Thursday 28 February 2019

Ringing and Willow Tits.

Hello

Our apologies for the lack of blog messages recently, we have been off-line for several days!

Last Friday (22nd) a bird ringing session took place at the feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir which successfully caused the processing of over a hundred birds. This total was made up of eight Mallard, a couple of Blackbirds, a Robin, four Dunnocks, nine Blue Tits, ten Great Tits, six Tree Sparrows, four Chaffinches, a Brambling plus a staggering twenty-nine Reed Buntings and twenty-nine Yellowhammers. An Oystercatcher was loudly proclaiming it's presence in the Scaldwell Bay!

A ringing session was then completed at Stortons Pits on Sunday 24th Feb, the group successfully netting 68 birds of thirteen species made up of eleven Great Tits, twenty-four Blue Tits, three Long-tailed Tits, three Robins, a Blackbird, a Song Thrush, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Cetti's Warbler, a Bullfinch, seven Greenfinches, six Chaffinches, two Goldfinches and seven Reed Buntings.

A major drive in the UK to try and successfully map our remaining Willow Tits is underway with localities in Northamptonshire among them. Last week a survey was completed at Pitsford Reservoir and the pair of birds known to be in the Scaldwell Bay were located using the playback method. Last year it seemed that we only had one pair on-site - further work will be completed to see if any more can be found this year.

Regards

Neil M



Willow Tit at Pitsford
Reservoir courtesy of
Dave Jackson.

Curlew courtesy of
Cathy Ryden. The next
two months should see
a trickle of Curlews moving
through the county...

Yellowhammer courtesy
of John Tilly.

Reed Bunting courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

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