Weekend Round Up

 Yesterday I was out competing again and my journey home took me to Daventry so I took the opportunity to walk the dogs and look for birds at Borough Hill.  I had visited the previous weekend but I couldn't find anything of interest.  However it was very different yesterday as there was obviously a fall/movement of warblers,  especially Chiffchaffs which were literally everywhere!! Every bush had a calling Chiffchaff and many of the birds were also hopping around in the short grass and clambering about on weed stems.  I wasn't surprised to find at least 3 Common Redstarts.  Other birds of note were 2 Spotted Flycatchers,  Blackcaps and Whitethroats.                                                          Today was technically a "rest day" for the collies but after a 5 hour meander they may beg to differ!!! They actually enjoy being out and about simply mooching around.  We were not walking continuously but stopping and starting, looking and listening and simply enjoying being out and about.  I started at Harrington Airfield and breathed a sigh of relief when I began walking - Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Swallows were flying over, a good indication that there was some movement.  The last few visits have been extremely quiet.  My 2 hour meander produced a Common Redstart,  Northern Wheatear,  2 Whinchats and a Marsh Harrier.  A Whimbrel and 2 Golden Plovers flew over calling and there was a steady trickle of Siskins flying over.   A quick coffee stop before a 3 hour meander around shrike hedge/Blueberry area.  It was hard work to find any birds but eventually a pair of Stonechats,  2 Whinchats,  Northern Wheatear and Common Redstart gave themselves up. The most surprising bird was the appearance of the female Hen Harrier again.  It suddenly appeared in front of me before following one of the hedgerows/field edge and disappeared from view. I've absolutely no idea where this bird is spending most of its time. 

Yesterday the Glossy Ibis and Bittern were showing at Summer Leys.  The other Glossy Ibis was at Pitsford Reservoir plus a Common Redstart, Osprey and Marsh Harrier.  There were Black Terns at Ravensthorpe and Hollowell Res and at nearby Naseby Reservoir,  Ringed Plovers,  Ruff, Black Tailed Godwit, Caspian Gull,  Green and Common Sandpiper.                                                                 Today there was a Wood Sandpiper at Naseby Reservoir, 12 Black Tailed Godwits at Clifford Hill GP,  2 Common Redstarts near Harpole and at Boddington Reservoir a Little Stint, Sanderling and Caspian Gull.                                    This evening whilst most people were at home in the dry Jon was at Hollowell Reservoir enjoying the sight of 50 Arctic Terns dropping in during a heavy rain shower before they headed off south. I was also out in the rain  but all I saw were 4 wet dogs !!!

Regards Eleanor 

Adult Glossy Ibis at
Summer Leys LNR
courtesy of John Tilly.

Juvenile Glossy Ibis at
Pitsford Reservoir courtesy
of David Smith.

More awards for the competing
duo of Jaeger and Rouzel.