Humid wildlife

Hello

As forecast pretty unsettled today with some patchy and sometimes heavy showers but it remained warm and with little in the way of a breeze.

A probable Gull-billed Tern which flew through at Stanwick Pits would have been the summer's highlight had it stuck around - but sadly it flew SW at 7am and hasn't been re-located since. We still await our first confirmed county record of this species which remains quite a rare but annual roamer in the UK.

Summer Leys LNR provided a Wood Sandpiper this morning plus a Common Sandpiper and a Great White Egret with nearby Hardwater Lake harbouring another Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover.

A field ploughed to the west of Thrapston Pits attracted five Yellow-legged Gulls, three Common Gulls and twelve Red Kites late this morning.

There was little in the way of change at Pitsford Reservoir it seemed today with a Great White Egret north of the causeway, two Common Sandpipers on the causeway and a Wigeon and a Grey Wagtail in the Scaldwell Bay. A visit to the dam area this afternoon provided just two Yellow-legged Gulls.

At Harrington Airfield this morning there was a female-type Common Redstart in bushes next to the main concrete track just beyond the Shooting Wall plus a vocal Siskin. Just outside the county, two Hobbies were watching over a group of hirundines at South Kilworth this afternoon.

This evening there were three vocal Common Redstarts at Harrington Airfield - one just off the concrete track and singles in bushes next to Bunkers One and Two.

Regards

Neil M

Iceland Gull with Herring Gulls
courtesy of John Gamble.

Glaucous Gull with Lesser Black-backed Gull
courtesy of Dave Jackson.

Wood Sandpiper courtesy
of John Gamble.

Common Green Colonel Soldierfly
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Blue-eyed Hawker (or Southern
Migrant Hawker if you like) at
Finedon courtesy of Jim Dunkley,
a tricky dragonfly to catch up with
in the county.

Woodland Barklous courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Late July snapshot

Hello

A few other birds reported in the county yesterday (Sunday) included two Cattle Egrets on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits and a Caspian Gull visible off the A5 on pools betwen Lilbourne and the DIRFT3 site.

Today (Monday) and a Garganey was present at Daventry Country Park and two Common Sandpipers were on the Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadow reserve. Over at Thrapston Pits Eric's wander around secured sightings of a Peregrine, four Ravens, a Green Sandpiper, an Oystercatcher and a Kingfisher. Warblers on-site included Cetti's Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat.

A mid morning yomp at Harrington Airfield confirmed the continued presence of at least two Common Redstarts in bushes on Bunker One (an adult female and a juvenile male), a sprinkling of juvenile Willow Warblers and butterflies included small numbers of Marbled Whites.

Bob's WeBS count at Clifford Hill Pits today included a Barnacle Goose, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Little Ringed Plover, two Oystercatchers and a Common Sandpiper.

Over the last couple of days there have been a freshly-fledged brood of Great Tits frequenting the garden which seems very late even for a second brood.

A Barn Owl was between Lamport and Old this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Lapwing courtesy of
John Tilly.

Turnstones courtesy of
John Tilly.

Hornet Hoverfly.

Large White.

Marbled White.

Cloudy and dull Sunday

Hello

Seemingly another quiet birding day in the county but a flock of five Common Scoters at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits was a good find this morning - I'm sure there are not many records for this site. Two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Wigeon were subsequently noted here too.

Over at Lilbourne Meadows reserve there were two Common Redstarts working the hedgerows - one wonders how many of these birds pass through Northants every year. At this time many are adults which are staying for periods of time, choosing our hedgerows to undergo the moult process before they filter back to Africa.

Birds north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today included two Great White Egrets, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Common Sandpiper. Over at Thrapston Pits there was a Great White Egret again plus a Green Sandpiper. Similar fare at Earls Barton Pits also with a Great White Egret and three Little Ringed Plovers feeding on Hardwater Lake.

A Grasshopper Warbler was singing in the north west arm of Sywell Country Park this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Adult Common Buzzard. For 
some weeks now many of
the local buzzards and
kites have been showing signs
of wing moult as they replace their
main flight feathers.

An evening photo of
the Brampton Valley below
Hanging Houghton with the
Cottesbrooke Estate woodlands
in the far distance.

