The calm before the storm!!

 Today has been a glorious Autumn day with blue skies,  warm sunshine, a gentle breeze and a crispness to the air. I thought that I'd better make the most of it before the predicted storm hits over the next couple of days.  Indoor jobs were put on hold and I've been out and about with my 4 legged companions.    

I started the day with a wander around the fields below Hanging Houghton and Blueberry.  It soon became apparent that birds were on the move, especially Fieldfares,  Redwings and Siskins.  There was a pair of Stonechat at Blueberry plus 2 Bramblings and 4 Redpolls.   Instead of heading home for  breakfast,  much to Tor's disgust,  I drove straight to Harrington Airfield which too was busy with birds moving over. There was a lot more Fieldfares and Song Thrushes about today and the bushes were full of Redwings. At the end of the second bunker I  flushed a lovely male Ring Ouzel which then flew towards the shooting wall.  It was whilst I was stood here listening and watching the birds going over that a female Merlin flew low across the fields chasing the many Skylarks.  Other birds of note were 2 pairs of Stonechat , 2 Bramblings and a single Golden Plover over.

This afternoon I enjoyed another meander around Blueberry etc. Quite a few Red Admiral butterflies enjoying the sunshine too.  The female Merlin again appeared around "shrike hedge " area chasing the passerines.  I'm sure that this is the same bird which has been seen several times in this area and was the same bird which was at Harrington this morning.  As a Merlin flies it is literally a few wing flaps/glides between Harrington Airfield and shrike hedge and currently plenty of potential food at both these sites.      There was also a pair of Stonechat here this afternoon which were likely to be the birds seen at Blueberry this morning as I couldn't find them at Blueberry this afternoon. 

Very little bird news from around the county.  Merlin,  Marsh Harrier and Great White Egrets at Stanford Reservoir,  Cattle Egret,  Marsh Harrier,  Stonechat and Brambling at Summer Leys,  Raven, Great White Egret and Yellow Legged Gull at Pitsford Reservoir,  Redpolls in the Welland Valley and flocks of Golden Plovers at Greens Norton and Oundle. 

Maybe Storm Babet will bring us a few new birds ?........watch this space!

Regards Eleanor