Moths, butterflies and missing orchids

Hello

This morning there was a vocal Raven in Hanging Houghton and a Hummingbird-hawk Moth was briefly in our garden. At lunchtime both the male and female Sparrowhawks visited the garden on raiding parties and the male came back again later, each time it seems without catching anything.

This afternoon an excursion to Harrington Airfield didn't provide any birds of interest but unfortunately it seems that someone has dug up and removed one of the Bee Orchid colonies. Thirty-five Marbled Whites were showing well there and other butterflies included fresh Commas, Painted Ladies, Large and Essex Skippers and day-flying moths included burnets, Burnet Companion and Latticed Heath. Caterpillars included Mullein Moth and Peacock butterfly.

This evening the light conditions were superb and with the drop in the wind it was definitely the best part of the day. A Barn Owl was showing nicely in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Elsewhere and there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir, a Green Sandpiper again on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits and at Welford Reservoir a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, two Grey Wagtails with a Little Egret at neighbouring Sulby Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Latticed Heath.

It may be June but our
garden Goldfinches are still
enjoying the niger seed...

...but there are at least some
that prefer the sunflower hearts!

Bright and breezy

Hello

A breezy but warm day with a few threatening grey periods (showers forecast for some of tomorrow) made for pleasant weather.

A wander around the Kelmarsh Estate this morning provided two new summering/breeding sites for Spotted Flycatchers. Already there are mixed tit flocks of juvenile birds wandering the hedges and copses.

Hummingbird Hawk-moths and Scarlet Tiger Moths seem to be on the wing in the county in good numbers currently with many enthusiasts finding a variety of clearwing moths coming to lures including several Lunar Hornet Clearwings.

Today there was Purple Emperor, Silver-washed Fritillary and White Admiral butterflies all on show at Fermyn Wood with a Purple Emperor and Marbled Whites also at Ring Haw. Purple Hairstreaks were seen at Bucknell Wood today.

A few die-hard birders are still out there and a Pink-footed Goose was an unseasonal find at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows Reserve today (on Dragonfly Lake) and a Common Sandpiper was at Summer Leys LNR.

Regards

Neil M

Mullein Moth caterpillar.

Maidenhair Spleenwort.

Large Red Damselfly
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Common Buzzard courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Still time for a summer rarity

Hello

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers in the village at Hanging Houghton are acting pensive and it appears have a nest and the hordes of  juvenile Starlings continue to raid the bird feeders in the garden (one of them was caught by a male Sparrowhawk yesterday evening).

It would appear that many of the Black-headed Gull colonies in the county have had a productive year with flying juveniles in good numbers at Thrapston Pits and Pitsford Reservoir. A Green Sandpiper was on the Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston today.

It may seem relatively quiet for migrant birds at this time of the year but in actual fact this can be a useful time to pick up on a summer off-shoot or nomadic wanderer. Bob Bullock heard a Bee-eater flying over Clifford Hill Pits the other day and this far-ranging species could just about turn up anywhere. Currently up to six of these stunning birds are attempting to breed at a site in Norfolk this year. Another nomadic summer wanderer is the Rose-coloured or Rosy Starling with a couple of recent county records and there are a few in the country at the moment. Caspian Terns cover large distances very quickly and can take in several sites within a few hours of each other and a couple of these massive terns with a huge world range are known to be wandering the UK presently. Rare swifts, Honey Buzzards and unusual waders are all possible finds at this time of the year.

So as many birders take to the insects (and why not) during the summer, keep looking up and listen attentively for something a little different in the avian world.

I have created another page or tab entitled Norway June 2022 and posted a few images and will add images a I receive them from contributors.

Regards

Neil M

Eurasian Bee-eater.

Caspian Tern.

Rosy or Rose-coloured Starling.

