Half way through the year!

Hello

A cooler and fresher day today with less insects and more evidence of the autumn bird migration beginning to stir!

At Stanwick Pits today migrants included two Black-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper and other birds included two Oystercatchers and four Little Ringed Plovers. Nearby at Summer Leys LNR there were eight visiting Black-tailed Godwits this afternoon and a Cattle Egret was seen this morning.

Four Common Sandpipers were also at Stanford Reservoir today as were three Oystercatchers and about seventy Common Swifts.

The male Common Redstart was again in the flood meadow hedgerow at Lilbourne Water Meadows and a Quail was still audible this afternoon at Broughton Road, Walgrave opposite the hay bales.

A pair of Cattle Egrets are confirmed as breeding successfully in the county this year and birds seen from the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon included a juvenile Kingfisher and a Yellow-legged Gull and approximately fifty Sand Martins.

Two Barn Owls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

One of several Hedgehogs
living in our small garden
currently!

Adult female 
Common Redstart.

Juvenile Common Redstart.

Juvenile Stonechat.

Adult Common Sandpiper.

All bird images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Birds of Friday and Saturday

Hello

I'm not long back from a Naturetrek tour to Norway, exploring the Lofoten and Vesteralen islands - I've created an additional page or tab devoted to this tour entitled 'Norway 2024'.

Yesterday (Friday) birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir in the evening included a fishing Osprey in the Scaldwell Bay, a sleeping Red-crested Pochard with Mallard off the Old Scaldwell Road, a Hobby and a Great White Egret.

Also yesterday an Osprey was seen at Hollowell Reservoir in the morning before heading off to Ravensthorpe Reservoir and the female Ruddy Shelduck was also there (Hollowell). A Cattle Egret was seen in flight over the New Workings at Earls Barton Pits and the two calling Quail were again reported near Walgrave village off the Broughton Road at 52.3584, -0.8229.

The best birds at Stanford Reservoir were three Oystercatchers, nine Pochard and about seventy Swifts.

Today (Saturday) and an Osprey was seen flying north over Irthlingborough just after 10am and two Black-tailed Godwits were at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve before being flushed late morning.

A male Common Redstart in the traditional stop-over hedge at Lilbourne Water Meadows reserve between the two water meadows this morning was a further sign of 'autumn passage'. A singing Grasshopper Warbler was at Dallington Heath at Midday.

A Little Tern was at Eyebrook Reservoir this afternoon and at Pitsford Reservoir there was an adult Great White Egret and a ringing session there caught plenty of young birds including an unexpected juvenile male Stonechat which presumably is the result of successful breeding not too far away. The Scaldwell Meadows in the Scaldwell Bay was the venue for a good number of Marbled White and Meadow Brown butterflies and rather less Small Heaths. Odonata included Blue Emperor and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Three Oystercatchers remained at Stanford Reservoir as did nine Pochard and six Common Sandpipers were a good number plus two Great White Egrets over and a Hobby.

Regards

Neil M

Male Common Redstart.

Male Chaffinch.

Spotted Flycatcher.

Comma butterfly.

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Quails and Ospreys

It's mid week already and before we know it the weekend will be upon us.  We still seem to be in a quiet period for birds with very few being reported.  On Monday there was a Marsh Harrier,  4 Little Ringed Plovers and Common Sandpiper at Stanwick GP.  Yesterday there was a  Mediterranean Gull at Stanwick and Osprey at Pitsford.  However there was an interesting record of 2 singing Quail at 21.55hrs just north of the village Walgrave. Think that I was actually in bed at this time !!         Today there was an Osprey again at Pitsford Reservoir and the Quail was again singing near Walgrave this evening (19.10hrs).  I had checked the area near Walgrave twice earlier in the day as I was visiting family in the village,  but to no avail.         This evening I decided to walk the dogs at Harrington Airfield once it had cooled down.   Very quiet for birds but plenty of Marbled White Butterflies on the wing even at 20.50hrs. I decided that I might as well take the long way home and drive via Walgrave.  But I stopped off en route at the War Memorial on the road between Lamport and Harrington and heard a Quail calling from beyond the Memorial.   When I arrived at the Quail site near Walgrave I discovered that it hadn't been heard for a while.  I waited around for a while and then decided to check the fields as its an area that I'm very familiar with having spent my childhood in Walgrave.  Although a pleasant walk the only bird of note was a Barn Owl. 

This year there seems to have been a noticeable increase in the number of Ospreys being reported.  Sometimes it has felt as if every body of water had an Osprey.  Many of these birds have been photographed and their ring numbers noted. The team at the Rutland Osprey Project have been able to identify these birds and many of them are 2nd or 3rd year birds from the Rutland Project who are not breeding but simply loafing around and checking out the area . It is possible that they may return in the future and decide to breed.

