Local ringing

Goldfinch.
Courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Hello

Yesterday (Sunday) saw Kenny, Sarah, Laura and Rory commit to some more ringing at Linford Pits on the outskirts of Milton Keynes following last week's excellent result.

It was another very good day with 54 birds processed of 14 species, only three of them being re-traps.

Goldcrests seem to be everywhere at the moment and the team ringed 14 new birds plus a Meadow Pipit, a Blackbird, 9 Chiffchaffs, 6 Blackcaps, 2 Dunnocks, 3 Great Tits, 10 Blue Tits, a Long-tailed Tit, a Goldfinch, 3 Robins, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Kingfisher. In addition a Stonechat was a surprise, not a species regularly caught in mist nets.

Twenty or so Redwings were seen flying over and non avian creatures included 3 Great Crested Newts, a Toad and a Common Shrew!

Early this morning (Monday) saw Jacob and Helen setting up some mist nets at the Old Scaldwell Road, Pitsford Reservoir and among the usual suspects they also caught and ringed a Stonechat! Other birds of a total of 39 birds included a Chiffchaff, a Treecreeper, 5 Tree Sparrows, 2 Goldfinches, a Reed Bunting, a Marsh Tit and a Blackbird showing characteristics of continental origin.

Chris Payne completed some garden ringing at Greens Norton today where his whopping Goldfinch flock ensured he caught 62 of them -  amazing! Greenfinches, House Sparrows, Robins, tits and even a Collared Dove caused his day ringing total to swell to 93 birds. Whatever Chris feeds his garden birds I want some!

Regards

Neil M

Stonechats (female upper image,
and male lower image caught at Pitsford
Reservoir today).

Courtesy of Jacob and Helen.