A change in the weather?

Hello

With hints of changes in the weather we await with bated breath for tomorrow! Cooler, greyer periods today but also with some very strong sunshine and breeze - possibly some rain and thunderstorms tomorrow...

The ringers were active at Stanford Reservoir today processing some one hundred and seventy birds which included two of four Spotted Flycatchers present. Other birds seen included a Whinchat this evening, a Common Redstart, three Common Sandpipers, two Green Sandpipers, three Snipe, two Ravens, a Hobby and a Kingfisher.

A period of ringing at Harrington Airfield this morning provided just over fifty birds which included two Lesser Whitethroats, Linnets, Common Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and three Common Redstarts which were all first year males. One of these Redstarts was a re-trap bird from just a few days ago but the other two were fresh birds. It seems that there were another two birds on-site which were not captured. A Wheatear was also around Bunkers One and Two and a cracking male Marsh Harrier hunted the top fields on and off for over two hours.

A Bittern was seen at Stanwick Pits today along the grass causeway on the north end of the Layby Pits and four Black-tailed Godwits were at Summer Leys LNR plus a Great White Egret, a Dunlin and a Ringed Plover. Two Great White Egrets were in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir early this afternoon.

A juvenile Marsh Harrier was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning where there were still several Clouded Yellow butterflies, a Common Redstart and two Whinchats. There were still two Common Redstarts and at least four Spotted Flycatchers at Blueberry Farm and this evening fifteen Spotted Flycatchers and one or two Common Redstart(s), two Hobbies and a Barn Owl were all at Lamport Hall. A large falcon was glimpsed twice at Hanging Houghton today - possibly a Peregrine but insufficient views obtained.

Two Common Sandpipers were noted at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and the first year drake Ferruginous Duck was again at Daventry Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Sunset at Harrington
Airfield yesterday evening.

One of the first year male
Common Redstarts caught
and processed at Harrington
Airfield this morning.