Black-necked Grebe, Merlin and Wood Sandpiper

Hello

A day with very little wind and warm if rather grey and drizzly in some parts of the county today.

A Black-necked Grebe (moulting adult) was off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this evening and was coming nice and close until two paddleboards and a canoe went directly for it and frightened it off down the reservoir - so no photo! Two adult Yellow-legged Gulls and three or four Common Sandpipers were also present and to the north of the causeway a Green Sandpiper and a Hobby were noted.

A Merlin in Old Quarry Lane, Hartwell this morning was a true sign of autumn as the youngsters disperse from the breeding areas to the north and follow their prey south.

A Wood Sandpiper arrived at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon and an Osprey was again seen there too.

Birds at Clifford Hill Pits included a Common Redstart, a Whinchat and two Wheatears and a Turnstone was reported at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon. The mobile female Ruddy Shelduck was at Crick today.

A Hobby and two Ravens were at Lamport Hall at lunchtime with ten of a flock of twelve Common Buzzards moving south. The two Whinchats and a Common Redstart were at Shrike Hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and Blueberry Farm supported three Common Redstarts, five Spotted Flycatchers and two Whinchats. Two Spotted Flycatchers were on the nature reserve at Woodford Halse this afternoon and a Common Redstart was calling from bushes at Harrington Airfield near Bunker Three.

Regards

Neil M

This Grey Heron was fishing
in the shallows at Pitsford Reservoir
today in thick algae-laden water. This 
spot is only 200m from the wild water
swimming area - rather them than me!

Bathing Meadow Pipit
courtesy of John Tilly.

Brimstone butterfly courtesy
of John Tilly.