The stunning Red Admiral

Juvenile Marsh Harrier
at Titchmarsh reserve today
courtesy of Nick Parker.

Hello

So the beginning of another heat wave saw warm, sunny conditions today and still with a plethora of butterflies and other insects.

A singing Spotted Flycatcher in the village here at Hanging Houghton presumably signals efforts at producing a second brood. Also in Hanging Houghton, a Red Kite dropped a small mammal which recovered quickly enough from it's presumed injuries to reach cover in a hedge before the kite had second thoughts - a young Weasel!

Stanford Reservoir provided for an Osprey and two Hobbies again and birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir where the water levels continue to drop included two Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, four Green Sandpipers, five Great White Egrets and an Osprey.

Ten Crossbills moving north over Abington Park, Northampton this morning was a good local record and Common Gull and Siskin are both good seasonal records.

In the Nene Valley there was a Black-tailed Godwit at Summer Leys LNR, a Great White Egret at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR and a juvenile Marsh Harrier headed west over the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston.

A Purple Emperor was again attracted to oozing tree sap at St Crispins by the clock tower in Duston, Northampton. Silver-washed Fritillaries were around the car park at Wakerley Wood this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Red Admirals on our
garden buddleia.