Camargue tour

Hello

Yesterday evening the group of thirteen NBC members partaking in the trip to the Camargue returned from their adventure in the south of France. The weather was dominated with strong northerly winds but a copious amount of sunshine so we have all returned back a little browner!

During our eight day tour we managed to visit some of the prime sites in the Camargue but also visited the slopes of Mount Ventoux, the plains of Le Crau and the Les Alpilles range of limestone hills.

Plenty of birds were on offer (over 160 species recorded) and we were lucky to see a wide range of insects and accumulated a healthy mammal list too. More details soon!

Regards

Neil M

Some of the wildlife encountered!

A DAY of TWO HALVES

Hi,

Sunday at Otmoor was little on the cold side upon arrival, but that did not stop the birds from singing.

Whitethroat

All along the watchtower sorry tracks Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers were singing, finding them was the problem. Singing their hearts out, but in the dense foliage they were playing difficult.

Sedge Warbler

Jenny Wren, Bob Gill

To be honest coupled with poor light the photography was made even more difficult. A Red Kite came close but against the grim sky images suffered, nothing to do with the photographer's of course!

Red Kite

Out in the fields albeit at distance the Brown Hares were chasing each other, what a superb animal the Brown Hare is ! I was also so pleased to see my old mate Loppy ear's.

Loppy ear's

Brown Hare

Still the Birds were singing Linnet, Lesser Whitethroat and a Grasshopper Warbler reeled out its song.

Linnet

After a bit of well earned scoff, we watched a female Pheasant dust bathe, I must try that sometime!

Dust bathing Pheasant

 The weather had started to warm up, as all of a sudden insect's were apparent. As we were the only car on the trip the macro's came out, but then we heard a sound we had been waiting for, the purring of a Turtle Dove. I secretly wondered how long we shall still see this lovely Dove and how have we let it get to this stage of decline ?

Turtle Dove

I say the Macro lens's came out....mine was still at home...but it didn't stop me I had to use my telephoto.

Red and Black Froghopper's were out in profusion .

Froghopper Bob Gill

Cream Spot Ladybird.  Bb Gill

Orange Tip Butterflies danced along the footpath's, Bob becoming the champion of finding their minute eggs on Mustard garlic.

As usual Otmoor had given Mark, Bob, Wendy and myself another wonderful day out.

Rhingia campestris  Hoverfly

Cheers Robin.

Indoor Meeting 1st May

Hello

This coming Wednesday (1st May) is the next indoor meeting of the club when there will be a presentation on the Wildlife of Mallorca as provided by our club chairman Bob Gill. This Mediterranean island has been a regular venue for Bob and his family for a number of years and we all look forward to seeing and hearing about his wildlife excursions.

The meeting begins at 7.30pm at the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir and Northants Bird Club members and non members alike are very welcome. Free parking is available close to the Fishing Lodge which is situated just off the Brixworth road outside the village of Holcot, and there is an overflow facility in a small car park next to the fishing boats.

Hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the evening, we look forward to seeing you there!

Regards

Neil McMahon

Great Reed Warbler.

Clouded Yellow butterfly.

NBC Car Trip

ole' loppy ears

Hello, the car trip this month will be on Sunday the 28th.

All being well we shall be visiting RSPB Otmoor, a great place to see all kinds of birds including
Turtle Doves, raptors and Cranes.
Brown Hares, Grass Snakes and Lizards etc etc are amongst a host of other wildlife that can be on show.

To enjoy a beautiful day out in the Oxfordshire countryside contact Bob Gill on 07938680386 for more details

Roe Deer

Cheerz Robin.

Bittern gallery

Hello

Wendy and Robin Gossage are not long back from a break in Suffolk, and of course one of the must visit places is the RSPB reserve at Minsmere. It was here one evening that they watched a fabulous Bittern at close quarters...

Regards

Neil M

Images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Indoor Meeting 3rd April

Hello

The next indoor meeting of the club is on Wednesday 3rd April 2019 when our visiting speaker Alan Peters will be reminiscing of his recent trip to Kazakhstan where he thoroughly enjoyed birding the vast expanse of steppes and other habitats to find the special birds of this region. Alan' presentation entitled 'Birding the Steppes and Mountains of Central Asia' will come with digital images and the meeting begins as usual at 7.30pm.

Hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the evening and members and non members alike are very welcome!

Regards

Neil M

Demoiselle Crane.

Pallas's Sandgrouse.

NBC Car Trip to Titchwell

MARSH HARRIER

Titchwell a well seasoned favourite and always a great place to visit.