Today has been a very exciting day for the team from the Rutland Osprey Project and for the county as an amazing six young Ospreys have been Ringed!!! This would have been unheard of years ago as Ospreys were incredibly rare in the county and I can still remember the excitement of seeing my first Osprey. It was such a thrill.  But none of these young Ospreys would have been possible but for the work of the Rutland Osprey Project.    I was very fortunate to be invited along today to one of the nests and witnessed 3 young Ospreys being ringed.  There was such a size difference between the birds, the smallest weighed 1.34kg and wing length 248mm and the largest weighed 1.69kg and wing length 345mm showing the difference between the chicken that hatched first and the one which hatched last with probably about a week's difference between their hatching.  It was quite remarkable to see. All birds seemed very healthy and there were 2 females who were large and fiesty and a much smaller placid male. Such incredible birds when seen close up and hopefully in a few weeks time they will be airborne and exploring the waterways before heading south.

Finally some of the more interesting Butterflies are emerging.  Purple Emperor has been seen at Fermyn Wood and Bucknell Wood,  Purple Hairstreaks at Hollowell Reservoir,  White Letter Hairstreak at Lady Wood, Marbled Whites at Pitsford Reservoir,  Harrington Airfield and near Paulerspury as well as White Admiral in the same area.

Regards Eleanor 

Blue Emperor Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Neil Hasdell.

Young Ospreys in the nest
courtesy of Tim Mackrill.

Young Ospreys and the 
ringing procedure before
being returned to the nest.

Red Sunday!!

Early this morning news broke of a Red Backed Shrike tantalisingly close at the Northamptonshire/Leicestershire border near Cottingham .  I had literally just arrived at an agility competition when I saw the message so there was very little I could do apart from watch the messages. I did breathe a sigh of relief when the messages indicated that the bird stubbornly remained in Leicestershire, at times only 80m from Northamptonshire.  It has been many years since I have seen a Red Backed Shrike in the county as they have become increasingly scarce. I believe that the bird did stray into Northamptonshire at times but I never managed to see it.

A successful day competing for Jaeger and Rouzel with both of them picking up First places and Red Rosettes.                     I arrived home just in time to watch a fantastic display by the Red Arrows at Sywell Air Show.  It was breathtaking to watch their precision acrobatics and hear their distinctive noise. Absolutely awesome when they were right over my head.

Hope that you have a good week enjoying the weather and wildlife.

Regards Eleanor 

Rouzel and Jaeger on top form!

Longest Day and the start of Summer!!

Yesterday was the longest day,the start of summer and some warm settled weather at last. This has made a huge difference to the natural world around us and also to the general mood of everyone.  It's surprising what a little bit of sunshine can do.                 There are definitely more butterflies on the wing although not in large numbers but I'm sure this will change in the next few days.  I  bumped into 2 Marbled Whites near Lamport where the field edges have been sown with a mixture of wild flowers.       Marbled Whites have also been recorded at Pitsford Reservoir,  Old Sulehay Wood and Barton Seagrave.      Other butterflies reported include Large Skippers, Ringlets and Meadow Browns.                                                                      There has been a good mixture of Dragonflies,  Damselflies and Demoiselles on the wing.  A rare Norfolk Hawker ( up to 4 individuals) caused quite a stir when it was discovered at Wicksteed Park on the fishing lake.        Azure, Common Blue, Blue Tailed and Red Eyed Damselflies,  4 Spot and Broad Bodied Chaser, Ruddy Darter, Black Tailed Skimmers, Common and Downy Emeralds and Emperor Dragonflies are all out and about. 

However there is hardly any bird news to report.  Yesterday there was an Osprey at Pitsford Reservoir and today a Little Tern at Hollowell Reservoir.   Even the birds in our garden have gone quiet.  We have lost our big numbers of Jackdaws. It appears that once their youngsters fledged they have moved out into the fields.  I just hope that they are able to find enough food to survive.  Yesterday I came across 2 young crows who looked as if they had died of starvation and I could have cut my finger on their sharp breastbone.  The young Starlings seem to have returned to our garden and are as noisy as ever and comical to watch.  They are literally eating anything and everything.  I chopped up an old apple and before I had got back into the house they had eaten it. !!

Regards Eleanor 

Variable Damselflies.

Green-eyed (Norfolk) Hawker.

Variable Damselfly.

Green-eyed (Norfolk) Hawker.

All images courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Summer weather and wildlife at last!

Hello

Another day of splendid weather and at Stanford Reservoir there was a Common Sandpiper, four Oystercatchers and twelve Common Terns this morning with two Cuckoos including the rufous morph female seen yesterday.

At lunchtime today there was a Cuckoo, a pair of Grey Partridges and three Ravens at Harrington Airfield. The pair of Spotted Flycatchers remain in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

In the Nene Valley some early morning birding at Stanwick Pits resulted in a Marsh Harrier and a Green Sandpiper and the Wood Warbler was again on show in Harry's Park Wood. A drake Wigeon is an unusual June record for Pitsford Reservoir.

