Drought birds

Hello

Yesterday evening (Thursday) and there were ten Spotted Flycatchers in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

This morning (Friday) I took a drive over to Borough Hill Country Park at Daventry arriving there at about dawn. The orangey almost full harvest moon lit the way as I progressed west. Although there was quite a variety of common warblers in the bushes I didn't encounter very much other than the norm despite well over two hours checking the bushes and open hillsides, five Spotted Flycatchers perhaps being the best. Small numbers of post-breeding Skylarks and Meadow Pipits flew up from the top ridge but apart from a few Yellow Wagtails flying over visible migration was minimal.

I popped down to Daventry Country Park afterwards and located the first year drake Ferruginous Duck expertly picked out by Gary Pullan earlier this month. A Pink-footed Goose was with the Greylags and seven Green Sandpipers fed along the muddy shoreline. Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were quite numerous in the waterside trees and at least one Grey Wagtail was in the area of the dam.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir this morning included a summer Corn Bunting, a Common Redstart, still ten Ravens, a Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and two Hobbies.

At Pitsford Reservoir at lunchtime there were two Great White Egrets in the Walgrave Bay and the Scaldwell Bay hosted two Red-crested Pochard, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a male Common Redstart, a Great White Egret and a Common Sandpiper.

There were three Black-tailed Godwits at Summer Leys LNR this morning and a Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover were at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows. Birds at Stanwick Pits this morning included a Cattle Egret, a Great White Egret, four Common Sandpipers and two Yellow-legged Gulls.

A Honey Buzzard was reported via Birdguides as flying south at Islip this morning, one of many bird sightings from this location over the last couple of years from an unknown observer. One of Ian's Common Redstarts was still on the reserve at Woodford Halse again today.

Yesterday evening (Thursday) and Hummingbird Hawk-moths and Painted Ladies were attracted to buddleias and other flowers at The Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir and this afternoon there were still Clouded Yellows in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Other insects of note reported during the last few days include some fresh Brown Argus butterflies and Willow Emerald damselflies.

A ringing session will be taking place at Harrington Airfield in the morning (Saturday) when there will be access restrictions to the scrubby areas around the bunkers.

Regards

Neil M

A bolt from the blue - Kingfisher!

Moulting male Kestrel
perched on the Maytrees Hide
at Pitsford Reservoir today. The
bird bears a ring which is interesting
as there hasn't been a bird ringed
locally for some years.

Ruddy Darter.