Northamptonshire Bird Club, a birdwatcher and naturalist club based in Northamptonshire, central England.
Our speaker for the meeting this Wednesday has, unfortunately, come down with Covid. Instead we're hastily putting together a presentation from last year's Bird Club trip to The Gambia, unmissable for those who went and for those who didn't. 😎
Hope to see you all there.
It's the time of year when some of our keen photographers start thinking about their images to be entered into the Club's photographic competition in February. Some organised folk will have a folder with photos edited for their final choice nearer the deadline.
To encourage more members to enter we've relaxed the rules to allow photos taken since 2021 and not just the current year in any category. This will allow those who haven't travelled abroad in 2024 to enter photos in the relevant categories going back over the last 3 years. I'm sure some of you may have wished you'd entered a different photo or two having seen the winning category entries and this will allow more flexibility in your final choice.
We've decided to move with technology and allow HDR and stacked photos to be entered across the categories although it's assumed this will be more suited to landscapes, plants & fungi and insects rather than birds. The cloning and editing rules remain the same.
There will be an additional trophy, Bird Club Photographer of the Year for the photographer who has the highest score based on positions gained e.g. if a member entered just 5 or 6 photos and they were all placed in the top 3 positions they would achieve a higher score than someone who'd entered the maximum 24 photos and only achieved one 1st place and one 2nd place.
The rules on the Digital Photographic Competition page will be updated before the next meeting along with a reminder of how to submit entries following a few issues last year, the main ones being;
Nik Shelton from Wildlife Trust BCN gave an inspiring talk about a potential new reserve just over the border in Bedfordshire - Strawberry Hill. Some members may have visited during its early years when the land owner decided to cease farming and leave it to nature which in turn attracted Short-eared and Barn Owls amongst many other species.
More recently the habitat has attracted Nightingales and Turtle Doves in good numbers and Nik told of the enormous potential that this type of habitat could bring - but there's a catch. Part of the area has been secured through funding but 74 hectares remain at risk. The Trust need to raise 1.5 million to purchase the remainder and they're asking for help.
Any members wishing to help this very worthwhile cause can donate here;
https://www.wildlifebcn.org/strawberryhillappeal
 |
| Turtle Dove courtesy of Dave Jackson. |
It is with sadness that I inform readers of the passing of two Bird Club members;
Chris Coe, who was a long-standing member and an active county birder for more than half a century. One of Chris’s best finds and one yet to be repeated was a Little Bittern at Hollowell Reservoir in 1973.
Wendy Gossage was an active member of the Bird Club and with her husband, Robin, joined many trips at home and abroad including South Africa and Northumberland where the photo of Wendy and Chris was taken in 2014. Wendy recently lost her brave fight with cancer and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her.
Our thoughts go out to the family and relatives of Chris and Wendy.
Hello
The July outdoor meeting venue was the MOD site at Yardley Chase and on Wednesday 3rd July fifteen members met there and enjoyed a meander around ably lead by club chairman Bob Gill.
Swallows and a Kestrel met us at the entrance and Common Buzzard and a variety of common birds spiraled around during the muster.
A two hour wander on tracks admiring ancient oaks and a good deal of secondary mixed woodland interspersed with meadows and managed headlands was much enjoyed in the evening sunshine, the best part of the day.
Two Slowworms (very localised in Northants) and lots of tiny froglets entertained and Marsh Tits and Blackcaps called from the scrub and light woodland. It was the wrong time of day for butterflies but Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites were well picked out as they rested in the grasses. A pair of Bullfinches is becoming a too infrequent sighting these days and a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were flighty and vocal.
Bob was able to explain some history of the area including the buildings and numerous ponds and also the more recent habitat management in tandem with continued MOD interests and local farmers.
A Common Newt was available for examination towards the end of the walk and further birds included Jay, Goldfinch, Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush.
Our thanks to Bob for organising access to this restricted area and leading the walk.
