Redstarts and waders

Hello

An early morning saunter in to the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton provided sustained views of a juvenile Marsh Harrier hunting over the fields, a Wheatear and a Whinchat. Later on there was a second Whinchat and two Hobbies.

Two Common Redstarts and two Spotted Flycatchers and two Hobbies were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. At least ten Spotted Flycatchers were on view at Lamport Hall this morning but they were pretty mobile.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were two Great White Egrets north of the causeway, a Whinchat in the Scaldwell Bay, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Raven.

An Osprey was again at Stanford Reservoir, a Grasshopper Warbler was caught and ringed and two Ravens flew over. A Whinchat remained at Hollowell Reservoir where there were also two adult Yellow-legged Gulls. Waders at Lilbourne Meadows reserve this afternoon amounted to two Greenshanks, two Common Snipe, three Common Sandpipers and four Green Sandpipers.

Three Common Redstarts remain at Woodford Halse LNR, another Common Redstart was discovered in a hedge south of Hartwell and two more were noted at Harrington Airfield.

An Osprey was over Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits and the Titchmarsh reserve hosted a Ringed Plover, two Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and two Common Snipe. Four Cattle Egrets were reported from the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve today with just a Marsh Harrier reported from Summer Leys LNR today.

Regards

Neil M

Chiffchaff courtesy of Tony Stanford. Good numbers of these
and Willow Warblers are moving through the county at the
 moment.

Cormorant courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Avocet courtesy of
John Tilly.

Black-tailed Godwit courtesy
of John Tilly.

Curlew courtesy of
John Tilly.

Tree Sparrow at Pitsford
Reservoir today courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

The few pairs left at and near Pitsford
Reservoir have produced several broods
of young but not enough for a self-sustained
population. It will be interesting to see
if there is any left next year.