Local and not so local ringing recoveries

Hello

Seemingly a quiet day in the county with few reports but plenty of sunshine as well as blustery conditions.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were two Cuckoos, a Common Sandpiper and two Cetti's Warblers with a Hobby and four Common Sandpipers there yesterday.

At Earls Barton a Cattle Egret was seen flying over Summer Leys LNR at 10am, a Hobby and a Little Ringed Plover were noted and the singing Nightingale remains at the back of Mary's Lake. Eight different species of warbler were vocal along the old railway track and the New Workings complex attracted a Peregrine, a Little Ringed Plover and two Shelduck.

Two Hobbies were over the Wilsons Pits complex at Ditchford Pits today and a Common Sandpiper was a meagre offering at Clifford Hill Pits. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling at Sixfields, Northampton today (photographs indicate it is a ringed bird).

A single Common Sandpiper was in the Sailing Club grounds at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and a Osprey was off the dam this evening.

A few ringing recoveries associated with the work of Northants Ringing Group ringers are as follows:-

1. A first year male Blackcap was ringed at Stortons Pits on 10th August 2023 but killed itself on a glass window in nearby Duston on 25th April 2024. It is likely that this bird migrated away from the area and sadly died on it's return 259 days later;

2. A first year female Starling was ringed in Scaldwell village on 5th December 2023 and was found dead but intact on a wall in the same village on 21st April 2024, 138 days later;

3. A second year male Greenfinch was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 3rd February 2024 but died after hitting patio glass in Haversham, Milton Keynes 66 days later (just 2km away);

4. A juvenile Goldfinch was ringed at Knockalahara, Waterford, Ireland on 17th August 2023 and was caught again at Overstone Park, Northampton 226 days later on 30th March 2024, this small finch travelling 475km in an easterly direction to visit us.

Tomorrow evening (Wednesday) sees the monthly Northamptonshire Bird Club meeting at the Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir where we are fortunate to receive a presentation from Mark Tyrrell the county odonata recorder responsible for documenting the records of dragonflies and damselflies in Northamptonshire. Members and non members are welcome!

Regards

Neil M

Orange-tip butterfly
courtesy of John Tilly.

Peacock butterfly courtesy
of John Tilly.

Common Whitethroat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Male Blackcap courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Goldfinch courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Map depicting the movement
of the Goldfinch between Waterford
and Overstone Park courtesy of
Nick Wood.

April birding coming to a close

Hello

A modest ringing session at Harrington Airfield today was discontinued late morning due to the increasing wind strength but there was time to process twenty-eight birds of fifteen species. With the appalling weather so far in 2024 this was pretty much the first opportunity to ring at the site and highlights included three Common Whitethroats, three Lesser Whitethroats, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, four Willow Warblers, five Linnets and two Yellowhammers. One of the Lesser Whitethroats was first ringed there as an adult in August 2021 making her at least four years old. A Barn Owl, a Redpoll and a Whinchat were all noted on-site.

Another Barn Owl was on the outskirts of Brixworth early this morning and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning included a Whinchat and two Wheatears, although it seems they had moved on by this evening. A male Common Redstart, two Redwings and a Hobby were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and recently-worked fields attracted at least twenty-five Red Kites and eighteen Common Buzzards creating quite a spectacle both visually and audibly!

A Whimbrel and a Little Tern were noted at Eyebrook Reservoir today and it seems today was the day for the arrival of the Hobby with further birds at Summer Leys LNR (two), Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits and near Althorp.

Single Wheatears were at Kislingbury Pits and Clifford Hill Pits, the latter site also retaining the smart Ring Ouzel in Miller's Meadow and a Nightingale was at the back of Mary's Lake at Earls Barton Pits. Eight Cattle Egrets were seen at Stanwick Pits this evening and a Common Sandpiper was at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve today.

Regards

Neil M

Yellowhammer.

Linnet.

Lesser Whitethroat.

Blackcap.

Above images courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Wheatear at Kislingbury Pits
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Warblers, terns and waders

Hello

I'm just back in from an extended tour of Provence in France and a page/tab has been created to illustrate some of the images from the tour - Provence in Spring 2024.

