Bempton and back

Hello

An ardent crew of us tried to escape the intense heat of Middle England today and drove north to Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire coast. A wonderful place to go in any event but made all the more special with the lure of the regular Black-browed Albatross and a vagrant Red-tailed (Turkestan) Shrike. It was always going to be an early start and just after 8am saw us kitted up and heading towards the cliffs after our journey from sunny Northants. Two of our team were Cambodian tour leaders who had come over to exhibit at the Global Birdfair and it was great to see new birds for them at the en-route service station which included Song and Mistle Thrushes!

A vibrant sea-bird city of course was a brand new experience and they particularly wanted to see Puffin. First we had to take in flocks of Tree Sparrows, Greenfinches, Common Whitethroat, Linnet and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the car park and then of course if was the noisy and wonderful cliff-nesting Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Gannets.

After an absence yesterday we were relieved to see the Black-browed Albatross wheeling in towards us, always an amazing sight anywhere in the world but all the more special in the Northern Hemisphere. Our Cambodian friends duly delighted in these views but were just as happy to see Fulmars, Shags and of course the cheeky Puffins!

It is easy to become transfixed and a little detached when watching the antics of all these birds, and trying to take photos provides another exciting dimension. We tore ourselves away from the cliffs and went in search for the long-staying shrike, finding it quickly in a coastal field hedge. First though Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Corn Bunting were all new avian experiences for our friends! The shrike showed nicely and we watched it dispatch a couple of bees. The local farmer decided the time was right to harvest the cereal crop right next door and the bird was subsequently displaced by the combine harvester and seemingly not reported afterwards.

We then spent a couple more hours enjoying the sea-birds from various vantage points but even here the temperature rose into the early 30s Centigrade but with a nice on-shore breeze.

Our journey back was a warm affair with temperatures up to 40C when we were passing through sections of Leicestershire.

In the county today the Garganey was again at Stanford Reservoir along with five Common Sandpipers, six Little Egrets, a Kingfisher and a Raven. Two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton together with the still-sitting Spotted Flycatcher and a Hobby. A family party of Spotted Flycatchers remain at Lamport Hall and a Common Redstart was still at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

This weather of course sends the insects potty with huge numbers of moths active during the night and lots of butterflies, day-flying moths and odonata during the day. Several gardens hosted Purple Hairstreak butterflies today (including ours) and they were in particularly large numbers at Salcey Forest.

Regards

Neil M

Red-tailed Shrike courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Black-browed Albatross.

Gannets.

A scorcher and hotter tomorrow?

Hello

Well as promised it was a scorcher but with some very welcoming breeze too!

Birds noted on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today included two Red-crested Pochards in the Scaldwell Bay, two Great White Egrets in the Walgrave Bay, three Kingfishers, three hundred and sixty Gadwall, a brood of seven Tufted Duck ducklings and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Even many of the abundant insects were seeking the shade and included Small Heath and Small Copper butterflies (Scaldwell Bay).

Two Ruff and a Green Sandpiper and a Yellow-legged Gull were at Eyebrook Reservoir this afternoon and birds at Stanford Reservoir included the Garganey still, a Little Ringed Plover, three Common Sandpipers, five Little Egrets and a Tufted Duck with a blue nasal saddle (continental method of marking some ducks).

At Hollowell Reservoir the most noteworthy birds were an Osprey, three Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper. One or two Common Redstart(s) were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Small Copper.

Small Heath.

Yellow-legged Gull.

Black-headed Gull.

July heat wave birds

Hello

Birds on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today included a Yellow-legged Gull, six Shelduck, two Red-crested Pochard and two Great White Egrets.

At Lamport Hall this morning there was a Common Redstart, a fly-over Crossbill and a family party of Spotted Flycatchers. The flycatchers were still present this evening.

A male Common Redstart was seen at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning and a Ruddy Shelduck and a Common Sandpiper were at Hollowell Reservoir.

The bird of the day was undoubtedly a Redwing seen by Adrian on Millers Lane, Wellingborough at about 10.15am. by the garden centre. This is likely to be the first July record of this species in the county but nationally is not unprecedented - there have been singles reported in a variety of locations in the UK this summer. It is unlikely that these are breeding birds.