Farming and Conservation Day Tour at Eyebrook

Hello

Today saw the last of the season Naturetrek day tours at Rectory Farm, Great Easton courtesy of the Johnson family. Fay, Phil and Sue spent time with us today explaining the history of this 'just over the border' Leicestershire farm and nearby landmarks as well as explaining the philosophy of combined modern farming and conservation and how the two can work together. We took a wander around the fields of this medium-sized farm which cultivates a variety of crops and supports a small flock of sheep too. Initially it was rather grey and breezy but remained mostly warm and the sun broke through this afternoon. After some home-made cake and scones and tea we finished the day scanning over the adjacent Eyebrook Reservoir.

Two Ospreys were on view initially and we subsequently saw one on a few occasions, at one stage this afternoon it landed in some shallow water at the reservoir and enjoyed a sustained wash before sitting up in a tree. Red Kites are a constant -  wheeling, gliding and soaring all around throughout the day and of course the local Common Buzzards were about too. An early brood of Swallows were on the wing and House Martins were collecting mud in the farmyard in a patch designed for them. A Pied Wagtail was sitting on five eggs in the underside of a vehicle undergoing repair in one of the sheds and a Spotted Flycatcher was in nearby limes.

Skylarks are particularly numerous on this farm with many hovering and singing above all the cereal fields and there are plenty of Yellowhammers and just a few Tree Sparrows. We saw a Yellow Wagtail take food in to a barley field where presumably there was a nest and a Grey Wagtail was at the reservoir. Little Egrets were seen over the fields and at Eyebrook Reservoir where there was also a Great White Egret, a Yellow-legged Gull and an Egyptian Goose. A singing Lesser Whitethroat declined to show itself and our only views of Brown Hares were distant.

Day-flying moths included Six-spot Burnet, Burnet Companion, Grass-veneer and Yellow Shell and active butterflies were made up of Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Large White, Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Large Skipper and Painted Lady with Peacock caterpillars noted on nettles.

Regards

Neil M

House Martins
collecting mud and straw.

Ragged Robin.

Ewe and lamb.

Cornflower.

Peacock butterfly caterpillars
on nettles - all above images
taken on the Naturetrek Day Tour
today.

Seven of the eight Red Arrows
distantly over Hanging Houghton
this evening.

Harrington insects

Hello

In between admin work, I found time to visit Harrington Airfield this afternoon in warm but dull conditions and before the main body of showers materialised. Birdwise it was just the usual species on-site but did include three Grey Partridges. The orchids always look good at this time of the year but there are very few Bee Orchids this time but plenty of Common Spotted.

At least twenty-five Marbled White butterflies were on the wing and the dull, still conditions was good for photographing them and other nectaring insects. Other butterflies included plenty of Meadow Browns and Ringlets, the usual whites, Small Heath, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and plenty of skippers, some of which were Essex Skippers. Day-flying moths included Burnet Companion, Cinnabar and Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

Yesterday I saw a Scarlet Tiger moth in the front garden and two days ago Fiona noted a family of Grey Partridges between Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell and an Orange-tailed Clearwing moth in her Hanging Houghton garden. Purple Hairstreak butterflies were also active in roadside trees along Mill Lane between Scaldwell and Hanging Houghton.

In the county as a whole there has ben a significant emergence of Marbled Whites (good numbers at Woodford Halse and Pitsford Reservoir), plenty of Hummingbird Hawk-moth records and the first of the Purple Emperor butterflies noted at Bucknall Wood and the Fermyn complex at Souther and Lady Wood. Silver-washed Fritillaries have been noted on the north side of Salcey Forest in recent days and the first-emerged White-letter Hairstreaks and Gatekeepers have been reported.

This evening there was a hunting Barn Owl and at least five Marbled Whites at Lamport Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Jaeger and Rouzel.

Smeagol.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

Marbled White.

Essex Skippers.

Mullein.

Marbled White.

Bee Orchid.
All images from Harrington
Airfield this afternoon.

Norway and back

Hello

I've just returned home from a week away in Norway, visiting the Lofoten and Vesteralen Archipelago as part of a short Naturetrek tour. This is the first time this tour has run since I last went there in 2018.

On this occasion the weather was much better and despite the current difficulties with flying at the moment we managed to assemble on the Lofoten Islands after two short flights and a three hour ferry crossing. After a couple of days here we motored north to the Vesteralen islands and stayed for three nights on the island of Andoy before making our way home again.

