• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Birding in Northants (1 Viewer)

There's some stunning photographs to have a look at on the Northants Bird Club site, they're from the latest photographic competition and well worth a peek if you can spare a minute or two.

James.
 
I haven't entered any Mark, it's not false modesty but my efforts mainly fall into the record shot category. Did you manage to catch up with the Black Woods on your trip?

James.
 
No Black Woods James ( I am long over due one ) very little in France in Winter, although this was a non birding trip if you know what I mean, however Firecrests seem to be fairly common in Normandy, and a single Great Grey Shrike seen from the car was nice.

Mark
 
Shame about the Black Woods, I'm having a similar problem with Grey-headeds, more dips than a yuppie's party. Still Firecrests and Great Greys are none too shoddy.

James.
 
Once again it was another Sunday that did not live up to its name with weather ranging from snow flurries through to rain and just about every combination in between. Despite the unpromising looking forecast I wanted to cast the net a little wider and so took the bus over to Earls Barton.

Walking along the Nene Way there was a good variety of ducks on the two lakes between the village and the reserve, the first held a dozen Shovellers while the other played host to about seventy Pochards. At Summer Leys the first bird was perhaps the rarest, a Great White Egret showed all too briefly before flying off. From Pioneer a flock of forty-nine Shovellers were feeding in that curious circular manner, this seems to be a good winter for this species when compared to the last one. There was a decent selection of wildfowl on view which included half a dozen Goldeneyes which were my first of the year.

During one of the snowier interludes I spent a while watching the feeders which were very busy though I had the hide to myself for the first time ever. This must be one of the best places to get good views of Bullfinches in the local area, there was a double figure count today. With the weather being so duff I only had a brief look at Mary's Lake before starting back and could not see much. One of at least ten Little Egrets on site appeared to be doing a less than successful Bittern impression, I often wonder on days like this if the growing band of egrets would prefer it if those adventurous pioneers in the nineties had not bothered. The Med has to be a better place to spend the winter than grey old Northants, I know which one I would choose! A Kingfisher was a nice parting shot from Summer Leys, the colours to almost gleam against the grey background.

Walking back along the Nene a female Stonechat showed well though briefly and did not hang around to pose for pictures.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 026_01.JPG
    026_01.JPG
    230.8 KB · Views: 19
  • 094.JPG
    094.JPG
    230.3 KB · Views: 21
  • 060.JPG
    060.JPG
    239.3 KB · Views: 16
  • 089_01.JPG
    089_01.JPG
    234.6 KB · Views: 29
  • 091.JPG
    091.JPG
    255.6 KB · Views: 19
Monday again delivered on the weather front with lovely Spring like conditions that had a good old selection of birds singing including Bullfinch. I got a lift over to Fermyn Country Park, many will no doubt remember that this was a regular stop on the county circuit for Hawfinches. Although those happy days have since past I thought that I might have a check just in case but unfortunately drew a blank. It was a bit of a finchfest ( Finchfest 2017 for those who find the Birdfair a little too generalised) and a small flock of Siskins and at least one Redpoll were seen. It seems as if Bullfinches are becoming quite visible as they move on from a diet of dried blackberries and nettle seeds and on to buds. Numbers of both Hazel catkins and Pussy Willows are increasing while Snowdrops seem to be everywhere.

I walked home from the park taking in Laundimer/Harry's Park woods, where nothing rare to report but a very good selection of woodland species including all of the common tits ( not sure anyone wants to market Titfest just in case there's any confusion). A Raven was strangely quiet but may already be nesting while the Jays were anything but and as noisy as ever. Bears Lane had good numbers of winter thrushes while Weldon Woodland Park was almost bird free. The pond here had three adult Mute Swans, perhaps the regular pair and a gooseberry, and they had attracted five Gadwall groupies.

At the A43 pond there were eight Tufted Ducks, about twenty-five Gadwalls, Mallard, Heron. Coots and Moorhen. Numbers of Gadwalls often peak in late Winter and there was quite a lot of tail pecking and chasing going on as the birds look to pair up. Naturally any chap planning a date wants to look their best and a drake was putting some fairly impressive gymnastics moves together as it preened itself after a bath. Perhaps this may be the year that a pair hangs around to breed?

