Flying machines

Hello

A few birds noted around the village here at Hanging Houghton - yesterday evening a Little Owl was seen on the outskirts and Barn Owl and Tawny Owls were vocal in the village last night. This morning and at least one vocal Spotted Flycatcher was in trees on the village green and later in the morning two Grey Wagtails flew over south.

Eric struggled to find much out of the ordinary at Thrapston Pits today but the vocal Ring-necked Parakeet was still present. The current A5 hotspot near Lilbourne with the roadside pools near to the DIRFT3 complex was the venue for a possible first summer Baltic Gull early this afternoon and the Wood Sandpiper was still present.

Despite the initial dull conditions, a few Purple Emperor butterflies were on show at Fermyn Wood this morning.

A congregation of waders and egrets at Earls Barton Pits this evening included a Common Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Great White Egret and twelve Little Egrets.

An evening walk from Maidwell and through the Dale Farm and Blueberry Farm complexes and then back down through the Brampton Valley to Hanging Houghton was quite productive. A Spotted Flycatcher, a family of Yellow Wagtails, three Grey Partridges and a gathering of Black-tailed Skimmers on an equestrian water jump were probably the best at Dale Farm, and Blueberry Farm held a Common Redstart and at least one Hobby. A colony of Purple Hairstreaks were discovered in a field hedgeline in oaks and ash in the valley and where another pair of Grey Partridge were encountered with another calling Spotted Flycatcher in the oak wood on the Brampton Valley Way. Gone are the days when I would have walked through three Willow Tit territories on that same walk!

The images and video below are courtesy of Lewis Aaron and depict some of the House Martins and Swifts at Lamport Hall yesterday evening.

Regards

Neil M