Summer's wildlife

Hello

A late morning visit to Pitsford Reservoir provided an opportunity to walk down to the Bird Club Hide in the Scaldwell Bay. The two drake Red-crested Pochard swam out of the waterside vegetation at one point and the concentration of moulting ducks there included four Wigeon. Newly-hatched Great Crested Grebe chicks ensure that quite a number of pairs have bred on-site and the Oystercatcher pair are feeding a chick or chicks. Two Yellow-legged Gulls sat atop their buoys, a Green Sandpiper was in the margins and other birds included a Hobby and a Grey Wagtail. Four Black-tailed Godwits were seen in flight over the Scaldwell Bay this afternoon. Odonata included Blue Emperor and Ruddy Darter.

Earls Barton Pits as usual provided some interesting sightings with the Summer Leys reserve attracting a flock of thirteen Black-tailed Godwits late morning, two Great White Egrets and a Common Sandpiper. However Alan Coles saw what can only be an interesting if unidentified small heron/bittern species in flight at Quarry Walk which flew east towards Summer Leys...time will tell if this bird is tracked down to confirm the identity.

At least one Crossbill was at Bucknell Wood today and butterflies included a Wood White, Purple Hairstreaks and Silver-washed Fritillaries. Clouded Yellow butterflies were reported at Roade, Mary's Lake at Earls Barton and Little Harrowden churchyard today.

Regards

Neil M

Common Toadflax.

Brimstone moth.

Dusky Sallow.

Phasia hemiptera courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Nearly ready to go!
Two juvenile Swifts in
the nest courtesy of
 John Hunt.