Early autumn birding

Hello

Some more survey work locally this morning was good for finding a few Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Sparrow, a Grey Partridge, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Raven, two pairs of Bullfinch and another successful brood of Barn Owls. Another Spotted Flycatcher was still holding territory in New Covert, Kelmarsh.

The find of the day was Stuart's Red-necked Grebe at Summer Leys LNR this morning...it wasn't seen subsequently but can't be far away as this species rarely moves any distance during the daytime unless over the sea. Other birds there were a Wood Sandpiper and three Green Sandpipers which subsequently flew off east and a Common Redstart in a hedge behind one of the hides.

Down the road at Stanwick Pits sightings included a Black-tailed Godwit, three Cattle Egrets at North Lake, a female Pintail and a Green Sandpiper. A Curlew was at Titchmarsh reserve, Thrapston Pits.

A Wood Sandpiper was still at Eyebrook Reservoir today and Stanford Reservoir hosted a fishing Osprey several times during the day, a Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and a Hobby.

Pitsford Reservoir still retained four Great White Egrets north of the causeway where there was also a Common Sandpiper and Hollowell Reservoir was good for an Osprey this evening and a Whinchat too. In excess of eighty Swifts at Woodford Halse was bolstered by fledged birds, an impressive modern-time count at a colony.

A Marsh Harrier was seen low over fields near Barnwell this afternoon - we would expect to see wandering fledged juveniles from about now.

Regards

Neil M

Another early morning start!

Field Scabious.

Willow Emerald damselfly
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Stonechat courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Gatekeeper butterfly.