Friday 21 December 2018

Festive birds

Hello

A mild but wet and breezy affair today but the birds were still pleased to see me at the usual feeding stations!

The Ring-necked Duck managed to stay hidden at Pitsford today despite plenty of people looking for it! The regular birds seen included the eleven Whooper Swans, the adult Bewick's Swan, sixteen Red-crested Pochard, a few Pintail, three Great White Egrets and a pair of Stonechat. A drake Smew and the two Great Northern Divers were reportedly still present.

Thrapston Pits also kept its usual birds today with two Great White Egrets, the juvenile Whooper Swan and the Scaup all still present (courtesy of Nick Parker).

A Grey Wagtail was at Brixworth Treatment Works today and the usual Bramblings and the Barn Owl were still in situ at Hanging Houghton.

The Hen Harrier was again see fleetingly between Ringstead and Stanwick this afternoon.

A flurry of more ringing recoveries have proved interesting as follows:-

A first year male Blackcap was caught and ringed at Stortons Pits on 28th August 2018 and then captured and released again on 30th September 2018 at St Margarets, Dover in Kent. Presumably on its way to warmer climes this bird had travelled 201 km in a south easterly direction and taking up to 33 days to complete it.

A young drake Mallard caught and ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 23rd December 2003 was found dead with an injury at Towcester on 20th December 2018 at the ripe old age of fifteen years!

Finally a first year Blue Tit ringed at Linford Lakes (Milton Keynes) on 29th September 2018 was caught and released at Deangarden, Buckinghamshire on 20th December 2018, travelling 52 km south within 82 days.

Regards

Neil M


Robin

Sparrowhawk courtesy
of David Arden.

A Robin is always festive and
the Sparrowhawk is trying it's best!

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