Saturday 11 March 2017

Spring migration is underway...

Hello

Jacob was out and about all day concentrating most of his efforts at Pitsford Reservoir where he noticed significant all day diurnal migration, in particular north-bound Meadow Pipits, Starlings and gulls. The Red-necked Grebe was again north of the causeway and other bids noted included the White-fronted Goose still, seven Little Egrets, two Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, two Oystercatchers, two Snipe, a Siskin, a Grey Wagtail, six Chiffchaffs, three Marsh Tits and a hunting Barn Owl at dusk.

Jacob also paid Harrington Airfield a visit this afternoon noting a large concentration of thrushes amounting to four hundred Fieldfares and two hundred Redwings. Other birds involved forty-five Golden Plovers, a Willow Tit and two Chiffchaffs.

Eric Graham's walk on the Titchmarsh Reserve at Thrapston today was enjoyable with several Chiffchaffs, seven singing Cetti's Warblers, seven Redpolls and a Siskin coming to the feeders and six Oystercatchers on-site.

Helen Franklin, John Woollett and Barbara and Chris Payne committed to some woodland bird ringing at Glyn Davies Wood today way over to the west of the county. They caught 78 birds of 12 species made up of a Wren, 2 Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 31 Blue Tits, 29 Great Tits, 5 Coal Tits, a Robin, a Dunnock, a Chaffinch, a Nuthatch and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Two of the Great Tits were first ringed there in the winter of 2012/2013. Interesting birds noted included at least one Raven.

Two Ravens were again on territory at Staverton this morning and a single was at Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M


Processing birds at Glyn Davies
Wood in comparative comfort!
Once the birds are extracted from
mist nets they are placed in a soft
cotton bag and taken to a nearby
ringing station. Here Helen is recording
 all the details whilst Chris and John
 handle and assess the birds.
Image courtesy of Barbara Payne.

Little Egret.

Blue Tit.
Image courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

The Raven, and now very
much a county bird!

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