A wet 1st Aug

Hello

The weather this morning didn't accord to the forecast, being much wetter than anticipated. Nevertheless it didn't stop the ringing team down at Linford Lakes catching over a hundred birds, mostly new birds not previously ringed. Warblers were the main focus with thirty-two Reed Warblers, two Sedge Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler, fourteen Chiffchaffs, nineteen Blackcaps, six Garden Warblers and five Common Whitethroats. Other birds included Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Robin, Dunnock and Goldfinch.

Tomorrow (Monday) there is a ringing session planned for Harrington Airfield and general access is restricted around the bunkers and old airstrip - the footpaths are unaffected.

A single Common Redstart eventually showed itself during a brief visit to Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and Fiona recorded a confrontation with a Red Claw Crayfish along the Brampton Valley Way near Hanging Houghton this morning (please see image)!

Late this morning an adult Caspian Gull was seen near Lilbourne on the ground off the A5 near to the pools and DIRFT3 site, a Great White Egret was at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and two juvenile Peregrines visited Raunds church today.

A couple of vocal Ravens have been regularly in the villages at Hanging Houghton and Lamport the last few days, seemingly re-asserting their territorial rights now they have mostly finished moulting.

The rather grisly video is of a female Sparrowhawk eating a just-killed Woodpigeon in a Maidwell garden courtesy of Kevin Marshall.

Regards

Neil M

Red Claw Crayfish courtesy
of Fiona Barclay.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Woodpigeon courtesy of
John Tilly.