These islands are a long way north (inside the arctic circle) and the weather was cool but generally calm and pleasant. Calm seas meant we were fortunate to see a Blue Whale, Minke Whales, Harbour Porpoises and several Basking Sharks and other interesting mammals included Mountain Hare and Elk.

Sea-birds included Puffins (which are sadly declining rapidly in this part of the world), various gull species, common auks, and Fulmar and three species of diver. White-tailed Eagles are a regular sight on the west side of Andoy and other raptors seen on the tour included Golden Eagle, Merlin and a single Goshawk (with crow prey). We enjoyed a singing male Bluethroat and it was great to see good numbers of breeding Curlew, Redshank and Golden Plover.

Of course the amazing landscape is the main selling point of this trip and I will post some scenery shots in due course.

Guests from previous tours this spring have kindly been mailing me their images from Speyside, Provence and Iceland and I have created some tabs or pages on this blog specific to these tours where these images can be seen (please see the tabs underneath the main image at the top of the home page).

Regards

Neil M

Bluethroat.

Elk.

Storks and Butterflies

 Well it really has been an exceptionally quiet week for birds in the county.  At one point I thought that my phone was playing up due to the silence of the WhatsApp Northants bird groups.  Things did improve slightly this morning after 3 White Storks were seen circling over Summer Leys and even photographed by a lucky person. 

There were a  couple of ringing sessions at the end of the week.  John Woollett at Stortons GP who processed 51 birds, 17 of whom were retraps. Some of the Reed Warblers caught were returning birds from 2018,2019 and 2021.                                                                            Meanwhile Kenny Cramer caught 68 birds of 12 species at Milton Keynes.  22 of these birds were Reed Warblers including one ringed elsewhere in the UK.  It appears to be at least 6 years old but still awaiting details to come from the BTO.     Fledgling Chiffchaff and Blackcap were ringed .     There were both male and female Cuckoo in the vicinity but none caught on this occasion.   The Sand Martins have been using at least 2 of the chambers in the Sand Castle and on checking there wa a nest with 5 warm eggs and another nest with 2 well grown chicks which were subsequently ringed. 

It is the time of year when the more interesting butterflies are on the wing. There have been Wood Whites at Salcey Forest, Marbled Whites at Bradlaugh fields, Woodford Halse,  Blueberry,  and Old Sulehay.  It has been a better year for Black Hairstreak at Glapthorn Cow Pasture and Yardley Chase.  Dark Green Fritillary have been seen at Ring Haw, Tywell and Old Sulehay with Silver Wash Fritillary at Yardley Chase and Old Sulehay.  Of course plenty of the more common butterflies still about. 

Regards Eleanor 

Chiffchaff courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Pitsford Reservoir nature reserve today

Hello

A visit to Pitsford Reservoir today in warm temperatures was in order to check the nineteen viable owl boxes on the reserve. Although it is rather late in the season we found no evidence of any of the boxes being used by breeding owls, although there was a good Stock Dove take-up rate! And despite being there all day we didn't see a soul on our hike around the reserve!

The pleasant weather produced one of those days when the reserve is covered in literally thousands of damselflies skimming the water surface, festooning the waterside vegetation or flying up in the meadows. Many birds were taking advantage of the bounty with ducks, grebes, Coots, gulls and terns all consuming this massive release of food. Common Blue Damselflies were easily the most numerous but they were joined by large numbers of Large Red-eyed Damselflies and much fewer Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Other odonata included an excellent showing of some ten Hairy Hawkers, lots of Four-spotted Chasers, several Black-tailed Skimmers and a single Broad-bodied Chaser. Both Beautiful and Banded Demoiselles were present. Butterflies were out in force and included Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Common Blue, Large Skipper, Green-veined White, Large White, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown and Small Heath. Chimney Sweeper moths were numerous and Cinnabar and a burnet sp were noted too.

