Phew, it's hot !!

Unusually for a bank holiday the weather has been wall to wall sunshine and very high temperatures for the time of year. Of course we are now all moaning about how hot it is. I've been busy today making sure that our ponds are topped up as we have good numbers of tadpoles and other wildlife and of course the birds need access to plenty of water.  We have several bird baths dotted around the garden but their favourite one is a large shallow tin. I have lost count how many times I have replaced the water in this today as it has been in constant use by the noisy Starlings and Jackdaws who have been having a "wash and brush up". I even saw our regular Great Spotted Woodpecker enjoying a bath.  I will top the water up again later in readiness for the hedgehogs to use.

Due to the heat I've been out walking the dogs early morning and late evening,  although I did have a quick visit to Harrington Airfield mid morning searching for 2 target species which I didn't find, just the usual common residents.  A couple of quick visits to Pitsford Reservoir have also been very quiet although an Osprey has been seen there a couple of times. All I have seen is large numbers of people everywhere.                                                    On Friday (22nd) I got engrossed in watching the wildlife around me, Roe Deer,  Fox cubs, Hobby,  Tawny and Little Owl so it was very late when I was walking back to my car. Luckily the moon was bright and I guided me back safely.  As I stood at shrike hedge/blueberry area I heard a call that I was not familiar with. I thought that it was either a wader or water bird but didn't really know what I was listening to.  It was a lovely call.  Earlier in the week I had downloaded the Merlin app . Anyone that knows me well would know that "I don't do apps". However curiosity got the better of me and I decided to find out for myself as this app does have mixed reviews.  I had been playing around with it by using it when I was actually watching the bird so I knew that it was telling me the truth!!. I quickly used the app on this bird call and it told me that I was listening to Common Scotors. It was 22.25hrs so no chance of seeing the birds but Common Scotors move around at night. As I wasn't sure whether to believe the app I managed to get onto the Xeno-Canto site which confirmed that the birds were indeed Common Scotors.                                                       On Saturday evening when I was again in this area I could hear a Quail calling between Blueberry and the Brampton Valley Way but I haven't heard it since. 

This morning there were 2 Common Cranes briefly in a field near Holcot before flying off eastwards.  A great find by Duncan.  Other birds today include a pair of Garganey at the New Workings Earls Barton GP,  drake Mandarin and Goldeneye at Stanford Reservoir,  Bittern and Avocet at Summer Leys and a Sanderling at Lilbourne Meadows.     Yesterday there were 3 Cattle Egrets between Clifton and Aynho and drake Garganey at Stanford Reservoir. 

Regards Eleanor