Cormorant courtesy of
John Tilly.

Peacock butterfly courtesy
of Robin Gossage. A fresh
hatch of this distinctive 
butterfly is currently under way.

A quiet birding day in the county

Hello

A wander up and around Harrington Airfield this morning was breezy but pleasant weather-wise. Two vocal Common Redstarts were in the bushes right on Bunker One with a pair of Grey Partridge nearby. There were quite a number of juvenile Willow Warblers in the bushes, not I suspect all locally bred.

This afternoon there were at least four Yellow-legged Gulls at the southern end of Pitsford Reservoir and two very distant juvenile gulls could have been this species too.

Regards

Neil M

An alternative way
to go birding maybe?

Small Skipper at
Pitsford Reservoir yesterday.

Common Tern at
Pitsford Reservoir yesterday.

Meadow Brown at 
Pitsford Reservoir yesterday.

Gatekeepers or Hedge Browns in cop
at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday.

Pitsford CBC and ringing

Hello

I completed the last Common Bird Census of the season on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir, and it proved to be a quiet affair. A few warblers were still singing but several were clearly using their energy feeding the next generation and I saw several Garden Warblers carrying food. At least six Little Egrets were on the reserve but another year goes by without us being able to confirm whether or not they breed on the reserve. There are still young Cormorants squeeking in the nests and they seem to have done very well.

A Crossbill was in one of the plantations at the juncture of the Walgrave and Holcot Bays, a Tawny Owl was day-hunting in Christies Copse, a Lesser Whitethroat was the first on the reserve since the spring (but they have a habit of breeding right under your nose) and the Gadwall numbers reached over four hundred. The very last of the Black-headed Gull chicks and the latter half of the Common Tern chicks have still yet to fledge off the rafts.

Butterflies noted included Marbled White and Small Copper (both in the Scaldwell Meadow section) and the odonata were absent for much of the walk and the range of species unremarkable when they did appear.

A little ringing around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station yesterday evening and this morning provided forty-three captures which included six Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and five Tree Sparrows.

A very industrious ringing session at Linford Lakes this morning caused 106 birds to be processed which included a whopping fifty Reed Warblers, nine Sedge Warblers, eight Garden Warblers, ten Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a juvenile Cetti's Warbler and a Sand Martin. One of the Reed Warblers bore a French ring and two more Reed Warblers were birds ringed elsewhere in the UK and had previously been controlled at Linford. Birds about included a Marsh Harrier and a Common Sandpiper.

Elsewhere and a Cattle Egret was seen at Stanwick Pits both yesterday and today, there was a Common Sandpiper at Clifford Hill Pits, and a Common Sandpiper and a Yellow-legged Gull at Thrapston Pits.

Over at Braunston four pairs of Spotted Flycatchers are being monitored and two of these pairs are attempting second broods. Steve found at least four Spotted Flycatchers at Lamport Hall today.

Painted Lady butterflies have been rather scarce so far this year and today singles were seen at Braunston and south of Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Sand Martin courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Juvenile Robin
courtesy of Lewis Aaron.

Gatekeeper or if you
prefer Hedge Brown
at Pitsford today.

The Vapourer moth
caterpillar at Pitsford today.

Small Copper at
Pitsford today.

The changing season of summer

Hello

It's all changing in the fields of Northamptonshire with most of the hay, cut and baled, early Barley already harvested and a start being made on the Oil Seed Rape. The buddleias in our garden are coming into flower and are already attracting plenty of butterflies and other insects. Today there was a Brimstone, a new generation Peacock, Comma and Gatekeeper amongst the Small Tortoiseshells, Large Whites and a Red Admiral or two.

Over seventy Swifts were at Woodford Halse today and Ian Dobson's efforts at providing nesting sites for Swifts is going very well with four occupied nest boxes this year.

At Pitsford Reservoir today a Garganey was in the Scaldwell Bay where there were other fresh ducks in with the arrival of several Teal, Shoveler and a returning Wigeon.

Two Common Redstarts remain in the hedge that runs from Blueberry Lodge and up to Blueberry Hill near Maidwell this morning, where there were also a couple of Crossbills flying around and a Barn Owl hunting successfully.

