Busy last day of July

Hello

The last day of July and the back end of the month has been a particularly lively and interesting one for passage birds through the county. In more historic times July was a poor birding month when most local birdwatchers turned to insects and other disciplines to keep themselves entertained. In recent years the latter days of July have provided lots of interest with plenty of waders and passerines more associated with August and September.

Pitsford Reservoir provided quality avian interest today with a significant haul of scarce birds and migrants, mostly to be found in the Scaldwell Bay. A flock of six Common Scoters was a great if not unprecedented find as we know these ducks migrate up and down the spine and coasts of the UK during the summer and first one and then a second Cattle Egret are rare visitors to Pitsford. The male Common Redstart was still in field hedging opposite the Paul Britten hide, a flock of twenty-eight Black-tailed Godwits this afternoon must have been a splendid sight and other waders included a Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers and latterly a very vocal Whimbrel by the dam this evening. The two drake Red-crested Pochard were still present and Yellow-legged Gulls at both ends of the reservoir probably amounted to at least seven birds.

Summer Leys LNR received plenty of observer coverage today with sightings amounting to a Wood Sandpiper, a Greenshank, two Green Sandpipers, 4-7 Black-tailed Godwits, a Great White Egret, a Hobby and a Marsh Harrier.

Stanford Reservoir's birds included a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, an Oystercatcher, a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby, nine Ravens and two Cetti's Warblers with two Ospreys again at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon.

A Ferruginous Duck was located at Daventry Country Park this afternoon by Gary Pullan, the bird skulking and elusive in a bay on the eastern side of the old reservoir.

Eleanor's run of Common Redstarts continues with one at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and two elusive birds at Harrington Airfield with a Crossbill and a Siskin flying over at the latter site.

Regards

Neil M

One of the two Pied
Flycatchers at Harrington
Airfield yesterday, this one
a bird hatched this year.
Images courtesy of Nick Parker.