Monday 16 September 2019

Sunday's ringing

Hello

Northants Ringing Group members were active yesterday at two key sites. Kenny and team were in among the birds at Linford Lakes where they processed 95 birds (85 new) of twelve species. Some excellent warbler numbers is more evidence of a good breeding season with 25 Chiffchaffs, 12 Willow Warblers (a very high total for so late in the season), 21 Blackcaps, 6 Reed Warblers and 3 Sedge Warblers. Other birds included 6 Wrens, 3 Robins, 3 Dunnocks, 10 Blue Tits, 3 Great Tits, a Greenfinch and 2 Reed Buntings.

Two Green Sandpipers were also present and other wildlife included 7 Great Crested Newts, 12 Common Newts, 3 Common Frogs, 2 Common Toads and a Water Shrew.

In the meantime Dave and Lewis were working at Pitsford Reservoir and caught 61 birds of 18 species. A female Sparrowhawk was perhaps the highlight but a spread of birds included 5 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Wrens, a Treecreeper, a Long-tailed Tit, 12 Blue Tits, 6 Great Tits, 2 Coal Tits, a Willow Tit, a Marsh Tit, 5 Robins, 5 Blackcaps, 3 Dunnocks, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 Blackbirds, a Chaffinch and 4 Bullfinches.

Eleanor's visit to Harrington Airfield this morning yielded small numbers of Blackcaps, a rather late Garden Warbler and two Spotted Flycatchers. There will be bird ringing at this site on Wednesday and Thursday this week and access to the bunkers and old airstrip will be restricted to invitees. Please let me know if you would like to come along.

Two Grey Partridges were the only birds of note in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today.

A brief visit to the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this evening was good for a Great White Egret, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, four Snipe, a Green Sandpiper and two Grey Wagtails.

Bob Bullock found two Slavonian Grebes at Clifford Hill Pits today, the birds remaining on the main barrage lake all day. A Common Sandpiper was also present. Nick Parker's efforts at Thrapston Pits produced two Red-crested Pochard and two Pintail.

Regards

Neil M


Adult female Sparrowhawk.

Chiffchaff.

Willow Warbler.

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