Pitsford day tour

Hello

Today was another Naturetrek day tour at Pitsford Reservoir with a wander around the reserve section. First we looked at the moths that had been caught by Mischa amounting to twenty species with perhaps the highlights being three species of Hawk-moth - Pine, Poplar and Privet. In addition a Purple Hairstreak butterfly was on the buddleias at the Fishing Lodge which were inundated with Red Admirals.

A female Gadwall with grown up ducklings and adult and juvenile Little Grebes were good breeding records but the cool breeze and showers initially suppressed the larger insects with no larger dragonflies along the water edge. As it began to warm up we connected with a couple of Southern Hawkers and Ruddy Darters and the common butterflies emerged.

Breeding warblers were difficult to see but Marsh Tits were calling all around the reserve suggesting a good breeding season. A single Crossbill was calling in flight at the juncture of the Holcot and Walgrave Bays and Little Egrets were mobile and probably numbered about ten birds. 

In the Walgrave Bay we located Emerald Damselflies, heard Nuthatches and watched both Brown Hare and Muntjac. On the west side of the bay we saw the first of several Common Blue butterflies and watched three fledged juvenile Sparrowhawks in the trees. Red Kites and Common Buzzards were riding the strong breeze and a Marsh Harrier was doing much the same thing over the fields between the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays. An adult Yellow-legged Gull found something dead in the water and Spotted Flycatchers were at the back of the Scaldwell Bay.

Viewing from the Bird Club hide today yielded six Red-crested Pochards and David Arden also saw a Redshank, two Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and a Wheatear. Small Heath butterflies remain in the Scaldwell Meadow, Tree Sparrows are visiting the feeding station at the Old Scaldwell Road and a female Tufted Duck was minding three small ducklings off the causeway.

Eleanor saw a juvenile Marsh Harrier and three Clouded Yellows in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today.

Summer Leys and the Hardwater Lake at Earls Barton again attracted the wandering Spoonbill this evening and other birds on the gravel pits complex included four Great White Egrets, a Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers, a Peregrine and a Hobby. Stanwick Pits held three Cattle Egrets, a Common Sandpiper and two Green Sandpipers. A large flock of over seven hundred Lesser Black-backed Gulls were in a ploughed field between Clopton and Bythorn.

Regards

Neil M

Common Tern.

Coronet.

Great Crested Grebe.

Lapwing.

Poplar Hawk-moth.

Privet Hawk-moth.

Tufted Duck and ducklings.

The Welland Valley

Hello

I spent some time today alongside the upper reaches of the River Welland in Market Harborough and latterly downstream at Gretton and briefly at Cottingham. I didn't manage to see any Otters on my travels but in Market Harborough the river is shallow and accessible and I was able to photograph three species of fish and crayfish (presumed Red Signal Crayfish) and saw a Grey Wagtail and odonata that included Blue Emperor, a few Banded Demoiselle and Emerald Damselfly.

Further down at Cottingham there were rather more Banded Demoiselles and two Green Sandpipers.

A walk alongside the river at Gretton Weir provided sightings of a Common Redstart, a juvenile Cuckoo and two Ravens plus a Grey Wagtail and odonata included Banded Demoiselle, Brown Hawker and White-legged Damselfly.

Yesterday (Sunday) and David Arden again saw the juvenile Marsh Harrier north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir plus a Grey Wagtail and a Lesser Emperor in the Holcot Bay, and I noted a Common Sandpiper and a Yellow-legged Gull in the evening. Today (Monday) and birds at the south end of the reservoir included four Yellow-legged Gulls, two Ravens and a Kingfisher.

A juvenile Marsh Harrier, two Whinchats and at least one Clouded Yellow butterfly were in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Blueberry Farm today.

Summer Leys LNR sported a Great White Egret, a Common Redstart (railway track), a Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper.

A Raspberry Clearwing moth was attracted to a pheromone lure at Cogenhoe today.

Regards

Neil M

Brown Rat.

Presumed 'Red Signal' Crayfish.

Minnows.

Dace.

Emerald Damselfly.

White-legged Damselfly.

Grey Wagtail.

Juvenile Cuckoo.

Birds and insects of Sunday

Hello

A much more modest ringing session today at Harrington Airfield provided 36 captures which included another Green Woodpecker, seven new Willow Warblers and three more Swallows. Grey Partridge and Hobby were on-site and interesting insects included a Clouded Yellow butterfly and a Six-belted Clearwing moth which was attracted to a pheromone lure.

At least seven Clouded Yellow butterflies were attracted to nectar crop strips in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Blueberry Farm today including at least one in the strip next to the Brampton Brook close to the Brampton Valley Way (whatthree words patrolled.occurs.dragons).

Eleanor's run around the south side of Pitsford Reservoir this morning (between the causeway and dam) produced sightings of a Great White Egret (the first I believe at Pitsford for quite a while), a fishing Osprey and two Green Sandpipers.

Birds at Summer Leys LNR today amounted to a Great White Egret, two Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper. John Friendship-Taylor witnessed two Crossbills fly over his Brackley garden this morning, at about 8am heading in a north-west direction.

Regards

Neil M

Six-belted Clearwing moth
courtesy of Fiona Barclay.

Six-belted Clearwing moth
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Juvenile Common Whitethroat.

Large Skipper.

Cormorant.

