Delaware Shorebirds

Hello

Neil Hasdell was at Salcey Forest yesterday (Saturday) and notched up 18 species of butterfly which included plenty of Silver-washed Fritillaries and White Admirals and a single Painted Lady. Spotted Flycatchers seemingly on territory were at Salcey and also Fermyn yesterday.

Eleanor's meanderings around Blueberry Farm and the Brampton Valley this evening was light on birds of interest but the mammals were good with Roe Deer, Red Fox and diurnal foraging Badgers.

In May this year Cathy Ryden spent a tough three weeks of very long days in Delaware, USA monitoring the east coast migration and stop-over of New World shorebirds (which we call waders). 
British conservationists and ringers team up with American enthusiasts and other nationalities in an effort to count the birds as they pass through and/or feed on the rich pickings. Some of the birds are ringed and 'flagged' so that their movements can be mapped.

One of the reasons why these birds gather here is because this is an area where Horseshoe Crabs gather to spawn and the beaches are full of crab eggs which are especially nutritious and just the job when you are on your way much further north to breed! The following images from Cathy are a snapshot of this 'shorebirds extravaganza'!

Regards

Neil M

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Fermyn insects

Hello

Yesterday (Friday) Eric and Nick Parker spent time at Thrapston Pits, locating a Hobby, an Oystercatcher and singles of Green and Common Sandpiper.

A number of observers spent time today at Fermyn Wood Country Park, Fermyn Wood itself and Lady's Wood too. There were plenty of butterflies on the wing but only a few individuals of Purple Emperor and White Admiral and they were generally elusive. Easier to see were plenty of Silver-washed Fritillaries and a considerable hatch of Purple Hairstreaks. Marbled Whites were in the Country Park and common species included plenty of Essex Skippers and Commas.

Dragonflies included Blue Emperor, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four Spotted Chaser and Ruddy Darter plus four species of damselfly.

Two Ravens were noted near Hollowell today and Ravensthorpe Reservoir this evening provided views of Grass Snakes, two family parties of Mute Swan and a brood of Tufted Duck.

Regards

Neil M

Four spotted Chaser.

Purple Hairstreak.

Broad-bodied Chaser.

Silver-washed Fritillary.

Essex Skipper.

Peacock.

Ruddy Darter.

Birds of the heat!

Hello

A visit to Harrington Airfield this afternoon provided dividends with the sighting of a 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier (perhaps the Pitsford bird) and at least two Turtle Doves (one 'purring') and four adult Grey Partridges.

A ringing session at Lamport Hall this evening provided 45 captures made up of a Pied Wagtail, two Swallows, thirty-five House Martins and seven Swifts. One of the Swifts was first caught and ringed there last year and five of the House Martins were initially ringed last year and in 2016.

Regards

Neil M

Turtle Dove
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Marsh Harrier
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

House Martin.

Swift.

Lofoten and Vesteralen Islands

Hello

I was fortunate last month to have been given the opportunity to travel to the stunning Lofoten and Vesteralen Islands off the north-west of Norway, an area very much new to me. Well within the arctic circle this archipelago nevertheless enjoys the influence of the gulf stream and as such wildlife encounters are diverse and rather exciting. A few images of some of the wildlife on offer...

Regards

Neil M

Twite.

Juvenile Fieldfare.

Pied Flycatcher.

Oystercatcher.

Herring Gull.

Redwing.

Bluethroat.

White-tailed Eagle.

Fulmar.

Sperm Whale.

Birds at Pitsford

Hello

Another warm day but the water levels remain constant and high at Pitsford Reservoir. David Arden saw a Marsh Harrier over the reserve (the third sighting in six days) at about 9.30am. Other birds on the reserve included an Oystercatcher, a Common Sandpiper. three Little Egrets and a Grey Wagtail with a pair of Spotted Flycatcher around the Fishing Lodge.

Good numbers of Marbled White butterflies were again on show in the Scaldwell Meadow near to the causeway this evening and a hairstreak sp. showed very briefly by the Fishing Lodge.

Elsewhere there was a Grey Partridge with six tiny chicks crossing the B576 at Harrington Airfield this morning and a Grey Wagtail at Brixworth Water Treatment Works.

Regards

Neil M

Marsh Harrier.

Keeled Skimmer.

