Owls, a Quail and an Otter.

Hello

Yesterday (Wednesday) evening provided a very vocal Quail in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton which showed well on the track near to Shrike Hedge and the field of pink campion. It's tempting to think this may be a fresh bird after three days of no sight or sound of a Quail despite plenty of coverage. A Barn Owl and a Little Owl were out hunting at the same time.

Chris Payne has been checking Barn Owl boxes in South Northants and yesterday ringed ten nestlings in three boxes. In recent years Barn Owls have regularly nested rather late, waiting for the vole poulation to recover from cold and wet winters and springs. This year looks much the same and anecdotal evidence suggest that voles are now back in reasonable numbers.

Some time at Pitsford Reservoir today confirmed the continued presence of the Pink-footed Goose in the Scaldwell Bay with two Yellow-legged Gulls on the buoys not far from Maytrees Hide. Insects in the Scaldwell Meadow included big hatches of Chimney Sweeper moths and Meadow Brown butterflies with smaller numbers of Large Skippers, Common Blues and Small Heaths and Cinnabar moths.

The below trail camera footage relates to a local Otter active at night.

Regards

Neil M

Nestling Barn Owls
courtesy of Chris Payne.