Siskins are as common now as they have been all winter and in addition to Fermyn CP were seen at both Laundimer Woods and Weldon.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 015.JPG
    015.JPG
    248.4 KB · Views: 20
  • 021.JPG
    021.JPG
    172 KB · Views: 20
  • 040.JPG
    040.JPG
    215.1 KB · Views: 18
  • 050.JPG
    050.JPG
    194.3 KB · Views: 14
  • 054_01.JPG
    054_01.JPG
    185.1 KB · Views: 22
Had a medical appointment this afternoon and while walking home past the boating lake saw a Little Egret which was my first for the site. All I need now is one over the town centre and I'll be a happy bunny.

James.
 
Today was so interesting that I've decided to split the post in two with the early part of the morning spent doing some local twitching with my brother while the second part was a rather more mundane affair. Unusually for a Sunday the weather was not too bad and I actually saw the sun for a change.

We began at Wootton where a large flock of Waxwings had been showing and we were lucky enough to encounter the group within a couple of minutes. At least fifty were present and they spent much of the time in the top of some trees with individuals dropping down to feed. At one point a couple of the birds landed close to our position and we were treated to some excellent views. The birds were spooked by something and took flight but I think that they returned. This is certainly the largest flock that I've seen in the county and was much appreciated.

Having enjoyed this spectacle we headed over to Pitsford Res where a duo of grebes were the main draw. We started at the causeway and again saw the target without having to wait too long. The Red-necked Grebe showed very well and we watched it for about ten minutes. From here we headed over to Brixworth Country Park and having parked the car set off in pursuit of our next grebe. Showing in Yacht Bay (I think it's called that) the Slavonian again did us proud and once again we were treated to good views without having to wait. With things wrapped up before half nine we headed towards home, my brother dropped me off at Deenethorpe before heading off home for some well deserved breakfast.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 031.JPG
    031.JPG
    227.4 KB · Views: 25
  • 023.JPG
    023.JPG
    201.8 KB · Views: 25
  • 012.JPG
    012.JPG
    227 KB · Views: 18
  • 049.JPG
    049.JPG
    164 KB · Views: 29
  • 062.JPG
    062.JPG
    180.2 KB · Views: 22
As I hinted at earlier the second part of my birding endeavours was not as interesting but that's hardly surprising given the quality of the stuff seen earlier. At Deene Lake inflow the water level remained high but I still managed to find eight Snipe and there were fifty plus Teals there too. Walking round towards the church I was able to find the Stonechat albeit at some distance and the local kites and buzzards were showing very well. On the main lake Shelduck numbers continue to climb with eleven being present. Wildfowl numbers in general though appear to be dropping though a small flock of Wigeon have reappeared.

Deenethorpe village was rather active with birdlife today, a circling Sparrowhawk had the passerines flitting into cover. Two pairs of Mistle Thrushes appeared to be having a boundary dispute and there was much chasing around until matters were settled with the victor celebrating with a sustained burst of song. Unusually a pair of Dabchick were present on the stream, I don't often see them in such habitat unless the ponds and lakes are frozen.

Around the airport a good number of Skylarks were singing while a Stonechat was using one of the newly erected deer fences as a handy perch from which to hunt. There seemed to be a lot of Song Thrushes about today though numbers of their winter cousins were low. Taking in a section of Laundimer Wood on the way home the highlight was a fox crossing one of the rides though hearing a Siskin in full song was a rare treat.

Prospecting geese are beginning to appear at even the smallest of ponds and a pair of Canadas were checking out a pond at Bears Lane where a male Yellowhammer gave very good views.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 132.JPG
    132.JPG
    230.4 KB · Views: 17
  • 111.JPG
    111.JPG
    292 KB · Views: 16
  • 109.JPG
    109.JPG
    195.6 KB · Views: 24
  • 140.JPG
    140.JPG
    195.7 KB · Views: 24
  • 159.JPG
    159.JPG
    294.7 KB · Views: 20
Last night I was reading Northantsbirds and saw that a Corn Bunting had been seen near to Warmington for a second day and so felt inspired to take a punt on the bunt this morning. Getting on my trusty steed the X4 I was ready to begin searching within half an hour. Sadly I did not manage to connect with the CB though there were many Yellowhammers singing along the minor road NW of the village. It was by no means a total miss however as I saw both a Stoat and a Muntjac crossing the road. At one point a fellow stopped to pick up another Muntjac carcass, I'm not sure if he was a deer undertaker or whether he just fancied roadkill venison.

