A Week of Waders

 Due to several reasons I have had a very quiet week for birding.  Infact my best birding happened on Wednesday afternoon whilst I was working in the front garden and Spotted Flycatcher started calling from the neighbours garden and quickly followed by a noisy Ring Necked Parakeet which perched on the TV ariel.    Several visits to Harrington Airfield only produced a Whinchat and several visits to the scrapes along the BVW below Brixworth only Little Ringed Plovers,  Lapwings,  Gadwall and Lesser Black Backed Gulls. 

However looking at the birds reported during the week the Waders top the list, particularly Wood Sandpipers which were recorded from Clifford Hill GP, Lilbourne Meadows and flood waters near Braunston and in an area between Aynho and Clifton.  There have been a couple of Grey Plovers at Summer Leys plus Ruffs, Common Sandpipers, Greenshanks,  Dunlin,  Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers.   At nearby Clifford Hill GP,  Ruff, Whimbrel,  Black Tailed Godwit,  Ringed Plovers and Dunlin.   Also at this site a scarce visitor in the form of a Little Tern.  It's been a while since I have seen one in the county.                                                                                                                                                 Other birds recorded during the week include a White Stork over Oundle, Mandarin Ducks at Fotheringhay, Greater Scaup , Marsh Harrier,  Osprey and Hobbies at Summer Leys,  Arctic Terns at Stanwick,  Osprey and Common Sandpipers at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and 2 Bramblings at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows.                                        A ringing session today at Stortons GP yielded 64 birds, predominantly Warblers including  Chiffchaff,  Willow Warbler,  Whitethroat,  Blackcap,  Lesser Whitethroat and Garden,  Reed and Sedge Warbler. 

Things are hotting up on the butterfly front.  First records of the year for  Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak both at Fermyn County Park.   Green Hairstreak was also on the wing at Collyweston Deeps.   Holly Blues at Barton Seagrave,  Watford locks and Wadenhoe.  Grizzled Skipper at quarry walk and  Painted Lady at Higham Ferrers.  Certainly a bit of sunshine and warmth have been welcomed by the butterflies and I have seen plenty of Orange Tips,  Brimstones,  Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. 

Hope that you have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor