These super Black-winged Stilts were found at Summer Leys very early this morning by Steve Murfitt and John and Ruth Ward. Initially on the slips they quickly moved to the scrape where they were also seen mating several times throughout the morning.
Making the approach …
that mounting feeling …
that sinking feeling …
- Black-winged Stilts, Summer Leys LNR, 18th May 2014 (Mike Alibone)
This pair has been wandering in eastern England over the past week, having last been seen in Cambridgeshire. This is the fourth record for Northants, the previous three having all been in May, including the first at Boddington Res on 22nd-23rd May 1965, one at Summer Leys on 15th May 1997 and the last, a pair, also at Summer Leys on 1st May 2008.
Northants birds 
Brilliant piece of video mike. Shame it had to have a background of ‘machine gun’ like camera noise. Thanks from those of us who could not be there today. Geof.
Thanks, Geof. I guess I could have edited out the background artillery, although some might feel it adds to the occasion …