Hello
A stunning day's weather at Pitsford Reservoir today, and just perfect to complete the last Common Bird Census of the season.
An Osprey was north of the causeway at 6am and waders taking advantage of the muddy edges included three very smart Black-tailed Godwits, at least one Redshank and two Green Sandpipers.
Several Siskins were flying around the reserve, the drake Red-crested Pochard was still in the Walgrave Bay as were two early returning Wigeon. Plenty of passage gulls were evident today, mostly being Black-headeds on the move. Also a couple of Common Gulls have been overflying the last couple of days and big gulls on the reserve this morning included Great Black-backed and two adult Yellow-legged.
The bushes sheltered juvenile warblers including fledged Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. Willow Tit was seen at two points on the reserve and Marsh Tit at several. A Little Egret in breeding plumage was espied and the female Gadwall was still chaperoning five growing ducklings.
Insects were good with a Beautiful Demoiselle on show in the Holcot Bay, and Emperor Dragonfly, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four Spotted Chaser and Common Darter all on the wing. A good range of common butterflies included Marbled Whites still in the Scaldwell meadow and an unidentified fritillary. Roesel's Bush-crickets were simply everywhere!
Marbled White butterflies are common at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) this year and this evening an atmospheric big hatch there of Ghost Moths just before dusk was impressive.
Regards
Neil M
A stunning day's weather at Pitsford Reservoir today, and just perfect to complete the last Common Bird Census of the season.
An Osprey was north of the causeway at 6am and waders taking advantage of the muddy edges included three very smart Black-tailed Godwits, at least one Redshank and two Green Sandpipers.
Several Siskins were flying around the reserve, the drake Red-crested Pochard was still in the Walgrave Bay as were two early returning Wigeon. Plenty of passage gulls were evident today, mostly being Black-headeds on the move. Also a couple of Common Gulls have been overflying the last couple of days and big gulls on the reserve this morning included Great Black-backed and two adult Yellow-legged.
The bushes sheltered juvenile warblers including fledged Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff. Willow Tit was seen at two points on the reserve and Marsh Tit at several. A Little Egret in breeding plumage was espied and the female Gadwall was still chaperoning five growing ducklings.
Insects were good with a Beautiful Demoiselle on show in the Holcot Bay, and Emperor Dragonfly, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four Spotted Chaser and Common Darter all on the wing. A good range of common butterflies included Marbled Whites still in the Scaldwell meadow and an unidentified fritillary. Roesel's Bush-crickets were simply everywhere!
Marbled White butterflies are common at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) this year and this evening an atmospheric big hatch there of Ghost Moths just before dusk was impressive.
Regards
Neil M
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| Red Kite |
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| Beautiful Demoiselle. Seemingly an immature male. |
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| Muntjac Deer |
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| Emperor Dragonfly |
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| Flowering Rush |
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| Four Spotted Chaser Dragonfly |
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| Roesel's Bush-cricket |
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| Meadow Brown butterfly |
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| Small Tortoiseshell butterfly |
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| Comma butterfly |
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| Pied Wagtails - Male feeding juvenile. |
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| Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly |
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| Black-tailed Godwit All images at Pitsford Reservoir today... |
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