Birds there included nesting Spotted Flycatchers, two Little Egrets, a hybrid female Red-crested Pochard x (maybe) a Mallard, a family of Ravens, three drake Pochard, a flock of twelve failed breeding Lapwings and good numbers of singing Garden Warblers.

Elsewhere and this evening a Barn Owl was hunting at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and another Barn Owl was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Flowering Rush.

Beautiful Demoiselle.

Pitsford damselflies - 
Common Blue and
 Large Red-eyed.

Ringing recoveries

Hello

The latest ringing recoveries relate to Northants Ringing Group activity...

1.  A Sedge Warbler was ringed as a juvenile at Icklesham, Sussex on 6th August 2016 and re-trapped at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes as a six year old adult on 30th April 2022, 2093 days later;

2.  An adult Reed Warbler was ringed at Linford Lakes on 9th June 2019 and trapped again at Portland Bill, Dorset on 4th May 2022, 1060 days later;

3.  A first year male Yellowhammer was ringed at Hanging Houghton on 23rd March 2020 and found dead in the same village on 12th May 2022, 780 days later - further proof of the sedentary nature of this species;

4.  A juvenile Starling was ringed at Rushden on on 29th May 2020 and taken by a cat in Rushden on 14th May 2022, 715 days later;

5.  A  juvenile Starling was ringed as Astcote near Towcester on 19th July 2002 and was found long dead trapped in a building at Banbury on 14th May 2022, some 7239 days later and 28km away;

6.  A  juvenile Blackcap was ringed at Priory Country Park, Bedfordshire on 16th June 2021 and re-trapped as a first year male at Linford Lakes 332 days later and 25km from where first ringed;

7.  A first year male Blackcap was ringed at Brixworth on 6th September 2020 and re-trapped as an adult male at Stanford Reservoir on 14th April 2022, 585 days later and 17km from where first ringed;

8.  A first year male Blackbird was ringed at Rushen on 25th April 2021 but was taken by a cat in Rushden on 6th April 2022, 407 days later.

This morning a first year Common Tern and two Yellow-legged Gulls were visible from the dam at Pitsford Reservoir and a Hobby was noted at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. Birds noted at Hanging Houghton included a Hobby and at least two Ravens.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a first summer Arctic Tern, a Shelduck, a Hobby, two Cuckoos, a Barn Owl, three Cetti's Warblers, two Oystercatchers and four Ravens.

Regards

Neil M

Linnet

Skylark.

Swallow.

Swift.

All images courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Sunday ringing

Hello

A ringing session undertaken by Kenny and Keith at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes was very successful today with sixty birds processed of eleven species, thirty-seven of which were newly-ringed. Without doubt the highlight was no less than four Cuckoos caught and ringed (two males, two females) which means that twelve birds have been processed there this year (two re-traps and ten new birds). Twenty-seven Reed Warblers ensured this was the most numerous species plus a dozen Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler and a Treecreeper plus more common fare.

At the same time another ringing session was undertaken at Harrington Airfield where fifty-six birds also of eleven species were processed, of which only seven were re-traps. Willow Warblers breed on-site and today nineteen were handled which included freshly-fledged juveniles and three birds first ringed there last year (two as juveniles and one as an adult). Four new Robins were all juveniles and other birds encountered included a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and six Common Whitethroats. Several Brown Hares were active and butterflies included Common Blue, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Small Heath, Painted Lady and Red Admiral. Day-flying moths included Cinnabar.

A Hobby and at least two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton this afternoon with a Barn Owl at Lamport Hall this morning. Two Little Owls were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and at Hollowell Reservoir the long-staying female Ruddy Shelduck turned up again. Birds noted at Stanford Reservoir included a Hobby, two Cuckoos, two Cetti's Warblers and two Oystercatchers.

Regards

Neil M

Female Cuckoo.

Blackcap.

Treecreeper.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Spotted Flycatchers, owls and butterflies!

Hello 

Another sunny and breezy day which seemed to bring in lots more Painted Lady butterflies!

A Hobby was at Hanging Houghton today and the Spotted Flycatcher remained on territory in the village.

