Reservoir birding

Hello

Yesterday evening and there were two male Common Redstarts at Harrington Airfield in bushes between the chippings compound and Bunker One. Northamptonshire increasingly serves as a stopping off area for passage Redstarts at this time of the year and it is likely that most of the birds that turn up in the summer remain in situ whilst there is plenty of food and cover and complete their post-breeding moult in scrub/hedgerow habitat before pushing on.

On the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir yesterday evening there was a Garganey (with a bit of a limp) on the bund in front of the James Fisher hide plus eight Little Egrets, two Great White Egrets and then two drake Red-crested Pochards in the Walgrave Bay. Four Green Sandpipers were seen at Lilbourne Meadows reserve.

This morning and a ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir was fairly unremarkable, the highlights being a re-trapped Blackbird that is now nine years old and a Blue Tit that is at least six years old The last four Black-headed Gull chicks were ringed on the rafts in the Scaldwell Bay where at least one pair of Common Terns are now nesting now there is room! The total number of gull chicks ringed there during the breeding season this year was 140, but there were plenty of others that were not ringed - a successful year for them. There were three broods of Tufted Duck there today and other birds noted included two Great White Egrets, twelve Little Egrets, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, two Kingfishers and the two drake Red-crested Pochards again in the Walgrave Bay.

At Hollowell Reservoir this morning an Osprey flew over fields north of Guilsborough and the Dunlin was still present. Stanford Reservoir continues to host a Garganey today plus ten Little Egrets, two Common Sandpipers, a Hobby and six Ravens.

Regards

Neil M

Elephant Hawk-moth courtesy
of Jim Dunkley.

Round-leafed Fluellen.

A leveret at Harrington Airfield - now 
which way should I go?

Rosechafer courtesy
of John Tilly.

The complex world of moths!

Hello

This morning I decided to turn my attention more to moths, an area I am not at all familiar with and being continually daunted by the sheer number of species and frequently their similarity to each other! Taking advantage of a moth trap set up overnight in Scaldwell village we tried our best at identifying the contents and taking a few photos of the more distinctive ones - my apologies if I have made identification errors!

Whilst in Scaldwell a pair of Hobbies made several sorties overhead, at one stage both chasing a Swift with an unknown outcome. A Spotted Flycatcher was present too.

Ravens and Spotted Flycatchers were in Hanging Houghton village today and a family of Spotted Flycatchers were at Lamport Hall.

Yesterday evening there were four Yellow-legged Gulls at Wicksteed Park, Kettering and early this morning there was an Osprey at Hollowell Reservoir plus four Little Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin. A long-staying Grasshopper Warbler was 'reeling' at Braunston.

The Garganey remains in Blowers Lodge Bay at Stanford Reservoir and a Black-tailed Godwit was there this morning plus a Little Ringed Plover, twelve Little Egrets, a Common Sandpiper and four Ravens.

Regards

Neil M

Old Lady.

Drinker.

Buff Ermine.

Burnished Brass.

Holly Blue butterfly.

Birds of the summer

Hello

Yesterday evening a Hobby was feeding on insects around gardens in Hanging Houghton feeding well into the darkness. 

A quick visit to Pitsford Reservoir this morning provided sightings of two Great White Egrets, seven Little Egrets, a Green Sandpiper and an adult Yellow-legged Gull all in the Scaldwell Bay.

Birds around the village in Hanging Houghton today included Raven, Spotted Flycatcher and Little Owl with a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley between the village and Cottesbrooke. A male Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this morning.

At Stanford Reservoir the Garganey was still present today with ten Black-tailed Godwits this evening, plus two Common Sandpipers, two Hobbies and a Kingfisher.

Two Grey Wagtails and a Kingfisher were at Welford Reservoir this evening and a pair of Grey Partridge were between Welford and Naseby villages.

Regards

Neil M

Hobby courtesy
of Dave Jackson.

Male Common Redstart.