Last Friday a ringing session took place at Stortons Pits which provided sixty-two captures of sixteen species and a welcome back to some of our warblers which included eight Chiffchaffs, a Lesser Whitethroat, eight Blackcaps, two Garden Warblers, a Common Whitethroat, two Reed Warblers and no less than five Cetti's Warblers.

Today (Sunday) and Arctic Terns were about in the county and nearby with four at Clifford Hill Pits, eighteen at Eyebrook Reservoir and a single at Summer Leys LNR. A Black Tern was at Ditchford Pits on Higham Lake and another was at Town Lake, Thrapston Pits.

Other birds at Summer Leys included a Greenshank, a Cattle Egret and a Ringed Plover and Clifford Hill Pits hung on to it's showy male Ring Ouzel, three Dunlin, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Ringed Plover. Additional birds at Ditchford Pits included a Pink-footed Goose and a Greenshank. Two Dunlin were at Barnwell lock floods, with a Cuckoo nearby at Barnwell Country Park and a Hobby was seen over East Hunsbury, Northampton this evening. Two Common Sandpipers and two Ringed-necked Parakeets were at Delapre Lake today.

The Cherwell Valley attracted an impressive thirty-two Yellow Wagtails between Clifton and Aynho plus a Shelduck and three Ringed Plovers.

Two Peregrines remain at Higham Ferrers and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon included a calling Cuckoo, a Short-eared Owl and two Siskins. Two Redpolls visited a Brixworth garden.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Hobby, a Common Sandpiper, a fly-over Curlew, two Garden Warblers, two Cetti's Warblers, a Swift, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Cuckoo.

Some planned ringing at Harrington Airfield tomorrow (Monday) and possibly on Tuesday will restrict access around the bunkers and scrubby areas between the main concrete track and the chippings compound.

Regards

Neil M

Common Whitethroat
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Yellowhammer courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Lesser Whitethroat courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Garden Warbler courtesy
of Chris Payne.

The Weekend Approaches

Well that's another week drawing to a close. Plenty of spring passage bringing further Warblers,  Wagtails,  Hirundines,  Wheatears and Waders and there will be more to come.

Today there were 2 singing Nightingales at Old Sulehay Wood in the north of the county.  This is a fabulous area of woodland and well worth a visit,  as is Bucknell Wood in the south of the county where a stunning male Hen Harrier was seen flying over this morning.                                               Other birds around in the county today include Channel Wagtail on a flooded area near Aynho, female Ring Necked Duck at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows, Marsh Harrier at Stanford Reservoir,  Ospreys at Hollowell Reservoir, Whimbrel and Nightingale at Summer Leys,  Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper Pitsford Reservoir, and Whinchat at Borough Hill .

This afternoon I had a wander around Harrington Airfield.  If I'm honest when I arrived and saw the number of vehicles parked I nearly turned around and went home, but the birds needed feeding.  I headed down to the main track as it was the quietest option and came across a male Common Redstart in the bushes near the hay stacks.  I sauntered back via the bunkers and was surprised to hear the characteristic harsh chacking of a Ring Ouzel and found either the same or a new female in the bushes between bunkers 2 and 3.  The Short Eared Owl appeared out of nowhere and started hunting.  There were 2 Northern Wheatears beyond bunker 3.                                     This evening below Hanging Houghton there was both Short Eared and Barn Owl out hunting.   I  had seen the Short Eared Owl yesterday evening at a similar time when I walked the dogs and also had 2 Fieldfares over.

Have a good weekend 

Regards Eleanor 

Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

The Clifford Hill
Ring Ouzel.

And the Clifford Hill
Ring-necked Parakeets!

All images courtesy of
Jim Dunkley.

Cool weather but birds hotting up!!

Another cool day,  infact I had to dig out my scarf and gloves !!. I did hear that the temperatures that we are experiencing at the moment are our "normal " for February and that things are not going to improve yet !!. The poor birds must be wondering what is happening. 

