It has been a funny old week, essentially quiet both weather and bird wise but then hotting up at the weekend. Today I was at an agility competition with Jaeger near Peterborough and my route took me via Oundle. There is a very attractive flooded field easily viewable from the A605. A quick check on my way past early this morning didn't produce anything of note. However on my way back early afternoon following a successful competition I stopped for another check and there was a White Stork feeding in the floods. I presume that it is the same individual bird which has been seen around the county.
Despite numerous visits to Harrington Airfield, Brampton Valley Way, Blueberry area and Pitsford I have seen very little. The other morning I saw a Common Buzzard with prey below Hanging Houghton. The prey item looked suspiciously like a Barn Owl and since this sighting I haven't seen one of my regular Barn Owls. This happened a few years ago when a Barn Owl ended up the same way. Other birds reported today include an Osprey at Stanford Reservoir and both Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers at Lilbourne Meadows and DIRFT3. Yesterday 4 Turnstone dropped into Stanwick GP before heading off north east. 12 Ringed Plovers were flying around Summer Leys whilst at Pitsford Reservoir a Black Tern and drake Red Crested Pochard were seen. On Friday a Black Winged Stilt turned up at Summer Leys and a Wood Sandpiper at Lilbourne Meadows.
One thing that has been noticeable this week is the number of Cuckoo records which is really encouraging to see as their numbers have really declined over the last few years. There have been records from Barnwell CP, Summer Leys, Overstone Park, Thrapston GP, Whiston Lock, Walgrave, Cogenhoe, Billing GP, Fineshade Wood and Hartwell which shows a good spread around the county. At Stortons GP 2 adult Cuckoo's were caught during a ringing session. One of the birds had been ringed at Stortons last year whilst the other was a new bird. The other influx of birds this week has been the explosion of Starlings, they seem to be absolutely everywhere. The youngsters have errupted out of the nests and invaded the gardens. The other morning as I walked through the village every available tv ariel and roof tops were alive with very noisy young Starlings and lots of my friends and family have noticed just how many of them are around. I could watch them for hours, they are such characters and their antics are so entertaining to watch. Mind you they are eating us out of house and home and they love dried meal worms and calci worms. The down side of their incessant chattering and presence is that the local Sparrowhawk is drawn into the garden and they are sadly an easy meal. I know that a lot of these youngsters will not make it to adulthood. But that is nature and all part of the cycle of life.
The weather forecast for the coming week is pretty settled which will be good for our birds and wildlife which are well into their breeding cycle and no doubt there will be more butterflies, dragonflies and a huge variety of insects on the wing. There is always something to look at and enjoy. Have a good week.
Regards Eleanor
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