Stortons Ringing

Hello

The weather conditions this morning were ideal for some ringing at Stortons Pits on the outskirts of Northampton. The reserve now boasts an excellent extensive phragmites reed bed and large numbers of Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and others breed here as well as the scrubby margins. Just a small number of nets provided ninety captures which included nine species of breeding warblers, with perhaps the highlights being a couple of Cetti's Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat. Other captures included a Woodpigeon, several juvenile Goldfinches and Greenfinches and a Bullfinch. Other birds noted included several noisy Water Rails squealing from the reed-beds, a Hobby and a Grey Wagtail.

As usual the Barn Owl persisted in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and Spotted Flycatchers were located at two locations on the Kelmarsh Estate this afternoon. Martin Swannell located a couple of Quail near Beckworth Emporium with the birds calling from bean fields off the lane from Mears Ashby.

Regards

Neil M

Garden Warbler.

Song Thrush.

Adult male Whitethroat.

Adult male Lesser Whitethroat.