Plenty of Spotted Flycatchers!

Hello

A fairly early morning walk at Harrington Airfield didn't produce much but I think the Linnet flock has now grown to over two hundred and it was good to see three half-grown Grey Partridge chicks. There will be more ringing operations tomorrow which restricts access to the rough strip and scrub running from the Chippings Compund, around the bunkers to the juncture with the concrete track. The footpath and concrete track itself is unaffected.

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today included a Short-eared Owl captured again on a camera trap at about 2.20am and at a more reasonable hour there were two Whinchats and a Wheatear near to 'Shrike Hedge'. A family of Spotted Flycatchers in trees around the small car park adjacent to the Brampton Valley Way seemingly attracted more birds this evening with a dozen or so there, only for the flock to move to the brook and increase to at least fifteen birds! At least one Clouded Yellow butterfly continues to dance around the nearby nectar strip parallel to the Brampton Brook.

A family of Spotted Flycatchers remain in Hanging Houghton village and nearby at least eight Spotted Flycatchers and a Common Redstart were at Lamport Hall. At least one Common Redstart remained at Woodford Halse.

Birds at Pitsford Reservoir today included five Great White Egrets, a Garganey, a Green Sandpiper, a Yellow-legged Gull and a male Common Redstart all in the Scaldwell Bay. Hollowell Reservoir attracted two Ringed Plovers, five Little Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin and birds at Stanford Reservoir amounted to four Black-tailed Godwits, an Osprey, a Green Sandpiper, two Cetti's Warblers and two Ravens.

The Ferruginous Duck was seen again at Daventry Country Park and the Eyebrook White-rumped Sandpiper remained throughout the day, with a Wood Sandpiper there too.

Regards

Neil M

Dunnock courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

House Sparrow courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Juvenile Blackbird enjoying
some water courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

Kingfisher caught and ringed
this morning at Greens Norton
courtesy of Chris Payne.