Golden Ringed Dragonfly.

All images taken and kindly
supplied by John Gamble
following a recent excursion in Dorset....

Birds and insects of summer

Hello

Eric Graham's fervour for watching wildlife is undisputed with visits to Thrapston Pits both yesterday and today and then a visitation to Fermyn Woods too! Birds at Thrapston yesterday included the summering Great White Egret and another observation of an Osprey and plenty of dragonflies and butterflies on the wing. Today Eric found a juvenile Nightingale suggesting successful breeding and the Great White Egret popped up again! Fermyn's butterflies in just twenty minutes included a dozen Silver-washed Fritillaries, six Purple Emperors and a Painted Lady. Great stuff!

Neil Hasdell took a cycle ride along the Brampton Valley Way north of Northampton this morning and encountered both Banded and Beautiful Demoiselles associating with the Brampton Brook. These were at the Spratton Crossing and also further south towards Chapel Brampton.

Eleanor's visit to Harrington Airfield today provided views of an adult Cuckoo, a pair of Grey Partridge and a decent hatch of Marbled White butterflies.

A couple of good ringing recoveries have just come through as follows:-

A young male Goldfinch was ringed at Greens Norton on 9th November 2017 and was caught again by ringers on 17th June this year at Killiegowan, Dumfries and Galloway, 220 days later and 370km away;

A young Reed Warbler was caught and ringed at Stanwick Gravel Pits on 5th August 2016 and was caught again by ringers operating in South Yorkshire on 6th May this year, 639 days later and with two winters in Africa in between captures!

Regards

Neil M

Banded Demoiselle.

Beautiful Demoiselle.

Stortons Ringing and Pitsford CBC

Hello

John Woollett and team completed some ringing at Stortons Pits yesterday (Sunday) before it became too hot and windy, catching some 43 birds (10 re-traps). Reflecting the habitat, 18 Reed Warblers and three male Cetti's Warblers were among the birds processed.

Today (Monday) and a Common Bird Census was completed at Pitsford Reservoir, possibly one of the warmest ever! Neil Hasdell had a 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier over the Scaldwell Bay and two drake Red-crested Pochard were lurking at the back of the Scaldwell Bay. Autumnal hints could not be ignored with seven post-breeding Lapwings along the causeway and a build up of post-breeding ducks which included over two hundred Tufted Ducks, thirty Pochard, over two hundred Gadwall, four Teal and a Shoveler.

Two pairs of Great Crested Grebes were nurturing young in the Walgrave Bay and quite a number of Nuthatches and Marsh Tits scattered around the woodland blocks suggested they have enjoyed a good breeding season. Sadly the only successful breeding Reed Warblers seem to be in the phragmites beds along the water's edge below the Fishing Lodge but intentionally planted phragmites in front of the Lagoon Hide hopefully will one day support more breeding pairs.

Fourteen species of butterfly were noted on-site today including a good hatch of Marbled Whites in the Scaldwell Meadow just north of the causeway and at least ten species of odonata were on the wing too.

Regards

Neil M

Reed Bunting nest.

Reed Bunting nestlings

Reed Warbler nest.

Reed Warbler nestlings.

All above images taken by Chris Payne
at Stortons Pits just over a week ago...

Roselle's Bush-cricket.

Essex Skipper.

Southern Hawker.

Ruddy Darter.

Large Red Damselfly.

Marbled White.
All insect images taken on the
reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today.

Northants Bird Club Outdoor Meeting 4th July

Hello

The Northants Bird Club annual outdoor meeting will take place at Pitsford Reservoir at the earlier time of 7pm on Wednesday 4th July. We meet at the Fishing Lodge as usual and then Nick Parker will lead us out on a guided walk of the reserve, either walking down in to the Scaldwell Bay or a shorter walk into the Holcot Bay (or both!).

We hope to witness both breeding and migrant birds utilising the reserve and there is bound to be plenty of insects on the wing too!

In addition we hope to have some mini beasts on show at the Fishing Lodge with microscopes and a computer on hand to appreciate them all the better. And of course hot drinks and biscuits will be available all evening. In the very unlikely event of rain (!!) or something else inclement, a digital presentation will be 'ready to go'!

All very informal and everyone is invited!

Regards

Neil M

Four-spotted Chaser.

Small Copper.

Coot.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.