However the migrants are arriving.  There are plenty of Warblers making their presence known.  The Nightingale is still at Stanwick GP and a further one appeared at Crescent Lake Brackmills today. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling between Hunsbarrow Road and Grand Union Canal Northampton.  Northern Wheatears continue to move through and there have been good numbers of Yellow Wagtails arriving.  A Channel Wagtail (hybrid) was located on a flooded area near Aynho.

But it is the Nene Valley which comes into its own at this time of year. It is always busy with birds and always picks up a good selection of waders. Over the last couple of days there have been Black Tailed Godwits, Little Ringed Plovers and Green Sandpipers at Clifford Hill GP . At nearby Summer Leys,  Whimbrel, Dunlin, Greenshank, Black Tailed Godwits, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers . A Turnstone was found at Stanwick GP.                                         Other birds reported from the Nene Valley include the long staying Ring Ouzel at Miller's Meadow, Weston Mill, Arctic Terns at Clifford Hill GP and Summer Leys, drake Red Crested Pochard at the new workings Earls Barton, female Ring Necked Duck at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows ,Bar Tailed Godwit and Grasshopper Warbler at Barnwell Lock.

Away from the Nene Valley I had a good walk around the Blueberry area yesterday and bumped into 2 Short-eared Owls,  a  Fieldfare, 2 Redwings and 3 Northern Wheatears.  Today on the same walk and it was quiet with no birds of note.  A visit to Harrington Airfield this afternoon was also quiet with just a Short-eared Owl and 2 Northern Wheatears.  There were 6 Lapwings making themselves very comfortable on one of the fields.  Hopefully they won't make themselves too comfy as the fields will shortly be ploughed and sown.                                                                         Yesterday I managed to check the scapes/pools below Brixworth and found 2 Black Tailed Godwits,  Green Sandpiper,  Little Egret and Cuckoo.  Today there were 2 Ringed Plovers present.  This area is definitely worth keeping an eye on. 

So plenty of birds appearing.  Hopefully if these winds ever change direction there will be lots more to come. 

Regards Eleanor 

Goldfinch.

Kestrel.

Robin.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Seventy one Redshanks !!!

 A flock of 71 Redshanks were present at Clifford Hill GP today, an absolutely amazing number for the county.   Other birds present included Greenshank, Little Ringed Plovers,  Common Sandpiper and Northern Wheatears.         A bit further along the Nene Valley at Summer Leys there were several Arctic Terns,  24 Common Terns,  Greenshank,  Swift, Cuckoo and both Yellow and White Wagtails.  The Nightingale was again at Stanwick GP near to the visitor centre and the female Ring Necked Duck remains at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows. 

I visited Harrington Airfield mid afternoon and found the Short eared Owl already out hunting.  I suspect taking advantage of a break in the weather where there was a dry spell in-between the rain showers.  I only saw one female Ring Ouzel at the second bunker and a male Common Redstart near to the first bunker. There were at least 4 Northern Wheatears on the fields and a very vocal couple of Lapwings.                                                                                      Ring Ouzels were still present at Honey Hill (Cold Ashby) and Miller's Meadow,  Weston Mill.

No birding for me yesterday as out of county competing at my first agility show of the season.  Mixed results,  Rouzel was overcome with excitement but Jaeger was awesome and picked up a first place.                                                          It sounds as if there were a few good birds about including a Spoonbill at Clifford Hill GP,  drake Common Scoter at Stanford Reservoir along with a Swift. More Swifts at Rushden Lakes and Clifford Hill GP and Ospreys at Weston Mill and Welford.

The Nene Valley and Gravel Pits seem to come into their own at this time of year and I'm sure that they will continue to pick up some good and interesting birds. But migrants can turn up absolutely anywhere so definitely a time to keep your ears and eyes open and you never know,  it could be you finding the next "first" for the county!!!

Regards Eleanor 

Jaeger...first out
of 100 dogs!

Stalemate!!

Ring Ouzels continue to dominate with the male still showing well at Miller's Meadow,  Weston Mill, 2 at Honey Hill and at least another 2 at Harrington Airfield.  When I was at Harrington the usual female was at bunker 3 and on my walk back I heard one chacking from a dense hawthorn bush at bunker 2. Eventually it popped out, landed briefly before flicking over the bunker. Whilst I suspected that this was another bird I couldn't be 100% sure as I never saw them both together. However a couple of other birders also bumped into 2 Rouzel's, so it looks as if there are two birds. The male Common Redstart and Short Eared Owl were also present. 

