Autumn bluster

Hello

A quiet, blustery day in the county with many small birds deep in cover during the strong autumnal winds.

The ringers at Stanford Reservoir were busy again today and caught and ringed three more Common Redstarts (that is seven already this autumn) plus their third Grasshopper Warbler. Other birds seen at Stanford included a Peregrine, a Hobby, two Shelducks and a Common Sandpiper.

At Eyebrook Reservoir a drake Common Scoter was near the island this afternoon and at Hollowell Reservoir there was an Osprey, the female Ruddy Shelduck, the Pink-footed Goose and a Great White Egret.

At Summer Leys LNR the Cattle Egret was again present today plus a Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper and a Peregrine was near Stortons Pits yesterday and two Hobbies were at Lamport Hall in the evening.

A few ringing recoveries have been received as follows:

1. A juvenile Starling was caught and ringed at Hanging Houghton on 10th June 2023 and caught again by a ringer on 4th August but this time in Corby, 21km north-east and fifty-five days later. Starlings are renowned for their post-juvenile wanderings in search of food;

2. A juvenile Chiffchaff was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 17th August 2022 and re-trapped at Stanford Reservoir on 1st July 2023, 318 days later when probably a breeding male;

3. A juvenile Reed Warbler was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 30th July 2020 and caught again at Stanford Reservoir on 4th July 2023, 1069 days later and after six journeys to or from Africa;

4. A juvenile Great Tit was ringed at Woodford Halse on 18th August 2021 but sadly was caught by a cat on or about 31st July 2023 still in the village of Woodford Halse, 712 days later.

Regards

Neil M

Speckled Wood butterfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Tufted Duck with ducklings
at Pineham courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Green Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Marbled Green moth.

Willow Emerald damselfly.

Tor at the seaside

Hello

Stanford Reservoir continues to be productive - yesterday another 174 birds were ringed which included the fourth Common Redstart of the autumn and the second Grasshopper Warbler. Other birds noted on-site were twelve Yellow Wagtails, three Shelducks, a Cetti's Warbler and a Common Sandpiper.

Today and a Dunlin was seen to fly through there and other birds were a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper and still the three Shelduck.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir produced some interesting sightings today with a juvenile Caspian Gull, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a lingering Lesser Emperor dragonfly on the west bank (first confirmed record for the location).

At Pitsford Reservoir three adult and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull were off the dam this afternoon plus a Kingfisher and a Common Sandpiper. A Great White Egret was in the Scaldwell Bay.

At Summer Leys LNR today there was a Cattle Egret, a Marsh Harrier, a Great White Egret and three Black-tailed Godwits. The long-staying Common Redstart was still at Woodford Halse reserve today.

Three Common Redstarts were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and there was still one bird at Harrington Airfield between the Chippings Compound and Bunker One with a Grey Partridge also present and two adult Yellow-legged Gulls were on fields next to Bunker Three.

Regards

Neil M

Tor had a day out at 
the seaside yesterday!

Lapwing.

Canary-shouldered Thorn (moth).

Elephant Hawk-moth.

Warblers galore

Hello

A busy team of four ringers operating at Stortons Pits today processed 111 birds comprising of 108 new birds and just three re-traps. One of these re-traps was a male Sparrowhawk first encountered in 2022. Warblers dominated with twelve Garden Warblers, thirty-six Blackcaps, nine Reed Warblers, ten Common Whitethroats, a Lesser Whitethroat, four Willow Warblers and three Chiffchaffs.

Two Sandwich Terns spent a short time at Hollowell Reservoir today before departing north-west early this morning. Later in the day there were two Ospreys present, plus the Pink-footed Goose, a Common Snipe, four Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Two Wheatears were noted at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and a Marsh Harrier was at Summer Leys LNR this evening.

Three Common Redstarts were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell again this morning and two Common Redstarts were at Harrington Airfield between the Chipping Compound and Bunker One.

A Marsh Harrier flew over the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and other birds included three Great White Egrets and a Green Sandpiper. A Lesser Emperor dragonfly was found patrolling the water's edge next to the fishing boats in the Holcot Bay this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Emperor at
Pitsford Reservoir today
courtesy of Mark Tyrrell.

Adult male Barn Owl
caught and ringed yesterday
plus Nick Wood the Northants
Ringing Group Secretary.
Images courtesy of Chris Payne.

Sparrowhawk at Stortons
Pits today, first ringed 
there last year.
Images courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Passerine migration in full flow

Hello

A ringing session at Harrington Airfield yielded seventy-five captures of eighteen species, with nothing unusual in the catch. Most of the birds were hatched this year and included a single Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroats, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Linnets, Goldfinches and Yellowhammers.