Neil M
 |
| Muntjac. |
 |
| Marbled White. |
 |
| Marsh Tit. |
Congratulations to Pete Gilbert for his wining shot of a Eurasian Wren taken in Northants. Pete also took 1st in 2 further categories almost on his doorstep proving anyone can get their name on the shield, not just us globetrotters!
https://northantsbirdclub.blogspot.com/p/photographic-competition-winners-2023_19.html
The annual photographic competition is one of the most anticipated and well-attended meetings in the Bird Club calendar.
This year it will be held in the usual venue on Wednesday 7th February and we will be showing the photos on a large screen television following feedback that the quality of the entries surpass the resolution of a projector and screen. I'm guessing there could be a selection of entries from the Club's recent trip to The Gambia.
We may dig deep and purchase a TV for all our indoor meetings if deemed a success and have enough funds in our coffers. Have your say on the night - see you there.
_filtered.jpg)
With 2023 coming to a close, it is great to see that the club was again able to hold regular meetings and events and we were 'back to normal' after the complications and concerns that the Covid epidemic created during the last couple of years. This included an opportunity to re-run the annual photographic competition, car trips, the summer BBQ and summer evening excursion, our monthly presentations and recently the very successful foreign trip to the Gambia in search of exotic wildlife.
The programme for 2024 is coming together although there are still a few dates to confirm with speakers, and we hope to run events as normal in the coming year. The first presentation of the year will be a zoom presentation by globe-trotting Matt Eade, a Naturetrek staff member and tour leader who will be presenting on the Wildlife of Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia. This talk is on the evening of Wednesday 3rd January 2024 and all being well members will be able to enjoy the presentation on line from the comfort of home by way of an emailed link. Please do not turn up at our meeting venue of the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir as it will be shut!
With Christmas nearly upon us and the New Year just around the corner, the committee would like to wish the membership and all our supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The recent Bird Club trip to The Gambia, returning for the first time as a club since our inaugural visit in 2000, was a remarkable success.
African Finfoot, Egyptian Plover and a few rarities e.g. Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Spotted Thick-knee and Spotted Honeyguide made the bird list while Patas Monkey and African Clawless Otter were unexpected sightings.
Butterflies were plentiful whilst mosquitoes, thankfully, were few and far between!
Full report courtesy of Chairman Bob to follow.
_filtered.jpg)
We have a place available on the upcoming Bird Club trip to The Gambia where we will travel inland to search for specialities such as Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Bateleur and Egyptian Plover.
Please contact Bob Gill a.s.a.p. if interested.
Hello
Our outdoor meeting at Harlestone Lake was attended by sixteen members and we took a gentle walk around the village and lake on a pleasant summer evening. Birds were scarce but a Jay was spotted by the lake and the local Mute Swans and Coots had produced youngsters. Some large Common Carp lounged around in the shallows.
Song Thrushes were singing loudly and the cherry trees were fruit providers for them and the local Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes. Woodpigeons were the most high profile birds and a Treecreeper called from dark woodland with two Goldcrests singing from the canopy. Distant Red Kites and a fly-past of Jackdaws preceded a flock of Common Swifts quickly multiplying in numbers as they fed over the mature plantations. A couple of noisy Magpies were accompanying a field of bullocks and a Muntjac was on the grassy track ahead of us.
A couple of lingering Lesser Black-backed Gulls were interested in something nearby as we strolled past the traditional thatched cottages, water pump and village hall and threaded our way back over the golf course. Ancient Oaks and Sweet Chestnuts looked superb and a stand of hemlock dwarfed us all. Walking through St Andrews churchyard and back to the car park, a baby Tawny Owl called from laurels and taller trees but couldn't be seen. A quiet and serene summer's evening drew to a close and we motored home.
Neil M
 |
| Common Swift. |
 |
| Muntjac. |
 |
| Harlestone cow. |
We started off the year with a very good turnout for a talk by club member and tour guide, Neil McMahon as he recounted his love for the Isle of Scilly where he and Eleanor have been visiting for a good number of years finding some excellent birds over time.