Common Malachite Beetle
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Hoverfly volucella zonaria
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Moths, a Quail and Storm Petrels

Hello

A cloudy, warm day where I was with attempts at light showers which quickly evaporated!

Two eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard were in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning and a Garganey was at Stanford Reservoir plus a Yellow-legged Gull, a Common Sandpiper and a Hobby was caught and ringed (the first time this has happened at Stanford).

A Quail was seen in a field between Greens Norton and Litchborough this afternoon and a Common Redstart was seen just east of Braunston. At least two Ravens passed over Hanging Houghton this morning.

A contingent of the Northants Ringing Group arrived yesterday on the Pembrokeshire island of Skokholm and last night they caught and processed 155 Storm Petrels - and today they have been catching and ringing Puffins!

Regards

Neil M

Privet Hawk-moth at
Hanging Houghton today
courtesy of Fiona Barclay.

Eurasian Storm-petrel
Skokholm courtesy of
Lewis Aaron.

The heat is on!

Hello

An early morning ringing session before the heat of the day was upon us took place at Pitsford Reservoir today with over fifty captures of common birds with Great Tits and Blue Tits predominating. Other birds included a couple of Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler and a Chiffchaff already bearing a ring. It transpires that the Chiffchaff was first ringed at Stanford Reservoir on 14th April 2022 - the evidence suggests that this male bird now holds a territory at Pitsford Reservoir! Also caught and ringed was a smart young male Green Woodpecker.

Birds noted north of the causeway at the reservoir included three drake Red-crested Pochard (Walgrave Bay), three Great White Egrets, six Little Egrets, a Wigeon, two Kingfishers and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

At Stanford Reservoir today an Osprey was seen plus three Little Egrets, a Common Sandpiper, a Wigeon and a Kingfisher.

At Lilbourne Meadows reserve there was a Common Redstart, eight Green Sandpipers and a Little Ringed Plover and Harrington Airfield this evening had a Common Redstart in bushes at Bunker Two, a family of Grey Partridges, a Hobby, a couple of Ravens and nine Marbled White butterflies. A small number of Marbled White butterflies persist at Lamport Hall too.

A female Sparrowhawk took no notice of Eleanor in the garden with the dogs when it swept straight past to take a juvenile Starling feeding on the ground just a few metres away (Hanging Houghton).

More clearwing moths were keeping some of the moth enthusiasts happy with Red-tipped and Red-belted Clearwings being attracted to the pheromone lures. Fineshade Wood today was good for a Purple Emperor, Purple Hairstreaks and Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillaries and White-letter Hairstreaks were found at the junction of the A5199 with the Naseby and Guilsborough road. Purple Emperors and the usual entourage of other butterflies were still on show at Lady Wood today.

Regards

Neil M

Young male
Green Woodpecker.

Common Buzzard.

White-letter Hairstreak.

Interesting insects

Hello

Phew that was a hot one - and more to come it seems! The temperature levels were about thirty degrees Centigrade at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon. Birds noted at Pitsford today included an Osprey over the Scaldwell Bay this afternoon, a first summer Yellow-legged Gull and at least two Great White Egrets (two seen initially in The Walgrave Bay and two seen subsequently in the Scaldwell Bay). Dragonflies were out in large numbers and the warm weather and low wind speeds saw Blue Emperors and Black-tailed Skimmers hunting right out in the middle of the bays. Pheromone traps were used to attract both Hornet Clearwing and Lunar Hornet Clearwing moths.

Barn Owls were active in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included two Black-tailed Godwits, ten Little Egrets, a Common Sandpiper, a Hobby, two Ravens and two Cetti's Warblers.

The Lilbourne reserve and DIRFT area provided views of a Common Redstart, four Curlews, two Green Sandpipers and a Little Ringed Plover.

A Purple Emperor was at Salcey Forest - again along the track beyond the Horsebox car park and other butterflies included four White Admirals and three Silver-washed Fritillaries. Marbled White butterflies were active at Heyford Fields today.

