Migration in full swing

 Hello

Stanford Reservoir Ringing Group were operating again today and again did well with 139 new birds caught and 22 birds re-trapped from previous sessions. Obvious highlights among the captures were singles of Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart and three Grasshopper Warblers. Down at Linford Lakes on the edge of Milton Keynes, preparations were made for a ringing session tomorrow morning. However in the course of setting up the nets this afternoon a Spotted Flycatcher and a Kingfisher were caught as well as small numbers of Reed Warblers and Chiffchaffs. Other wildlife on show included Grass Snakes, Common and Great Crested Newts and other birds noted on-site included Green Sandpiper and Water Rail.

Plans are afoot for another period of ringing at Harrington Airfield during the morning of Tuesday 1st September when I'm afraid the old runway and bunker areas will be out of bounds during the session. A wander around there this morning confirmed two Common Redstarts as still being present between the Chippings Compound and Bunker One. Three Siskins flew over and a trickle of Meadow Pipits overhead signaled the start of their migration south over the county.

Sadly a juvenile Common Buzzard was found in a crumpled heap at the side of the A508 between Hanging Houghton and Brixworth - the corpse will be sent away for tissue analysis by the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) that regularly assess any toxic build up of chemicals in the tissue of birds of prey and owls.

A Shag was still at Pitsford Reservoir this morning in the vicinity of the causeway plus a Common Sandpiper and a Swift. At the southern end of the reservoir this evening there was a second winter Mediterranean Gull, six Yellow-legged Gulls and a Curlew flew south.

Three Whinchats were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today and a Common Redstart and two Spotted Flycatchers remained at Lamport Hall. Ian Dobson found two Common Redstarts at the traditional passage spot at Fawsley Park at the top of the track near the Granary.

Two Peregrines were using St Mary's church at Higham Ferrers as a resting spot today and in the Nene Valley today there was a Greenshank and a Whinchat at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR and a flock of gulls using Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits to bathe in included at least fourteen Yellow-legged Gulls.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher.

Anaglptus mysticus Longhorn Beetle
courtesy of Robin Gossage.

Apple Fruit Weevil courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Scarce Seven Spot Ladybird
courtesy of Robin Gossage.