Hello
More birds for Eleanor yesterday (Wednesday) included a fly-through 'ringtail' Hen Harrier that crossed Sywell Airfield towards Sywell village at about 12.15pm. She had only stopped to look at the two military Apache attack helicopters on the ground there!
Later in the afternoon, her daily patch birding in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton confirmed the continuing presence of the pair of Stonechat and the flock of Goldfinches feeding on the nectar crops there attracted the attention of a fine female Merlin.
Chris Payne committed to some more ringing at Bradden, successfully catching 75 birds made up of 39 Blue Tits, 20 Great Tits, 9 Goldfinches, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches, a Goldcrest, a Nuthatch and a Dunnock.
Today (Thursday) saw both birding and ringing activity at Pitsford Reservoir. The Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station was the scene of a ringing session which netted 84 birds of 14 species, including three smart Bramblings. Other birds included 17 Blue Tits, 8 Great Tits, 2 Coal Tits, a Marsh Tit, 14 Chaffinches, a Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinches, 10 Tree Sparrows, 6 Dunnocks, 5 Robins, 4 Blackbirds, 2 Goldcrests and a Treecreeper.
Jacob's birding tally included some excellent finds - not least two Hawfinches flying over the Fishing Lodge with Redwings and three Scaup just off the causeway. Other birds were made up of now four Great White Egrets, 22 Pintail, 2 Ruff, 3 Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, 5 Dunlin, a Raven, 6 Stonechats, 3 Redpoll and 3 Siskins.
Starlings and Woodpigeons moved in huge numbers over the county today, with south-bound flocks still evident even in the late afternoon. A few birds at Harrington Airfield this afternoon included 20 plus Meadow Pipits, a Redpoll and 11 Siskins and an early afternoon visit to Barnes Meadow LNR provided views of 2 Jack Snipe and 6 Snipe.
In addition, two more Hawfinches flew south along the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at 7.05am, and a Barn Owl and the pair of Stonechat remained.
Chris Payne completed some more ringing in his Greens Norton garden this morning, successfully trapping 62 birds made up of 38 Goldfinches, 14 Blue Tits, 2 Coal Tits, a Great Tit, a Treecreeper, 4 Greenfinches, a House Sparrow and a Blackbird.
Regards
Neil M
More birds for Eleanor yesterday (Wednesday) included a fly-through 'ringtail' Hen Harrier that crossed Sywell Airfield towards Sywell village at about 12.15pm. She had only stopped to look at the two military Apache attack helicopters on the ground there!
Later in the afternoon, her daily patch birding in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton confirmed the continuing presence of the pair of Stonechat and the flock of Goldfinches feeding on the nectar crops there attracted the attention of a fine female Merlin.
Chris Payne committed to some more ringing at Bradden, successfully catching 75 birds made up of 39 Blue Tits, 20 Great Tits, 9 Goldfinches, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Greenfinches, a Goldcrest, a Nuthatch and a Dunnock.
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| The stunning Nuthatch, including an image of the colourful under-tail coverts and tail, courtesy of Chris Payne. |
Jacob's birding tally included some excellent finds - not least two Hawfinches flying over the Fishing Lodge with Redwings and three Scaup just off the causeway. Other birds were made up of now four Great White Egrets, 22 Pintail, 2 Ruff, 3 Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper, 5 Dunlin, a Raven, 6 Stonechats, 3 Redpoll and 3 Siskins.
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| Male Brambling courtesy of Jacob Spinks. |
In addition, two more Hawfinches flew south along the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at 7.05am, and a Barn Owl and the pair of Stonechat remained.
Chris Payne completed some more ringing in his Greens Norton garden this morning, successfully trapping 62 birds made up of 38 Goldfinches, 14 Blue Tits, 2 Coal Tits, a Great Tit, a Treecreeper, 4 Greenfinches, a House Sparrow and a Blackbird.
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| The Great Tit caught and ringed by Chris today seemingly was suffering from a cataract or similar in it's right eye (left eye seemed unaffected). Chris reports that as is so often with such afflictions the bird seemed otherwise healthy and was currently coping well. |
Regards
Neil M
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