Monday 29 June 2020

Hobbies, Grey Wagtails and Cattle Egrets.

Hello

I popped up the road to Market Harborough this morning and watched the summering Peregrine that is treating the spire of St Dionysius' Church as home. This bird is a large first summer female but she wasn't very photogenic today, mostly asleep or preening almost at the very highest part of the spire. All the locals seemed to be aware of her presence and were happy to see her.

A wander up and down the upper reaches of the River Welland in the town in the hope of coming across an Otter was less successful but I did find a few signs suggesting there is still one present. A cracking male Grey Wagtail was the best bird but locals regularly see a Kingfisher.

At least two Grey Wagtails were at Brixworth today and a female Red-crested Pochard was in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir. Hollowell Reservoir continued to host the Ruddy Shelduck today and also two Egyptian Geese, an Osprey, two hundred Swifts and 1-2 Hobbies. Hunting Hobbies were also at Hanging Houghton and Maidwell today and at the latter location a female Blackcap is coming to a garden feeder and taking food away to feed it's young - a further development to how this species is adapting to being a garden bird all year around.

Cattle Egrets in the Nene Valley included one at Stanwick Pits flying through at 5.40pm and four birds at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Black-backed Gull
at Pitsford Reservoir.

Purple Loosestrife at
Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of John Warner.

Privet Hawk-moth courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Ringlet butterfly
courtesy of Eleanor.

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