Hello
The brilliant sunshine, warm temperatures and gentle breeze is helping to bring forth multitudes of insects, at least that was my impression after a full day out in the county today, most of which I spent in the Oundle area.
In the meantime gardens have been pulling in more insects with both John Hunt in Spratton and Karen Bright in Little Brington attracting Broad-bodied Chasers and Beautiful Demoiselles to their respective gardens.
Steve and Gina located the Spotted Flycatchers at Beck Dairy (Cottesbrooke) today and Eleanor encountered Dingy Skipper and a large hatch of fresh Small Tortoiseshell butterflies in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Grizzled Skipper was the best of a haul of butterflies seen by Matt Hazleton at Sharnbrook Summit this morning and good numbers of Black Hairstreaks were on show and behaving themselves at Glapthorn Cow Pasture. Large Skippers and Meadow Browns are now out and about in small numbers.
David Arden saw an Osprey at Pitsford Reservoir this morning (Scaldwell Bay) but unfortunately this site still remains closed to the general public and permit holders alike. Deb and Eric notched up a Great White Egret and the rufous form Cuckoo again at Thrapston Pits.
My initial foray took me north east where I checked out areas near to Barnwell, Hemington and Polebrook which provided early morning sightings of a Tawny Owl, three Barn Owls and a Little Owl, Cuckoo and plenty of summer migrants and resident birds alike. Skirting around the edges of Ashton Wold and taking the bridlepath through the complex was good for three singing Spotted Flycatchers, large numbers of Speckled Wood butterflies and a just emerged Blue Emperor dragonfly.
After a pleasurable time at Glapthorn watching the hairstreaks I maneuvered around to Blatherwycke Lake where bird of the day was a female Pochard with six ducklings! Other birds included three Black Swans and a Kingfisher and plenty of things whizzing around over the water included my first Black-tailed Skimmers of the year. I spent quite a bit of time around Deene Lake and nearby ponds, locating two pairs of Shelduck, a party of six Ravens and lots of dragonflies which included Hairy Hawker, more Blue Emperors and good numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers and Four spotted Chasers. And yes I saw absolutely loads of Red Kites all day long!
Two Barn Owls were again hunting this evening between Blueberry Farm and the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton.
Regards
Neil M
The brilliant sunshine, warm temperatures and gentle breeze is helping to bring forth multitudes of insects, at least that was my impression after a full day out in the county today, most of which I spent in the Oundle area.
In the meantime gardens have been pulling in more insects with both John Hunt in Spratton and Karen Bright in Little Brington attracting Broad-bodied Chasers and Beautiful Demoiselles to their respective gardens.
Steve and Gina located the Spotted Flycatchers at Beck Dairy (Cottesbrooke) today and Eleanor encountered Dingy Skipper and a large hatch of fresh Small Tortoiseshell butterflies in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Grizzled Skipper was the best of a haul of butterflies seen by Matt Hazleton at Sharnbrook Summit this morning and good numbers of Black Hairstreaks were on show and behaving themselves at Glapthorn Cow Pasture. Large Skippers and Meadow Browns are now out and about in small numbers.
David Arden saw an Osprey at Pitsford Reservoir this morning (Scaldwell Bay) but unfortunately this site still remains closed to the general public and permit holders alike. Deb and Eric notched up a Great White Egret and the rufous form Cuckoo again at Thrapston Pits.
My initial foray took me north east where I checked out areas near to Barnwell, Hemington and Polebrook which provided early morning sightings of a Tawny Owl, three Barn Owls and a Little Owl, Cuckoo and plenty of summer migrants and resident birds alike. Skirting around the edges of Ashton Wold and taking the bridlepath through the complex was good for three singing Spotted Flycatchers, large numbers of Speckled Wood butterflies and a just emerged Blue Emperor dragonfly.
After a pleasurable time at Glapthorn watching the hairstreaks I maneuvered around to Blatherwycke Lake where bird of the day was a female Pochard with six ducklings! Other birds included three Black Swans and a Kingfisher and plenty of things whizzing around over the water included my first Black-tailed Skimmers of the year. I spent quite a bit of time around Deene Lake and nearby ponds, locating two pairs of Shelduck, a party of six Ravens and lots of dragonflies which included Hairy Hawker, more Blue Emperors and good numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers and Four spotted Chasers. And yes I saw absolutely loads of Red Kites all day long!
Two Barn Owls were again hunting this evening between Blueberry Farm and the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton.
Regards
Neil M
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| The only stand of Field Elms I know of in Northants. |
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| Black Hairstreak. |
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| Broad-bodied Chaser courtesy of Karen Bright. |
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| Broad-bodied Chaser courtesy of John Hunt. |
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| Beautiful Demoiselle on dog rose by John Hunt. |
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| Spratton outlook by John Hunt. |
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| Blue Emperor Ashton Wold. |
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| Scarce Chasers. |
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| Common Buzzard. |
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| Red Kite. |
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