Summer Solstice

Hello

The summer solstice and the longest day of the year was as hot as predicted but with some cloud and breeze and even some light afternoon showers for a bit of heat relief.

A ringing session at Linford Lakes on the edge of Milton Keynes was good for both numbers and variety. Juveniles of small passerines dominated proceedings but bigger birds included a Jay, a Woodpigeon, a Carrion Crow and two newly-ringed Cuckoos. Glamour came in the shape of two Kingfishers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker and variation was enhanced with a couple of Treecreepers, Cetti's Warblers, Garden Warblers, a couple of Sedge Warblers and a Common Whitethroat. An adult Toad was seen and some of this year's Toadlets too. 

At Stanford Reservoir there was an Osprey fishing this morning and other birds included three Oystercatchers and three Cuckoos.

An Osprey was again in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning plus an Oystercatcher and three Great White Egrets. A Spotted Flycatcher and a Little Owl were in Hanging Houghton village and another Spotted Flycatcher was in the Brampton Valley below the village by the brook and small wood. Moth-trapping from overnight at Brixworth yielded a haul of no less than twenty-eight Elephant Hawk-moths!

Regards

Neil M

Adult and juvenile Little Grebes
outside the Bird Club hide at
Pitsford Reservoir today courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

This formidable-looking corvid
resembles a Raven, particularly
with the shape and size of the bill,
but the biometrics indicate it was
a large Carrion Crow! Image courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Woodpigeon.

Cuckoo.

Jay.

Reed Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.