Friday 2 December 2016

Pitsford ringing

Hello

A two hour netting session at Pitsford Reservoir this morning quickly provided 71 captures in Christies Copse, situated on the west side of the Walgrave Bay. Forty-one of these were new birds with the remaining thirty birds being mostly re-trap tits from previous efforts or the on-going nest-box scheme. The bird feeders pull in tits from around the reservoir and it is rather concerning how few young tits from the nest-boxes have been accounted for, further evidence of a poor breeding season locally for both Blue and Great Tits. Only one Coal Tit was a surprise but it is likely that had we kept the nets open for longer more Coal Tits would have been caught.

Highlights included a Redwing, two Song Thrushes, eleven Goldcrests, two Willow Tits and two Marsh Tits.

Other birds recorded in this section of the bay included a pair of Red-crested Pochard (male and female), at least one Water Rail, three Woodcock, a Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher and a couple of vocal Ravens. Another two Kingfishers and a Green Sandpiper were in Yacht Bay at the other end of the reservoir with a flock of about twelve Golden Plovers over fields near to Scaldwell village.

Regards

Neil M



Green Sandpiper at Pitsford Reservoir
courtesy of Robin Gossage.


A Jay at Weston Mill,
Northampton back on
the frosty 29th November!
Images courtesy of John Gamble.

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