Summer to Autumn

Hello

As summer stretches out to autumn there are still birds in song, Song Thrushes in particular first thing in the morning and often last thing at night are perhaps the most obvious. Robin song has dwindled and many are already in moult, many Wrens are still in full song, many Skylarks have finished singing but there are still Blackbirds and Dunnocks proclaiming territories with a view to having another brood.

A couple of Grey Wagtails and two Ravens were in the Brampton Valley at Brixworth this morning and birds at Pitsford Reservoir included a Common Sandpiper in the Scaldwell Bay and birds visible from the dam this afternoon were an Osprey, two Ravens, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, presumably a different Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail. A pair of Grey Partridges and two family parties of Green Woodpecker were at Harrington Airfield and there was a reasonable number of butterflies of five species with Marbled White being the best.

Stanwick Pits today attracted a Wood Sandpiper, five Common Sandpipers, two Little Ringed Plovers and eight Black-tailed Godwits.

A Common Scoter was found on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston Pits and birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Cattle Egret, a Great White Egret, two Little Ringed Plovers and two Oystercatchers. Birds further along the valley at Clifford Hill Pits were two Little Ringed Plovers, an Oystercatcher and four Wigeon.

A Barn Owl was at Woodford Halse and two male Common Redstarts were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

Eyebrook Reservoir attracted a Wood Sandpiper today plus a Turnstone and two Black Terns.

Yesterday (Monday) there was an Osprey at Stanford Reservoir and the ringers on-site ringed 92 new birds including a Spotted Flycatcher.

Regards

Neil M

'Golden' Hedgehog.

Juvenile Reed Bunting.

Carrion Crow courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Adult Tree Sparrow courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Juvenile Magpie courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.