Nightingales

 I can't quite believe that it has come round so quickly but it's my backshift week once again when I get to trade one of my week days in exchange for having to work on a Saturday. Today was that day and Shozzer and I visited a couple of county spots in search of interesting insects. Though slightly cooler than it has been of late there was still plenty of sunshine on offer and we had quite a productive day.

Four-spotted Chaser, Black Hairstreak and Painted Lady

It's that time of the year when Black Hairstreaks begin to emerge at Glapthorn and Alan and I popped in to try our luck. Just within the entrance we saw a Four-spotted Chaser and while taking photos of it  we were scolded by one Nightingale and serenaded by another. Along the rides we saw a few Speckled Woods before the hoped for Black Hairstreaks were noted. The first were rather flighty but some did begin to settle and we managed to get some decent pictures of them as they nectared on brambles. Having then had a chat with the county recorder  and several other observers we decided to move on, a Painted Lady was noted in the lane where we had parked the car.

Scarce Chasers and Red Admiral

Barnwell CP was our next destination and we were treated to further sightings of Painted Ladies as well as several Red Admirals. Alan found my first Scarce Chasers of the year, clearly they've been out for a while as we saw quite a few on our wander around. Other dragons showing today included two new for the year Emperors, Hairy Dragonfly and Four-spotted Chaser. No surprises amongst the damsels though I didn't spend that much time looking for the park's small population of Variables. With the temperatures beginning to rise we headed for the NVB Brewery Tap and Kitchen for a thirst slaking pint or two, a predictable but satisfying end to our spotting.

Black Hairstreak and a garden first Common Blue Damsel noted yesterday.

A Touch On The Warm Side

 I spent a bit of time doing some chores around the house before I set off for Priors Hall at around mid morning. Clear skies and sunshine were as much a feature here as they were throughout most of the country though I suspect that it may have been too hot for many species.

LRP, Oystercatcher and Caspian Gull?

Having seen a Holly Blue in my garden and an Orange-tip near the train station I was hopeful of seeing some good insects and I wasn't too disappointed. Butterflies seemed turbocharged by the heat and Common Blues and Small Heaths were the most obvious today. Several faded looking Painted Ladies may well have been newly arrived migrants, as I said in a previous post this could be a very good year for this attractive migrant. At the quarry lake an Oystercatcher was a good record, they're a rare species here. Other birds included Little Ringed Plovers, Great Crested Grebe and what I took to be an adult Caspian Gull. Best ode was a teneral Hairy Dragonfly which turned out to be the first of several seen today.

Painted Lady and Banded Demoiselle

Around the ponds it was clear that Four-spotted Chasers were emerging en masse with many shiny winged youngsters making their first flight. Both Grizzled and Dingy Skippers were noted though they didn't settle long enough for me to get a pic and at least three Holly Blues were seen too. My attempt to find Green Hairstreak and Downy Emerald sadly failed though I will continue to search for both over the next couple of weeks. As the temperatures rose and the wildlife became harder to find I decided to call it quits and head back to Weldon where a pint in the Shoulder of Mutton helped revive me before catching the bus home.

Hairy Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser and DH Chipmunk.

Nuts About KP

 This morning Alan S and I made the relatively short cross border hop to the reserve at Rutland Water. Our target was a male Kentish Plover which has been hanging around Lagoon 4 for at least several days. In gloriously sunny and increasingly warm conditions we arrived before the centre had opened. Deciding to sneak in before the masses arrived we headed off towards the lagoon and the appropriately named Plover Hide from where the bird had been noted.

Glossy Ibis and Avocet

It took twenty minutes to reach the hide which turned out to be pretty quiet, we had already passed several other "sneakers" heading back towards the car park and their news was encouraging, the bird was showing albeit distantly. A lady birder in the hide was kind enough to let me see the bird in her scope and I had good though rather distant views. Happy, I left Shozzer and the bird behind and returned to the centre to obtain our permits. I returned to find that the bird had gone and had to content myself with distant views of a Glossy Ibis, rather a lot of Avocets as well as a flock of at least eight Sanderlings. With such insect friendly weather on offer we then opted to abandon Rutland and head back towards the hallowed soil of Northants,

Wood Whites

Fineshade Wood was our destination of choice with a view to finding a Chequered Skipper or two. Not for the first time our efforts met with failure though we enjoyed some good nature spotting and didn't feel that disappointed. Wood Whites were apparently introduced here in 2024 and last year I managed to see one. Clearly their fortunes have improved as we saw good numbers including several outside the wood itself. Best of the rest was my first Green Hairstreak of the year, views were brief though conclusive. Other species noted included Common and Holly Blues, Small Copper, G-V and Small Whites, Brimstone, Orange-tip, Small Heath and Speckled Wood. Other nature noted before we left included Raven, Common Lizard and Broad-bodied Chaser. Our day concluded at the Cross Keys in King's Cliffe where some serious rehydration occurred before we returned to Corby.