Regards

Neil M

Peacock butterfly.

Brimstone.

Common Swift
courtesy of Jacob Spinks.

The humble Rabbit!

Birds and butterflies for Wednesday

Hello

Yesterday's (Wednesday) local birds included the two Whinchats still in vegetation along the brook in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at least two Common Redstarts, a family of Spotted Flycatchers and a Barn Owl at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Further afield and Nick was able to watch two Green Sandpipers and a gathering of two hundred and twenty Lapwings at Deene Lake. Three Green Sandpipers and two Little Ringed Plovers were on the Hardwater Lake at Earls Barton Pits. The anticipated rain for this forthcoming week-end may well change the dynamics and locations for migrant waders passing through the county.

There was also a Birdguides report of a Quail by the Helmdon Road, Brackley yesterday morning but I don't know if this was a sighting or a bird heard calling. Eric's sightings at Thrapston Pits yesterday included the lingering Ring-necked Parakeet, a Great White Egret and a Peregrine.

Also yesterday there was an evening ringing session at Lamport Hall which provided twenty-six captures made up of eighteen new House Martins, six re-trap House Martins (including a male from 2019) and two newly-ringed adult Swifts. A Hobby and a Raven were seen here too.

Some great butterfly sightings yesterday included freshly-emerged Common Blue and Brown Argus butterflies at Summer Leys LNR and Weekley Hall Woods provided three Purple Emperors, five Silver-washed Fritillaries, five Marbled Whites and a Painted Lady. The general area between the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and Blueberry Farm again has nectar strips attracting common butterflies but also a Clouded Yellow, a Painted Lady and Marbled Whites. A line of oaks/ash also continues to attract at least ten Purple Hairstreak butterflies.

The scarce and localised Willow Emerald Damselflies were spotted emerging at Finedon Pocket Park and Summer Leys LNR yesterday too.

Regards

Neil M

Clouded Yellow.

Painted Lady.

Barn Owl courtesy
of Nathan Jones.

Juvenile Whinchat.

Lapwing.

Thirty-one degrees and a summer deluge

Hello

A wander around Harrington Airfield first thing this morning was pleasant but apart from a low-flying hot air balloon the only particular items of interest were three Brown Hares, three Grey Partridges and a few Marbled White butterflies.

This afternoon there were two Whinchats in the Brampton Valley in vegetation alongside the brook below Hanging Houghton and some scanning at the dam of Pitsford Reservoir provided views of discarded BBQs from the week-end just gone, a remarkable number of people swimming in the green water and three Yellow-legged Gulls!

A Purple Emperor butterfly was on show at Salcey Forest this mornimg in Green Woodpecker car park.

A fabulous deluge hit us hard this evening with thunder and lightning and lots of big hail stones!

Regards

Neil M

Black-tailed Godwit
courtesy of John Gamble.

Curlew Sandpiper
 courtesy of John Gamble.

Cormorants courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Golden Plover courtesy
of  Dave Jackson.

Insect-fest

Hello

The very hot and mostly still conditions continue and this has really boosted the number of insects active day and night.

Eleanor found two Common Redstarts at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell early this morning and a Barn Owl was hunting the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Stanwick Pits hosted two Cattle Egrets and a Garganey this morning and birds at Thrapston Pits included an Osprey, a Great White Egret and a Green Sandpiper. A Siskin was noted in Bucknell Wood this evening.

The usual build up of moulting ducks at Pitsford Reservoir is mostly made up of Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck and smaller numbers of Pochard and there is a Goldeneye there somewhere. There has been an influx of Little Egrets during the last couple of weeks and Yellow-legged Gulls are moving through in small numbers with a lingering second summer bird there this afternoon. The water level is beginning to drop now (perhaps evaporation is now playing a part) but there is still little room for waders, with just Lapwings and a single Common Sandpiper seen today.

Regards

Neil M

Just-fledged juvenile
Common Buzzard.

Acorn Weevil.

Black Slug of the
red variant.

Harlequin exiting pupae.

Ruptela maculata.

Tacina Grossa.

All insect images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.