I walked on through the village of Tansor before reaching the footpath that follows the Nene at Cotterstock. Lots of birdsong this morning and both of the commoner woodpeckers were vocal. Close to the village a Kingfisher showed well and I managed some pictures, attempts to get closer were thwarted by a barking dog and the loud shouts of its owner telling it to shut up. Lots of Meadow Pipits feeding in the flooded fields while kites were again active.

A male Stonechat which was close to Oundle turned out to be far harder to photograph than I anticipated, the bird was very obliging but the dratted autofocus on my camera was not.The image you see here was one of a very few that did not turn out to be an orange smudge in the foreground of a field shot. Still this was my third Stonechat in two days and as I'm rather a fan of them I was happy.

Arriving at the bus stop a little before my bus I took the opportunity to have a pint or two to celebrate a good couple of days birding - who needs buntings when you've got beer?

James.
 

Attachments

  • 017.JPG
    017.JPG
    250.5 KB · Views: 15
  • 026.JPG
    026.JPG
    325.8 KB · Views: 21
  • 033.JPG
    033.JPG
    356.1 KB · Views: 18
  • 043.JPG
    043.JPG
    308.9 KB · Views: 18
  • 058.JPG
    058.JPG
    214.3 KB · Views: 19
If last Sunday's birding could be called Premiere Cru then this week's was pretty much vin ordinaire. A walk of over fourteen miles did not produce any rarities but did provide enough interesting sights to just about justify the wander.

I began at Brookfield where a few trees look to have succumbed to the winds of storm Doris. A singing Grey Wagtail was at one of the ponds where several Teal were flushed from. I also enjoyed watching a Goldcrest displaying to its potential mate with his crest fully raised and the fiery colours positively gleaming in the gloomy conditions under the conifer canopy. A hooting Tawny Owl was heard as I left and some mobbing calls from Blackbirds suggests that they had found its roost.

The flooded quarry near to Gretton had a trilling Dabchick while in the village itself I saw my first Daffodils. At Harringworth Lodge Lake the Coots were in argumentative mode and there was a good deal of calling and posturing while two birds came to blows. Amongst the bedlam a pair of Great Crested Grebes were far more relaxed, perhaps they're the breeding pair from last year. Other wildfowl included Tufted Ducks and Gadwall while both Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker were calling nearby.

Walking between here and Deene a Raven was calling softly, its flightpath crossed with that of some Jackdaws and the size of the thing became apparent, it was like a bomber being escorted by fighters! At Deene I was pleased to find an Egyptian Goose in the memorial field feeding with some Canadas and Greylags. My find was put into context at the main lake where five more Gypos were present at the dam. Other wildfowl here included ten Shelduck and a small flock of Wigeon. Only two or three Snipe were found at the inflow though the WBT had attracted four Grey Herons and a Little Egret. I checked the Teals for Green-winged but couldn't find one. At nearby Deenethorpe village I saw my first lambs of the year and also some Lesser Celandines next to the A43.

By the time I reached Deenethorpe airfield the wind was howling and although the Skylarks were unfazed most other birds kept a low profile. I'm going to post a few pictures of the Egyptian Geese later as I'm a little pushed for time at the mo but for the time being these will have to do.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 015.JPG
    015.JPG
    315.6 KB · Views: 21
  • 042.JPG
    042.JPG
    237.1 KB · Views: 18
  • 055.JPG
    055.JPG
    279.4 KB · Views: 17
  • 060.JPG
    060.JPG
    187.3 KB · Views: 17
  • 063.JPG
    063.JPG
    331.8 KB · Views: 19
Having finished with my pub dinner in Rockingham and a pub quiz in Lyddington (can you see a theme developing here?) it's time to get back to those geese. I know that cat C wildfowl are a bit of a bind but it's only a year or so since I saw my first county Egyptian Geese and I still feel something of an affinity for them.

