Round Up !!

I always enjoy being out and about at this time of year. Already it is feeling very "Autumnal" with mist hanging over the fields early in the morning, the crisp clear air and the drawing in of the evenings.
The hedgerows are heavy with the ripe plump blackberries and the cereal fields waiting patiently to be harvested.
There are still plenty of Painted Lady butterflies about as well as good numbers of Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.
I continue to bird the hedgerows and regularly bump into Common Redstart, Whinchat and Whitethroats.  This afternoon there was a Common Redstart showing well near the first bunker at Harrington Airfield. Other birds included Northern Wheatear, Sedge Warbler, Grey Partridge and Turtle Dove.

The ringers have been busy. A couple of days ago [18th Aug] Kenny and his team caught 105 birds, 93 of which were new at their site near Milton Keynes. A total of 15 species including 26 Bluetit, 19 Greatit, 19 Reed Warblers, 12 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler and a Sedge Warbler.
Today John Woollett and his team enjoyed a very productive session. A total of 66 birds caught, 46 new and 20 retraps.  Over half [12] the retraps were Long Tailed Tits.  17 different species were caught with Blackcap being the most numerous {15} followed by Reed Warbler at 9.
You never know what is going to end up in the net and today it was the turn of a racing pigeon !! After phoning the number on its leg the owner was contacted.  The pigeon came from a loft in Grimsby.

Regards  Eleanor