From spring to autumn!

Hello

A couple of quiet days for birding in the county and the weather hasn't been that useful for insects and other disciplines of wildlife! Nevertheless some local survey work has picked up on some additional pairs of Barn Owls and two pairs of Hobby on territory with their favoured trees ear-marked.

Ospreys continue to be seen regularly with more sightings at Hollowell, Pitsford and Stanford Reservoirs where the colour rings have often been read thanks to digital photography. Most of the birds are from the local Rutland scheme and indicate that the majority are roaming birds normally too young to breed. However these extra birds are clearly mapping the county hopefully with a view to breeding in the future.

At Harry's Park Wood it seems that the singing Wood Warbler is set to remain there for the season after being reported again today and a Sanderling was at Eyebrook Reservoir marking pretty much the end of spring wader migration. Indeed we are only a matter of days away when the first returning Black-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel from Iceland and failed breeding Green Sandpipers from the northern continent join the already finished breeding Lapwings and Curlews from the UK. Yes the autumn migration starts in late June, proof indeed that there is no such thing as summer!

Despite challenging conditions for butterflies, ardent observers have still tracked down Chequered Skippers, Black Hairstreaks and Wood Whites at their usual lairs in the county. With a little more warmth potentially this week-end there has to be an opportunity for the common butterflies to start emerging, although the showers may have adverse consequences for a large hatch.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher Upton CP
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Mute Swan cygnets
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Common Tern courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Jane Neill.

D is for Dunnock!

Hello

A ringing session at the Brixworth water treatment works today provided one hundred and eight captures of sixteen species of which eight birds were ringed birds from previous years. The re-traps included returning summer visitors in the form of two Chiffchaffs and a Common Whitethroat. A Starling ringed as a juvenile in 2020 was caught again today and a Dunnock ringed as a first year in December 2018 was also encountered.

With Bullfinch numbers at a low ebb these days it was pleasing to catch and ring an adult male bird which hopefully is breeding nearby. Eight new Chiffchaffs were ringed including juvenile birds, and of three Blackcaps one was a fresh juvenile. Three Sedge Warblers were somewhat unexpected and with sixteen new birds ringed (adults and juveniles) it was the day of the Dunnock! Ten new Robins also found the mist nets as did eleven adult Swallows, seven Grey Wagtails (two adults, five juveniles) and twelve Pied Wagtails (two adults, ten juveniles).

A calling Osprey flew over heading towards Pitsford Reservoir and three Ravens flew north.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a Whimbrel, a Pink-footed Goose and two Cuckoos and at lunchtime an Osprey was seen fishing near Desborough. Three Little Egrets were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with another single at a pond at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

In the Nene Valley there were two Hobbies and two Wigeon at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR and a Dunlin at Summer Leys LNR.

A Hobby and a Barn Owl were out hunting this evening around Hanging Houghton village.

Yesterday (Monday) and Ospreys at Pitsford Reservoir were seen flying over the Walgrave Bay and fishing near Moulton Grange Bay and the singing Wood Warbler was still present at Harry's Park Wood. A Little Tern was at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Great Pied Hoverfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Chiffchaff
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Banded Demoiselle courtesy
of John Tilly.

Chimney Sweeper moth
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Orange-tip butterfly
courtesy of David Arden.

Grass Snake courtesy
of David Arden.

Pitsford Reservoir CBC

Hello

It was another day at Pitsford Reservoir today, this time completing a Common Bird Census which didn't reveal anything much out of the ordinary. The Song Thrushes and Garden Warblers were the dominant songsters but they had to work hard to be heard above the clamour of the many Wrens and Robins on-site!

An Osprey was my third sighting in a week there, the blue colour ring indicating that it is a Rutland project bird. An Egyptian Goose flying over was unanticipated, we normally experience one visit per annum at this site. A calling Cuckoo is probably a lingering individual from last month.

The cool, grey and breezy conditions ensured that insects were at a minimum with only two individual butterflies seen all morning! Odonata were also scarce but sightings included a Black-tailed Skimmer, Four Spotted Chasers, a Beautiful Demoiselle and plenty of sheltering Large Red-eyed Damselflies.

A visit to Harrington Airfield this afternoon didn't reveal any birds of note but there is a great showing of Common Spotted Orchids and rather fewer Bee Orchids. A field of sown Common Flax is in flower with their superb blue colour visible from a distance and Mullein Moth caterpillars were eating their way through the plentiful Mullein plants on-site.

