More Ragwort insects

Hello

A stunning sunny and warm day but with bubbling cloud too, a typical day to see gulls and other birds sailing around in circles picking off flying ants.

This morning there were still three Common Redstarts at Blueberry Farm and birds at Harrington Airfield included another two Common Redstarts and a Wheatear - more ringing will be taking place tomorrow (Thursday) morning prior to the onset of more showery weather for the next three or four days. General access to the bunkers and old airstrip will be restricted during the morning but available in the afternoon.

There were also still two Common Redstarts in hedges along the bridle track leading from Bridle Road, Old village and traversing the fields between Cherry Hill and Walgrave and Pitsford Reservoir.

Over at Lilbourne Meadows and the DIRFT3 site, the long-staying female Common Redstart is still there plus four Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, a Ruff and a Little Ringed Plover.

Eric's visit to Thrapston Pits started of quietly but he witnessed a juvenile Marsh Harrier moving through the reserve towards Oundle and saw six Little Egrets and singles of Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper.

Two Whinchats, a Wheatear and a Barn Owl were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and evening.

At Pitsford Reservoir this morning there were two Great White Egrets and an adult Yellow-legged Gull in the Scaldwell Bay and later in the day a Goldeneye and two Common Sandpipers were seen north of the causeway too.

Regards

Neil M

Hoverfly Sritta pipens.

 Fly Eriothrix rufomaculata.

All Ragwort insect images courtesy
of David Arden.

Small Skipper.

Juvenile Tree Sparrow. There are still
small numbers coming to the Pitsford
Reservoir Feeding Station at the Old
Scaldwell Road. Breeding productivity
 appears much lower than last year.

The Ravens are still 
visiting Hanging Houghton
most days...