Moths, butterflies and missing orchids

Hello

This morning there was a vocal Raven in Hanging Houghton and a Hummingbird-hawk Moth was briefly in our garden. At lunchtime both the male and female Sparrowhawks visited the garden on raiding parties and the male came back again later, each time it seems without catching anything.

This afternoon an excursion to Harrington Airfield didn't provide any birds of interest but unfortunately it seems that someone has dug up and removed one of the Bee Orchid colonies. Thirty-five Marbled Whites were showing well there and other butterflies included fresh Commas, Painted Ladies, Large and Essex Skippers and day-flying moths included burnets, Burnet Companion and Latticed Heath. Caterpillars included Mullein Moth and Peacock butterfly.

This evening the light conditions were superb and with the drop in the wind it was definitely the best part of the day. A Barn Owl was showing nicely in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Elsewhere and there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir, a Green Sandpiper again on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits and at Welford Reservoir a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, two Grey Wagtails with a Little Egret at neighbouring Sulby Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Latticed Heath.

It may be June but our
garden Goldfinches are still
enjoying the niger seed...

...but there are at least some
that prefer the sunflower hearts!