Regards

Neil M

Common Swift acting as
a host to the Swift Lousefly
 or Flatfly Crataerina pallida.

Close-up of the remarkable
Crataerina pallida.

Images courtesy of
Sue Hetherington.

Black Arches moth courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Elephant Hawk-moth courtesy
of Michelle Spinks.

Ringing at Lamport Hall.

Hello

A late blog as just in from an evening ringing session at Lamport Hall where we caught eight Swifts, twenty House Martins, three Swallows and a Wren. A pair of Hobbies were causing a great deal of anxiety at the colony with repeated attacks whilst we were there, catching at least one House Martin and terrorising the remainder. Three of the Swifts were re-traps from previous years with one of them being caught and ringed way back on 3rd July 2017. One of the House Martins was first ringed there as a juvenile last year and is now a breeding adult. Other birds noted included Ravens, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Grey Wagtail.

Seven Bar-tailed Godwits were seen at Clifford Hill Pits this morning and twenty Black-tailed Godwits dropped in to Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon in the Scaldwell Bay but may not have stayed. Seven Black-tailed Godwits were also seen at Stanford Reservoir today plus three Common Sandpipers, two Little Egrets, a Kingfisher and three Cetti's Warblers.

Insect news included a White-letter Hairstreak briefly in a Duston garden, a Willow Emerald Damselfly in a Blisworth garden and Sallow Clearwing moths to two gardens with the use of pheromone attracters.

Regards

Neil M

Common Swift.

House Martin courtesy
of Lewis Aaron.

Swallow courtesy
of Chris Payne.

The start of the heatwave

Hello

Yesterday evening at Pitsford Reservoir there were two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Little Egret in the vicinity of the dam. Today birds noticed on the reserve north of the causeway included two Great White Egrets, three Little Egrets, an eclipse drake Red-crested Pochard (Scaldwell Bay), a couple of Grey Wagtails, a Hobby and a brood of five Tufted Ducks. Seventeen Common Tern chicks were ringed on the new tern raft in the Walgrave Bay. The meadows are full of insects and there were still plenty of Marbled Whites there and also Small Coppers are out and about along the track down to the Scaldwell Bay.

My visit to Harrington Airfield was uneventful although there were still quite a few Marbled Whites on the wing there too plus common butterflies and a variety of day-flying moths.

Two Hobbies were pursuing birds in Lamport village this morning and then subsequently mobbing a Common Buzzard at Hanging Houghton. A Barn Owl and a small group of Purple Hairstreaks were present at Lamport Hall this morning and Spotted Flycatchers persist in Hanging Houghton village.

Butterfly news and at least four White-letter Hairstreaks were found around an elm at the far-flung Easton-on-the-Hill at the top end of the county and Purple Emperors were on show at Salcey Forest where Andrew had three in the canopy by the Horsebox car park and two more on a track just to the south. Silver-washed Fritillaries were present too.

Stanford Reservoir birds today included an Osprey briefly this evening, a 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler this morning, two Common Sandpipers and two Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

John Tilly enjoyed
watching these Common
Dolphins whilst on holiday
in Devon!

Muntjac at Scotland
Wood today.

This WW1 replica biplane,
possibly a Se5, was 'beating up'
Harrington Airfield today.

Black-tailed Skimmer.

Sunshine produces the insects

Hello

It was my turn to be guided as I joined company with Fiona Barclay for an extended wander around the Fermyn Wood complex today including Lady and Souther Wood. Initially it was very dull and cloudy and the first couple of hours didn't produce much in the way of interesting sightings. We did come across a family party of Spotted Flycatchers in Fermyn Wood but for a long while the only butterflies on offer were slow-moving Ringlets! Swifts and Red Kites were patrolling the skies and Skylarks and a Yellow Wagtail sang from the large pea field between the woods. Marsh Tit 'sneezed' from the woodland and Nuthatches were vocally active and it was possible to hear Blackcap and Garden Warbler youngsters begging for food. A couple of Hummingbird Hawk-moths were pleasant distractions.