My first sighting today was of one feeding with other geese in the memorial field at Deene which was grazing rather peacefully on its own. The group of five that I then found on the Shelduck spit near the dam were anything but peaceful and spent most of the time bickering rather noisily. They disappeared one by one as they were chased away by what appeared to be the dominant pair before they too set off for pastures new.

Whether or not you could take a picture anywhere else in the world of a pair of Egyptian Geese standing next to a Black Swan is probably moot but it certainly shows the exotic sights on view for Northants birders.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 007.JPG
    007.JPG
    226.2 KB · Views: 18
  • 029.JPG
    029.JPG
    295 KB · Views: 26
  • 036.JPG
    036.JPG
    246.4 KB · Views: 18
  • 038.JPG
    038.JPG
    283 KB · Views: 17
  • 037.JPG
    037.JPG
    297.3 KB · Views: 25
After yesterday's expedition I fancied an easier day so took the bus over to Kettering. While waiting for the X4 at the train station I watched a Kestrel as well as a procession of cars dropping off a legion of bored looking kids, it made me glad that part of my life is well and truly over for me!

In Kettering I took a walk around Wicksteed Park where the weather was variable with sunny spells and mixed, sometimes sleety showers. The main lake had the usual squawking and squabbling squadron of gulls seeking hand outs, mostly Black-heads but with a few Commons for company. At least ten Pochards and more than double that of Tufties were joined in their diving by a Great Crested Grebe which showed very well from the boardwalk. Other ducks included both Teal and Gadwall though the Shelduck has the look of a fence jumper about it, the bird's rather tame and looks as if it doesn't mind being fed. A large group of mainly Greylag geese were grazing on the shore while Canadas were sticking to the lake.

A pair of Treecreepers showed rather well near the fishing lake and there were still eight Shovellers feeding. A Water rail was heard calling from the depths of cover while the Coots appeared to be as peevish as the ones from yesterday. Perhaps the highlight of the day was a singing Cetti's Warbler in vegetation on the Barton side of the main lake. It's the first one that I've seen in the county away from the Nene Valley and I was happy with the record. Close by in the Arboretum a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling and a Mistle Thrush sang.

While I was in the neighbourhood I had a look at the Castle Field where a male Peacock was presumably taking a break from the park. I looked at the trust reserve over the road too, not much about but it looks as if it might be good in the Summer.

While waiting for my return bus I had a Grey Wagtail fly over which helped take my mind of my surroundings, Kettering town centre really looks to have gone down hill of late!

James.
 

Attachments

  • 016_01.JPG
    016_01.JPG
    261.9 KB · Views: 21
  • 035_01.JPG
    035_01.JPG
    243.8 KB · Views: 23
  • 069.JPG
    069.JPG
    208 KB · Views: 18
  • 080.JPG
    080.JPG
    307 KB · Views: 19
  • 085.JPG
    085.JPG
    330.5 KB · Views: 19
I'd just like to begin by saying that all those people that told me to do things in moderation may have been right after all as despite a gig and some beers last night I was surprisingly bright eyed and bushy of tail this morning. Waking up to some nice sunny conditions I decided to make use of the X4's Sunday route change to stop at Ecton from where I planned to visit Sywell Country Park for the first time. A flock of Siskins passed overhead as I made my way to the trainstation and some early kites were on the wing.

Sitting at the front of the bus I was ideally placed to see how close some Wood Pigeons come to becoming Magpie breakfast, one by the width of a fag paper. Quite how these dopey characters have become so common is something of a mystery! As the bus progressed the weather worsened with a few drops of rain at Isham quickly becoming cats and dogs by Wellingborough, luckily for me it had relaxed into a light drizzle by Ecton and I set off for the park hoping it would stop soon.

