male Bearded Tit put in an appearance at Stanwick Pits again - on the 'green causeway' by a bench - what3words location 'seemingly.crystal.trying' (courtesy of Jon Andrews).

At Summer Leys LNR today birds included a female Red-crested Pochard, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Oystercatchers, ten Common Snipe, five Redshanks, a flock of Siskins and a Water Rail. Further west and there were two Sand Martins at Kislingbury Pits with two Stonechats and two Oystercatchers at Upton Country Park and a Barn Owl and a Grey Wagtail at Stortons Pits. Also in the Nene Valley birds at Clifford Hill Pits included a Peregrine, two Oystercatchers and two Stonechats.

Birds in Market Harborough town centre included a Water Rail, a Little Egret and two Peregrines and a Caspian Gull was seen at Daventry Country Park with the female Ruddy Shelduck still at Winwick Pools.

Just across the border in Bedfordshire, a compelling duo of adult Waxwings feeding on a fruiting tree at Cranfield remain distracting and a good number of Northants birders/photographers have found their way there and enjoyed these fabulous birds!

Regards

Neil M

Muntjac.

Oystercatchers.

Moorhen.

Heiland Coo!

All above images from
 Ditchford Pits today.

Common Buzzard at Upton
Country Park today courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Waxwings courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

Pitsford WeBS Count

The numbers of Coot
wintering at Pitsford
Reservoir have been falling
for a number of years now.
Image courtesy of John Tilly.

Hello

Today was the Pitsford Reservoir waterbird and wetland count and March is traditionally a low count month. The very high water levels (above capacity and keeping the spillway busy) ensured that the margins were flooded which in itself provides fresh feeding areas for surface feeding ducks. Despite the cold temperatures and early snow flurries there was a significant hatch of small chironomid flies which kept ducks, gulls and small insectivorous birds busy in consuming this seasonal bounty.

The strong winds and sunny conditions made it ideal for raptors to display overhead and at this time of the year there is always a strong northward movement of gulls with flocks of Common and Black-headed Gulls arriving, lingering and then moving on, with a few bigger gulls tagging along. Pike were active in the shallows as their spawning season is now due, with plenty of splashing as the males try to stay close to the bigger females.

Four Chiffchaffs (two singing) south of the causeway were further signs of spring and other small birds between the causeway and dam included two Grey Wagtails, four Redpolls, six Siskins and two male Stonechats. With the first Osprey back at Rutland Water today eyes skywards failed to find one at Pitsford but birds north of the causeway included a Jack Snipe, about eighty Common Snipe, another male Stonechat, five Pintail, a Siskin and plenty of displaying Goldeneye.

The Grey Heron colony that has existed at this site for many years has during the last few years become a split unit with small colonies and individual nests in the Walgrave and Scaldwell Bays. This year a small colony is now in the Holcot Bay, the first time they have used this bay.

In the Nene Valley Stanwick Pits hosted a Curlew, nine Redshank, eleven Goosanders, three Great White Egrets and an adult Caspian Gull. At Summer Leys LNR a Curlew was there first thing and later there were three Avocets for a short time before flying off west with three Redshanks, a Common Snipe, two Dunlin, two Oystercatchers and a Great White Egret also present. Another Curlew was found at Clifford Hill Pits this afternoon and a Barn Owl was hunting in fields between Wollaston Lock and Wollaston Weirs.

Two Sand Martins flew north at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning, a male Brambling and a pair of Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield this afternoon and a Barn Owl was hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Pike in the shallows.

Linnet courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Goldfinch courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Robin Gossage.