Storks and Butterflies

 Well it really has been an exceptionally quiet week for birds in the county.  At one point I thought that my phone was playing up due to the silence of the WhatsApp Northants bird groups.  Things did improve slightly this morning after 3 White Storks were seen circling over Summer Leys and even photographed by a lucky person. 

There were a  couple of ringing sessions at the end of the week.  John Woollett at Stortons GP who processed 51 birds, 17 of whom were retraps. Some of the Reed Warblers caught were returning birds from 2018,2019 and 2021.                                                                            Meanwhile Kenny Cramer caught 68 birds of 12 species at Milton Keynes.  22 of these birds were Reed Warblers including one ringed elsewhere in the UK.  It appears to be at least 6 years old but still awaiting details to come from the BTO.     Fledgling Chiffchaff and Blackcap were ringed .     There were both male and female Cuckoo in the vicinity but none caught on this occasion.   The Sand Martins have been using at least 2 of the chambers in the Sand Castle and on checking there wa a nest with 5 warm eggs and another nest with 2 well grown chicks which were subsequently ringed. 

It is the time of year when the more interesting butterflies are on the wing. There have been Wood Whites at Salcey Forest, Marbled Whites at Bradlaugh fields, Woodford Halse,  Blueberry,  and Old Sulehay.  It has been a better year for Black Hairstreak at Glapthorn Cow Pasture and Yardley Chase.  Dark Green Fritillary have been seen at Ring Haw, Tywell and Old Sulehay with Silver Wash Fritillary at Yardley Chase and Old Sulehay.  Of course plenty of the more common butterflies still about. 

Regards Eleanor 

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.