February's meeting was the popular Club's photographic competition with new judge, Peter Walmsley giving expert advice and choosing the winners in each category. Those present on the night voted for the overall winner and it was that man again getting his name on the Graham Soden shield for the 5th time. ☺️
https://northantsbirdclub.blogspot.com/p/photographic-competition-winners-2023.html
In March we had the AGM and Richard Bashford entertained us with his tales from Morocco and who wouldn't agree with Richard that Hoopoe Lark is the best lark of all?
The thoughts of Chairman Bob were shared in April as he recounted the Club's trip to Extremadura and the fabulous wildlife in this unspoiled part of Spain. Most enjoyable.
Also in April, some lucky members managed to drag themselves away from the county to sample the delights of Lesbos and a talk will surely be in the making to make us all jealous of their intrepid trip.
Ever popular with our members and a member himself, Jeff Blincow gave us an insight to the MOD site, Yardley Hastings, in May where few have dared or been allowed to tread. "I'm not allowed to talk about that" was a recurring statement making this out-of-bounds locality even more intriguing.
Fabulous food (so the chef says) and a warm and beautiful evening made for a good turnout for our June barbecue. The sunset was as good as the food, and that's saying something, apparently.
That's half the year gone, keep checking the programme page for events in the coming months and join in the fun. Look forward to seeing you again soon.
Happy New Year and best wishes for 2023.
The Bird Club calendar kicks off with the first indoor meeting of the new year with a talk by our very own Neil McMahon as he recalls his and Eleanor's many sojourns to the Isles of Scilly in autumns past.
What do they and many other British rarity hunters find so attractive about this archipelago to make the stomach-churning boat journey 3 hours off the west coast of Cornwall? Come along and find out.
Members and non-members welcome.
http://northantsbirdclub.blogspot.com/p/programme.html
.jpeg)
Yellow-browed Warbler, an arrival from Siberia and often seen on the Scillies in autumn. This one and another are currently wintering near Summer Leys, Northants.
A reminder that the closing date for entries to the Club's photographic competition is December 20th. Please make a note in your diaries for February 1st when this most anticipated meeting will be held to select the winner.
Good luck to all who enter.
https://northantsbirdclub.blogspot.com/p/photographic-competition-rules.html
_filtered.jpg)
Calling all photographers - It's that time of year when we start looking ahead to 2023 and one of the most anticipated meetings is the annual photographic competition. We have a new judge and we've made some changes so please read through the rules carefully and start getting those winning shots edited!
https://northantsbirdclub.blogspot.com/p/photographic-competition-rules.html
The Gambia 2023
Our first and last Club trip to The Gambia was organised by Dave Thomas way back in the year 2000 and led by Clive Barlow who helped put this small African country on the birding map.
A few things have changed since then; they have a new president, a new river bridge and a new tarmac road all the way up country. The trip will be based on the Naturetrek tour and will include all food, water, transportation and reserve entrance fees for a shorter 8 day trip.
Dates have yet to be finalised and will likely be end of November into December to give us the best chance of seeing what is arguably the best wader in the world, Egyptian Plover as well as many of the country's colourful rollers, bee-eaters and sunbirds.
_filtered.jpg)
Places are going rapidly so if you're interested, please let Bob know at the next meeting.
Talking of which, Matthew Capper, a Naturetrek leader will be giving us a talk entitled Birding Florida on Wednesday 2nd November, see you there.
Hello
Yesterday evening was the club's outdoor meeting at Kelmarsh Hall. Sixteen members met up for 7pm and we took a gentle stroll to look at the Orangery, the stunning Walled Garden and further afield around the trees next to the River Ise and the lake and then a walk back up to the Hall building itself. It was rather breezy and cloudy but the sun broke through on several occasions and it turned out to be a very pleasant walk. After looking at the Orangery and hearing how birding on the estate helped to finance the rebuild, we walked towards the Walled Garden and saw a small group of Purple Hairstreak butterflies battling against the breeze around tall oak trees. Once inside the garden a Scarlet Tiger moth showed nicely in flight and birds included Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Blue Tit and Chiffchaff with brief views of Nuthatch and Blackcap.
