Harrington ringing

Hello

A period of bird ringing at Harrington Airfield today seemingly followed a night where there was something of a clear out of lingering migrants! So we had to rely on new birds arriving post-dawn and a few residents. In total 69 birds were encountered, only seven of which were birds ringed on a previous occasion. There was a strong diurnal movement of pipits, wagtails and Siskins overhead and we managed to lure 26 Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail into the nets. Warblers were few in number but five Chiffchaffs, a Common Whitethroat and eight Blackcaps were processed. Finches included nine Linnets and a couple of Chaffinches and buntings showed with three Yellowhammers and a Reed Bunting caught and ringed. Two Green Woodpeckers were both originally ringed earlier in the year.

Other birds present were two very skulking Common Redstarts between the Chippings Compund and Bunker One and two Tree Pipits which initially lingered but then moved on. Three different Sparrowhawks were seen marauding around the bushes and probably didn't help our cause! Fly-overs included a Little Egret.

Elsewhere and Pitsford Reservoir today hosted a juvenile Shag on the dam and then later presumably a different individual on the causeway, a female Red-crested Pochard, a Hobby, a Great White Egret and the continuation of the heavy Siskin movement.

The Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton attracted a Marsh Harrier, two Whinchats, a Tree Pipit and a Hobby and Borough Hill CP over at Daventry was good for two Wheatears and a Raven. Wakerley Wood remains the venue for Crossbills with about forty in the larches by the main car park. Two Great White Egrets remained at Summer Leys LNR.

An African Grey Parrot was lost from captivity in Earls Barton yesterday. The bird is tame and a significant reward is available to anyone who can reunite the bird with it's owner! Birds such as this often move quite a way from their captive origin and a variety of parrots in the past have successfully spent long periods in the countryside where they quickly learn to forage fruits, seeds etc. I have the details of the owner and contact number should you come across 'Malaki' the African Grey Parrot!

Regards

Neil M

Autumnal pictures of
Harrington Airfield courtesy
of Lynne Barnett.

Yellowhammer courtesy of
Lynne Lambert.

Grey Wagtail courtesy
of Lynne Barnett.