Fiona skillfully found a single Black Hairstreak being a little wind-blown on some Blackthorn in Lady Wood and we began to find other aspects of wildlife including a Southern Hawker and Fallow Deer. By mid-morning there was warmth in the air and we saw a Purple Emperor briefly in the canopy of some ash trees, noting a single Pyramidal Orchid in the verge below. Shortly after this the sunshine dappled through and the butterflies emerged and we saw a variety of common species and good numbers of male Purple Emperors, many of them on the tracks. Purple Hairstreaks became visible and odonata included Blue Emperor, Brown Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer and a posing Broad-bodied Chaser.

Marbled Whites were visible today at Fermyn Wood, Blueberry Farm (Maidwell), Hanging Houghton and Lamport Hall.

A Birdguides report indicates a possible Quail was seen in flight at Harrington Airfield this morning over an oat field near to the road.

At Stanford Reservoir a Quail was heard calling for a short time this morning and a Black-tailed Godwit was there briefly before flying SW. Other birds included a Hobby, four Common Sandpipers, two Little Egrets, the Wigeon still and two Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Black Hairstreak.

Pyramidal Orchid.

Red Admiral.

Purple Emperor.

Broad-bodied Chaser.

Purple Hairstreak.

Breezy Wednesday

Hello

A rather breezy day and with much cloud which was a shame but still with underlying summer warmth out of the wind.

Yesterday afternoon and Bill Draper discovered a Silver-washed Fritillary in a spinney on the Lamport Estate, a site first for this fairly recent colonist in the county. Also yesterday and Angus saw and photographed a Black Hairstreak in Fermyn Wood as well as noting eighteen other species of butterfly.

This morning at Pitsford Reservoir there were two Great White Egrets in the Scaldwell Bay plus a Green Sandpiper and a Redshank. An Osprey was up by the dam, carrying a fish off towards Brixworth. Spotted Flycatchers were noted in villages in Scaldwell and Hanging Houghton. Birds at Thrapston Pits today included an eclipse drake Garganey on the Titchmarsh reserve plus a Redshank and nineteen Little Egrets.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included a Little Ringed Plover first thing, three Common Sandpipers, two Little Egrets, a Wigeon, a Cuckoo and a Cetti's Warbler.

Two Kingfishers were along the Brampton Brook below Hanging Houghton this morning and a Barn Owl was hunting there this evening.

Birds visible from the old railway line at Summer Leys LNR included a Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper and a Dunlin. Access via the car park and Mary's lake was cordoned off due to a police incident.

Kelmarsh Hall this evening was good for two Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, a brood of Gadwall and a family of Spotted Flycatchers, with Scarlet Tiger moth and Purple Hairstreak butterflies being spotted too.

Regards

Neil M

Thick-headed Fly
Sicus ferrugineus.

Small Tortoiseshell.

Great White Egret.

Great Crested Grebe
shielding chicks.

Images all courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Staying local surveys

Hello

I spent a very enjoyable couple of hours this morning with local wildlife expert Bill Draper on the Lamport Estate. We assessed the numbers of active House Martin nests and Swift nests at the Hall, finding an adult Grey Wagtail, a pair of Pied Wagtails with a nest, an active Swallow nest, a late Great Tit nest with young and a family party of Spotted Flycatchers in the village rectory garden (subsequently seen in the grounds of the church). Nearby ponds have been dredged and landscaped and they attracted a Mandarin Duck, two juvenile Grey Wagtails, a couple of fly-through Siskins and Black-tailed Skimmers.

This afternoon I was with John Hunt at Spratton where we checked Swift nest boxes in the village. John has been trying very hard to attract Swifts to several houses and the church in the village over quite some time and his determined efforts, well-crafted nest boxes and other deployed devices is now paying dividends and we found four boxes containing Swift nestlings.

