Hello
An early morning walk at Harrington Airfield today proved to be an exceptional birding experience linked to the current invasion of Hawfinches. Even before we arrived, flocks of Starlings and Redwings could be seen passing over the B576 between Lamport and the old second world war airfield and on exiting the car birds were calling overhead and flocks of various species were milling about. Sixty plus Golden Plovers flew over in a perfect double 'v' formation and thrushes proliferated in the hawthorn bushes - Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Redwings scattering as we slowly worked the plateau. Other migrants included small numbers of Bramblings, Siskins, 'Redpolls', Skylarks and even a small passage of Herring Gulls.
However the stars of the morning were the Hawfinches. Six flew in low from the north-east, landing in hawthorns and ash saplings between the concrete track and the second bunker. After initially sitting up they moved down in to the bushes and mostly out of view. Watching from a distance and putting the news out that these sought after birds were currently static, flocks of incoming thrushes crowded the sky, some also flying down to the same haw-laden bushes. Some of these thrushes began to fidget, not surprising really because there was a hungry female Sparrowhawk about, and they began to fly up and continue their journey. The six Hawfinches flew out and joined the thrushes, flying off SW but low, and a previously unseen seventh bird also rose out of the bushes and joined them. As they began to disappear, more Hawfinch calls stung the air from behind me and three more flew in from the north-east. They similarly landed in the bushes but after a few minutes also flew low in a SW direction. A little while later, four more were found in bushes at the very end of the concrete track and they subsequently flew SW too. Hawfinches are tricky birds to see and despite over thirty years of birding at this migration hot spot prior to this autumn we have only recorded them on a handful of occasions as fly-overs. So 14 Hawfinches made it a very special day and experience indeed!
However they may not have been the best bird there today. Eleanor saw a small passerine flying over with a strange melodic call which she couldn't put a name to. I wonder what that was?
On Friday it is planned to commit to some more ringing at Harrington Airfield which means that the old airstrip and bunkers will be out of bounds. Should anyone like to come along to see if we catch anything please let me know beforehand. General access along the designated footpaths and concrete track is unaffected.
Regards
Neil M
An early morning walk at Harrington Airfield today proved to be an exceptional birding experience linked to the current invasion of Hawfinches. Even before we arrived, flocks of Starlings and Redwings could be seen passing over the B576 between Lamport and the old second world war airfield and on exiting the car birds were calling overhead and flocks of various species were milling about. Sixty plus Golden Plovers flew over in a perfect double 'v' formation and thrushes proliferated in the hawthorn bushes - Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Redwings scattering as we slowly worked the plateau. Other migrants included small numbers of Bramblings, Siskins, 'Redpolls', Skylarks and even a small passage of Herring Gulls.
However the stars of the morning were the Hawfinches. Six flew in low from the north-east, landing in hawthorns and ash saplings between the concrete track and the second bunker. After initially sitting up they moved down in to the bushes and mostly out of view. Watching from a distance and putting the news out that these sought after birds were currently static, flocks of incoming thrushes crowded the sky, some also flying down to the same haw-laden bushes. Some of these thrushes began to fidget, not surprising really because there was a hungry female Sparrowhawk about, and they began to fly up and continue their journey. The six Hawfinches flew out and joined the thrushes, flying off SW but low, and a previously unseen seventh bird also rose out of the bushes and joined them. As they began to disappear, more Hawfinch calls stung the air from behind me and three more flew in from the north-east. They similarly landed in the bushes but after a few minutes also flew low in a SW direction. A little while later, four more were found in bushes at the very end of the concrete track and they subsequently flew SW too. Hawfinches are tricky birds to see and despite over thirty years of birding at this migration hot spot prior to this autumn we have only recorded them on a handful of occasions as fly-overs. So 14 Hawfinches made it a very special day and experience indeed!
However they may not have been the best bird there today. Eleanor saw a small passerine flying over with a strange melodic call which she couldn't put a name to. I wonder what that was?
On Friday it is planned to commit to some more ringing at Harrington Airfield which means that the old airstrip and bunkers will be out of bounds. Should anyone like to come along to see if we catch anything please let me know beforehand. General access along the designated footpaths and concrete track is unaffected.
Regards
Neil M
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| Treecreeper. |
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| Distant record shot of five of the fourteen Hawfinches at Harrington Airfield this morning... |
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