Monday 26 October 2015

Ditchford WeBS

Hello

Northants Ringing Group members were in action yesterday (Sunday) with sessions at Linford Lakes and Woodford Halse. Birds captured, ringed and released at Linford included a Lesser Redpoll, a Siskin, five Redwings, three Goldcrests and a Treecreeper amongst 75 captures.

Woodford Halse, a new site, provided 76 captures which included four Coal Tits, three Marsh Tits, a Nuthatch, two Goldcrests and ten Chaffinches.

Today (Monday) and a visit to Ditchford Gravel Pits to complete the monthly WeBS count provided views of a pair of adult Peregrine, 16 Egyptian Geese, a Goldeneye, six Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Water Rail and small numbers of Grey Wagtails, Siskins and redpoll sp.

The relatively warm and sunny conditions at Ditchford brought forth plenty of insects including Common Darter and Migrant Hawker dragonflies and a few tardy butterflies. An active and rather large Grass Snake was something of a surprise!

Regards

Neil M




Carrion Crow.
One of two birds at Ditchford
Gravel Pits today exhibiting aberrant
plumage colouration. Both birds
appeared to be first year birds with
grey/coffee coloured feathering and barred
wing feathers. Carrion Crows regularly exhibit
white and silver in the wings but these birds are
certainly different. For many years, a metallic almost
bronze-coloured bird was present at Ditchford
Gravel Pits and it's tempting to think these birds
might be related!

Egyptian Geese.
A displaying pair

Grey Heron.

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