I went for an early morning run and whilst running heard and saw a Curlew below Brixworth.  This motivated me to go and check out the area of scrapes along the Brampton Valley Way below Brixworth. I have been meaning to look at these scrapes but haven't found the time. So after dropping two of the dogs at home I set off with my right hand man Jaeger and my scope . The scrapes look very promising and today there were 2 Little Egrets,  pr Gadwall,  Ringed Plover, Common and Green Sandpiper.    Nearby at Spring Marsh were 2 singing and very showy Sedge Warblers and a Water Rail.                                                Before heading home I walked across the dam at Pitsford Reservoir but apart from a large flock of mixed hirundines it was devoid of birds.

Other birds reported in the county today include a Nightingale at Stanwick GP,  Bar Tailed Godwit and 4 White Wagtails at Lower Barnwell lock flooded fields,  an Osprey south east of Harrington,  Common Redstart on the BVW below Hanging Houghton and at Miller's Meadow.    Northern Wheatears continue to pass through and were seen at Harrington Airfield, Hartwell,  Borough Hill and near Laxton.  A Short-eared Owl was again in the Blueberry area. 

A ringing session by Kenny Cramer near Milton Keynes today produced a total of 111 birds of 18 species,  68 of which were new birds.   Good numbers of finches with 25 Redpolls, 24 Greenfinches and 6 Goldfinches making up almost half the birds processed.  On the Warbler front 12 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs,  2 Sedge Warblers and a Garden Warbler. Other birds of note 6 Blackbirds,  3 Song Thrushes,  Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Magpie.  There were two Cuckoo's on the reserve which managed to evade the nets.

Regards Eleanor 

Garden Warbler.

Sedge Warbler.

Song Thrush.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Raining Ring Ouzels !!

 It certainly felt as if it was "raining Ring Ouzels " today in the county with at least 6 individual birds being recorded.   I visited Harrington Airfield early this morning and the long staying female Ring Ouzel was pecking around on the ground at bunker 2. I  believe that she became more elusive during the day but I have found that if you are just patient and give her space then she will show herself quite well. Sadly too many folk do not understand this concept. 

The second Ring Ouzel, a male,  was found in Miller's Meadow at Weston Mill and showed on and off during the afternoon and evening.                                                                 A further 3 Ring Ouzels were located at Honey Hill just south of the Jurassic Way bridleway. Two of this group were males.                                                                                     Ring Ouzel number 6 , another male was found by myself below Hanging Houghton this evening just before a heavy shower of rain which I'm sure was instrumental in the bird being grounded. The bird was certainly not there when I started my walk but was an hour later when I was hurrying back to miss the rain!!.                                                                    I always feel that the Ring Ouzel is a very underated bird, easily dismissed and overlooked by many.  But it rates as one of my favourite birds with a beautiful song. So much so that I named my young collie Rouzel. 

Plenty of other birds around today.  The Short Eared Owl was again at Harrington,  when I saw it this morning it was sitting in a bush enjoying the sunshine.   A male Common Redstart was again at Harrington Airfield, although this bird can be elusive and simply melts away into the bushes.  There was a noticeable increase in the number of Whitethroats at Harrington,  every bush seemed to have one.  There were up to 4 Northern Wheatears there this afternoon and a further 2 below Hanging Houghton.              A Common Redstart was at Borough Hill,  Whimbrel and Common Sandpipers at Stanford Reservoir. A White Stork was reported flying over Summer Leys at 12.10hrs but I don't think that it was seen again. Other birds at Summer Leys included Black Tailed Godwits,  Dunlin and Curlew.

Regards Eleanor 

Male Common Redstart
at Harrington Airfield 
courtesy of David Arden.

Still the cool northerly winds

Hello

Static birds at Harrington Airfield today included the female Ring Ouzel, the Short-eared Owl and a male Common Redstart but apparently the Ferruginous Duck wasn't seen at Stanford Reservoir.

