Passerines on the move too

Hello

More heat today but with a pleasant breeze too.

Two juvenile Common Redstarts including an audacious male were splendid finds at Clifford Hill Pits this morning (please see Tyler Atkinson's video below).

An adult male Common Redstart was found at Lilbourne Meadows this morning, in a traditional stop-over hedge bordering sheep fields running down from Hilmorton Lane to the mini flood plain. The adults have a tendency to linger whilst undertaking wing and tail moult; the juveniles will rely on their current flight and tail feathers for migration and complete just a body moult as they progress. A Curlew was reported at Lilbourne too.

A Spotted Flycatcher and a Raven were at Gamboro' Plantation this morning where also an adult Coal Tit was feeding a just-fledged juvenile. Coal Tits will attempt second broods, particularly if the spring is relatively warm. A Purple Hairstreak and Hummingbird Hawkmoth were also present as were Brown and Southern Hawkers.

Three adult Yellow-legged Gulls were around the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, a Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail were on the dam and a female Gadwall had five ducklings on the pool below. Four Red Foxes were playing in one of the grass fields. North of the causeway there was a summer plumage Dunlin, three Common Sandpipers, a Grey Wagtail, ten Pochard and the first flock of autumn Teal.

Remnants of the Spotted Flycatcher family family were still calling in Hanging Houghton village today and a Little Owl and a Barn Owl were both vocal on the outskirts of the village yesterday.

At least two Crossbills were at Wakerley Wood today where also a Siskin and a family of Spotted Flycatchers. Butterflies included Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary and Purple Hairstreak. 

Birds at Blatherwycke Lake were a Common Sandpiper, three Egyptian Geese and broods of Tufted Duck and Gadwall. Three Great White Egrets were at Deene Lake.

Stanford Reservoir benefitted with visits from a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, five Common Sandpipers, a Hobby, a Kingfisher and a 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler.

A Green-eyed (Norfolk) Hawker remains at Stortons Pits today.

The Quail was calling again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening between shrike hedge and Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Leucistic Woodpigeon.

Painted Lady.

Images and video courtesy of Tyler Atkinson.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth courtesy of Tony Stanford.