Spoonbill, Crossbills and Silver-washed Fritillaries

Hello

A trip to the north of the county for a walk around Wakerley Wood was good for a variety of wild flowers and insects and absolutely loads of Silver-washed Fritillaries on the wing. We saw a couple of Purple Hairstreaks, plenty of common butterflies and plenty of other mini beasts - with many still yet to identify! Half a dozen Crossbills were noisy in the larches by the car park on our arrival but soon moved off and several Siskins were vocal as they flew around the complex.

A brief visit to Blatherwycke Lake provided views of two Great White Egrets, eleven Little Egrets, two Black Swans and a vocal Kingfisher.

At Pitsford Reservoir today the Scaldwell Bay saw plenty of action with a Marsh Harrier, the drake Goldeneye, a Red-crested Pochard, two Hobbies, an adult Arctic Tern (this evening), a Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers and an adult Yellow-legged Gull plus at least one adult Common Gull.

It was Hollowell Reservoir's turn to pay homage to the travelling (presumed same) Spoonbill as it touched down and fed briefly before moving off south at 9.40am - well done Adrian! Other birds there today included a Ruddy Shelduck and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull (with a Whinchat there yesterday).

The Earls Barton Pits complex was good for at least three Great White Egrets today plus Hobbies.

Chris Payne enjoyed some more ringing at Greens Norton today, processing some 65 birds of fifteen species which included warblers, tits, finches, Treecreeper, Goldcrests and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Advance warning that there is likely to be ringing operations at Harrington Airfield this coming week-end and access to the bunkers and old airstrip will be restricted. The concrete track and other official footpaths will be accessible as normal.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Wren.

Large White.

Willow Emerald damselfly
Abington Meadows today courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Willow Warbler.

Juvenile Bullfinch.

Juvenile Coal Tit.

Above four images
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Osprey, Common Cranes and a trail camera!

Hello

Yesterday evening (Monday) and a venture back to the south end of Pitsford Reservoir after all the rain provided views of dramatic, cloud formations and bright lavender skies. An Osprey came out to fish and despite being harried by the merciless attentions of the local Common Terns, finally caught his/her prize and flew off with a trout. A Sparrowhawk successfully hunted down one of the Starlings going to roost and a Kingfisher flashed by. A female Gadwall with five almost adult-sized ducklings is the first confirmation of this species successfully breeding at Pitsford this year. It's tempting to think it is the same female that has produced a succession of small broods during the last five years or so. Three Foxes were playing in a stubble field near to the reservoir and were having a great time!

In the meantime Eleanor was out in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton admiring the same amazing clouds and coloured skies when something light against the brooding landscape turned out to be two flying Common Cranes! These birds were silent and methodically flapped south towards Brixworth in line with the A508. I waited for them to potentially appear at Pitsford but sadly they must have stayed following the valley south and I didn't see them. A Hobby was also cruising around the valley.

A recently acquired trail camera was deployed in the front garden last night for the very first time. I'm not technically-minded and I wasn't totally confident I had set it up correctly but this morning there was evidence that I had done something right and that technology produces results! It had successfully recorded a cat, at least one Hedgehog and a Fox (the latter which I didn't even know was visiting the garden)!

Today (Tuesday) and John Hunt at Spratton realised that his two young Swifts had fledged from the nest early this morning. There is evidence to suggest that once flying it is thought that recently-fledged youngsters begin their flight south to Africa almost straightaway - I wonder where they are now?

Birds in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir early this afternoon included a Hobby, a Yellow-legged Gull, a drake Goldeneye and a Common Sandpiper. Although windswept the Scaldwell meadow attracted plenty of butterflies including Small Heath, Small Copper, Common Blue, Brown Argus and Essex Skipper.

Ken Prouse had a flock of eight Crossbills over Upper Harlestone this morning and later saw a male Common Redstart between Whilton and Little Brington. Twenty Crossbills were still at Bucknell Wood again this morning and in the Nene Valley Stanwick Pits attracted two Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and at least seven Yellow-legged Gulls whilst at Earls Barton Pits there were three Great White Egrets, a Hobby, a Green Sandpiper, two Dunlin and two Little Ringed Plovers. Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits hosted a Hobby this afternoon plus a couple of Mandarin Ducks and two Common Sandpipers.

Hollowell Reservoir is a favoured venue at this time of the year and Martin's list included five Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper and a pair of Egyptian Geese.

A couple of Clouded Yellows were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon, attracted to the flowers in the nectar crop that was sown earlier in the year.

Regards

Neil M

Hedgehog.

Red Fox.

Coot and Cootlet!

A rather worn Essex Skipper.

Gatekeeper or Hedge Brown.

Black-headed Gulls and 
Common Terns at Pitsford 
Reservoir.

Monday's reported wildlife

Hello

Some proper autumnal weather with hearty gusts and showers on and off and with periods of warm sunshine too!