Summer Leys LNR hangs on to a Cattle Egret today and a Dunlin and eight to ten Common Terns were seen but little else new was reported. A Shelduck, an Oystercatcher, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper were at Earls Barton New Workings.

Two Grey Wagtails, two Yellow Wagtails and twenty House Martins were at Ashton sewer works and at Pitsford Reservoir there were three Common Sandpipers on the dam this morning.

A Siskin and two Redpolls were around in the garden here at Hanging Houghton today and two Short-eared Owls re-appeared at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning with two Wheatears at the Blueberry Hill summit. A Whinchat and a Wheatear were in the Brampton Valley near shrike hedge below Hanging Houghton this morning but were not seen this afternoon but a Wheatear was on a muck heap in the valley closer to the Brampton Valley Way.

Yesterday afternoon there was a Green Sandpiper in the Welland Valley below Cottingham.

Regards

Neil M

Collared Dove courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Sandpiper courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Grey Heron courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Great Crested Grebes 
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Dagger Fly courtesy
of John Tilly.

Speckled Wood butterfly
courtesy of John Tilly.

Naturetrek Day Tour

Hello

Not such dramatic weather today but still with cool winds and periods locally of sunshine and rain.

I spent the day at Rectory Farm, Great Easton and Eyebrook Reservoir as part of a Naturetrek Day Tour which included a walk around the award winning regenerative farmland and then a later spell watching over the reservoir. Many landmarks available to see from the high ground on the farm includes Rockingham Castle, the Welland Valley, Harringworth Viaduct and many others spanning the counties of Northamptonshire, Rutland and Leicestershire. We enjoyed a good number of Brown Hares galivanting about and of course the Common Buzzards and Red Kites thoroughly enjoy cruising around in the gusty conditions. There is a profusion of Skylarks on this farm and other birds today included a couple of Ravens, Yellow Wagtails, Common Whitethroat and others. The reservoir was relatively quiet but we enjoyed a smart male Whinchat and singles of Lesser Whitethroat and Common Sandpiper.

At Stanford Reservoir today the drake Ferruginous Duck was still present and at Harrington Airfield both the female Ring Ouzel and the Short-eared Owl were reported as being present and correct.

At Pitsford Reservoir birds around the dam area included an adult Yellow-legged Gull, two Common Sandpipers, Yellow Wagtails and plenty of hirundines. Ravensthorpe Reservoir again attracted two Ospreys and one of them fished successfully.

A Cattle Egret, three Black-tailed Godwits, about ten Common Terns and two Peregrines were about the best on offer at Summer Leys LNR and the female Ring-necked Duck again showed on Cotton Reel Lake at Ditchford Pits with a Common Sandpiper nearby on Dragonfly Lake. A Common Sandpiper was at Clifford Hill Pits and an Osprey was seen near Corby Golf Club flying north this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Brown Hare - hoping it
hadn't been seen!

Male Orange-tip butterfly.

Great Crested Grebe courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Grey Heron courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Maelstrom Monday

Hello

Yet more dynamic weather today as the turbulent year continues!

An early morning meander at Harrington Airfield confirmed the continuing presence of the female Ring Ouzel at Bunker Three and Short-eared Owl at Bunker One.

Over at Stanford Reservoir a drake Ferruginous Duck was a good find and remained all day off the dam and two Shelduck and five Common Sandpipers were present too.

An Osprey was at Hollowell Reservoir early this morning where there were about one hundred and eighty Sand Martins and a Common Sandpiper. This afternoon there were two fishing Ospreys at Ravensthorpe Reservoir, one of them successfully catching something. There was a single Shelduck present and a Kingfisher carrying a fish in flight over the causeway will be breeding nearby.

This afternoon Boddington Reservoir attracted four Common Sandpipers and another Common Sandpiper and seven Yellow Wagtails were at the dam at Pitsford Reservoir.

In the Nene Valley there was a Cattle Egret and three Ringed Plovers at Summer Leys LNR and a Common Sandpiper, two Redshanks, an Oystercatcher, a Little Ringed Plover and Yellow Wagtail all at the New Workings at Earls Barton. A Marsh Harrier and a Curlew were found at Stanwick Pits today and six Oystercatchers were at Upton Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Rook courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Kestrel courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Redshank courtesy
of John Tilly.

