A visit to Barnwell Country Park

Hello

A recce out to the east of the county for a change found us at Barnwell Country Park where the stunning weather brought forth many insects with odonata comprising of a late Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawkers, a couple of Southern Hawkers, Common Darter, Banded Demoiselle and Willow Emerald. Plenty of common butterflies were on the wing including Comma and Small Copper and the birds provided a splash of colour with at least two Kingfishers, a Spotted Flycatcher, a couple of Nuthatches and a Reed Warbler. As elsewhere in the county there were plenty of shrill-sounding Chiffchaffs gleaning the bushes and trees.

An adult Peregrine was perched on the spire of St Peter's church in Oundle and a Marsh Harrier and a Cetti's Warbler were noted at Wadenhoe Water Meadows.

Eleanor's morning visit to Harrington Airfield provided a view of a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier which then headed towards the Brampton Valley, a pair of Stonechats, a Wheatear, two Ravens and numbers of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits on the move.

A subsequent visit to the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton produced four Whinchats, a Common Redstart, common warblers, lots of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and a Marsh Harrier. Three silent small geese flew over Hanging Houghton early morning, quickly disappearing from view before optics could be brought to bear!

Four Red-crested Pochard remained at Stanford Reservoir today and other birds amounted to a Hobby, a Common Sandpiper and a Cetti's Warbler.

Two Whinchats and a Stonechat were at Priors Hall, Corby today late morning and migrants at Borough Hill CP, Daventry included a Stonechat, a Whinchat and a Wheatear. Two Ravens were over Mawsley village at lunchtime.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Mallard.

Willow Emerald Damselfly.

Cormorant.

Robin.

Brown Rat.

All images from Barnwell
Country Park today.