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.

A very hot Sunday

Hello

A more modest ringing session took place at Harrington Airfield eary this morning, the heat of the day ensuring it was a great deal shorter than usual. Forty-five birds were processed, the majority being new birds and including two Lesser Whitethroats, thirteen Common Whitethroats, a few Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. Two of the Willow Warblers were first ringed in 2019, an adult in the April of that year and a juvenile from the August. Other birds encountered included six Swallows; the Marbled Whites were in good form and other butterflies included Gatekeepers and Small Skippers. A reeling Grasshopper Warbler was reported later and yesterday Pete Gilbert photographed several Six-belted Clearwing Moths on-site.

Yesterday an Osprey was seen in flight over Fermyn Wood in the afternoon and today two Cattle Egrets were on the main pit at Stanwick Pits. A first summer Caspian Gull was reported off the A5 at pools near Lilbourne late this morning and excellent garden birding in a Pitsford village garden saw a female Common Redstart mobbing a Little Owl with other birds this morning.

At Salcey Forest there were five Purple Emperors and a few Purple Hairstreaks active today.

Regards

Neil M

Six-belted Clearwing moths
courtesy of Pete Gilbert.

Whimbrel courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Red-necked Phalarope courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Harrington Airfield ringing

Hello

The anticipated heat has arrived and it was actually warm at Harrington Airfield at 4am this morning! The planned ringing session went ahead there but with an early finish and plans to reconvene there tomorrow.

We encountered 17 species and processed a total of ninety-six birds, only nine of which were ringed birds from previous visits. Not surprisingly many of the birds were youngsters hatched this year. Highlights were probably a re-trapped male Sparrowhawk that is a two year old bird first ringed in February this year and an adult female Common Redstart in full moult and virtually minus all it's tail and most of the flight feathers - I think she will be on-site for quite a while! Other birds included sixteen Common Whitethroats, two Lesser Whitethroats, a sprinkling of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs plus a few Blackcaps, Swallows and juvenile Linnets and Yellowhammers.

A juvenile female Peregrine flew very low over the old airfield moving west early this morning and Marbled White butterflies were out in good numbers.

A ringing session at Stortons Pits yesterday caught the usual suspects, probably the highlight being a Common Whitethroat first ringed in June 2020.

Birding at Earls Barton Pits this morning provided a Wood Sandpiper which subsequently flew high and may have left, a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Dunlin and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. Three Marbled Whites were at Earls Barton New Workings alongside the A45 50m east of the Ecton SF eastern boundary. Salcey Forest hosted a Purple Emperor today plus a 'valezina' form of Slver-washed Fritillary.

A sub-adult Caspian Gull and two Yellow-legged Gulls were showing off the A5 on the pools between DIRFT3 and Lilbourne late this morning and waders there included a Greenshank, a Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper.

Regards

Neil M

Swallow courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Woodpigeon courtesy of
John Tilly.

Storm Petrels on Skokholm
courtesy of Chris Payne.

Skokholm sunset
courtesy of Chris Payne.

It's warming up!

Hello

I forgot to mention that yesterday morning there was still a Peregrine resting on the spire of St Dionysius Church at Market Harborough. It's amazing how many people look skyward when they see you looking up!

Sadly the Hedgehog from last night or one of it's clan was lying dead in the road early this morning - no doubt the result of don't care less driving or even worse, don't even see what they are squashing as they are driving along!

Eleanor found the moulting male Common Redstart at Blueberry Farm (Maidwell) this morning but couldn't find the others from yesterday. Four Crossbills were flying around fairly aimlessly at the top of Blueberry Hill - they seem to be in short supply this summer.

This afternoon a female Common Redstart was near the chipping compound at Harrington Airfield and there was a good number of Marbled Whites in much the same area - the rough strip leading from the compound towards Bunker One. The rough strip encompassing the three bunkers and the strip down to the concrete track is subject to restricted access tomorrow and Sunday due to ringing operations.

The Purple Emperor butterflies at Fermyn Wood seemingly played the same trick again as yesterday, at least nine were showing well in the morning but they had largely disappeared from view by midday. A few Purple Hairstreaks and a single White Admiral was seen too. A Silver-washed Fritillary at Irchester Country Park was a good record.

A Pied Flycatcher reported at Bucknell Wood today is another good record, presumably a bird already moving south from north/western breeding grounds. A Spotted Flycatcher was in Hanging Houghton village again today.

Regards

Neil M

Small Skipper.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

Great Pied Hoverfly.

Mute Swan with cygnets.

Common Buzzard.

Common Redstarts, butterflies and Hedgehog

Hello

A grey, breezy but yet humid day gave way to sunshine on a few occasions with butterflies showing each time the sun shone, but they were mostly absent during the dull times.

The Fermyn Wood complex provided great views of Purple Emperor in the morning but they pretty much disappeared during the afternoon. Three White Admirals and a Silver-washed Fritillary were in rides between the country park and the main wood. Marbled Whites were common but mobile in Fermyn Wood Country Park.