Whilst having a slurp in the car park on arrival, Richard and Trish joined us. The weather prognosis wasn't bad,  being sunny with a little bit of a breeze.

There had been a White Tailed Sea-eagle wandering up and down the coast, so who knows what we were to expect.

First up a beardy, unusually just the one, a female type, but the breeze was keeping it low.

Bearded Tit   Bob Gill

Making for the beach whilst the tide was still high, a bit of sea watching was in order. Some nice plumaged Red breasted Mergansers passed by with Red necked, Great Crested and Slavonian Grebes vying for position on the sea. A Great Northern Diver and Scoter were also out and about.

As the tide receded water rushed out of the tidal lake exposing fresh feeding ground for a host of waders flying in.

Avocets   Mark Williams

Avocet  Bob Gill.

Brent Goose   Bob Gill

Brent Geese were coming in off the marshes along with Curlew, Redshank, both Black tailed and Bar tailed Godwits and Knot etc.

Flocks of knot twinkling in the sunlight  as they flew around this way then that way.

Knot,  this way

Knot,  that way

Avocet

Amongst all the kerfuffle were a few pairs of Med Gulls.

Med Gull    Mark Williams.

Med Gull.

Wigeon

A walk along the Meadow trail hopefully for a Bittern or Woodcock, a female Brambling was imprisoned in a bird feeder.






Continuing along the Fen walk we stopped at the end to photograph a few Marsh Harriers.










A Buzzard was also seen stooping,

Common Buzzard.

Red Kite   Mark Will  I am    s

Lastly we visited the dank and dark stream where the perennial Water Rail had been seen.






A sunny weekend in Norfolk brought out hoards of people, making the traffic on the way home
 dismal.

Aside from that, it was a wonderful bird filled day.

AGM and Indoor Meeting 6th March

Hello

The club's AGM is to be held on Wednesday 6th March commencing at 7.30pm at the usual venue of the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir. Bob Gill, the club chairman, will be managing the meeting and after the AGM formalities we very much look forward to a presentation from visiting speaker Colin Wilkinson who will be speaking about a recent wildlife trip to Taiwan. Colin is supporting his presentation with images from this exciting Asiatic island.

As usual hot drinks and biscuits will be available during the evening and all are welcome to attend.

Neil M

Barn Owl.

Turtle Dove.
Images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

GREAT DELIBERATIONS

Hear ye, Hear ye

and for your delectation, all entries for the Northants Bird Club Photographic Competition, are now on the blog.

So for all those that missed a great evening or would like to simply peruse some wonderful images,

go to,  https://northantsbirdclub.blogspot.com/p/photographic-competition-winners-2018.html

N B C Photographic Competition.

Wednesday evening drew most Bird Club members to view some of the most exciting nature images brought together by the clubs top photographers.

Up for grabs is the prestigious and coveted,  Graham Soden Shield, to have and to hold for a year to the lucky overall winner (decided by the audience).

With 13 categories to enter and 24 entries each per 14 photographer's there were lots of images to peruse. Initial judging was carried out by a remote  professional photographer with no affiliation to the club or its members.

Several new Photographers joined in the affray this year with several others dropping out.

This year 2018, 9 photographers vied for Grahams shield.

The winning image was taken by new Bird Club member Matt Hazleton from the British Birds category.

Sanderling by Matt Hazleton.

The judge said, a unique and comical moment captured in great light and from a good viewpoint. The main individual is well placed between the out of focus background birds that they don't distract from the subject.

A very Well done to Matt.

A big thank you to all who took part, creating a very exciting evening.

All entered images will be displayed on the photographic competition page in due course.

An armchair tick -after 32 years

For the old timers in the Bird Club the news that the Pitsford falcated duck found by Dave Burges and Matthew Rodgers in 1987 has just been accepted by the rarities committee finally confirms what we had hoped for. See
https://northantsbirds.com/2019/02/02/an-exciting-new-addition-to-the-northamptonshire-list/

NBC Photographic Competition

Hello

The club's annual photographic competition is the subject of next Wednesday's indoor meeting on 6th Feb commencing at 7.30pm.

The venue as always is the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir and hot drinks and biscuits are available.

Following notices the images submitted by members will be shown in each of the categories and the membership will be invited to vote on their favourites. The overall winner will be awarded the Graham Soden Shield.

All welcome!

Neil M

Bluethroat
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Bullfinch
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Common Buzzard
courtesy of Clive Bowley.