More ringing!

Hello

Perfect conditions for mist netting small birds ensured that ringers in the county and just over the border were especially busy.

The Stanford Reservoir Ringing Group again processed large numbers of passage migrants today which included an extraordinary total of 269 Blackcaps, 82 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers and 7 Reed Warblers. Five more Common Redstarts were captured today (taking the Stanford total to an amazing 28 birds this year) and two Goldcrests and thirteen Meadow Pipits also joined the throng. The star of the show though was the rare and difficult to identify Marsh Warbler which was well photographed before released.

Chris Payne committed to some ringing at a private site near Greens Norton and his haul included 21 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 11 Blue Tits and an excellent 10 Siskins plus singles of Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Willow Warbler and Reed Warbler.

Kenny and Helen and helper Keith worked extremely hard at Linford Lakes today to process a superb total of 202 birds and again warblers dominated with 15 Reed Warblers, 29 Chiffchaffs, 4 Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat, 41 Blackcaps, 2 Cetti's Warblers and 13 Sedge Warblers. Forty-one Long-tailed Tits and twenty-eight Blue Tits boosted the total and variety came in the shape of a Carrion Crow, two Meadow Pipits and a Goldcrest. Birds noted on-site included a Peregrine and a flock of Siskins and excellent mammals comprised of Otter and Water Shrew.

Dave Francis was ringing at Pitsford Reservoir today and will continue his session tomorrow and ringing is planned for Brixworth STW tomorrow morning.

Away from ringing a Naturetrek day tour at Pitsford Reservoir took in a walk around the reserve and the best of the birds were three Great White Egrets, four Hobbies hawking insects, a female Red-crested Pochard, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, three Kingfishers and plenty of Siskins and common warblers. Other birds seen included a Green Sandpiper and two Snipe and odonata included Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter and Common Blue Damselfly. Five species of butterfly were on the wing and the moth trap provided thirteen species for us to peruse including a couple of Large Red Underwings and a variety of autumnal species.

In the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton, Stuart Munday caught sight of a male Merlin again attacking the plentiful Goldfinches, a Whinchat and a Stonechat.

At Stanwick Pits today, Steve Fisher saw five Cattle Egrets on the Main Lake, Adrian witnessed three flying Crossbills at Kettering over Weekly Wood Avenue, a Great White Egret was seen in flight over Oundle this morning, two Little Owls were on show at Delapre Abbey (Northampton) first thing and three Ring-necked Parakeets were in flight at Wollaston.

The stunning Blue Underwing moth or Clifden nonpareil was seen at two places in the county today, there are a number of Hummingbird Hawk-moths being reported and still good numbers of the active day-flying Silver Ys. A Clouded Yellow butterfly was at Clifford Hill Pits today but the remaining couple at Hanging Houghton haven't been seen/reported since the week-end.

Regards

Neil M

Carrion Crow courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Willow Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Dunnock courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.

Treecreeper courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Reed Warbler courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Siskin courtesy of
Chris Payne.