Summer weather and wildlife at last!

Hello

Another day of splendid weather and at Stanford Reservoir there was a Common Sandpiper, four Oystercatchers and twelve Common Terns this morning with two Cuckoos including the rufous morph female seen yesterday.

At lunchtime today there was a Cuckoo, a pair of Grey Partridges and three Ravens at Harrington Airfield. The pair of Spotted Flycatchers remain in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

In the Nene Valley some early morning birding at Stanwick Pits resulted in a Marsh Harrier and a Green Sandpiper and the Wood Warbler was again on show in Harry's Park Wood. A drake Wigeon is an unusual June record for Pitsford Reservoir.

On the scarce insect front Wood Whites were on the wing at Bucknell Wood, Black Hairstreaks were at Glapthorn Cow Pastures and a Lesser Emperor dragonfly was by the boat pontoon in the Holcot Bay at Pitsford Reservoir. Yardley Chase attracted a Red-belted Clearwing moth and Wood White and Black Hairstreak butterflies.

Regards

Neil M

Red-legged Shieldbug
 courtesy of John Tilly.

Scorpion Fly sp courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Muntjac in the
morning dew.

Early morning skyscapes
this morning.

Cottesbrooke Church.

Gadwall.

A Tawny Owlet!

June survey work

Hello

A survey of an estate in the centre of the county today yielded six species of raptor, a good number of Brown Hares, a pair of Grey Partridge, a fledged Tawny Owlet and up to five Ravens.

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers were still at the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton this morning and birds in the valley below Brixworth included a Green Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers, a Little Egret and up to three Grey Wagtails. There was a great hatch of Beautiful Damselflies in the same area with a few Black-tailed Skimmers on the wing too.

The Wood Warbler was still at Harry's Park Wood again today.

Regards

Neil M

Brown Hare.

Underside view of an
Osprey carrying a trout.

Skylark.

Beautiful Demoiselles.

Lots of nestlings and fledglings!

Hello

A ringing session at Stortons Pits this morning netted over thirty birds which at this time of the year included recently fledged birds such as Wren, Dunnock, Robin, tits, Goldfinch and Chiffchaff. A fledged juvenile Sedge Warbler was a bonus and several Reed Warblers processed were all breeding adults.

One or two calling Cuckoos were on site and plenty of vocal Water Rails included juvenile birds with at least one being seen. A few Cetti's Warblers were vocal too.

Along the Brampton Valley this morning a pair of Spotted Flycatchers were again below Hanging Houghton with another pair just north of Draughton Crossing. A Barn Owl was in the valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

At Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon a collection of Sand Martins off the dam included recently fledged juveniles. The singing Wood Warbler continues to delight all visitors at Harry's Park Wood!

Regards

Neil M

Cuckoo.

Great Crested Grebes courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Red Kite courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Hoverfly eristalis horticola
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Minotaur Beetle courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Brown Rat courtesy
of John Tilly.

Ringers at Stortons
Pits in the sunshine today.

Sun and warmth

Hello

A sunny warm day was much appreciated and the forthcoming week looks settled with some warm spells.

A little ringing at Pitsford Reservoir first thing this morning provided a few captures which included a Sand Martin already bearing a ring. It transpires that this bird was first ringed in July last year as a juvenile in East Sussex between Winchelsea and Rye. The distance between the two sites is 191km but of course these small birds are always on the wing and this youngster would have been to Africa and back during the 334 days that have elapsed since first ringed.

The early morning sunshine brought forth plenty of insects in the Scaldwell Meadows at Pitsford Reservoir with reasonable numbers of Meadow Browns finally and also Common Blue butterfly and Chimney Sweeper moths.

Two Spotted Flycatchers were at the small copse on the Brampton Valley Way below Hanging Houghton this morning, the first time they have been seen there this year.

A drake Garganey was at Stanford Reservoir today where there was also a female Goosander and two Cuckoos. A Ruddy Shelduck was at Eyebrook Reservoir this morning and the Wood Warbler was still singing at Harry's Park Wood.

Regards

Neil M

Silver Y moth
courtesy of David Arden.

Garden Warbler.

Juvenile Chiffchaff.

Above three images
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Male Yellow Dung Fly
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Red-legged Robber Fly
with prey courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Mid June wildlife

Hello

Some more survey work locally this morning provided a silent Cuckoo and a Spotted Flycatcher, the latter seem to be scarce in the county this year.

The singing Wood Warbler was again logged at Harry's Park Wood today and a Spotted Redshank was at Eyebrook Reservoir.

This evening an Osprey was flying around the reserve section of Pitsford Reservoir north of the causeway, a Barn Owl was near Lamport Hall and two Barn Owls and a Kingfisher were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Black Hairstreak butterflies remained on show in sunshine at Glapthorn Cow Pastures this morning, their short flight period will be concluded in about a week's time

A couple more ringing recoveries from Northants Ringing Group are as follows:-

1. A juvenile Starling was ringed in Rushden on 17th June 2023 and then found dead, possibly having collided with a window, at Lavendon near Milton Keynes on 8th May 2024, 326 days later and 14km from the original site of ringing;

2. An adult male Reed Warbler was ringed at Stortons Pits on 27th May 2022 and then caught again on 12th May 2024 when at Waterhay, Wiltshire, some 716 days later with a distance of 94km between the two sites.

Regards

Neil M

Linnet.

Great Pied Hoverfly.

Rhinoceros Beetle.

Sawfly tenthredo maculata.

Spiderlings!

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Ringing recoveries

Hello

Birds reported today included two Cattle Egrets at Stanwick Pits, a Common Sandpiper at Stanford Reservoir, the Wood Warbler still singing at Harry's Park Wood this morning and a Sanderling still at Eyebrook Reservoir. An Osprey was seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir this afternoon.

Some ringing recoveries associated with the work of Northants Ringing Group members:-

1. A first year male Greenfinch was caught and ringed at Kelmarsh Hall on 13th March 2024 and was found dying 4km away in Braybrooke village on 18th May 2024, sixty-six days elapsing between the two dates;

2. A nestling Great Tit was ringed at Woodford Halse on 9th May 2023 and found freshly dead with likely collision injuries in the same village on 18th May 2024, 375 days later;

3. A juvenile Chiffchaff was caught and ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 17th August 2022 and captured again this time at Stanford Reservoir on 25th May 2024 when an adult male. Although it is only 20km between the sites this bird will have travelled a great deal during the 647 days between the two dates;

4. A Blue Tit was ringed as a nestling at Pitsford Reservoir on 3rd June 2021 and was apparently predated in a nest box in the Racecourse area of Northampton on 4th May 2024, 10km away and 1066 days later;

5. An adult Reed Warbler initially ringed at Stanwick Pits on 28th May 2021 has now been caught three times at Rutland Water on the dates of 1st July 2023, 25th May 2024 and 6th June 2024 where it is believed to be a breeding female. These two sites might only be 36km apart but this bird will have made three trips to Africa and back during the 1093 days elapsed between the first and last dates, and at least one other return journey prior to being ringed;

6. An adult Reed Warbler ringed at Wilstone Reservoir, Hertfordshire on 3rd July 2022 was caught again at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 18th May 2024 when assessed as a male, Again another bird that will have travelled to Africa and back at least three times with 32km and 685 days separating them between the two sites.

Regards

Neil M

Burnet Companion moth
courtesy of David Arden.

Brown China-mark moth
 courtesy of David Arden.

Four Spotted Chaser
courtesy of David Arden.

Cuckoo courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Common Whitethroat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Chiffchaff courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

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.