Hello
John Woollett and team completed some ringing at Stortons Pits yesterday (Sunday) before it became too hot and windy, catching some 43 birds (10 re-traps). Reflecting the habitat, 18 Reed Warblers and three male Cetti's Warblers were among the birds processed.
Today (Monday) and a Common Bird Census was completed at Pitsford Reservoir, possibly one of the warmest ever! Neil Hasdell had a 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier over the Scaldwell Bay and two drake Red-crested Pochard were lurking at the back of the Scaldwell Bay. Autumnal hints could not be ignored with seven post-breeding Lapwings along the causeway and a build up of post-breeding ducks which included over two hundred Tufted Ducks, thirty Pochard, over two hundred Gadwall, four Teal and a Shoveler.
Two pairs of Great Crested Grebes were nurturing young in the Walgrave Bay and quite a number of Nuthatches and Marsh Tits scattered around the woodland blocks suggested they have enjoyed a good breeding season. Sadly the only successful breeding Reed Warblers seem to be in the phragmites beds along the water's edge below the Fishing Lodge but intentionally planted phragmites in front of the Lagoon Hide hopefully will one day support more breeding pairs.
Fourteen species of butterfly were noted on-site today including a good hatch of Marbled Whites in the Scaldwell Meadow just north of the causeway and at least ten species of odonata were on the wing too.
Regards
Neil M
John Woollett and team completed some ringing at Stortons Pits yesterday (Sunday) before it became too hot and windy, catching some 43 birds (10 re-traps). Reflecting the habitat, 18 Reed Warblers and three male Cetti's Warblers were among the birds processed.
Today (Monday) and a Common Bird Census was completed at Pitsford Reservoir, possibly one of the warmest ever! Neil Hasdell had a 'cream crown' Marsh Harrier over the Scaldwell Bay and two drake Red-crested Pochard were lurking at the back of the Scaldwell Bay. Autumnal hints could not be ignored with seven post-breeding Lapwings along the causeway and a build up of post-breeding ducks which included over two hundred Tufted Ducks, thirty Pochard, over two hundred Gadwall, four Teal and a Shoveler.
Two pairs of Great Crested Grebes were nurturing young in the Walgrave Bay and quite a number of Nuthatches and Marsh Tits scattered around the woodland blocks suggested they have enjoyed a good breeding season. Sadly the only successful breeding Reed Warblers seem to be in the phragmites beds along the water's edge below the Fishing Lodge but intentionally planted phragmites in front of the Lagoon Hide hopefully will one day support more breeding pairs.
Fourteen species of butterfly were noted on-site today including a good hatch of Marbled Whites in the Scaldwell Meadow just north of the causeway and at least ten species of odonata were on the wing too.
Regards
Neil M
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| Reed Bunting nest. |
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| Reed Bunting nestlings |
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| Reed Warbler nest. |
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| Reed Warbler nestlings. All above images taken by Chris Payne at Stortons Pits just over a week ago... |
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| Roselle's Bush-cricket. |
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| Essex Skipper. |
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| Southern Hawker. |
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| Ruddy Darter. |
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| Large Red Damselfly. |
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| Marbled White. All insect images taken on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir today. |
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