Birding around the partial eclipse

Hello

Very warm this afternoon, a very clear partial eclipse this evening and autumn migrants on the move.

At Pitsford Reservoir this morning fly-through waders were a Whimbrel, a Turnstone and a Curlew - all calling birds. On Osprey fished north of the causeway and Common Sandpipers included two north of the causeway and two by the dam. Three Green Sandpipers were in the Holcot Bay and visible from Wendy's bench. Three Great White Egrets were stalking the shallows and small numbers of Yellow Wagtails and Swallows were on the move, plus a few Swifts, and at least four Spotted Flycatchers were between the Old Scaldwell Road and the Bird Club hide. A Badger was active in the Walgrave Bay at 11.20am and odonata included Common Emerald Damselfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common and Ruddy Darters and Migrant and Southern Hawkers. Two Clouded Yellows were in Scaldwell Meadow.

This evening and a flock of Yellow Wagtails in the Scaldwell Bay numbered at least thirty-six and other birds were at least seven Spotted Flycatchers, an Osprey, two Common Snipe, a Ringed Plover over, a Shelduck, a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper.

A Quail was seen in flight between Helmdon and Greatworth this morning, about twenty Ring-necked Parakeets were in the Great Billing area of Northampton this evening and a Green Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover were at Sywell Country Park. Two Ravens and a Swift were at Abington Park, Northampton this morning and Clifford Hill Pits provided for a Common Snipe, three Ringed Plovers, three Common Sandpipers, a Peregrine, a juvenile Cuckoo and in excess of twenty Yellow Wagtails.

The female Ruddy Shelduck was at Hollowell Reservoir this morning where also a Greenshank.

Birds reported from the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits today included a Bittern, a Marsh Harrier, two Garganey, a Wood Sandpiper, two Green Sandpipers and a Redshank.

A Glossy Ibis turned up at Summer Leys LNR this morning and a Hobby was seen on the ground there near to water.

Two Common Redstarts and two Whinchats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, along the Brampton Brook towards Brixworth, and a Marsh Harrier was hunting in the same area. Two Marsh Harriers together were in this area this evening. Early this morning there was a Barn Owl over the A508 between Hanging Houghton and Brixworth and later a Raven in Hanging Houghton village. A Hobby and two Barn Owls were in field hedges between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Curlew courtesy of
John Tilly.

Yellow Wagtail courtesy
of Tyler Atkinson.

Ringed Plover courtesy
of Tyler Atkinson.

Grey Heron courtesy
of Jon Tilly.