Cloudy and dull Sunday

Hello

Seemingly another quiet birding day in the county but a flock of five Common Scoters at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits was a good find this morning - I'm sure there are not many records for this site. Two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Wigeon were subsequently noted here too.

Over at Lilbourne Meadows reserve there were two Common Redstarts working the hedgerows - one wonders how many of these birds pass through Northants every year. At this time many are adults which are staying for periods of time, choosing our hedgerows to undergo the moult process before they filter back to Africa.

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today included two Great White Egrets, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Common Sandpiper. Over at Thrapston Pits there was a Great White Egret again plus a Green Sandpiper. Similar fare at Earls Barton Pits also with a Great White Egret and three Little Ringed Plovers feeding on Hardwater Lake.

A Grasshopper Warbler was singing in the north west arm of Sywell Country Park this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Adult Common Buzzard. For 
some weeks now many of
the local buzzards and
kites have been showing signs
of wing moult as they replace their
main flight feathers.

An evening photo of
the Brampton Valley below
Hanging Houghton with the
Cottesbrooke Estate woodlands
in the far distance.

Cormorant courtesy of
John Tilly.

Peacock butterfly courtesy
of Robin Gossage. A fresh
hatch of this distinctive 
butterfly is currently under way.