A Curlew passed through Summer Leys LNR this morning and a Hobby and a Barn Owl were at Lamport Hall this evening. The Wood Warbler remains at Harry's Park Wood and several Black Hairstreaks persisted at Glapthorn Cow Pastures.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Pink-footed Goose, an Egyptian Goose, three Oystercatchers and three Cuckoos.

Regards

Neil M

Egyptian Goose at Pitsford
Reservoir this morning.

Osprey at Pitsford Reservoir
this morning.

Common Spotted Orchid
at Harrington Airfield.

Mullein Moth caterpillar
at Harrington Airfield.

Bee Orchids at
Harrington Airfield.

A quiet Saturday in June

Hello

Birds at Lilbourne Water Meadows today included a singing Dunlin, a Common Snipe, two Redshank, four Oystercatchers and three Little Ringed Plovers.

A Dunlin was also at Summer Leys LNR today and the Harry's Park Wood Wood Warbler was still present too. An Osprey was seen at Pitsford Reservoir again today and a Garganey was still at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Black Hairstreak butterflies were again on show at Glapthorn Cow Pastures this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Juvenile Dunnock 
courtesy of Martin Lovatt.

Muntjac courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Four-spotted Chaser.

Osprey.

Common Buzzard.

Pitsford Day Tour

Hello

Pitsford Reservoir was the venue for a Naturetrek Day Tour today and we were treated with some great sunshine during the first half of the walk. However if failed to bring forth butterflies and only Speckled Wood were in decent numbers. Odonata included a Hairy Hawker, a Blue Emperor, Broad-bodied Chasers, Four Spotted Chasers, both Banded and Beautiful Demoiselles and plenty of common damselfly species. Moths from the reserve moth traps included the superb Bufftip and both Pine and Elephant Hawk-moths. Hornets and Great Pied Hoverflies were in good numbers.

The birds were mostly hidden but Garden Warblers were singing well and other highlights included a singing Cuckoo, Ravens, a Hobby and an Osprey which flew over the Scaldwell Bay in the afternoon.

Elsewhere and the Wood Warbler continued to sing and show well at Harry's Park Wood and plenty of Black Hairstreak butterflies were again on show at Glapthorn Cow Pastures.

Some ringing at Stortons Pits this morning yielded ten species of birds which included a Garden Warbler, six Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, two Common Whitethroats, three Blackcaps and a Cetti's Warbler.

Two Little Terns were at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning, a Cattle Egret was in a cattle field between Ecton and Earls Barton early this afternoon and sightings at Stanford Reservoir yesterday included a female Mandarin Duck, two Oystercatchers and two Cuckoos.

Regards

Neil M

Wood Warbler
Harry's Park Wood.

Common Blue butterfly.

Black Hairstreak.

Above images courtesy
of Neil Hasdell.

Jaeger's competitive
streak in agility today
 landed him more prizes
and entry to a higher
 grading/ league.

Nesting time!

Hello

Now is a busy time for breeding birds with early nesters already on their second efforts! It's a busy time for ringers too, particularly if managing a nest box scheme. A proportion of the nest boxes at Pitsford Reservoir have been visited and the majority of the occupants of the small boxes have been Blue Tits and Great Tits, the majority of which have now fledged. Yesterday efforts were made to ring some of the Black-headed Gull chicks on the rafts at Pitsford Reservoir - forty four were ringed but there were plenty more than that on the rafts. Today several Barn Owl boxes were visited and one of them contained a female Barn Owl on eggs - anecdotally the Barn Owls seem to be breeding early and well this year.

Yesterday (Wednesday) and a Short-eared Owl was hunting fields between Blueberry Farm at Maidwell and the Brampton Valley towards Hanging Houghton. It seems that 2024 has been a productive vole year locally which is presumably why we still have a few lingering Short-eared Owls which should really be elsewhere by now settling down to breed. Yesterday and today (Thursday) saw the singing Wood Warbler still hanging on at Harry's Park Wood and yesterday there were still a pair of Garganey at Eyebrook Reservoir.

At Stanford Reservoir yesterday there was a Pink-footed Goose, two Cuckoos, two Oystercatchers and a Spotted Flycatcher and today there were still two Oystercatchers and two Cuckoos present.

Plenty of Black Hairstreak butterflies were on the wing at Glapthorn Cow Pastures today.

On a perfect evening for hunting there were two Barn Owls at Scaldwell and two in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Blue Tit nestlings
courtesy of Lewis Aaron.

Great Tit nestlings courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Red Kite courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Pheasant courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Jackdaw courtesy
 of John Tilly.

Lapwing courtesy
of John Tilly.

Avocets and spring lingerers

Hello

A calling fly-over Whimbrel at Hanging Houghton at 5.30am was my best bird of the day!

