More Redstarts anyone?

Hello

A continuation of the sunny weather but without the extreme temperatures was very pleasant.

Stanford Reservoir was the venue for a ringing session when one hundred and fifty-three birds were newly ringed. Birds of note at the reservoir included a Ruddy Shelduck, four hundred and fifty Greylag Geese and two Common Sandpipers.

At Pitsford Reservoir there were two adult Yellow-legged Gulls near the dam this morning plus four Ravens and a Common Sandpiper. An Osprey with a fish was just south of the causeway this evening and there were two Great White Egrets and a Grey Wagtail north of the causeway. Little Grebes on-site is evidence of post-breeding dispersal.

Two Common Redstarts were just north of the causeway at Ravensthorpe Reservoir near to the wooden gate, a female Gadwall was minding six ducklings and a Cetti's Warbler was present.

Three Common Redstarts were at Harrington Airfield today and two Common Redstarts and a Marsh Harrier were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell where there was also a daylight encounter with an adult Polecat! A Marsh Harrier was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening and Raven and Spotted Flycatcher were in the village.

The adult male Common Redstart was again at Lilbourne Meadows reserve in the small hedgerow running from Hilmorton Lane down to the currently dry flood plain. Another Common Redstart was in a hedge heading down the hill from Walgrave cemetry on the footpath leading to Old.

Morning birding at Clifford Hill Pits provided the two juvenile Common Redstarts still plus an adult Yellow-legged Gull, Hobby and a Common Sandpiper.

An eclipse drake Garganey was on the scrape at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon and birds at Thrapston Pits were an Osprey and a Yellow-legged Gull at Elinor Lake with a Black-tailed Godwit on the Titchmarsh reserve.

An apparent albino/leucistic Reed Warbler and a Green-eyed Hawker were at Stortons Pits today. Clouded Yellows were at Sywell Country Park today around the dam area.

Regards

Neil M

Adult male Common Redstart
at Lilbourne Meadows courtesy
of Stuart Munday.

Green-eyed Hawker at Stortons
Pits courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Apparent leucistic or albino Reed Warbler
at Stortons Pits today courtesy of Tony Stanford.