Today is the longest day, the Summer Solstice and the start of the astronomical summer across the northern hemisphere. It has certainly been a rather warm day. I was up and about rather early this morning but not as early as the Skylarks who were already in full song and no doubt they will still be singing for a few more hours yet. It has been another quiet weekend. A Quail was heard flying over Kettering on 'noc mig 'at 01.10hrs and another was heard singing from a field west of Little Houghton. A Mediterranean and Little Gull visited Summer Leys, an adult and 6 juvenile Cattle Egrets were at their breeding site, a Grasshopper Warbler at Stanford Reservoir and 2 Spotted Flycatchers were at Maidwell Churchyard .
A successful ringing session(Kenny Cramer)at Linford Reserve in better weather produced 135 birds of 25 species and 97 were newly ringed. Plenty of Warblers including 7 Blackcaps, 6 Garden Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs, 3 Whitethroats and 2 Cettis. Finches were out in force with 19 Goldfinches and 9 Greenfinches. The more uncommon birds processed included 2 Magpies, a Ring Necked Parakeet , a Wood Pigeon and a recently fledged Grey Wagtail which was only the 5th to be ringed at this site. Another relative rariety to hit the net was a young Carrion Crow . Star bird was awarded to a drake Mallard which was moulting into his eclipse plumage. This was the first Mallard to be ringed at Linford since 2015 !!!
The coming week is predicted to be extremely hot. Please remember to put some fresh water out for the birds and wildlife which may struggle, and of course please take care of yourselves too.
Regards Eleanor
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