My reason for this debut visit was the long staying Whooper Swan which I hoped might still be about, it's been a long time since I saw one in the county. Happily for me Lady Luck was with me and I found it feeding in a crop field with some Mutes and Canadas on the Mears Ashby side of the res. While waiting for the rain to stop so that I could get a distant record shot I heard a Cetti's Warbler singing from a marshy area, a bit further on I heard a Water Rail as well. Not a great deal else, good views of Nuthatch in the car park and I did check through the wildfowl just in case any early moving goodies had joined them.

Walking back towards Ecton I had some nice views of Mistle Thrush and as the bus stop was opposite the Worlds End Pub I popped in for some scarcely needed hair of the dog.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 005.JPG
    005.JPG
    220.7 KB · Views: 18
  • 020.JPG
    020.JPG
    234.6 KB · Views: 16
  • 026.JPG
    026.JPG
    296.4 KB · Views: 16
  • 029.JPG
    029.JPG
    188.8 KB · Views: 18
  • 033.JPG
    033.JPG
    167.3 KB · Views: 17
Another sunny Monday and another trip on the old X4, I may have to buy some shares in the company at this rate. Today I got off at Lower Benefield and took a stroll along the gated road towards Glapthorn. While nothing of great note was on view it had some nice looking habitat with the brook attracting two Little Egrets. A torrent of Skylark song provided the soundtrack ably assisted by a Yellowhammer and Chaffinch accompaniment. A large feeding flock of thrushes and small numbers of Meadow Pipits passing through provided some interest.

The road emerges opposite Glapthorn Cow Pasture but as it was a little early in the year for that site I took a footpath that runs parallel with the reserve instead. A bonus in the colourful shape of a pair of Mandarins flying towards the brook was a nice sight while Green Woods could be heard calling. Taking another path towards Deenethorpe I came across a large flock of buntings but despite checking could not find any exotics. Closer towards the barn near to Burnt Coppice I found a Stonechat, at first I thought my autofocus might prevent a picture but she stopped my swearing by flying into a tree. At the barns another flock of Yellowhammers were duly checked and while I may pine for something rarer I had to be content with some Tree Sparrows.

Moving on to Deenethorpe village a Cormorant looked huge on the stream, there were more across the road at the Deene Lake inflow. Water levels here were as high as I've seen and there were no Snipe at all, even Teal appeared to have left. The WBT had aroused the curiosity of the resident Black Swan but there was not much else to report. The Deene Stonechat was again AWOL and the main lake was almost devoid of wildfowl though a group of twenty four Shelduck were mainly sleeping on the bank near to the dam. Around at the ponds the first of two pairs of Egyptian Geese were seen and a few duck were present.

Walking back along Kirby Lane I saw what I though was a Hare in a field but on closer inspection it turned out to be a huge rabbit sitting as if the local buzzards did not exist, I thought it might be diseased but it seemed OK. On reflection I suppose that this Behemoth of the bunny world had nothing to fear from anything this side of an eagle and I'm pretty sure that won't be an issue.

I half expected to see a butterfly as the day warmed up but will have to wait a little longer for my first of the Spring.

Once again I've split the pictures across two posts, nothing rare or different but hopefully some nice images to enjoy.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 031.JPG
    031.JPG
    234.4 KB · Views: 19
  • 039.JPG
    039.JPG
    278.5 KB · Views: 15
  • 033_01.JPG
    033_01.JPG
    267.1 KB · Views: 16
  • 023.JPG
    023.JPG
    160.1 KB · Views: 15
  • 035.JPG
    035.JPG
    266.8 KB · Views: 17
The other images threatened above.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 051.JPG
    051.JPG
    303.7 KB · Views: 20
  • 069_01.JPG
    069_01.JPG
    247.5 KB · Views: 24
  • 090.JPG
    090.JPG
    225.8 KB · Views: 18
  • 006.JPG
    006.JPG
    197.4 KB · Views: 23
  • 014.JPG
    014.JPG
    312 KB · Views: 20
Some pre dawn movement of Redwings this morning over Willowbrook Industrial Estate, I don't usually hear them in the Spring so it was a bit of an unusual record for me.