This morning there were at least four Common Redstarts in a roving tit/warbler flock at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell from the footpath that leads from Blueberry Lodge up to Blueberry Hill. One of the Redstarts was a moulting male and at least two of the others were juveniles, suggesting a mobile family unit.

A Spotted Flycatcher was again in Hanging Houghton village and two Yellow-legged Gulls were off the dam at Pitsford Reservoir this evening.

At Earls Barton Pits today waders were visible on the Hardwater Lake and also the Summer Leys reserve and included four Black-tailed Godwits, four Little Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers plus a Great White Egret.

Regards

Neil M

Purple Emperor today at Fermyn
Wood courtesy of Fiona Barclay.
The first image is of the butterfly
on Fiona's shoulder!

Small Tortoiseshell courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Hedgehog in the front
garden this evening.

Skokholm encounters

Hello

At Pitsford Reservoir today David Arden located a White Admiral butterfly and some Purple Hairstreaks in the Walgrave Bay. This afternoon there was an adult Spotted Flycatcher near the Fishing Lodge and a moulting adult male Goldeneye was in the Scaldwell Bay (surely the same individual that arrives in July every year). Marbled Whites were on the wing at Hanging Houghton and Purple Emperor and Silver-washed Fritillary were on view at Salcey Forest.

Nick saw eight Green Sandpipers at Deene Park Lake today and a Cattle Egret was seen early this morning at Stanwick Pits. A Barn Owl and a Little Owl were again near Hanging Houghton this evening.

Our regular visits to Harrington Airfield have been very quiet of late and again this morning there was nothing of note again. Two days of bird ringing will be occurring at this site at the weekend when the bunkers and old airstrip will be out of bounds - the concrete track and footpaths are unaffected.

A small Northants Ringing Group contingent is currently on the island of Skokholm off the Pembrokeshire coast and they are busy helping out the wardens conducting seabird monitoring and ringing. Last night they processed over two hundred Storm Petrels and look to be catching more tonight. Nocturnal catching the last two nights included plenty of Manx Shearwaters and other birds ringed during the day included Puffins, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Water Rail.

Regards

Neil M

Part of a group of about a
dozen Brown Hares near
Lamport in recent days,
image courtesy of Bill Draper.

Storm Petrel.

Water Rail.

Puffling!

Adult Puffin.

Skokholm images courtesy
of Chris Payne and Kenny
Cramer.

Flying machines

Hello

A few birds noted around the village here at Hanging Houghton - yesterday evening a Little Owl was seen on the outskirts and Barn Owl and Tawny Owls were vocal in the village last night. This morning and at least one vocal Spotted Flycatcher was in trees on the village green and later in the morning two Grey Wagtails flew over south.

Eric struggled to find much out of the ordinary at Thrapston Pits today but the vocal Ring-necked Parakeet was still present. The current A5 hotspot near Lilbourne with the roadside pools near to the DIRFT3 complex was the venue for a possible first summer Baltic Gull early this afternoon and the Wood Sandpiper was still present.

Despite the initial dull conditions, a few Purple Emperor butterflies were on show at Fermyn Wood this morning.

A congregation of waders and egrets at Earls Barton Pits this evening included a Common Sandpiper, a Wood Sandpiper, two Little Ringed Plovers, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Great White Egret and twelve Little Egrets.

An evening walk from Maidwell and through the Dale Farm and Blueberry Farm complexes and then back down through the Brampton Valley to Hanging Houghton was quite productive. A Spotted Flycatcher, a family of Yellow Wagtails, three Grey Partridges and a gathering of Black-tailed Skimmers on an equestrian water jump were probably the best at Dale Farm, and Blueberry Farm held a Common Redstart and at least one Hobby. A colony of Purple Hairstreaks were discovered in a field hedgeline in oaks and ash in the valley and where another pair of Grey Partridge were encountered with another calling Spotted Flycatcher in the oak wood on the Brampton Valley Way. Gone are the days when I would have walked through three Willow Tit territories on that same walk!

The images and video below are courtesy of Lewis Aaron and depict some of the House Martins and Swifts at Lamport Hall yesterday evening.

Regards

Neil M

Birds of Lamport Hall.

Hello

Birds of particular interest are a bit few and far between at the moment but Nick Parker found an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits today and there were four at Pitsford Reservoir (three by the dam and one north of the causeway).

A Wood Sandpiper was reported on the A5 pools between Lilbourne and the DIRFT3 complex early this afternoon.

At Earls Barton Pits this evening there were two Great White Egrets and a Common Sandpiper at the east end of Hardwater Lake with two Little Ringed Plovers on the Summer Leys LNR.

A ringing session at Lamport Hall this evening provided an opportunity to process seven Swifts, twenty-seven House Martins and two Swallows. Two of the House Martins were first ringed in 2018 and 2019. A Hobby made several passes, a Barn Owl was mobbed by a large gull and a Little Owl was heard calling.

Regards

Neil M

Comma.

Egyptian Geese.

A rather large
Common Toad.