County autumn ringing

Hello

Yesterday (Wednesday) and Pitsford Reservoir attracted three juvenile Shags, a Common Sandpiper and a Tree Pipit at the dam end in the morning. Just one Common Redstart was located along the footpath between Pitsford Reservoir and Walgrave village and there was a Wheatear and three Whinchats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton. A few Swifts were still flying over Far Cotton, Northampton and Summer Leys LNR hosted a Garganey, a Great White Egret, four Egyptian Geese, a Greenshank, a Ruff and a Common Sandpiper.

In the evening there were two Common Redstarts, three Spotted Flycatchers and two Crossbills at Lamport Hall and a Whimbrel was trilling evocatively as it flew south over Harrington Airfield and a pair of Hobbies were chasing Swallows.

Today (Thursday) and county ringers were active, making the most of dull, still conditions sandwiched between the storms of the last few days and an incoming band of rain.

The Stanford Reservoir team encountered and processed over 600 birds which was a staggering effort, the birds included a Spotted Flycatcher, eight Common Redstarts and the star bird a superb Wryneck!

Dave Francis tried a session around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir producing 68 birds of sixteen species which included a particularly lively Sparrowhawk, ten Robins, nine Tree Sparrows and small numbers of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Whitethroats.

Chris Payne was over at Greens Norton where he managed 65 birds of 13 species which included a Kingfisher, an excellent twenty-six Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, eight Willow Warblers, eight Chiffchaffs, a Reed Warbler and five Goldcrests.

Harrington Airfield was also tried and provided 89 captures of 21 species with the highlights being six Tree Pipits, four Willow Warblers, five Chiffchaffs, seven Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler, two Whitethroats, eight Swallows and four Tree Sparrows. The Tree Pipits were part of a movement of perhaps 12 -15 birds moving through. Two adult male Common Redstarts were also present and three flocks of Siskins flew over.

Away from ringing and a Quail was heard calling in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and an Osprey was seen flying south there. Nearby a male Common Redstart, two Spotted Flycatchers and a Wheatear were along south bordering hedges/fields of Lamport Hall this afternoon in rather wet conditions and the Yellow Wagtail flock at Hanging Houghton exceeded twenty birds.

Two juvenile Shags at Pitsford Reservoir today have been regionally eclipsed by the numbers (in their twenties) at Draycote and Rutland Waters. An Osprey was seen there too and in the Scaldwell Bay there were two Great White Egrets and a Common Redstart.

Regards

Neil M

Male Kestrel at Pitsford Reservoir.

Tree Pipit Harrington Airfield.

Painted Lady butterfly
courtesy of Jim Dunkley.