Iceland - 4th - 8th March 2022

Thursday, 28 May 2020

Butterflies, flycatchers and Nene Valley birding

Hello

More stunning weather today and with more to come it seems!

Reasonable numbers of birds in the garden again today, many birds taking advantage of the suet pellets, suet blocks and dried mealworms on offer. One or two Yellowhammers are still visiting for the seed and of course the Jackdaws are here for everything! A Broad-bodied Chaser was depositing eggs into our bigger pond - it'll take a year or two before we see the results!

Butterflies are in the news with Black Hairstreaks found today at Fermyn Wood Country Park and again at Glapthorne Cow Pastures and a Clouded Yellow and plenty of Wood Whites at Yardley Chase in the private section. Nationally some other butterfly species from the continent have been recorded and with a high weather system over northern Europe it's likely more will follow. I'm sure that people with moth traps will enjoy similar experiences with their specimens!

Spotted Flycatchers used to be one of the most common summer migrants to this part of the world but now they are rather scarce and localised breeders, often singing and holding territory for a couple of days and then moving on. Today they were recorded at Beck Dairy (Cottesbrooke), Hanging Houghton village, Glyn Davies Wood and New Covert, Kelmarsh.

Nene Valley birders were out and about today and sightings included a Great White Egret, a Hobby, an Osprey and six Cuckoos (including a rufous form female) at Thrapston Pits and a Garganey and a Great White Egret at Stanwick Pits. At least one Garganey remained at Summer Leys LNR today.

Regards

Neil M





Red Kite
courtesy of John Tilly.

Sedge Warbler at Stortons Pits
by Paul Crotty.

Four spotted Chaser
by Robin Gossage.

Red-eyed Damselfly by
Robin Gossage.

Swallow nest by Chris
Payne. Yesterday Chris
found seventeen Swallow
nests with eggs in South
Northants.

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