It's warming up!

Hello

I forgot to mention that yesterday morning there was still a Peregrine resting on the spire of St Dionysius Church at Market Harborough. It's amazing how many people look skyward when they see you looking up!

Sadly the Hedgehog from last night or one of it's clan was lying dead in the road early this morning - no doubt the result of don't care less driving or even worse, don't even see what they are squashing as they are driving along!

Eleanor found the moulting male Common Redstart at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) this morning but couldn't find the others from yesterday. Four Crossbills were flying around fairly aimlessly at the top of Blueberry Hill - they seem to be in short supply this summer.

This afternoon a female Common Redstart was near the chipping compound at Harrington Airfield and there was a good number of Marbled Whites in much the same area - the rough strip leading from the compound towards Bunker One. The rough strip encompassing the three bunkers and the strip down to the concrete track is subject to restricted access tomorrow and Sunday due to ringing operations.

The Purple Emperor butterflies at Fermyn Wood seemingly played the same trick again as yesterday, at least nine were showing well in the morning but they had largely disappeared from view by midday. A few Purple Hairstreaks and a single White Admiral was seen too. A Silver-washed Fritillary at Irchester Country Park was a good record.

A Pied Flycatcher reported at Bucknell Wood today is another good record, presumably a bird already moving south from north/western breeding grounds. A Spotted Flycatcher was in Hanging Houghton village again today.

Regards

Neil M

Small Skipper.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

Great Pied Hoverfly.

Mute Swan with cygnets.

Common Buzzard.