Swifts and House Martins at Lamport Hall.

Hello

Sorry it's a rather late blog but we haven't long finished a bird ringing session at Lamport Hall targeting and monitoring the Swifts and House Martins. With plenty of support we caught fifty-two birds made up of eight Swifts, forty House Martins and four Swallows. The great news is that some of the Swifts are believed to be using at least one and possibly a second nest box first erected in 2020, these boxes were designed and affixed with the intention of permitting this small colony to grow bigger. It often takes a good number of years for Swifts to adapt to such boxes so to have them using them after only two years is great news.

Three Hobbies and a couple of Sparrowhawks were present, the Hobbies in particular relentlessly pursuing the martins. A couple of Ravens and a Grey Wagtail provided further interest.

A Common Redstart was nearby along the footpath that runs between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell with ten Spotted Flycatchers along the usual hedge/trees along the southern edge of Lamport Hall.

Two Cattle Egrets were found at Thrapston Pits today and birds at Earls Barton Pits (including Summer Leys LNR) included a Marsh Harrier, a Black-tailed Godwit, three Redshanks, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and a Great White Egret.

Ravensthorpe Reservoir hosted a Yellow-legged Gull and at nearby Hollowell Reservoir there was an Osprey, two Ruddy Shelducks, a Redshank and a Common Sandpiper. Two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Great White Egret were at Pitsford Reservoir.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included the Garganey still, six Black-tailed Godwits first thing, two Ravens, a Hobby and a Kingfisher.

Clouded Yellow butterflies were at Harrington Airfield with two 100m from the Chippings Compound and at least two more around flower strips at Lamport Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Common Swift - a small bill
but a huge gape! Image courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Juvenile House Martin
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Common Swift and one of
the huge flatflies that they carry!
Image courtesy of Michelle Sawbridge.

Hobby courtesy of
Robin Gossage.