Wildlife in the warmth

Hello

An early morning survey provided an opportunity to see some wildlife before it all hid away as it became warmer. A pair of Roe Deer posed beautifully, some insects warmed up on fence panels and the like and a family party of Spotted Flycatchers is always a treat! However much of the bird song has dwindled now and the Robins in particular have gone quiet - about the only time of the year when they are not singing energetically!

A report on Birdguides of the Red-necked Grebe at Summer Leys LNR initiated a search for it by several observers but it drew a blank!

An Osprey was seen with a fish at Ravensthorpe Reservoir late this morning and new Common Redstarts included a female-type at Honey Hill near Cold Ashby and a male at Clifford Hill Pits in a hedgerow on the west side of the main pit near to the office blocks. Three Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper were at Clifford Hill too.

An adult and juvenile Peregrine were seen over Northampton today with a Hobby overhead too and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was visible from the dam at Pitsford Reservoir.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton there was a Whinchat and a Barn Owl near to 'shrike hedge' early morning. Both here and at Pitsford Reservoir, new singing Sedge Warblers have announced their presence in the last week and clearly intend to breed - presumably these are birds that have only just arrived after attempting to breed elsewhere and now trying to breed at a new location? The two male Common Redstarts were still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this evening.

Yesterday (Saturday) evening and three Garganey were found at Daventry Country Park.

Please note that tomorrow (Monday) there will be a ringing session at Harrington Airfield with restricted access to the bunkers and scrubby area between the chippings compound and the main concrete track. Public access along the concrete track is unaffected.

Regards

Neil M

Buck Roe Deer.

Kestrel courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Black-tailed Skimmer.

Long-legged or Semaphore Fly
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Garden Tiger moth courtesy
of Robin Gossage.