Harrington ringing.

Hello 

A second consecutive day's bird ringing at Harrington Airfield provided the ringers with 134 captures of 18 species; 102 of these birds were new, 31 were re-traps and one (a Great Tit) appears to be from elsewhere... The final haul was made up of two Blackbirds, two Song Thrushes, thirty-one Redwings, a juvenile male Sparrowhawk, a Goldcrest, a Wren, twelve Great Tits, twenty-three Blue Tits, a Coal Tit, two Long-tailed Tits, two Meadow Pipits, eleven Greenfinches, thirty-two Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, a Lesser Redpoll, six Reed Buntings, four Yellowhammers and a Dunnock.

Migrants were on the move all day, Redwings continually and from late morning we watched flocks of Fieldfares moving over south. Woodpigeons flew over high up, Meadow Pipits dribbled over all day as did a few 'alba' wagtails. Migrant Starlings were mostly in small flocks and a few Siskins and Redpolls undulated over. A vocal and low-flying Water Pipit was well-watched as it went over north-west this afternoon and a Painted Lady butterfly was on the wing. Tawny and Little Owls were vocal before daylight and a Short-eared Owl was hunting alongside the concrete track just before dawn. Barn Owls today were seen at Hanging Houghton, Lamport and Creaton.

Three pairs of Stonechats were scattered in the Brampton Valley/Blueberry Farm area today, the respective pairs being at 'shrike hedge', near to Blueberry Farm and the Hill Field.

Regards

Neil M

Female Reed Bunting.

Lesser Redpoll.

Juvenile male
Sparrowhawk.

First year male
Blackbird, probably
of continental origin.

Redwing courtesy
of Lynne Barnett.