Pitsford

Hi

Yesterday afternoon (21st) and this morning (22nd) saw the first ringing session of the season at the Old Scaldwell Road feeding station at Pitsford Res.  The main target was Tree Sparrows and 28 juveniles were caught and ringed.  The majority did not show post-juvenile moult which indicates that they were late brood birds from not far away.  Previous ringing data on Tree Sparrows occurring at the feed station has recorded at least two movements of birds linked to the East Yorkshire coast. Some 61 birds were caught in total which did include some common warblers too.

Also this morning a WeBS count was completed at Pitsford.  It was very quiet for both waterbirds and migrants.  The most notable birds were the two drake Red-crested Pochard which today were back in the Scaldwell Bay, a Goldeneye (Walgrave Bay) and any number of mobile Common Sandpipers (somewhere between 5-12).  Marsh and Willow Tits and Nuthatch remain on-site in small numbers on the reserve section.

Regards

E & N