Here come the Redstarts!

Hello

As we tumble towards autumn there was a flurry of Common Redstarts today, all at traditional local stop-over sites.

First thing this morning there were at least two Great White Egrets in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir and a Common Redshank was looking forlornly for some mud! A female Tufted Duck was seen with eight ducklings.

Two male Common Redstarts were still at the Blueberry Farm complex near Maidwell and nearby there were one or two others near 'shrike hedge' in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. A Cuckoo and a Whinchat were also near 'shrike hedge'.

A female Common Redstart was near the chippings compound at Harrington Airfield this morning with a singing Sedge Warbler near Bunker One. The footpath from Bridle Road in Old village passes through fields and around the back of the houses behind Cherry Hill towards the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir where it peters out. This is a traditional stop-over site for Common Redstart and this morning there were at least two elusive birds in the field hedges visible from the footpath, plus a Raven.

At Lamport Hall this afternoon there was another female-type Common Redstart and five or six Spotted Flycatchers in hedging and bushes visible from the footpath that runs from the A508 to Scaldwell village.

Stanford Reservoir today attracted two Oystercatchers, a Cetti's Warbler and a couple of Yellow Wagtails and a Whinchat and a Common Snipe were at Hollowell Reservoir. An Osprey was again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

This evening there were two Cattle Egrets NE over the Main Pit at Stanwick Pits plus two Green Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers and four Little Ringed Plovers. Birds at Summer Leys LNR today included four Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover. A Great White Egret was at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows.

An Egyptian Goose was noted at the Embankment, Wellingborough today and a Raven was at Cogenhoe.

Regards

Neil M

A sunbathing Wren courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

A sunbathing Robin courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

The Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford
Reservoir from the Northants
Bird Club hide.

Red Admiral - there appears to
be quite a number around at the
moment.

Common Emerald Damselfly.