Arctic Terns

Yesterday was certainly a mixed bag of weather.  Initially it was dry and bright but this was soon replaced with showers and low cloud. I was competing with Jaeger and Rouzel at an agility competition near Daventry and it certainly made for challenging conditions at times due to the extremely slippery ground. No rosettes but thankfully no slips either.                                                                               But these weather conditions certainly brought an interesting selection of birds to the county, especially Arctic Terns.  There were 40 at Hollowell Reservoir,  25 at Summer Leys,  20 at Clifford Hill GP and a single at Daventry Reservoir.  No doubt there were many others passing through "unseen " by birders.                                            Summer Leys was certainly the place to be. 2 Spoonbills were reported flying over high NE and 2 stunning adult Mediterranean Gulls were around for most of the day. Other birds included a Marsh Harrier,  Bittern and 2 Cattle Egrets.      Both Bar Tailed and Black Tailed Godwit were reported at Stanwick GP and a Bar Tailed was also at Clifford Hill GP, probably the same bird moving along the valley.                                                                                                           The evening was the best part of the day as the rain had passed through so I visited Harrington Airfield where I found a male Common Redstart and at least 4 Northern Wheatears and noted that there was a steady passage of Swallows flying low over the fields. 

Today has been blue skies and sunshine and very few birds reported.  I visited Blueberry twice and found a male Common Redstart this afternoon, otherwise it was quiet.                                        16 Arctic Terns flew over the North Lake at Thrapston this afternoon,  a Whimbrel flew over the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and at Summer Leys there were 2 Hobbies, Osprey and Bittern.   Cuckoo's have been arriving and have been heard at Oundle,  Titchmarsh and Cogenhoe and no doubt at Other places too.    This evening a female Ring Ouzel was reported from Harrington Airfield. 

I'm sure that there are plenty more migrants heading our way. Always an interesting time of year as you don't know what might turn up and each day can be so very different.   Rain is is forecast again for tomorrow so this might bring another movement of Arctic Terns or something else!!

Regards Eleanor 

Common Scoters courtesy
of Nick Parker.

Reed Bunting courtesy
of John Tilly.

Willow Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Speckled Wood courtesy
of Tony Stanford.