Checking Tree Sparrow boxes today and yesterday suggests there are still a few pairs breeding in and around Pitsford Reservoir with the first broods already fledged. Worryingly they seem to be absent from anywhere else nearby.

Two Avocets at Summer Leys LNR was a good find there today and a Ruff was present too.

The singing Wood Warbler was again reported from Harry's Park Wood today and the drake Garganey was still at Lilbourne Water Meadows with the pair at Eyebrook Reservoir too.

Despite the wet weather this evening a Short-eared Owl was still seen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M

Avocets at Summer Leys LNR
 courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Common Whitethroat
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Reed Bunting courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Jay courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Scorpion Fly sp
courtesy of John Tilly.

Red-headed Cardinal
courtesy of John Tilly.

Ospreys and Tawny Owls

Hello

Much of the day was taken up with checking the bigger nest boxes situated on the Wildlife Trust reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today where it was confirmed that at least three pairs of Tawny Owls were using the boxes. Most of the tits have already fledged from the small nestboxes and fledglings could be seen and heard as we meandered around. A couple of Hobbies and two Kingfishers were perhaps bettered when two Ospreys came sailing into view over the Walgrave Bay, their behaviour and calling suggesting familiarity between the birds Very few Common Terns are present this year after they were hit so hard during the bird flu pandemic but it was thrilling to see Sand Martins using the artificial bank in the Scaldwell Bay, the first year they have shown any interest in this structure. Insects included common species of butterfly and the best of the odonata were good numbers of Beautiful Demoiselles.

A visit to Harrington Airfield today provided views of a Short-eared Owl, a Cuckoo and a Spotted Flycatcher. A drake Common Scoter was at Stanford Reservoir this evening, the drake Garganey was still at Lilbourne Water Meadows and the singing Wood Warbler remained at Harry's Park Wood.

At Eyebrook Reservoir there was a Sanderling and a pair of Garganey and two Barn Owls were out hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Mint Moth courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Azure Blue Damselfly
courtesy of John Tilly.

Tawny Owl courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Iceland and back

Hello

Just back in following two nine day Naturetrek tours in Iceland, co-leading to Dave Jackson who took some wonderful images! I have set up two tabs/pages entitled Undiscovered Iceland 2024 and Iceland in Spring 2024 on this blog but have yet to add many phots but will once they have been submitted by participants or formatted.

Today and a Wood Sandpiper was showing mostly distantly at Summer Leys LNR and the singing Wood Warbler was still at Harry's Park Wood about 100 metres in from the main Bears Lane entrance.

A singing Brambling at Stanford Reservoir was a somewhat bizarre find today and other birds there included three Oystercatchers, a Hobby, two Cuckoos and a Common Gull.

A Garganey was at Lilbourne Water Meadows today and birds noted at Eyebrook Reservoir included a circling Spoonbill that subsequently drifted off south and a pair of Garganey.

A Hobby was at the dam end of Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon where there was also a big hatch of Large Red-eyed Damselflies. A family of Ravens were at Hanging Houghton with a lone bird over Kingsthorpe and the first county record of Green-eyed or Norfolk Hawker (dragonfly) came from Thrapston Pits today.

A Short-eared Owl was again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Large Red-eyed Damselfly.

Bloody-nosed Beetles.

Kestrel.

Spoonbills.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

A funny old week!

It has certainly been a funny old week and the weather hasn't been particularly helpful.  Today it has felt like winter and I ended up wearing several warm layers and gloves this afternoon.  I feel really sorry for the birds who are trying to find insects for their youngsters. Quite a few families of Blue , Great and Long Tailed Tits have visited our garden,  but I cannot imagine that they are going to fare very well. 

There haven't been many birds reported in the county since the beginning of the week.  The Wood Warbler remains at Harry's Park Wood and I understand has been showing and singing very well.  The Short-eared Owl remains at Summer Leys along with Cattle Egret, Black Tern and a Bittern.  At Clifford Hill GP there were 4 Cattle Egrets and at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows (Dragonfly Lake) 2 Sanderling and Black Tern.  The drake Garganey has been at Lilbourne Meadows throughout the week plus another drake at Stanford Reservoir . A Marsh Harrier flew through Hollowell Reservoir.               Shelduck and Egyptian Geese have both bred successfully at Deene Lake. 

Tomorrow is the start of a new month and we will rapidly be heading towards the longest day.  Let us hope that it is also the start of the weather becoming more warm and settled.           

Have a good weekend.  Regards Eleanor 

Green Woodpecker.

Oystercatcher.

Red Fox.

Images courtesy of
Tony Stanford.