Other birds on-site included the Common Redstart between the Chippings Compound and Bunker One and a couple of Ravens. A nice array of butterflies included Common Blue, Brown Argus, an aberrant Comma, Brimstones and a single Small Copper. Active beetles included several of a species of Devil's Coachhorse. A Painted Lady butterfly and three Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village.

At Pitsford Reservoir today Eleanor ran the circuit between the dam and the causeway and saw a Great White Egret, two Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and at least two Siskins. To the north of the causeway David Arden saw the male Common Redstart in the Scaldwell Bay again plus three Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper and plenty of common juvenile warblers.

At Blueberry Farm, Maidwell three Common Redstarts were again on show plus a Wheatear and nearby another Common Redstart and a Whinchat were in a weedy field.

Over at Woodford Halse the Common Redstart was seen on the reserve again where there were also four Spotted Flycatchers.

At Stanford Reservoir the ringers ringed another 298 new birds which included a Spotted Flycatcher, a Common Redstart and a Grasshopper Warbler. Other birds noted included a Wheatear, another three Spotted Flycatchers, a Common Sandpiper and three Shelduck.

At Hollowell Reservoir Jon saw a Black-tailed Godwit pass through plus five Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers and 3-4 Spotted Flycatchers. An Osprey was present at the Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits for 45 minutes this afternoon and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen there too. An adult Caspian Gull was at Stanwick Pits this afternoon and then flew off east.

Regards

Neil M

The vivid yellow juvenile
Willow Warblers are pouring
through the county at the
moment. Image courtesy of
Jane Neil.

Common Whitethroat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Blue butterfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Robin courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Small Copper butterfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Brown Argus courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Muntjac courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Willow Warblers and Common Redstarts

Hello

Still plenty of warblers and other small birds on the move today through the county, particularly noticeable are the many Willow Warblers passing through from much further north.

At Blueberry Farm, Maidwell today there were still three Common Redstarts on show plus a Whinchat and four Spotted Flycatchers in a nearby weedy field. Nearby there was also a Whinchat and a Wheatear near Shrike Hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. A Common Redstart was at Harrington Airfield, between the Chippings Compound and Bunker One. Please note that much of this area tomorrow will have access restrictions due to ringing activity but this doesn't affect public footpaths.

At Lamport Hall there was a Common Redstart and five Spotted Flycatchers in trees and hedgerow next to the footpath on the south side of the hall grounds and four young Grey Partridges nearby. Another Common Redstart and a Whinchat were in the wild flower strip between Lamport and Scaldwell.

It seemed quiet at Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway this afternoon with two Great White Egrets, a Kingfisher, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Common Snipe and at least four Wigeon being about the best on show.

In the Nene Valley Stanwick Pits attracted an adult Caspian Gull, at least ten Yellow-legged Gulls, two adult Mediterranean Gulls, three Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Snipe. A Common Redstart was found in hedging adjacent to Wollaston Weir. Two Barnacle Geese were at south fields on the Clifford Hill Pits complex this morning

At Wicksteed Park a Yellow-legged Gull was seen this afternoon and at Geddington a male Common Redstart was in a hedgerow off Grange Road.

Hollowell Reservoir today supported a Pink-footed Goose, a Great White Egret, a Little Ringed Plover, a Redshank, six Green Sandpipers and two Common Sandpipers. A Common Scoter was noted at Eyebrook Reservoir. Birds recorded at Stanford Reservoir included three Shelduck, a Common Sandpiper, a Cetti's Warbler and four Lesser Whitethroats.

Regards

Neil M

Adult Yellow-legged Gull at
Pitsford Reservoir today. It
appears not to want to bear
weight on it's right foot
 suggesting an injury.

Gadwall at Pitsford
Reservoir today.

A juvenile Cuckoo at
Spurn, East Yorkshire - 
still being fed by parent
Meadow Pipits.

This image courtesy of Jacob Spinks.

Warblers and harriers on the move

Hello

Blueberry Farm, Maidwell was good for birds today with three Common Redstarts, a Grasshopper Warbler and plenty of other warblers this morning and then this afternoon Stuart saw a cream-crown Marsh Harrier from there too. Two Common Redstarts remained at Harrington Airfield early this afternoon (near Bunker One and the Shooting Wall) with a Wheatear at Bunker Three. Then that man Stuart came along again this evening and this time espied a ringtail Hen Harrier heading east there! Twelve Grey Partridges were put up by a combine harvester.

