Bits and Bobs

Although I have been out and about I seem to have missed everything !!!!  Harrington Airfield has been very cold, windswept and devoid of birds. Blueberry has not been much better and the recent changes in the land management has dramatically reduced the bird population. 
My "best" birds have been a couple of Barn Owls below Hanging Houghton village and the usual Ravens at Staverton.

The ringers were out at the weekend.
Nick Wood's group caught 5 Sedge Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Blackbird, 2 Cettis Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Dunnock, 1 Wren and 15 Blue Tit pulli at Stortons Pits.
Meanwhile another group were ringing at Linford.   Kenny reports " Linford today was very much the epitome of quality over quantity, with 21 new birds, 9 retraps and a total of 15 species. 
Two Garden Warbler and 3 Reed Warbler validated my predictions, a new Willow Warbler was a nice surprise, while 2 Goldfinches and a Bullfinch added some colour to the proceedings.
At this point it is worth saying that we have long hoped that one of Linford's reliably regular Cuckoo's would find its way into a net but always felt it was a remote possibility. It would therefore be fair to say that never in our wildest dreams did we think we might catch two, a male and female. "

Regards Eleanor