Monday's Musings

I managed to get out and about today, Despite several visits to Sywell I have managed to avoid seeing the White Fronted Geese which have been there for a while.  This afternoon I saw one White Fronted Goose which appeared to have a damaged wing and the geese were definitely on edge, possibly as a result of the shooting that was taking place nearby.   Nothing else of note on the water itself but a nice flock of Siskins and Redpolls in the alders at the back of one of the bays.
A brief look at Pitsford produced 11 Whooper Swans, 2 Great White Egret and 10+ Red Crested Pochards north of the causeway.
I visited Harrington Airfield late this afternoon, but my gentle amble turned into more of a gallop as I tried to beat the incoming rain. However my pup and gammy legged dog slowed me down and we all got a good soaking.  Prior to the rain I saw a male Merlin and 2 Short Eared Owls. The bushes were full of chattering Fieldfares and Redwings and  there were plenty of Skylarks and other passerines on the fields which were obviously attractive for the Merlin

Regards Eleanor

Kenny Kramer had a productive ringing session in the Milton Keynes area over the weekend

A light frost and a misty start was more inkeeping with the time of year compared to the recent mild conditions.

As predicted, as soon as the sun hit the nets and the wind picked up, we almost immediately stopped catching, but not before we had processed 74 birds, 56 new birds of 17 species.

Redwings were the top secies of the day with 17 new. There was a definite influx of blackbirds with 9 caught. Two song thrush and our first fieldfare of the season completed the thrush contingent.

Yet another blackcap was a surprise as were 3 chiffchaffs and 2 cettis warblers.

2 redpoll added to the wintery feel.

4(!) Magpies went in the net together but all managed to get out before we could reach them, as did a green woodpecker.

Sarah spotted a water rail skulking along the Great Ouse and a flock of around 80 siskin was sticking stubbornly to the treetops.

Non-avian sightings included a common toad and a weasel that popped its head up by the ringing table, perhaps curious to see what we were doing (or looking for a free meal.)

A sad recovery was blue tit D870645 which was ringed as an adult in 2015, making it at least 4 years old and retrapped 5 times since, most recently in October this year. It was found dead inside the woodland hide, perhaps having become trapped inside, or was possibly sick and roosting in the hide.

A good crowd of visitors turned up for the open day and many were thrilled to see some nice birds in the hand.

Thanks!

Kenny

Blackcap 1

Reed bunting 1

Cettis warbler 1 (1)

Redwing 17

Fieldfare 1

Blackbird 6 (3)

Robin (1)

Wren 4 (2)

Great tit 1 (3)

Blue tit 8 (3)

Dunnock 1 (1)

Song thrush 2

Goldcrest 2

Redpoll 2

Chiffchaff 3

Long tail tit 6 (4)