Northamptonshire Birding: Pitsford Reservoir CBC

Hello

It was another day at Pitsford Reservoir today, this time completing a Common Bird Census which didn't reveal anything much out of the ordinary. The Song Thrushes and Garden Warblers were the dominant songsters but they had to work hard to be heard above the clamour of the many Wrens and Robins on-site!

An Osprey was my third sighting in a week there, the blue colour ring indicating that it is a Rutland project bird. An Egyptian Goose flying over was unanticipated, we normally experience one visit per annum at this site. A calling Cuckoo is probably a lingering individual from last month.

The cool, grey and breezy conditions ensured that insects were at a minimum with only two individual butterflies seen all morning! Odonata were also scarce but sightings included a Black-tailed Skimmer, Four Spotted Chasers, a Beautiful Demoiselle and plenty of sheltering Large Red-eyed Damselflies.

A visit to Harrington Airfield this afternoon didn't reveal any birds of note but there is a great showing of Common Spotted Orchids and rather fewer Bee Orchids. A field of sown Common Flax is in flower with their superb blue colour visible from a distance and Mullein Moth caterpillars were eating their way through the plentiful Mullein plants on-site.

A Curlew passed through Summer Leys LNR this morning and a Hobby and a Barn Owl were at Lamport Hall this evening. The Wood Warbler remains at Harry's Park Wood and several Black Hairstreaks persisted at Glapthorn Cow Pastures.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Pink-footed Goose, an Egyptian Goose, three Oystercatchers and three Cuckoos.

Regards

Neil M