A Ruff and a Great White Egret and a Silver-washed Fritillary were at Summer Leys LNR today and Stanford Reservoir hosted the Garganey still, a Little Ringed Plover, nine Little Egrets and four Common Sandpipers.

Regards

Neil M

Black and Yellow Longhorn
on Common Spotted Orchid
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Black Spotted Longhorn
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Gatekeeper.

Stoat with dead Rabbit.

Global Bird Fair

Hello

Another warm day but warmer days on the horizon! 

Yesterday afternoon and Ian found a migrant Common Redstart at the Woodford Halse reserve

The two drake Red-crested Pochard were still in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and Barn Owls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. Steve saw up to about a dozen Spotted Flycatchers at Lamport Hall today and we have a sitting female on a nest in the village at Hanging Houghton.

A Ruff was seen at Summer Leys LNR this morning, a Whimbrel was seen flying over Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits at about 9.15am and a Yellow-legged Gull was seen at Wicksteed Park, Kettering.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included the Garganey still, a Hobby, eleven Little Egrets and four Common Sandpipers.

We visited the new Global Birdfair today - a different but very good venue from the British Birdwatching Fair and smaller and more compact, but well organised and lots of familiar stands and people. It was great to be back!

Regards

Neil M

Poplar Hawk-moths.

Drinker moth.

Elephant Hawk-moth.

All moth images courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Puffin courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

The Northants Ringing
Group continue their stay
at Skokholm, catching and 
monitoring seabirds including
Puffins, three species of large
gull and Storm Petrels and
Manx Shearwaters.

Reservoir birding

Hello

Yesterday evening and there were two male Common Redstarts at Harrington Airfield in bushes between the chippings compound and Bunker One. Northamptonshire increasingly serves as a stopping off area for passage Redstarts at this time of the year and it is likely that most of the birds that turn up in the summer remain in situ whilst there is plenty of food and cover and complete their post-breeding moult in scrub/hedgerow habitat before pushing on.

On the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday evening there was a Garganey (with a bit of a limp) on the bund in front of the James Fisher hide plus eight Little Egrets, two Great White Egrets and then two drake Red-crested Pochards in the Walgrave Bay. Four Green Sandpipers were seen at Lilbourne Meadows reserve.

This morning and a ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir was fairly unremarkable, the highlights being a re-trapped Blackbird that is now nine years old and a Blue Tit that is at least six years old The last four Black-headed Gull chicks were ringed on the rafts in the Scaldwell Bay where at least one pair of Common Terns are now nesting now there is room! The total number of gull chicks ringed there during the breeding season this year was 140, but there were plenty of others that were not ringed - a successful year for them. There were three broods of Tufted Duck there today and other birds noted included two Great White Egrets, twelve Little Egrets, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, two Kingfishers and the two drake Red-crested Pochards again in the Walgrave Bay.

At Hollowell Reservoir this morning an Osprey flew over fields north of Guilsborough and the Dunlin was still present. Stanford Reservoir continues to host a Garganey today plus ten Little Egrets, two Common Sandpipers, a Hobby and six Ravens.

Regards

Neil M

Elephant Hawk-moth courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Round-leafed Fluellen.

A leveret at Harrington Airfield - now 
which way should I go?

Rosechafer courtesy
of John Tilly.

The complex world of moths!

Hello

This morning I decided to turn my attention more to moths, an area I am not at all familiar with and being continually daunted by the sheer number of species and frequently their similarity to each other! Taking advantage of a moth trap set up overnight in Scaldwell village we tried our best at identifying the contents and taking a few photos of the more distinctive ones - my apologies if I have made identification errors!

Whilst in Scaldwell a pair of Hobbies made several sorties overhead, at one stage both chasing a Swift with an unknown outcome. A Spotted Flycatcher was present too.

Ravens and Spotted Flycatchers were in Hanging Houghton village today and a family of Spotted Flycatchers were at Lamport Hall.

Yesterday evening there were four Yellow-legged Gulls at Wicksteed Park, Kettering and early this morning there was an Osprey at Hollowell Reservoir plus four Little Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin. A long-staying Grasshopper Warbler was 'reeling' at Braunston.

