Midweek Movement

It's amazing what a bit of sunshine and a change of wind direction can do !!. Me and my gang have certainly made the most of sunshine and have spent most of the day out enjoying the warmth and topping up the Vitamin D levels.  I didn't even need a fleece on today but I  wasn't able to ditch the wellies as the ground is still very saturated.   I didn't really see much on my first walk of the day with shrike hedge, blueberry and Gamboro plantation all quiet. It would appear that Crossbills have moved out of Gamboro as despite numerous recent visits I have drawn a blank.       This afternoon I started my walk in the valley below Hanging Houghton and after playing with the dogs I headed off towards shrike hedge.  However I didn't get very far before I noticed a pair of Stonechats near the stream.  As I walked towards them I realised that there were several Stonechats perched up on the grass/weed stems and I watched as they flitted about and gradually moved towards Brixworth following the stream.  I  wandered that way with them and was astounded to count 12 birds.  I left them and headed off along the hedgerows and came across a Tawny Owl sitting low down in a tree close to a weedy area which was full of Goldfinches and Linnets.  We just simply looked at each other and it was quite surreal staring into the hidden depths of its black eyes.  Then I heard Golden Plovers and a flock of 50 birds went over looking fantastic against the blue skies.     When I eventually reached shrike hedge area I was amazed to find another 6 Stonechats!!! None of these birds had been here this morning and I'd love to know where they had come from and indeed where they were going.  A few small flocks of Golden Plovers went over.  There were big numbers of Red Kites and Common Buzzards airborne clearly enjoying the sunshine too.              After dropping the old hound off at home I headed to Harrington Airfield with the collies.  It has been disappointingly quiet here over the last few months.  Again today there were very few passerines and despite us regularly feeding there the birds just have not shown up.   I always spend time sitting around the bunkers and simply scanning and it was whilst I was sitting at bunker 3 looking north that I picked up a lovely male Merlin as he zipped across the fields.  I was nearly back to the car when something made me turn round and in doing so I caught sight of a raptor coming up from the main track towards the rough area, it was a Ringtail Hen Harrier.  I suspect that it is the same bird which has been around for a while and that it covers a big area. 

The Nene Valley was again very busy with birds today with Kinewell Lake Ringstead the place to be with Red Necked Grebe,  Ring Necked Duck (drake), Bean Goose and 23 White Fronted Geese. At Stanwick GP there were 7 White Fronted Geese,  2 Curlew and a Marsh Harrier.  The Lesser Scaup and Smew remain at Clifford Hill GP and at nearby Summer Leys Glossy Ibis, Caspian Gull,  Marsh Harrier,  Dunlin,  Redshanks and Oystercatchers.   An amazing flock of 42 Pintail were on a flooded field at Oundle.                         Two Black Necked Grebes were at Daventry Reservoir and a pair of Crossbills in Harlestone Firs near the derelict saw mill. 

The lovely sunshine saw plenty of butterflies out on the wing today including Brimstones, Peacocks, Comma and Red Admiral plus plenty of bumble bees and other insects. 

Well it was nice while it lasted as it looks as if we are heading back to cloudy unsettled days with some rain although the wind remains southerly which could produce some early migrants.  Keep those ears and eyes peeled. 

Regards Eleanor