Summer nature events

Hello

Members of the Northants Ringing Group provided a Ringing Demonstration today at Howe Park Wood in Milton Keynes, as part of the Parks Trust Nature Day It seems like the weather was much more summery and dryer than the weather experienced further north in Northamptonshire. The event was very well attended with a variety of displays and events celebrating the nature to be found on land and reserves managed by the Parks Trust. The ringing team processed a variety of species including six Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Nuthatch, tits and other common birds. Perhaps the most unusual capture was that of a Hornet Clearwing moth in one of the mist nets and this was carefully and skillfully extracted by Laura and apparently a new species for the site.

This morning a Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and there was a Spotted Flycatcher again in the village plus a Hobby both this evening.

Perhaps as a result of the heavy spells of rain in the county today, Lilbourne Meadows and the A5 pools adjacent to the reserve was the place to be this afternoon with records of a male Common Redstart, a Temminck's Stint and a Pectoral Sandpiper - a proper mid summer purple patch!

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a juvenile Kingfisher caught and ringed, two Hobbies, two Oystercatchers and a Wigeon.

Regards

Neil M

Today's Hornet Clearwing Moth.

Small Skipper.

Painted Lady.

Elephant Hawk-moth.