Here come the Redstarts!

Hello

Heat dominates the weather again but it isn't stopping the passage of Common Redstarts through the county!

The male remains at Lilbourne Water Meadows, at least one juvenile is still at Clifford Hill Pits, one or two were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and another was briefly at shrike hedge with a roving flock of birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. All of these were spotted this morning before it became too hot. This evening three more were located by Bunker Two at Harrington Airfield where also a Grey Partridge was calling.

A Ring-necked Parakeet was at Moulton today, a Grasshopper Warbler was 'reeling' at Weekley Hall on the outskirts of Kettering and another was 'reeling' at Hollowell Reservoir where also a Little Ringed Plover and a Green Sandpiper. This evening an Osprey was photographed high over Hollowell village carrying a large Bream.

The persistent Quail was still calling in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning, and again this evening, between shrike hedge and Blueberry Farm. A Grey Partridge was watching over twelve very small young also at Blueberry Farm. A Spotted Flycatcher visited us in our garden at Hanging Houghton this morning.

Birds in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon were an Osprey and seven Black-tailed Godwits. A Marsh Harrier was located at Stanford Reservoir this evening and other birds were two Common Sandpipers, thirty Pied Wagtails, a Gadwall with ducklings and a Grasshopper Warbler.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Common Redstarts
at Clifford Hill Pits yesterday
courtesy of Tyler Atkinson.

Little Egret.