The slow journey into Spring!

Hello

Mild temperatures and pleasant spring weather this morning with the odd light shower gave way to cloudier and wetter conditions this afternoon.

Brimstone butterflies and other insects were on show today and there was a Red Admiral butterfly on the wing in the Holcot Bay, Pitsford Reservoir. It is only in recent years that adult Red Admirals have been able to overwinter in the UK successfully.

At Pitsford Reservoir it remains pretty quiet with high water levels and the best birds noted north of the causeway only amounted to a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail, a singing Siskin and a couple of Chiffchaffs. A drake Mandarin Duck flew south over the dam this afternoon.

Birds still in situ in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton included the two Grey Wagtails, two Green Sandpipers and Chiffchaff with still the female Peregrine at Blueberry Farm near Maidwell. A singing Chiffchaff was in our Hanging Houghton garden today and a singing Blackcap was nearby.

A first winter Caspian Gull was at Daventry Country Park this morning and a Little Ringed Plover was on floodwater next to the canal at Braunston.

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Stanwick Pits this morning and Summer Leys LNR attracted at least two Cattle Egrets, a Great White Egret, two Black-tailed Godwits, three Oystercatchers, at least five Redshanks, over sixty Golden Plovers, a Common Snipe, seven Siskins and a Lesser Redpoll. Yesterday there was a drake Red-crested Pochard, a Goosander, a Green Sandpiper and Shelduck at Quarry Walk.

A pair of Peregrines were in the Duston area of Northampton this morning and noticeable movers over the county in good numbers today included Common Gulls and Fieldfares.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Redpoll courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Goldfinch courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Great White Egrets
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Little Ringed Plover
courtesy of Robin Gossage.