Hello
Well every June seems to be the same, we receive these powerful storms with heavy rain and cold temperatures! Several days of this has a detrimental effect on breeding birds to the point that a whole generation of some species can be lost. Typically our brood of five Blue Tits fledged from our garden nest box early yesterday morning - I wonder how many have managed to survive?
However tomorrow's forecast suggests a warmer and sunnier day, still with strong winds, but at least it provides an opportunity for survivors to recuperate. Thursday however may be a similar re-run of today!
It was therefore gratifying to see a fledged and independent juvenile Mistle Thrush at Pitsford Reservoir this evening and the local House Martins, Sand Martins, Swallows and Swifts were feeding in reasonable numbers in the lee of the trees at the Sailing Club where there were plenty of flying insects despite the strong wind. A Little Ringed Plover was still present and one of the adult Oystercatchers persistently feeds on the grass verge of the road causeway between Holcot and Brixworth which makes me nervous as it is very close to moving traffic!
Another ringing recovery has come through, again one of many Goldfinches that Chris Payne catches and rings in the south of the county. This individual was a young male which was caught and ringed at Greens Norton on 1st November 2016 and was caught again by a ringer at Leswalt, Dumfries and Galloway on 5th April this year. The second location is 411km from the first, this small finch having travelled North West during a period of 155 days. In some respects this is a similar pattern to the Siskin movements, suggesting that perhaps many Scottish Goldfinches move through or winter in middle England.
Regards
Neil M
Well every June seems to be the same, we receive these powerful storms with heavy rain and cold temperatures! Several days of this has a detrimental effect on breeding birds to the point that a whole generation of some species can be lost. Typically our brood of five Blue Tits fledged from our garden nest box early yesterday morning - I wonder how many have managed to survive?
However tomorrow's forecast suggests a warmer and sunnier day, still with strong winds, but at least it provides an opportunity for survivors to recuperate. Thursday however may be a similar re-run of today!
It was therefore gratifying to see a fledged and independent juvenile Mistle Thrush at Pitsford Reservoir this evening and the local House Martins, Sand Martins, Swallows and Swifts were feeding in reasonable numbers in the lee of the trees at the Sailing Club where there were plenty of flying insects despite the strong wind. A Little Ringed Plover was still present and one of the adult Oystercatchers persistently feeds on the grass verge of the road causeway between Holcot and Brixworth which makes me nervous as it is very close to moving traffic!
Another ringing recovery has come through, again one of many Goldfinches that Chris Payne catches and rings in the south of the county. This individual was a young male which was caught and ringed at Greens Norton on 1st November 2016 and was caught again by a ringer at Leswalt, Dumfries and Galloway on 5th April this year. The second location is 411km from the first, this small finch having travelled North West during a period of 155 days. In some respects this is a similar pattern to the Siskin movements, suggesting that perhaps many Scottish Goldfinches move through or winter in middle England.
Regards
Neil M
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| Goldfinches by Cathy Ryden, a good example of a bird currently doing very well and benefitting from garden feeding. |
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