Northamptonshire Birding: A hot harvest

Hello

The warmth of the last two days has resulted in less reported bird sightings - I think the birders have wilted rather than the birds!

Both yesterday and today a Wood Sandpiper has been at the Earls Barton Pits complex, mostly on Mary's Lake but occasionally on the Summer Leys scrape where two Black-tailed Godwits remain. Yesterday there was a Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper and a Yellow-legged Gull. Today a Common Buzzard was seen to catch a Grass Snake there (per Bob Bullock).

Also yesterday a Tree Pipit slipped over Pitsford Reservoir at 6.35am heading south-west and a Common Redstart and a Hobby were noted at Woodford Halse.

This morning yielded two or three Common Redstarts at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell still and at least fifteen Spotted Flycatchers and one or two Common Redstart(s) were still at Lamport Hall and visible from the footpath at the south end of the complex.

Nigel found a Wheatear this morning at Fleetland Farm, Duston and the Ferruginous Duck was reportedly still present at Daventry Country Park today.

Yesterday two Common Redstarts were caught and ringed at Stanford Reservoir on the Leicestershire bank plus a Grasshopper Warbler and other birds noted included ten Ravens, a Kingfisher, a Green Sandpiper and a Hobby

At Harrington Airfield this morning a short ringing session caught just a small number of birds before it became too warm but did include a Lesser Whitethroat and a Common Redstart. At least five single Tree Pipits moved south over the plateau calling as they went and didn't remain as did a few small flocks of Yellow Wagtails. A couple of Ravens and Grey Partridges maintain a presence there and butterflies included plenty of Common Blues and rather less Small Heaths. A small number of Clouded Yellow butterflies remain active in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was around fuchsias in the village.

Regards

Neil M