Ravens were heard calling some distance away and a family party of Spotted Flycatchers in the mature trees towards the river initially were difficult to see but then a couple of juveniles showed nicely and proved their adeptness at already catching their own insects. Down by the river and lake we heard Kingfisher, Treecreeper and Goldcrest but they remained hidden. A wary female Gadwall hid her ducklings in waterside vegetation and another female posed before flying off. A Common Buzzard and a distant Brown Hare were further wildlife on show as we walked the edge of the main lake, seeing a Grey Heron and two flying Little Egrets as we did so. The pair of Mute Swans had an excellent brood of eight cygnets. A Kingfisher shot past Richard and calling birds included more Blackcaps and Nuthatches with a couple of House Martins and a Swift overhead.
A little further on and the members ahead had the Kingfisher perched up and we were all fortunate to see it sitting in a part-submerged branch albeit at some distance. We talk a walk up the slight incline towards the Hall and one of the adult Spotted Flycatchers showed very nicely. At the Hall we saw a female Blackbird carrying food for her youngsters and one of the items in her bill was a still wriggling Scarlet Tiger moth!
I think we all enjoyed our two hour dawdle on a reasonable summer evening in the peaceful environment of Kelmarsh Hall gardens and grounds!
Regards
Neil M
 |
| Members in action courtesy of John Hunt. |
 |
| British White Cattle. |
 |
| The 'Ugly Duckling'... |
 |
| ...and proud Dad! |
 |
| Kelmarsh Church. |
Hello
At last, our first 'live' meeting since 2020! Please join us at the Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir on Wednesday 4th May 2022 when club member and all round wildlife guru Jeff Blincow will be presenting his talk on 'The Wildlife of Finnmark'. This is the most northerly and easterly part of Norway and the illustrations will reflect on some of the wildlife highlights of this special region.
The meeting commences at 7.30pm and we will again be providing hot drinks and biscuits on arrival which will be available just outside our usual entrance so as not to cause a bottleneck and provide a free flow access and egress to the building (plus more ventilation than normal).
We want to be social but responsible and for everyone to feel comfortable back in our club venue surroundings.
The club committee welcomes you back!
Neil M
 |
| Drake Eider. |
 |
| Arctic Skua. |
The new Wildlife Trust BCN visitors' centre is now open, details in the link below. Amongst activities planed there will be an Opticron 'try before you buy' optics event on April 7th and with Jack Snipe and up to four Garganey there now might be a good time to visit!
https://www.wildlifebcn.org/news/new-summer-leys-visitor-centre
https://www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2022-04-07-try-you-buy-optics-event-summer-leys
Female Garganey, Summer Leys April 5th 2022. Dave J.
For anyone who missed the Bird Club’s photographic competition or if you’d like to view again the Zoom link is here (Passcode: *hsfQx5F)
Unfortunately, not all the submitted photos were included for judging and the committee would like to apologise to anyone who entered photos that were missed from the competition. If those affected would like to send their missing images to davidjac (@) mac.com they'll be posted on the home page. We’re taking steps to ensure the same doesn’t happen next year when we should be back to our normal face-to-face meetings.
Many thanks to Jeff for judging the competition, it’s always a difficult and thankless task with so many excellent photos entered, and well done to Matt Hazleton who gets his name on the Graham Soden Shield for the second time.
Winning entries here
Missed photos;
Bird Club Photographic competition, Wednesday 9th February and an exhibition in Northampton Museum - 10 Years of the British Wildlife Photography Awards
Work has been completed on the Kingfisher screen at Pitsford Wildlife Reserve in a quiet corner of Scaldwell Bay. It could be a month or two before the perches are in regular use as Kingfishers have only been photographed once in 6 visits since December from personal experience.