I took a morning outing to Market Harborough but devoted less than an hour to an Otter search which proved negative. An adult Little Egret was fishing very successfully under the railway bridge and taking advantage of the plentiful supply of minnows and a Water Vole showed briefly as did a Blue Emperor dragonfly.

At Pitsford Reservoir today there were at least three Red-crested Pochard and six Little Egrets in the Scaldwell Bay plus singles of both Common and Green Sandpiper, plus three Yellow-legged Gulls off the dam.

The birds at Summer Leys this morning remained good with now three Great White Egrets, a juvenile Marsh Harrier still plus two Dunlin and a Green Sandpiper. Presumably it was the same Marsh Harrier seen by Adrian quartering the grass fields below Great Doddington.

Several Grey Wagtails were near Brixworth today.

Regards

Neil M

Lauxanild Fly Sapromyza
sexpuncata courtesy of John Tilly.

Juvenile Starling courtesy
of John Tilly. Like most
of the juvenile Starlings now this
bird is moulting through to it's
winter and nuptial plumage illustrating
the characteristic spots of the species.
These spots wear off during the breeding
season and the adults look all dark. Both
adults and juveniles are currently undertaking
complete wing and tail feather replacement.

Ringlet.

Emerald Damselfly.

Green-veined White
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Oystercatcher courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

The wandering Caspian Tern.

Hello

The return of the Caspian Tern to the county caused equal amounts of excitement and dismay as it was first seen at Stanford Reservoir just before 8am but quickly flew on in an easterly direction. It was subsequently seen at Summer Leys LNR where it was seen by a couple of the regular birders before it was off on its travels again!

Other birds noted at Summer Leys included a Marsh Harrier, a Great White Egret, twelve Black-tailed Godwits, two Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper and two Green Sandpipers.

Stanwick Pits recorded a Cattle Egret, a Curlew, three Dunlin, four Common Sandpipers, two Green Sandpipers, a Caspian Gull and eleven Yellow-legged Gulls.

Hollowell Reservoir hosted two Ospreys, the Ruddy Shelduck, two Common Sandpipers and a Little Ringed Plover and at Pitsford Reservoir an Osprey showed up plus five Dunlin and two Red-crested Pochards. A Common Sandpiper was at Naseby Reservoir.

A female/juvenile Common Redstart was along the Brampton Valley Way at the Draughton Crossing as were at least two Spotted Flycatchers. Further Spotted Flycatchers were seen in Scaldwell village and Mantles Heath. Bucknell Wood was today home to about twenty Crossbills and about five Siskins.

Regards

Neil M

Meadow Pipit.

Juvenile Wheatear.

Red Kite courtesy of
John Tilly.

Seven-spot Ladybird
courtesy of John Tilly.

Chrysotoxum sp hoverfly
courtesy of John Tilly.

Eupeodes sp hoverfly
courtesy of John Tilly.

Breeze, sunshine then showers... and some birds too!

Hello

A morning wander at Harrington Airfield produced no birds of note but Fiona manged to lure in a Six-belted Clearwing moth, believed to be the first record from this site of any clearwing moth.

The Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir was the place to be this morning with a juvenile Marsh Harrier that showed well a couple of times plus three Red-crested Pochards, two Yellow-legged Gulls, a drake Goldeneye and a Green Sandpiper.

Summer Leys LNR proved attractive to two Great White Egrets, a Black-tailed Godwit, two Green Sandpipers, a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier too. A couple of Clouded Yellows were seen at Earls Barton Pits yesterday and one was seen at Mary's Lake today.

Thrapston Pits was quiet for birds today but there was a Hobby and a Mandarin Duck at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits.

The female Ruddy Shelduck was still present at Hollowell Reservoir today and there were three Common sandpipers present too.

Regards

Neil M

Male Blackbird. Most adults
by this time of the year look
exhausted and have seriously
abraded feathers. However this
male photographed by John Tilly
looks in fine fettle!

Common Tern courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

A Cootlet by Dave Jackson.

Dusky Sallow moth
by Dave Jackson.

The Drinker moth by
Dave Jackson.

Six-belted Clearwing moth
courtesy of Fiona Barclay.

Butterflies, late broods and here come the gulls!

Hello

Yesterday (Thursday) and Fiona's visit to Souther Wood in the north of the county provided a bounty of butterflies which included female Purple Emperors still, a White Admiral and plenty of Purple Hairstreaks. Second hatch Holly Blues are on the wing now and today (Friday) second hatch Wood Whites were active at Salcey Forest with the Silver-washed Fritillaries including the 'valezina' version.

During the last week I've seen second/late brood Coal Tits just out with their parents and today I saw a just-fledged Great Tit with it's parent, both these species are known for sometimes producing second broods but it is rare in the case of the Blue Tit.

Three Cattle Egrets were at Stanwick Lakes this morning as was a Mandarin Duck and a Green Sandpiper and later there were three juvenile Mediterranean Gulls on the main lake and this evening a Caspian Gull too.

