The heat is on!

Hello

An early morning ringing session before the heat of the day was upon us took place at Pitsford Reservoir today with over fifty captures of common birds with Great Tits and Blue Tits predominating. Other birds included a couple of Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler and a Chiffchaff already bearing a ring. It transpires that the Chiffchaff was first ringed at Stanford Reservoir on 14th April 2022 - the evidence suggests that this male bird now holds a territory at Pitsford Reservoir! Also caught and ringed was a smart young male Green Woodpecker.

Birds noted north of the causeway at the reservoir included three drake Red-crested Pochard (Walgrave Bay), three Great White Egrets, six Little Egrets, a Wigeon, two Kingfishers and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

At Stanford Reservoir today an Osprey was seen plus three Little Egrets, a Common Sandpiper, a Wigeon and a Kingfisher.

At Lilbourne Meadows reserve there was a Common Redstart, eight Green Sandpipers and a Little Ringed Plover and Harrington Airfield this evening had a Common Redstart in bushes at Bunker Two, a family of Grey Partridges, a Hobby, a couple of Ravens and nine Marbled White butterflies. A small number of Marbled White butterflies persist at Lamport Hall too.

A female Sparrowhawk took no notice of Eleanor in the garden with the dogs when it swept straight past to take a juvenile Starling feeding on the ground just a few metres away (Hanging Houghton).

More clearwing moths were keeping some of the moth enthusiasts happy with Red-tipped and Red-belted Clearwings being attracted to the pheromone lures. Fineshade Wood today was good for a Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreaks and Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillaries and White-letter Hairstreaks were found at the junction of the A5199 with the Naseby and Guilsborough road. Purple Emperors and the usual entourage of other butterflies were still on show at Lady Wood today.

Regards

Neil M

Young male
Green Woodpecker.

Common Buzzard.

White-letter Hairstreak.