This is the first purpose-built photography hide available to Wildlife BCN members and permit holders in Northants!
https://www.wildlifebcn.org/news/kingfisher-viewing-screen-pitsford
Hello
Yesterday it was announced that a Global Birdfair event will take place this year on 15th/16th/17th July at the Rutland Showground, Oakham, Rutland LE 7TW. Tickets will be available from 14th Feb 2022 and the format will be similar to the previous British Birdwatching Fair. Indeed Tim Appleton a co-founder for the Birdfair is behind this latest project too.
You can find out more by visiting:-
Neil McMahon
 |
| Osprey. |
 |
| Black-tailed Godwit. |
 |
| Swallow. |
Hi all,
A quick reminder that 31st Dec is the closing date for entries to the NBC Photographic Competition. You can send your entries to Jeff Blincow, 9 Churchill Road, Earls Barton, Northants, NN6 0PQ or to Bob Gill, 41 Mountfield Road, Northampton, NN3 6BE.
It is probably too late to be posting memory sticks to either Jeff or Bob to arrive by this deadline, but if you reply to this email with your entry details and notify us that your entries are on the way we will still accept them. You should notify us of this approach by 31st Dec. Any entries / notifications after this deadline will not be accepted. It is preferable of course that you deliver your entries into Jeff or Bob in person.
The categories and rules of entry remain the same as last year and are as presented on our blogsite at https://northantsbirdclub.blogspot.com/p/photographic-competition-rules.html
Important feature to remember is that images should be entered in a JPEG format no larger than 1.5 Megabytes, they should NOT contain any text or borders. Jeff will not have time to resize or format images and so any images not complying with this request will be rejected.
Nick Parker
Northants Ringing Group (NRG).
Currently the group has twenty-one members
comprising fourteen qualified ringers, of whom five have training endorsements,
and seven trainees.
The main ringing sites are Pitsford Reservoir, Stortons Nature Reserve, Harrington Airfield and Linford Lakes Nature Reserve, which although it is in Buckinghamshire is only about two miles from the County border and BTO allows it to be within the Northamptonshire figures. There are other numerous sites where ringing is conducted within Northamptonshire by group members.
This year, so far, the group has ringed over 7,009 new birds and re-trapped 1,780 birds. Of the 1,780 birds that have been re-caught only fifteen were ringed by other groups/individuals either within the County or farther afield. Interestingly Linford Lakes Nature Reserve has been a good place for control Reed Warblers this year with four having been ringed outside the county, one from Rutland Water, one from Marston Vale Country Park Bedfordshire, one from Baden Down Farm Wiltshire and one from Girande in France. The French bird was originally ringed in August 2017 as a juvenile, possibly having been hatched in the UK and on the start of its migration, and by the time it was caught at Linford in July it will have made eight journeys to and from sub–Saharan Africa.
Map 1 below shows the original ringing location of birds caught by NRG members, known as controls, although the bulk were originally ringed in the UK.
Map 2 below shows the location of recoveries for birds that were ringed by NRG members. The Red flag indicates that unfortunately the bird was found dead. In the UK, the bulk of the ‘Red’ recoveries were the result of predation by cats.
Map 3 below shows the detail that is entered on Google maps when plotting controls or recoveries. These maps are currently only available to NRG members.
In July two members of NRG made what has become, Covid notwithstanding, an annual pilgrimage to the island of Skokholm, known as Dream Island by the wardens. Chris Payne had previously installed some cameras into a specially built Storm Petrol nesting wall, known as the Petrol Station. This year Chris obtained some excellent footage of the comings and goings of the Storm Petrols and next year plans are in the making for Chris to visit with two sound recordists to place at least eight cameras and microphones into the wall to continue their research into the secretive life of this amazing little bird.
 |
| Map 1 |
 |
| Map 2 |
 |
| Map 3 |
 |
 |
The totals for NRG since 2002. The 2020 decline is the result of the inability to ring due to Covid-19 restrictions. |
Nick Wood
Group Secretary
Northants Ringing Group