A further Common Redstart and a Wheatear were near Shrike Hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

A Kingfisher was at Upton Country Park today and a hay field being cut at Hanging Houghton attracted the local Red Kites and Common Buzzards. One of the adult Little Owls remains noisy around the bottom of the village.

An Osprey was seen at Hollowell Reservoir again today and a Common Redstart remains on the nature reserve at Woodford Halse.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Hobby, two Shelduck, two Green Sandpipers and at least eleven Yellow Wagtails. The ringers there had a bumper session processing 290 new birds which included 93 Willow Warblers and a Cetti's Warbler. Two controls (birds ringed elsewhere) included a French-ringed Sedge Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Common Whitethroat.

Brimstone butterfly.

Kingfisher at Upton
Country Park today.

Chiffchaff.

Migrant Hawker.

All images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Common Redstarts and others

Hello

A modest ringing session at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today provided a mix of common birds including Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and a Treecreeper. Other birds noted in the wood included a juvenile Spotted Flycatcher and a Redpoll. Insects included a Silver-washed Fritillary and both Southern and Migrant Hawker dragonflies.

A Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon, a female Common Redstart was at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby this morning and two Common Redstarts were NNW of Teeton village in a hedgerow next to the Macmillan Way footpath (SP693709) this afternoon.

Two Common Redstarts were at Summer Leys LNR today on the path to the Rotary Hide and other birds included a Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper.

Birds at Hollowell Reservoir included an Osprey and singles of Common and Green Sandpipers and three Common Sandpipers were on the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this morning. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Another adult Yellow-legged Gull and two Common Sandpipers were on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits today and a Peregrine was near Stortons Pits.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

A rather wet Southern Hawker
at Scotland Wood today.

Silver-washed Fritillary at
Scotland Wood.

Peacock butterfly.

Treecreeper at Scotland Wood
today courtesy of Jane Neil.

A wet Saturday

Hello

As forecast a very wet day but hopefully there is some more settled, sunnier weather on the horizon!

A Pink-footed Goose made an appearance at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today with three Shelduck being the best on offer at Stanford Reservoir. Pitsford Reservoir didn't fare much better with sightings of two Great White Egrets, two Redshank and two adult Yellow-legged Gulls.

On the passerine front Eleanor located two Common Redstarts sheltering in a hedgerow at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and later saw two Whinchats in a wild flower strip between Lamport and Scaldwell.

Six Grey Wagtails were at Brixworth Water Treatment Works today and despite the miserable weather there was quite a strong passage of gulls through the county with many Black-headed Gulls on the move and lots of Lesser Black-backeds too, some of them in family parties still with the juveniles emitting begging calls as they pass overhead!

A Black-tailed Godwit remained at Summer Leys LNR today.

Regards

Neil M

The sometimes intensive
training pays off when collies
Jaeger and Rouzel both come
 first in their respective groups in
 a regional agility competition
 yesterday. Eleanor is the one in
the middle!

Cinnabar Moth caterpillar
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Robin courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Peacock butterfly courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Blackcap on elderberries
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Purple Hairstreak butterfly, another
good year for them, image courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Holly Blue courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls
courtesy of John Tilly.

Creatures at harvest time

Hello

An early morning find of an Avocet at Hollowell Reservoir was just reward for Jon our county recorder who is one of a number of local patch birders working hard out there almost every day to see what of interest turns up on their chosen site. Constant effort creates a much better understanding and enhanced forecasting of what is happening or changing locally and all of us should appreciate the likes of Steve Fisher (Stanwick Pits), Chris Hubbard (Stanford Reservoir), Gary Pullan (Daventry Country Park and Boddington) and others out there juggling work and other responsibilities with their passion for birding.

An Osprey was seen at Hollowell Reservoir later and at Pitsford Reservoir there were three Common Sandpipers on the dam this morning and two Red-crested Pochard and two Great White Egrets in the Scaldwell Bay. A Raven was noted at Pipewell and this afternoon Honey Hill produced some migrants which included a Spotted Flycatcher, a possible Pied Flycatcher (flew from the observer before identification confirmed) and two Common Redstarts.

A Black-tailed Godwit was still at Summer Leys LNR today and Stanford Reservoir attracted a Marsh Harrier, at least six Spotted Flycatchers and a high count of fourteen Ravens. Four Grey Partridges were at Harrington Airfield on a very dull and cloudy evening as were a minimum of six Brown Hares!

Regards

Neil M

A rather tired Green Woodpecker
at Stortons Pits today courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Grass Snake at Stortons Pits
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Brown Hares at Harrington Airfield
in very poor light this evening.