Small Copper and Small Copper

Skippers

 It's been quite difficult to catch up with some of the more interesting butterflies this spring as my days off often coincide with rubbish weather. Today things looked a little more promising and I opted to hop on to the X4 and head towards Priors Hall. Although the sunshine was still rationed to an extent there was just enough to achieve some good results.

Common Blue, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers

At the quarry lake a Little Egret joined the regular crew and at least one Great Crested Grebe was on view, will this be the year when we get our first site breeding record? Closer to the ponds a Common Blue butterfly was my first of the year, at least half a dozen were on the wing. Next up were Dingy and Grizzled Skippers with the former in particular present in good numbers. Also on view were a pair of smalls, Copper and Heath, and I had a fleeting glimpse of a probable Painted Lady. Around the ponds I saw my first Azure Damselflies of the year keeping company with some Large Reds. Several Chasers which I thought may well have been Four-spotteds were seen but not confirmed. As the cloud cover increased and insect activity diminished accordingly I decided to head back into Weldon and catch the bus back to Corby.

Small Copper, Azure and Large Red Damselfly

What On Earth Is A Woof Wag?

 Shozzer and I were a bit stuck for ideas this morning as the spring birding passage is gradually winding down and there were no obvious targets to aim for. As is was quite sunny early on we decided to visit Wicksteed Park in search of Variable Damselflies. Joining us in Wickies were the horde of weekly park runners though their admirable exertions did not affect our quest and we headed to the fishing lake feeling quite optimistic.

Variable Damselflies

Fortune favoured our efforts and we found quite a lot of Variables sheltering in waterside vegetation, Wickies continues to be the best site in the county for this species. Other odes in the general area were Hairy Dragonfly, Blue-tailed and Red-eyed Damselflies while the only butterfly was a Green-veined White. The only bird of note was a singing Cetti's Warbler and we didn't hang around for too long. On our way back to the car we saw a collection of tents and stalls as well as signs for a Woof Wag, the number of dogs suggested that it was a mutt related event but my curiosity was not sufficient enough to find out for sure!

Wood White

Next and last wildlife spotting stop of the day was at Harry's Park Wood where Wood Whites were the main target. One did oblige us and gave some very good views as it nectared on Ground Ivy, it's great to confirm the presence of this delicate species here for another year. Other species noted here included Small and Green-veined Whites, Orange-tip, Holly Blue and Speckled Wood while the only bird of interest was a Cuckoo. Not for the first time our day finished in the Samuel Lloyd where several pints of Ruddles seemed as good a way as any to end the day.

Not Great

 Quite a contrast between yesterday and today with grey skies and a cool breeze replacing the much pleasanter conditions that I enjoyed at Earls Barton. Hoping for a break in the overcast I headed over to Priors Hall but such breaks as there were turned out to be all too brief and it was a fairly uninspiring slog with little to show for my efforts.

Rose Chafers and Small Heath

At the quarry lake there was at least one Great Crested Grebe still present and I could hear Little Ringed Plovers too, the local Sand Martins were skimming just above the water surface in their quest for food. Around the ponds there was a good selection of warblers which included Reed and at least one rattling Lesser Whitethroat.  Few insects were braving the conditions and the most memorable were some jewel like Rose Chafers and a single Small Heath butterfly. The afternoon turned out to be much sunnier but by then I was  engaged in other matters, hopefully next weekend will be a little warmer!

Back Into The Swing Of It

 A gentle return back into the county wildlife scene saw Shozzer and I head to the New Workings near Earls Barton for a saunter around. In pleasantly warm and sunny conditions we had an entertaining meander around the site enjoying a few good birds and rather a lot of interesting insects.

Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Common Blue Damsel and broad-bodied Chaser

Four Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and a Grey Partridge were the pick of the reportable species and at least two male Cuckoos were heard calling. A Common Blue Damselfly was my first of the year, we saw many more during the day. My first dragonfly of 2026, a Broad-bodied Chaser followed soon after and gave good views. Next up was a Painted Lady near the lock and at least one more was seen during our walk, after last year's blank this was quite an encouraging development. Several Small Coppers were noted next to the river and at least one Holly Blue. More new damsels for the year were also seen with both Blue-tailed and Red-eyed being noted. Alan found several  Hairy Dragonflies and also a Small Tortoiseshell while I picked out yet another year first - a Small Heath. With plenty of Banded Demoiselles flitting around the waterside vegetation it was all in all a very good morning.

Hairy Dragonfly,  Red -eyed and Blue-tailed Damselflies and Small Heath

Next up on the agenda was Summer Leys where we made a briefish stop on our way to the Coach and Horses in Wellingborough. Best birds were a trio of Avocets and a Whimbrel in Wader Bay which though distant showed OK in the scope. Although there were quite a few insects about the only new species for the year was a Red Admiral at the Toad Pond. With the heat now becoming a little oppressive we headed off for that well deserved pint that I alluded to earlier.

Small Copper, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Avocet and Whimbrel