Pitsford CBC

Hello

Kenny and team undertook a rather hectic ringing session at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve on the outskirts of Milton Keynes today, with recently fledged birds pushing the total to 108 captures of twenty species, 74 of which were new. An adult Oystercatcher managed to walk out of one of the nets which was annoying but yet again a new Cuckoo was caught and ringed (a first year male). Great numbers of warblers included a Cetti's, seventeen Reeds, a Sedge, six Whitethroats, eight Garden Warblers, fifteen Blackcaps, six Chiffchaffs and four Willow Warblers. Other birds of variety included Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Bullfinch, Song Thrush and more common fare.

Mark Williams's unseasonable find this morning was seven Snow Geese and a Barnacle Goose at Clifford Hill Pits!

I completed a Common Bird Census on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today. The birds were pretty unremarkable apart from a distant raptor that went north at 1.30pm - the views were too poor to confirm what appeared to be a Honey Buzzard. A nesting Spotted Flycatcher was a highlight and the numbers of singing Blackcaps and Garden Warblers on-site remains high. Six Lapwings appeared to be failed breeders from elsewhere, there was a Grey Wagtail present and the rafts were busy with jostling, downy Black-headed Gull chicks!

Large numbers of damselflies and other flying insects stole the show, many being scooped up by Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns working just above the surface of the water. At least ten Beautiful Demoiselles were hunting from vegetation, probably the most I have seen in any one day at Pitsford and further confirmation that they are well established now. Damselflies included Common Blue, Azure, Blue-tailed and Large Red and dragonflies were represented by Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Hairy Hawker and Blue Emperor. Butterflies didn't really get going until the end of the circuit although a Meadow Brown was my first of the year and Chimney Sweeper moths were in all the meadows.

The first Black Hairstreak butterfly on the wing this year at Glapthorn Cow Pastures and hatched Scarlet Tiger moths will no doubt be the pre-cursor to many more during the latter part of June.

This evening a Rosy or Rose-coloured Starling has been found next to the Nene Barrage, Clifford Hill Pits - there is currently an invasion of this species into Europe and the UK from the east.

Regards

Neil M

A 'jewelled' Black-tailed Skimmer
that wasn't going anywhere until
the early morning dew had dried off!

Great Crested Grebe.

Azure Blue Damselfly.

Beautiful Demoiselle.

Black-headed Gull.

Common Toad.

Possibly Cheilosia grossa? 

Four Spotted Chaser.

Large Red-eyed Damselflies.

All images taken at Pitsford
Reservoir today.