Mid-June insects and birds

Hello

There were only negative reports from Clifford Hill Pits today regarding the Rosy Starling so it may already have moved on.

Eric's visit to Thrapston Pits today was much the same as yesterday but with the addition of a fishing Osprey on Elinor Lake and a Peregrine on a pylon by the river.

A little ringing at Pitsford Reservoir this morning by Dave and Lewis provided a few more Black-headed Gull chicks, the first Common Tern chicks and Mallard, Carrion Crow and Jackdaws from the main duck trap. Black-headed Gulls have for the first time produced chicks from nests positioned on the waterside willow stumps, and a Common Tern is sitting on a nest on one of the stumps too.

Birds in the Scaldwell Bay there this evening included a Pink-footed Goose, an eclipse drake Mandarin Duck and a fly-over Peregrine. Common grassland butterflies in the Scaldwell Meadow included Common Blue, Small Heath and Large Skipper.

I saw plenty of Red Admiral butterflies today plus a couple of Painted Ladies. Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies seem to be visiting gardens widely at the moment and very smart clearwing moths also found in gardens over the last few days locally have included Currant, Red-tipped and Red-belted.

Regards

Neil M

Black-headed Gulls
at Pitsford Reservoir.

Male Beautiful Demoiselle.

Large Skipper.

Small Heath.