The Garganey remains in Blowers Lodge Bay at Stanford Reservoir and a Black-tailed Godwit was there this morning plus a Little Ringed Plover, twelve Little Egrets, a Common Sandpiper and four Ravens.

Regards

Neil M

Old Lady.

Drinker.

Buff Ermine.

Burnished Brass.

Holly Blue butterfly.

Birds of the summer

Hello

Yesterday evening a Hobby was feeding on insects around gardens in Hanging Houghton feeding well into the darkness. 

A quick visit to Pitsford Reservoir this morning provided sightings of two Great White Egrets, seven Little Egrets, a Green Sandpiper and an adult Yellow-legged Gull all in the Scaldwell Bay.

Birds around the village in Hanging Houghton today included Raven, Spotted Flycatcher and Little Owl with a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley between the village and Cottesbrooke. A male Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

At Stanford Reservoir the Garganey was still present today with ten Black-tailed Godwits this evening, plus two Common Sandpipers, two Hobbies and a Kingfisher.

Two Grey Wagtails and a Kingfisher were at Welford Reservoir this evening and a pair of Grey Partridge were between Welford and Naseby villages.

Regards

Neil M

Hobby courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Male Common Redstart.

Common Malachite Beetle
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Hoverfly volucella zonaria
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Moths, a Quail and Storm Petrels

Hello

A cloudy, warm day where I was with attempts at light showers which quickly evaporated!

Two eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard were in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and a Garganey was at Stanford Reservoir plus a Yellow-legged Gull, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby was caught and ringed (the first time this has happened at Stanford).

A Quail was seen in a field between Greens Norton and Litchborough this afternoon and a Common Redstart was seen just east of Braunston. At least two Ravens passed over Hanging Houghton this morning.

A contingent of the Northants Ringing Group arrived yesterday on the Pembrokeshire island of Skokholm and last night they caught and processed 155 Storm Petrels - and today they have been catching and ringing Puffins!

Regards

Neil M

Privet Hawk-moth at
Hanging Houghton today
courtesy of Fiona Barclay.

Eurasian Storm-petrel
Skokholm courtesy of
Lewis Aaron.

The heat is on!

Hello

An early morning ringing session before the heat of the day was upon us took place at Pitsford Reservoir today with over fifty captures of common birds with Great Tits and Blue Tits predominating. Other birds included a couple of Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler and a Chiffchaff already bearing a ring. It transpires that the Chiffchaff was first ringed at Stanford Reservoir on 14th April 2022 - the evidence suggests that this male bird now holds a territory at Pitsford Reservoir! Also caught and ringed was a smart young male Green Woodpecker.

Birds noted north of the causeway at the reservoir included three drake Red-crested Pochard (Walgrave Bay), three Great White Egrets, six Little Egrets, a Wigeon, two Kingfishers and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

At Stanford Reservoir today an Osprey was seen plus three Little Egrets, a Common Sandpiper, a Wigeon and a Kingfisher.

At Lilbourne Meadows reserve there was a Common Redstart, eight Green Sandpipers and a Little Ringed Plover and Harrington Airfield this evening had a Common Redstart in bushes at Bunker Two, a family of Grey Partridges, a Hobby, a couple of Ravens and nine Marbled White butterflies. A small number of Marbled White butterflies persist at Lamport Hall too.

A female Sparrowhawk took no notice of Eleanor in the garden with the dogs when it swept straight past to take a juvenile Starling feeding on the ground just a few metres away (Hanging Houghton).

More clearwing moths were keeping some of the moth enthusiasts happy with Red-tipped and Red-belted Clearwings being attracted to the pheromone lures. Fineshade Wood today was good for a Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreaks and Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillaries and White-letter Hairstreaks were found at the junction of the A5199 with the Naseby and Guilsborough road. Purple Emperors and the usual entourage of other butterflies were still on show at Lady Wood today.

Regards

Neil M

Young male
Green Woodpecker.

Common Buzzard.

White-letter Hairstreak.