Further singing Spotted Flycatchers were located today at New Covert, Kelmarsh, in Cottesbrooke village and next to the old Beck Dairy outside Cottesbrooke village.

Two Little Owls and a Barn Owl were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and a Barn Owl and a Hobby were at Blueberry Farm.

Butterflies at Harrington Airfield this afternoon included my first Ringlet of the season and Common Blue. There is a ringing session planned for there tomorrow and the area between the Chippings Compound and the Bunkers down to the concrete track will have restricted access during this time.

An excellent total of fifteen Black Hairstreak butterflies were noted at the Glapthorne Cow Pastures Wildlife Trust reserve this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Black Hairstreak butterfly.

Painted Lady butterfly.

Little Owl.

Day Tour at Rectory Farm, Great Easton and Eyebrook

Hello

A sunny and breezy day for the Naturetrek Day Tour at Eyebrook Wild Bird Foods situated on their farm at Great Easton was today's planned venture. With farmland designed for conservation and high yields through regenerative farming methodology, the fields and hedgerows hold plenty of wildlife, further enhanced with being right next to Eyebrook Reservoir too.

Almost from the off there were two Ospreys almost constantly on view which from their behaviour I would imagine were two non-breeding birds. Often together they spent time sauntering around the reservoir looking for fish and aimlessly soaring around and at one stage resting in a millet field. Of course the weather conditions were ideal for big raptors and they were joined by remarkably high numbers of Red Kites and the local Common Buzzards too and with two pairs of Kestrel also in the vicinity. A Hobby was over Stoke Dry village late this afternoon.

On the farm itself there were good numbers of singing Skylarks and Yellowhammers with just a few Tree Sparrows foraging and cheeping from the hedgerows. At least six Brown Hares were cavorting around the fields, sometimes the height of the crops meaning you could sometimes just see their ears! The sun brought out large numbers of fresh Small Tortoiseshell butterflies attracted to the nectar strips and in particular the just-flowering knapweed. We also saw Meadow Browns, Red Admirals and a Painted Lady and day-flying moths included Silver Y, Burnet Companion and Brimstone. The only dragonfly seen was a single Broad-bodied Chaser which posed for a little while.

Common Whitethroats sang from many of the hedges, a single Yellow Wagtail was seen a couple of times and the reservoir attracted three Little Egrets, a pair of Shoveler, a Lapwing with a half-grown chick and Common Terns nesting on rafts there.

Elsewhere and this morning there was a Barn Owl again hunting at Lamport Hall and a Spotted Flycatcher at Hanging Houghton. Birds at Stanford Reservoir included two Spotted Flycatchers, two Hobbies, two Oystercatchers and a Cuckoo and yesterday a Barn Owl.

Regards

Neil M

Eyebrook lamb.

Broad-bodied Chaser.

Brown Hare.

Osprey.

Red Kite.

All images from the Eyebrook
Wild Bird Foods Day Tour today.

Water Rails, Barn Owls and all things nice!

Hello

Yesterday evening Eleanor spent several hours scouring the fields and hedges of the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and right up to the Blueberry Farm complex, seeing three different hunting Barn Owls and two Hobbies for her effort.

The singing Spotted Flycatcher remains at Hanging Houghton today and at least four Ravens made up a family party early this morning on the outskirts of the village. An Osprey was at Hollowell Reservoir early this morning too.

At Pitsford Reservoir a pair of Spotted Flycatchers are nesting just off the reserve and the Common Terns are nesting on a new raft in the Walgrave Bay after being ousted by the Black-headed Gulls on the floating rafts in the Scaldwell Bay. Over a hundred Swifts were feeding over the reserve late this morning with quite a number of Sand Martins doing much the same thing off the Sailing Club. Three Yellow-legged Gulls were loafing not far off the dam.

Successfully-breeding Water Rails were confirmed at Stortons Pits earlier this year with the use of camera traps and today ringers operating there caught four previously ringed adults and two unringed very young birds.

A Barn Owl was hunting at Lamport Hall this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Water Rails
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Common Snipe.

Golden Plover.