More ringing at Harrington Airfield.

Hello

Some more ringing at Harrington Airfield took place this morning which provided a modest catch before the change in the weather. A Sparrowhawk is always an exciting catch and a second year male hit one of the mist nets and was duly ringed and released. There was a small influx of Willow Warblers which included freshly-moulted adults as well as the bright juveniles and other birds processed included a Garden Warbler, two Reed Warblers and a couple of Common Whitethroats. Two adult Long-tailed Tits were first ringed there in November 2017 and July 2015 and they were caught with ten juveniles which I would assume was their impressive brood for this year! The first brood Yellowhammers didn't seem to come to anything on-site this year but we are now seeing second brood youngsters appearing and even this late in the season the territorial adult males are still singing strongly.

Other birds noted on-site included a first year Wheatear and two Ravens.

Not too far away and two Redstarts were noted in hedging at Lamport Hall, visible from the footpath that runs along the southern boundary of the park and Blueberry Farm near Maidwell boasted three Common Redstarts in hedging between Maidwell Lodge and Blueberry Hill and a Wheatear and a Whinchat on the summit of Blueberry Hill.

Eric's visit to Blatherwycke Lake today provided views of a Great White Egret, five Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, a pair of Raven and a summer flock collection of twenty-seven Mistle Thrushes. At Deene Lake sightings included an Osprey, a Raven, two Green Sandpipers, a pair of Black Swans and a large flock of Lapwings.

An Osprey was noted at Hollowell Reservoir this morning and birds at Stanwick Pits this afternoon included two Caspian Gulls, thirty-two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Garganey.

A Clouded Yellow butterfly was again on a nectar strip in fields between Cottesbrooke and Blueberry Farm today.

Regards

Neil M

Sunrise at Harrington Airfield
this morning.

Male Sparrowhawk.

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth
was at Hanging Houghton today.