Hello
John Woollett and team were active at Stortons Gravel Pits yesterday (Sunday) and managed to catch 63 birds for research and monitoring purposes. Twenty-seven of these birds were new birds to be ringed. Ten of these were Reed Buntings and eight further individuals of this species were re-trapped making this the most common species processed.
Reed Buntings, like all British buntings, remain a species of concern and although their status is not too alarming it is another species of farmland and marginal habitat that is continuing to decline. Movements of these birds within the county during the last two winters has been interesting with several birds pitching up at a variety of feeding stations showing their ability and need to seek out fresh feeding opportunities.
A Lesser Redpoll was feeding in birches near to the feed station at Stortons. This species has only been present in the county in low numbers so far this winter but might there may be a small influx of birds starting to occur...?
Today (Monday) and our garden at Hanging Houghton attracted at least three Lesser Redpolls, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Nuthatch, a Marsh Tit and a Reed Bunting.
Regards
Neil M
John Woollett and team were active at Stortons Gravel Pits yesterday (Sunday) and managed to catch 63 birds for research and monitoring purposes. Twenty-seven of these birds were new birds to be ringed. Ten of these were Reed Buntings and eight further individuals of this species were re-trapped making this the most common species processed.
Reed Buntings, like all British buntings, remain a species of concern and although their status is not too alarming it is another species of farmland and marginal habitat that is continuing to decline. Movements of these birds within the county during the last two winters has been interesting with several birds pitching up at a variety of feeding stations showing their ability and need to seek out fresh feeding opportunities.
A Lesser Redpoll was feeding in birches near to the feed station at Stortons. This species has only been present in the county in low numbers so far this winter but might there may be a small influx of birds starting to occur...?
Today (Monday) and our garden at Hanging Houghton attracted at least three Lesser Redpolls, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Nuthatch, a Marsh Tit and a Reed Bunting.
Regards
Neil M
2 comments:
Since the snow I've had a male and female visit my garden in Eastfield. Even though the parks lake has a reed bed which hosts Reed Warblers, no Reed Buntings can be found here though so we're my two came from is a curiosity. Moulton is the nearest rural area.
When I first started birding I photographed a Reed Bunting at Summer Leys that was ringed. It had been ringed as a juvenile in Dungeness, Kent.
Your comment about Lesser Redpoll is interesting. I've had a small flock of about 5 in and around my garden since the start of the year, feeding mainly on nyjer seeds in the feeders. This is the first time I've seen them since we moved into the house in January 2012.
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