Tigers, woodpeckers and owls

Hello

Initially a grey, blustery but dry day with plenty of sunshine this afternoon ahead of what should be a pleasant day tomorrow.

Today was spent with colleagues managing ringing rides at two sites - with such a rapid growth spurt the rides had become quickly overgrown and needed cutting back, about a month earlier than normal. I think it likey that the cold earlier part of spring supressed plant growth and then the heat and the rain thereafter created a very rapid growth rate - but then I'm no gardener!

A new hatch of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are very welcome and we had a Scarlet Tigermoth in our front garden last night (after seeing one in the village the day before).

Chris Payne has been ringing more Barn Owl chicks today in South Northants with three 5-6 week old chicks ringed in one nest box and with still a brood of eggs in another box.

A number of people are reporting family parties of Great Spotted Woodpeckers arriving on their feeders, often an adult with one or two youngsters in attendance. The juveniles exhibit a bright red crown and I have only just recently learnt (thank-you John Tilly) that it can sometiomes be possible to determine the gender of the juveniles as the males have the more extensive red crown. There are other differences too, but these might be more discernable in the hand only.

A Garganey was seen on the Summer Leys LNR today.

Regards

Neil M

Scarlet Tiger moth.

Barn Owl courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Barn Owl courtesy of
Nathan Jones.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker
and seemingly a male due to the extensive
red crown courtesy of John Tilly.