Interesting insects

Hello

Phew that was a hot one - and more to come it seems! The temperature levels were about thirty degrees Centigrade at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon. Birds noted at Pitsford today included an Osprey over the Scaldwell Bay this afternoon, a first summer Yellow-legged Gull and at least two Great White Egrets (two seen initially in The Walgrave Bay and two seen subsequently in the Scaldwell Bay). Dragonflies were out in large numbers and the warm weather and low wind speeds saw Blue Emperors and Black-tailed Skimmers hunting right out in the middle of the bays. Pheromone traps were used to attract both Hornet Clearwing and Lunar Hornet Clearwing moths.

Barn Owls were active in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included two Black-tailed Godwits, ten Little Egrets, a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby, two Ravens and two Cetti's Warblers.

The Lilbourne reserve and DIRFT area provided views of a Common Redstart, four Curlews, two Green Sandpipers and a Little Ringed Plover.

A Purple Emperor was at Salcey Forest - again along the track beyond the Horsebox car park and other butterflies included four White Admirals and three Silver-washed Fritillaries. Marbled White butterflies were active at Heyford Fields today.

Regards

Neil M

Common Swift acting as
a host to the Swift Lousefly
 or Flatfly Crataerina pallida.

Close-up of the remarkable
Crataerina pallida.

Images courtesy of
Sue Hetherington.

Black Arches moth courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Elephant Hawk-moth courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Ringing at Lamport Hall.

Hello

A late blog as just in from an evening ringing session at Lamport Hall where we caught eight Swifts, twenty House Martins, three Swallows and a Wren. A pair of Hobbies were causing a great deal of anxiety at the colony with repeated attacks whilst we were there, catching at least one House Martin and terrorising the remainder. Three of the Swifts were re-traps from previous years with one of them being caught and ringed way back on 3rd July 2017. One of the House Martins was first ringed there as a juvenile last year and is now a breeding adult. Other birds noted included Ravens, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Grey Wagtail.

Seven Bar-tailed Godwits were seen at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and twenty Black-tailed Godwits dropped in to Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon in the Scaldwell Bay but may not have stayed. Seven Black-tailed Godwits were also seen at Stanford Reservoir today plus three Common Sandpipers, two Little Egrets, a Kingfisher and three Cetti's Warblers.

Insect news included a White-letter Hairstreak briefly in a Duston garden, a Willow Emerald Damselfly in a Blisworth garden and Sallow Clearwing moths to two gardens with the use of pheromone attracters.

Regards

Neil M

Common Swift.

House Martin courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Swallow courtesy
of Chris Payne.

The start of the heatwave

Hello

Yesterday evening at Pitsford Reservoir there were two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Little Egret in the vicinity of the dam. Today birds noticed on the reserve north of the causeway included two Great White Egrets, three Little Egrets, an eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard (Scaldwell Bay), a couple of Grey Wagtails, a Hobby and a brood of five Tufted Ducks. Seventeen Common Tern chicks were ringed on the new tern raft in the Walgrave Bay. The meadows are full of insects and there were still plenty of Marbled Whites there and also Small Coppers are out and about along the track down to the Scaldwell Bay.

My visit to Harrington Airfield was uneventful although there were still quite a few Marbled Whites on the wing there too plus common butterflies and a variety of day-flying moths.

Two Hobbies were pursuing birds in Lamport village this morning and then subsequently mobbing a Common Buzzard at Hanging Houghton. A Barn Owl and a small group of Purple Hairstreaks were present at Lamport Hall this morning and Spotted Flycatchers persist in Hanging Houghton village.

Butterfly news and at least four White-letter Hairstreaks were found around an elm at the far-flung Easton-on-the-Hill at the top end of the county and Purple Emperors were on show at Salcey Forest where Andrew had three in the canopy by the Horsebox car park and two more on a track just to the south. Silver-washed Fritillaries were present too.

Stanford Reservoir birds today included an Osprey briefly this evening, a 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler this morning, two Common Sandpipers and two Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

John Tilly enjoyed
watching these Common
Dolphins whilst on holiday
in Devon!

Muntjac at Scotland
Wood today.

This WW1 replica biplane,
possibly a Se5, was 'beating up'
Harrington Airfield today.

Black-tailed Skimmer.