Catch Up

 Another few lovely Autumn days where I have been lucky enough to spend a fair bit of time outdoors.  The dogs have certainly had a good amount of exercise so will probably be glad of a rest tomorrow if the predicted rainy day happens.                                                    I am still bumping into plenty of Common Redstarts.  There are still at least 2 individuals showing well at Blueberry and they were flitting along the fence in one of the horse paddocks this morning.  These birds have been the easiest to view. There are still a couple at Harrington Airfield but elusive,  although yesterday one perched right out in the open but I had both hands full at the time with a dog and bird food so by the time I could get to my binoculars it had flown further on, never to be seen again !!.   There have also been a couple regularly in the hedge at Lamport Hall,  these have also been easy to view. This evening a female type was calling and dropping onto the ground and back up onto the fence next to the footpath.         Yesterday I took the opportunity to check out the hedgerows between Old and the Walgrave Bay of Pitsford Reservoir.  Again another favourite area for these birds. I have checked the hedgerows several times recently and haven't seen anything and was expecting the same result yesterday.  But was pleasantly surprised to find at least 6 individuals,  3 of whom were chasing each other around,  then further on 2 were flycatching and then another bird further along the hedge calling.  Needless to say I spent quite a while simply watching and enjoying these beauties. 

Harrington Airfield,  Blueberry and the area below Hanging Houghton are favourite places for Whinchat and Northern Wheatear and every day I am bumping into these birds whilst I'm walking the dogs.  The most Whinchat that I have seen together is 5.  It has been encouraging to see that Grey Partridge have successfully bred at Harrington Airfield and below Hanging Houghton.  Fingers crossed that they continue to survive.         Other birds of note that I have bumped into are a Ring Necked Parakeet which I could here long before I saw it at Lamport Hall,  Spotted Flycatcher , Reed Warbler and Barn Owl at Harrington Airfield and Ravens and Hobby below Hanging Houghton. 

We seem to have quite a few long staying birds in the county at the moment.  2 Little Stints remain at Dirft3 along with some common waders, Redshank, Greenshank,  Ringed Plovers and Curlew. At Daventry Country Park the Garganey are still present and at Stanford Reservoir a Red Crested Pochard.  Cattle Egrets remain at Stanwick GP.                   But there have also been a few new birds found, a Black Tern at Hollowell Reservoir,  Black Tailed Godwits at Hollowell and  Summer Leys and Bitterns at both Summer Leys and Stortons GP in the Nene Valley. 

Plenty of birds, old and new, to go and have a look out or better still get out and enjoy this beautiful time of year as you never know what might be sitting in the bushes around the corner or simply flying over as the Autumn migration gets underway. 

Regards Eleanor