On the scarce insect front Wood Whites were on the wing at Bucknell Wood, Black Hairstreaks were at Glapthorn Cow Pastures and a Lesser Emperor dragonfly was by the boat pontoon in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir. Yardley Chase attracted a Red-belted Clearwing moth and Wood White and Black Hairstreak butterflies.

Regards

Neil M

Red-legged Shieldbug
 courtesy of John Tilly.

Scorpion Fly sp courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Muntjac in the
morning dew.

Early morning skyscapes
this morning.

Cottesbrooke Church.

Gadwall.

A Tawny Owlet!

June survey work

Hello

A survey of an estate in the centre of the county today yielded six species of raptor, a good number of Brown Hares, a pair of Grey Partridge, a fledged Tawny Owlet and up to five Ravens.

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers were still at the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton this morning and birds in the valley below Brixworth included a Green Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Little Egret and up to three Grey Wagtails. There was a great hatch of Beautiful Damselflies in the same area with a few Black-tailed Skimmers on the wing too.

The Wood Warbler was still at Harry's Park Wood again today.

Regards

Neil M

Brown Hare.

Underside view of an
Osprey carrying a trout.

Skylark.

Beautiful Demoiselles.

Lots of nestlings and fledglings!

Hello

A ringing session at Stortons Pits this morning netted over thirty birds which at this time of the year included recently fledged birds such as Wren, Dunnock, Robin, tits, Goldfinch and Chiffchaff. A fledged juvenile Sedge Warbler was a bonus and several Reed Warblers processed were all breeding adults.

One or two calling Cuckoos were on site and plenty of vocal Water Rails included juvenile birds with at least one being seen. A few Cetti's Warblers were vocal too.

Along the Brampton Valley this morning a pair of Spotted Flycatchers were again below Hanging Houghton with another pair just north of Draughton Crossing. A Barn Owl was in the valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

At Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon a collection of Sand Martins off the dam included recently fledged juveniles. The singing Wood Warbler continues to delight all visitors at Harry's Park Wood!

Regards

Neil M

Cuckoo.

Great Crested Grebes courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Red Kite courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Hoverfly eristalis horticola
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Minotaur Beetle courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Brown Rat courtesy
of John Tilly.

Ringers at Stortons
Pits in the sunshine today.

Sun and warmth

Hello

A sunny warm day was much appreciated and the forthcoming week looks settled with some warm spells.

A little ringing at Pitsford Reservoir first thing this morning provided a few captures which included a Sand Martin already bearing a ring. It transpires that this bird was first ringed in July last year as a juvenile in East Sussex between Winchelsea and Rye. The distance between the two sites is 191km but of course these small birds are always on the wing and this youngster would have been to Africa and back during the 334 days that have elapsed since first ringed.

The early morning sunshine brought forth plenty of insects in the Scaldwell Meadows at Pitsford Reservoir with reasonable numbers of Meadow Browns finally and also Common Blue butterfly and Chimney Sweeper moths.

Two Spotted Flycatchers were at the small copse on the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton this morning, the first time they have been seen there this year.

A drake Garganey was at Stanford Reservoir today where there was also a female Goosander and two Cuckoos. A Ruddy Shelduck was at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning and the Wood Warbler was still singing at Harry's Park Wood.

Regards

Neil M

Silver Y moth
courtesy of David Arden.

Garden Warbler.

Juvenile Chiffchaff.

Above three images
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Male Yellow Dung Fly
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Red-legged Robber Fly
with prey courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Mid June wildlife

Hello

Some more survey work locally this morning provided a silent Cuckoo and a Spotted Flycatcher, the latter seem to be scarce in the county this year.

The singing Wood Warbler was again logged at Harry's Park Wood today and a Spotted Redshank was at Eyebrook Reservoir.

This evening an Osprey was flying around the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway, a Barn Owl was near Lamport Hall and two Barn Owls and a Kingfisher were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Black Hairstreak butterflies remained on show in sunshine at Glapthorn Cow Pastures this morning, their short flight period will be concluded in about a week's time

A couple more ringing recoveries from Northants Ringing Group are as follows:-

1. A juvenile Starling was ringed in Rushden on 17th June 2023 and then found dead, possibly having collided with a window, at Lavendon near Milton Keynes on 8th May 2024, 326 days later and 14km from the original site of ringing;

2. An adult male Reed Warbler was ringed at Stortons Pits on 27th May 2022 and then caught again on 12th May 2024 when at Waterhay, Wiltshire, some 716 days later with a distance of 94km between the two sites.

Regards

Neil M

Linnet.

Great Pied Hoverfly.

Rhinoceros Beetle.

Sawfly tenthredo maculata.

Spiderlings!

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.