Greenbottle courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Dark-edged Bee Fly
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Ringing at Linford Lakes

Hello

The weather yesterday (Saturday) was good enough to unfurl the mist nets and Kenny and his team enjoyed another super session down at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes amassing a total of one hundred and thirteen birds caught and processed of seventeen species, the majority of which were fresh birds in. A male Grey Wagtail was perhaps star of the show but the high numbers of Lesser Redpolls amounted to twenty-six birds the majority of which were new birds. Twenty-three Blackcaps were a fresh arrival and there were six Chiffchaffs, three Willow Warblers and a Reed Warbler. Eleven Greenfinches was another good total and other birds processed included five Goldfinches and two Reed Buntings. A Cuckoo was seen and heard.

Dave did some ringing in his Northampton garden and birds processed included two Siskins, a Greenfinch, six Goldfinches, two Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff.

Today (Sunday) and an early visit to Harrington Airfield turned up the female Ring Ouzel plus a Short-eared Owl, a male Common Redstart, two Wheatears and four Grey Partridges.

In the Nene Valley three Cattle Egrets flew west at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and other birds included a Peregrine, a Curlew and common warblers with Cuckoos at Mary's Lake and Quarry Walk and a Grasshopper Warbler at the latter site too. A drake Garganey was on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits early this morning and the long-staying female Ring-necked Duck remained on Cotton Reel Lake, Ditchford Pits

An Osprey was briefly at Hollowell Reservoir late this morning and a Wheatear was at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry.

Three Redshanks were at Stanford Reservoir and other birds included a Wheatear, a Common Sandpiper, two Cetti's Warblers, two Reed Warblers, a Fieldfare and a Lesser Whitethroat. A Black-tailed Godwit was in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir briefly this morning and a Common Sandpiper was on the dam.

A Ring Ouzel was on private farmland between Cottesbrooke and Naseby late this morning and other birds included a Raven, a Fieldfare and a Siskin. A female Common Redstart was in a hedgerow at Stoke Albany this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Male Grey Wagtail.

Willow Warbler.

Reed Warbler.

Long-tailed Tit.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Butterflies, snakes and passerine migrants

Hello

Migrant passerines set the scene in the county today with large numbers of warblers, some chats and more waves of hirundines arriving even if the waders and terns are in short supply.

At Pitsford Reservoir David enjoyed his early morning birding with a smart male Whinchat below the dam and also two Common Sandpipers on the dam. At the other end he saw a female Common Redstart and a Lesser Whitethroat in the Scaldwell Bay hedge between Maytrees and the Bird Club hides and a couple of Common Snipe.

A Stanford Reservoir there were three Oystercatchers, two Shelducks, two Lesser Whitethroats and two Cetti's Wartblers. Harrington Airfield now has at least eight singing Willow Warblers back on territory plus a Wheatear, two Redpolls and a Raven but with no apparent sign of the female Ring Ouzel today.

A male Common Redstart was on view briefly at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon plus three Redwings and two Fieldfares, and two Short-eared Owls remain on private land west of Lamport.

Four Waxwings were still at Warth Park, Raunds this morning but weren't seen later, a male Common Redstart was at Stanwick Pits near to the A45 causeway and birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Greenshank, a Whimbrel, a Cuckoo, a Great White Egret, a Common Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Redpolls and a reported Sandwich Tern. A Cuckoo and Grasshopper Warbler were at the back of Mary's Lake and one or two Common Sandpiper(s) and two Green Sandpipers were on the Earls Barton New Workings.

Another male Common Redstart was found at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby this morning and a Grasshopper Warbler was at Oundle in a field between Prince William school and the River Nene. A Lesser Whitethroat was at Clifford Hill Pits this morning.

Regards

Neil M

One of two Grass Snakes
in the Brampton Valley
 below Lamport. Image
courtesy of Eleanor.

Lots of butterflies
on the wing today
including plenty of
Orange-tips.

Black-headed Gull courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Black-tailed Godwit (and Avocet)
courtesy of Robin Gossage.