At Pitsford Reservoir this evening there was a flock of eleven adult Black-tailed Godwits in the Scaldwell Bay, initially between the Maytrees Hide and the Bird Club hide and later on the bund visible from the James Fisher hide. There was also a Tufted Duck brood of just one duckling, three Little Egrets, a Yellow-legged Gull and plenty of Black-tailed Skimmers. Single Ravens were at Brixworth and Barton Seagrave and twenty Marbled White butterflies were active at Harrington Airfield at lunchtime.

An Osprey was seen flying south-west over Little Irchester at lunchtime today and a belated report received of a single White Stork seen over Spratton village on Sunday afternoon heading SSE. At Stanford Reservoir there was a flock of twelve Redshanks again this evening plus a Green Sandpiper, four Common Sandpipers, a Hobby, a Great White Egret and two Little Egrets.

The male Common Redstart was at Lilbourne reserve along the eastern fence line with two Green Sandpipers and two Little Ringed Plovers also present.

Regards

Neil M

Black-headed Cardinal Beetle
with pseudo scorpion.

Marbled White on
Pyramidal Orchid.

Purple Emperor.

Purple Hairstreak.

All images courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Me, my camera and a few butterflies

Hello

I visited the Fermyn Wood complex today, spending just over four hours around Fermyn, Lady and Souther Woods admiring the butterflies and other creatures, particularly during the first couple of hours with strong sunshine. The Silver-washed Fritillaries were probably the stars of the show, flying around at super speeds but also feeding on bramble flowers and allowing close approaches. There was at least one of the 'valezina' form in Fermyn. Several White Admirals were also whizzing around and also have a fondness for bramble flowers and although Purple Emperors were seen I failed to confirm one. Purple Hairstreaks were particularly numerous, particularly in Fermyn and a long list of common butterflies put in fine performances. Hummingbird Hawk-moths were busy and there were several other day-flying moths about. Three Common Lizards were showing on a log pile and birds included a Spotted Flycatcher. Odonata included Blue Emperor, Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker.

I subsequently visited Fineshade and spent about an hour on the southern outskirts of the wood near to the old railway line and Top Lodge. Here also there were Silver-washed Fritillaries and a couple of White Admirals and other butterflies included at least ten Marbled Whites. A Slow worm was a nice find.

A visit to nearby Blatherwycke Lake coincided with an Otter fishing in the southern section and birds noted included three broods of Gadwall, four Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, two Mandarin Ducks, a first summer Hobby and a Black Swan. Odonata included Blue Emperor and Banded Demoiselle. Deene Lake attracted four Green Sandpipers, a Little Egret and a Black Swan plus Brown Hawker and Banded Demoiselle.

A quick return to Fermyn later yielded a couple of fast-flying canopy butterflies that were either White Admiral or Purple Emperor but they were quickly away before I identified them.

Dave James did well to find a late Black Hairstreak butterfly at Stonepit Close, Old Sulehay today.

Eleanor took a walk around Harlestone Heath today and saw two Spotted Flycatchers just inside the A428 entrance and two Siskins within the complex. A female/immature Common Redstart was at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell. A Barn Owl was between Scaldwell village and Hanging Houghton this evening.

Adrian saw a warbler briefly early this morning at Weekley Wood Avenue, Kettering which could have been a Dartford Warbler but unfortunately the bird wasn't seen again. There was negative news from Lilbourne with respect to the Pectoral Sandpiper of the last two days.

Nine Black-tailed Godwits and two Common Sandpipers were at the Summer Leys LNR this evening and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a Curlew, seven Common Sandpipers, a Great White Egret, four Little Egrets, a Hobby and three Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Silver-washed Fritillary.

Silver-washed Fritillary
of the 'valezina' form.

Comma.

Common Lizards.

White Admiral.

Banded Demoiselle.