Pitsford update...

Hello

Birds sighted north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir today included now 5 Great White Egrets, 14 Dunlin, 3 Redshanks, 3 'Redpoll', 3 Siskin and a Stonechat (observer Jacob Spinks).

Dave Francis completed some ringing at the feeding station near to Maytrees Hide, catching 61 birds of 17 species, reflecting the diversity utilising the area and feeders. The most common bird caught was Tree Sparrow with 10 individuals, plus 8 Goldfinches, 5 Chaffinches, 8 Blue Tits, 7 Great Tits, a Marsh Tit, a Coal Tit, a Goldcrest, 5 Wrens, 3 Robins, 3 Dunnocks, 2 Blackbirds, a Redwing, a Song Thrush, a Starling, a Collared Dove and 3 Yellowhammers.

The Marsh Tit was the third individual this autumn of that species which has flown up from the woodland compartments of the reserve for the food in the suspended feeders. One of the Great Tits was proven to be in excess of six years old, a ripe old age if you are a Great Tit!

Regards

Neil M

A partly white male
Blackbird. Not particularly
unusual in this species but
always eye-catching!

Male Bullfinch.

Female Bullfinch.

Male Bullfinch. A species that
has now in the main adapted
to feeding stations and with a
particular liking for sunflower seed.

Note these individuals are
affected by problems to their feet
and legs creating warts and scabs,
initially minor but then growing into
a mass of scaly warts and often leading
to the loss of claws, toes and even feet.
Finches have a propensity to a disease
called fringilla papillomavirus which
may be the influence here, but also
an infestation of mites is believed
to create a similar appearance.

Male Chaffinch.

Blue Tit.

All images kindly provided by
John Tilly and his new lens!