On a slightly different note I was reading through some past notes and realised that I've only seen Goshawks on two occasions in Northants and both of those were in March. This poses the question of why there seems to be no regular sites for Goshawks in the county. I know that no responsible birder would or should ever release such sensitive information on a public forum but there are not even any of the customary Site A or B mentions in the bird report.

Given that there is no shortage of woodland in the county and that many of the larger ones are owned by the Forestry Commission it's rather baffling. There's certainly no lack of potential food in the area either with numbers of pigeons and corvids in particular as high as I can remember. It might be tempting to wonder whether or not a little bit of illegal control may be responsible but the number of Buzzards around the county suggests that this is not a big problem.

I sometimes wonder whether there's been a change in birding practices with the rise of the pager and information services leading to a more reactive instead of speculative style. It may be a better use of limited time following up on other reports rather than potentially wasting precious time checking sites out "just in case". As someone who is as guilty as the next birder of not wanting to stake sites out for too long I may have to bite the bullet on this one and start checking the local wooded areas, perhaps I'll put the Site A into the next year's bird report.

In the meantime I'm going to cheat a little bit and stick in a picture of one that I saw earlier in the year in Riga.

James.
 

Attachments

  • 085 (3).JPG
    085 (3).JPG
    332 KB · Views: 24
Had my first butterfly of the Spring today when a Peacock made a brief visit to my garden this afternoon.

An appointment at the doctors gave me an opportunity to try out a new camera at the boating lake, it's a clunking great Sony with a 63x zoom on it but at the moment I can't see it replacing my trusty Nikon. It may get the odd trip out if I do any car based birding but if it comes between taking the Nikon and a packed lunch instead of this one on a birding walk then it's no contest.

James.
 

Attachments

  • DSC00036.JPG
    DSC00036.JPG
    135.7 KB · Views: 13
  • DSC00040.JPG
    DSC00040.JPG
    224.1 KB · Views: 13
  • DSC00038.JPG
    DSC00038.JPG
    261.1 KB · Views: 15
Yet another in what appears to be a sequence of soggy Sabbaths but I didn't idle away the day waiting for Countryfile to show on the old Ned Kelly, no instead I headed over to Oundle for a rather damp stroll along part of the Nene Way.

The first highlight was a Kingfisher near to the south bridge, a sapphire bullet shooting down the river and just the dash of colour needed on such a dull morning. I was to see several more on my walk including an individual flying several circuits around a patch of the river near to Ashton Lock while calling loudly, not the usual Dunnock type call but more of a chattering sound. Another burst of colour here were a pair of Mandarins, I couldn't get a piccy due to the drizzle but they were still nice to see.

The next stretch of river was fairly dull, no cheerful otter flushers but then no otters either sadly. Having passed under the A605 near to Oundle I scanned an area of flooded field where a pair of Shelduck were keeping a healthy population of dabblers company. My efforts produced a Redshank and a Dunlin in addition to about fifteen Snipe and a good sized group of Lapwings. This area looks as if it could be pretty good for waders in the coming Spring. Moving on another pair of Mandarins flew down river near to the marina while at the marina itself there was the pitter patter of little webbed feet, the pair of Egyptian Geese had two young goslings. Two Great Crested Grebes were also on the river here and I apologise for yet another picture but they are stunning at this time of the year.

At Barnwell CP a singing Chiifchaff was actively feeding in the tops of some tall trees and was my first of the Spring. Yet more Mandarins were present too with three birds close to the Kingfisher Hide and another Kingfisher close to the town was my last birding highlight of the day, two pints of Pedigree in the Rose and Crown counting as my last highlights of any form. I love the fact that so many of the X4 bus stops are so close to pubs - cheers!

James.
 

Attachments

  • 004.JPG
    004.JPG
    505.8 KB · Views: 12
  • 008.JPG
    008.JPG
    668.5 KB · Views: 18
  • 013.JPG
    013.JPG
    821.1 KB · Views: 15
  • 025.JPG
    025.JPG
    679.3 KB · Views: 11
  • 028.JPG
    028.JPG
    703.9 KB · Views: 16
Warning! This thread is more than 6 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top