The adult male Common Redstart was still at Harrington Airfield this morning about 300m beyond the chippings compound and a Grasshopper Warbler was singing weakly by Bunker One. 

Two Red-crested Pochards and two Common Sandpipers were in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and an Osprey was present at 2pm and it fished both sides of the causeway. There was no gull roost as such at Pitsford this evening but there were three adult Yellow-legged Gulls, a Kingfisher and a flock of about a hundred Swallows dropped in, fed fervently for several minutes and then moved off south.

Earls Barton Pits produced a Great White Egret and a Marsh Harrier on the Summer Leys reserve and five Egyptian Geese on Hardwater Lake (including three fully grown youngsters).

Regards

Neil M

Silver-washed Fritillary
courtesy of Eleanor.

Platystoma seminotionis
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Bufftip moth caterpillars.

Miris striatus plant bug
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Foxgloves.

Ruddy Darter.

Rambling around Pitsford

Hello

David Arden enjoyed a busy birding session in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning with four Red-crested Pochards on show from the Bird Club hide, a Green Sandpiper, a Yellow-legged Gull, a 9am Osprey but the best was a Spoonbill circling over the reserve at 9.30am before heading off west!

I spent much of the day leading a small Naturetrek group around the reserve but our bird sightings were much more humble! Showy Marsh Tits were just the job at a couple of places and in addition to David's birds we encountered a Common Sandpiper and a couple of Little Egrets but nothing out of the ordinary.

The insects were better and Mischa was kind enough to provide a selection of moths from the overnight moth trap catch for us to look at prior to release, totaling twenty-four species and including classics such as Bufftip, Drinker, Poplar Hawk-moth and Yellowtail.

Fifteen species of butterfly showed generally very well and included singles of Marbled White and Purple Hairstreak and the big dragonflies were out in force with good numbers of Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Blue Emperor and a single Migrant Hawker whizzing around. A couple of Four-spotted Chasers and rather more Black-tailed Skimmers and lots of Ruddy Darters all added to the show and damselflies included singles of Large Red and Emerald. Roesel's Bush-crickets were numerous and noisy!

Steve's gull watching at Stanwick Pits this afternoon provided a third summer Caspian Gull and at least twenty-two Yellow-legged Gulls. A Great White Egret was seen at Summer Leys LNR this morning and an Osprey was seen near Hollowell village.

A map of Salcey Forest has been added to the Birdwatching Sites tab as kindly compiled by Neil Hasdell.

Regards

Neil M

Ringlet butterfly
courtesy of John Tilly.

Great Crested Grebe
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Common Sandpipers.

Common Tern.

Southern Hawker.

The lure of the Lammergeier!

Hello

Today I took a drive up to the moorland west of Sheffield to try and see the Lammergeier (or Bearded Vulture if you prefer). This young individual has been tracked in mainland Europe including Belgium and was seen flying north over the West Midlands and then over Derbyshire air space subsequently. Local naturalists then discovered the bird in the Peak District National Park and it appears to be lingering around a large section of moorland and tors between Sheffield and Manchester.

I walked for about two hours and was fortunate to encounter the bird flying in a gully below where I was standing and it slowly flew away, arched around over moorland and eventually away to the far distance, some of the time being accompanied by escorting Ravens. The rain and the distance made photographic opportunities virtually nil. Seeing this dramatic and majestic bird in the UK was still quite a thrill! There is a strong likelihood that this bird originates from a European breeding and release scheme (similar to the White-tailed Eagles on the Isle of Wight) but it doesn't carry a transmitter and I don't know if anyone has seen a ring on its leg or not - a large proportion of the Pyrenees breeding Lammergeiers are ringed as chicks in the wild by intrepid French and Spanish ornithologists.

The bird is flying around managed moors for Red Grouse and other birds were very limited in number but included small numbers of Meadow Pipits, Wheatears, several Kestrels, a couple of Common Buzzards, Red Grouse and calling Golden Plover and Curlew.

Back in the county and birds at Sywell Country Park today included a juvenile Cuckoo, a family party of Spotted Flycatchers (in trees below the dam) and several Grey Wagtails.

At Harrington Airfield a single Common Redstart was seen and an Osprey flew over there this afternoon. Hollowell Reservoir boasted three different Ospreys passing over this afternoon and the Earls Barton complex hosted three Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper and three 'reeling' Grasshopper Warblers. A post-breeding gathering of sixteen Yellow-legged Gulls was noted at Stanwick Pits and Adrian had a fly-over Crossbill at Eastfield Park, Wellingborough early this morning.

Chris Payne committed to some more ringing near Greens Norton today catching and processing twenty-two birds which included seven Goldcrests, four Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Moorhen in the rain!

Peacock butterfly.

Pochard.

Southern Hawker.

All above images from
recent forays to Pitsford
Reservoir.

Goldcrest.

A selection of Goldcrest
crown colours.

Juvenile Wren.

Above three images all
provided by Chris Payne.