Wednesday 12 October 2016

Ringing exploits from the week-end

Hello

Northants Ringing Group members were active in the field again last week-end with sessions at Pitsford Reservoir and Linford Lakes (Milton Keynes).

The nets in the Scaldwell Bay were utilised at Pitsford Reservoir during the afternoon of Saturday 8th and morning of Sunday 9th October, resulting in 59 captures. This included 10 Chiffchaffs, nine Goldcrests, two Redwings, a Blackcap, a Willow Tit and a Jay. One of the Chiffchaffs was a bird previously ringed at Wheldrake Ings reserve in Yorkshire on 26th September 2016 and the Jay was seemingly a bird ringed at Pitsford several years ago with no recaptures since.

Kenny Cramer and team enjoyed an excellent session at Linford on Sunday morning capturing nearly a hundred birds. Correlation with Pitsford was evident with the capture of twenty Chiffchaffs, thirteen Goldcrests, a Blackcap and seven Redwings. Other birds included a Kingfisher, a Green Woodpecker, a Cetti's Warbler and a Lesser Redpoll. Other creatures noted included two Grass Snakes and three Great Crested Newts.

Down here in The Scillies things have quietened down a little although migration is still evident with new birds being found each day. Yesterday (Tuesday), it was decidedly cooler but mostly dry and sunny and still with a stiff easterly wind. Eleanor ran around the complete coastal path around St Mary's first thing, seeing Wryneck, Lapland Bunting and Subalpine Warbler on her way around.

General birding during the day located a second Wryneck and more Yellow-browed Warblers and Firecrests, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher and small numbers of assorted wagtails and chats. A Hobby was mobile around the island and other birds of interest included Mediterranean Gull, Willow Warbler and several Siskins.

Today (Wednesday) and the weather conditions cooled further and some showers materialised this afternoon. At least three Hobbies were hawking insects around the islands and the thrush numbers further increased with more Redwings, Fieldfares and Ring Ouzels. A couple of Lesser Whitethroats were seemingly of eastern origin, an 'acredula'-type Willow Warbler showed well and Firecrests and Yellow-browed Warblers could be found at a number of localities on St Mary's. Jack Snipe were still in evidence on the island and more common waders could be found on the plentiful beaches and rocky outcrops.

Regards

Neil M




Firecrest. Always a stunning bird
and on the Scillies this year they are
 almost as common as the Goldcrest.
A little ringing around our accommodation
has identified five different individuals
utilising the ivy clad elms.

Subalpine Warbler. Considered by some to
be a 'Western' Subalpine Warbler...

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