Ringing at Harrington Airfield

Hello

A ringing session was conducted at Harrington Airfield today which provided 110 captures of twenty-two species. Twelve of these birds had been ringed on a previous occasion, the remainder were new. Not surprisingly for the time of the year young birds predominated. The highlights were an adult female Common Redstart in full moult and an adult male Grasshopper Warbler. A juvenile Tree Sparrow found the mist nets and other warblers were made up of eleven Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff, a Garden Warbler, two Blackcaps and eleven Common Whitethroats.

Harrington Airfield is a good site for Linnets and we caught thirteen today but Chaffinch was the most common capture with twenty-one birds processed. The Yellowhammer is perhaps the flagship bird and ten birds were mostly fresh juveniles. Three Swallows, a Magpie, a Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker added more variety. Two Curlews were seen to fly south over the complex during the early morning.

More ringing is planned for tomorrow and general access to the bunkers and old airstrip has to be restricted whilst this occurs.

Pitsford Reservoir today provided some good birds and insects with the Scaldwell Bay pulling in the juvenile Marsh Harrier again, a Peregrine, two Hobbies, two Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and a Red-crested Pochard. In the Holcot Bay a Lesser Emperor dragonfly was again seen this afternoon and a Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen to fly through this morning.

Over at Thrapston Pits Eric notched up a Hobby, an Oystercatcher, a Common Sandpiper and three Little Egrets.

Summer Leys LNR today again hosted a juvenile Marsh Harrier, two Black-tailed Godwits in flight and two Curlew flew through with another Curlew through at Clifford Hill Pits. 

Birds at Hollowell Reservoir today included two Crossbills and singles of Green and Common Sandpiper with the Ruddy Shelduck at nearby Ravensthorpe Reservoir before flying off.

On the butterfly front six Wood Whites were in Salcey Forest south of the Horse Box car park and up to a dozen Clouded Yellow butterflies were on a series of nectar crop strips in the Brampton Valley between Hanging Houghton and Blueberry Farm.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile male Green Woodpecker.

Magpie, although with
it's erect posture it looks
more like a penguin!

Adult male Linnet.

Clouded Yellow butterfly.

It's a scorcher!

Hello

Birds reported today in the county included three Great White Egrets at Summer Leys LNR plus five Green Sandpipers, a Marsh Harrier and four Snipe.

Hollowell Reservoir attracted an Osprey, six Snipe, four Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper and a Clouded Yellow butterfly.

The Lesser Emperor dragonfly was found again in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir but then a pair were located dropping eggs so there may have been up to three individuals!

A Clouded Yellow butterfly was seen at Yardley Chase yesterday plus four Wood Whites, Silver-washed Fritillaries and Purple Hairstreaks. During the week Dave Jackson located Willow Emerald and Small Red-eyed Damselflies on the Abington Meadows reserve off Weston Mill, Northampton.

More Wood Whites (second hatch) are on the wing at Bucknell Wood, Hazelborough Forest and Salcey Forest.

Regards

Neil M

Ringing Barn Owls
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Blue Emperor.

Garden Warbler.

Pine Hawk-moth

Privet Hawk-moth.

Pitsford Reservoir Naturetrek tour

Hello

A Naturetrek day tour of Pitsford Reservoir began with a selection of twenty species of moths that Mischa had kept for us following use of the reserve moth traps. Favourites such at Bufftip, Yellowtail and Ruby Tiger are common captures but perhaps the Pine Hawk-moth and Privet Hawk-moth were the most impressive. A Horned Leafhopper was an interesting bycatch species!

A warm day on the reserve with a nice breeze provided observations of 15 species of butterflies and there were good numbers of dragonflies on the wing including lots of Brown Hawkers, Blue Emperors and Ruddy Darters. There were smaller numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers, Common Darters, Southern Hawkers, Migrant Hawkers and a single Lesser Emperor patrolling the water edge in the Holcot Bay with a possible Downy Emerald seen too. Emerald Damselflies were present at one spot.

The birds included a juvenile Marsh Harrier which showed in the Scaldwell and Walgrave Bays, a Red-crested Pochard, the drake Goldeneye, at least one Hobby, three Kingfishers and three Common Sandpipers.

Elsewhere and the wandering Spoonbill was reported at Thrapston Pits this morning but not seen subsequently and other birds included an Osprey and two Yellow-legged Gulls. Summer Leys LNR hung on to three Great White Egrets this morning.

Lots of flying ants this afternoon provided food for gulls and a build up of Swifts wherever the hatches occurred and included a juvenile Mediterranean Gull over Wellingborough and a Hobby there going after the build-up of Swifts.

A ringing session at Linford Lakes today provided 82 captures of fifteen species and included a very impressive 31 Reed Warblers, 6 Sedge Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler, a Whitethroat, 6 Blackcaps, 4 Garden Warblers, 7 Chiffchaffs and 5 Willow Warblers. Five Sand Martins and a Swallow were as a result of targeted ringing and three Green Sandpipers were on-site. A Water Shrew and two Great Crested Newts were excellent non-avian wildlife sightings plus signs of an Otter.

Another ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir provided 46 captures and included 12 Mallard, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, a 'control' Reed Warbler, a Chiffchaff and 7 Tree Sparrows.

Ringing will be carried out at Harrington Airfield this coming week-end and there will be access restrictions on-site.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Sand Martin
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Juvenile Swallow courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Dark Bush-cricket
Wakerley Wood.

Silver-washed Fritillary
Wakerley Wood.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Helen Franklin.

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.