Small birds on the move

Hello

Perhaps the most obvious passerine migrants flying over the county today were Meadow Pipit, all three hirundine species and Siskin.

An intrepid team of ringers carried out a session at Stortons Pits this morning capturing and processing 82 birds of which 74 were newly ringed. Warblers dominated with thirty Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, a Cetti's Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, three Common Whitethroats, two Reed Warblers, a Willow Warbler and five Chiffchaffs.

A few hours ringing at Brixworth Treatment Works this morning with just two nets provided over forty captures including ten Blackcaps, three Sedge Warblers, twelve Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and a Siskin. At least four Grey Wagtails were present and a juvenile Osprey flew over the site, jostling with a Raven as it went on it's way!

At least three Common Redstarts were present at Harrington Airfield this evening in the bushes between the Chippings Compound and Bunker One and a pair of vocal Hobbies were present too. The site will be off limits tomorrow whilst ringing operations are conducted but access to the concrete track and footpaths is unaffected.

Three Common Redstarts were along the footpath between Pitsford Reservoir and the villages of Walgrave and Old but generally they were elusive. At least three Common Redstarts were at Lamport Hall as were two Spotted Flycatchers and there were still two Common Redstarts and a Tree Pipit at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Chelveston Airfield boasted forty-one Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and a Whinchat.

Birds at Hollowell Reservoir today included a Great White Egret and a Common Sandpiper and Pitsford's birds included a juvenile Shag, two Great White Egrets, two adult Yellow-legged Gulls, two Green Sandpipers, two Hobbies and a Wheatear. Two Ruff were seen briefly at Hardwater Lake, Earls Barton Pits and two Ravens were frequenting Dallington Cemetry, Northampton.

A Barn Owl was watched hunting the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Lesser Whitethroat courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Treecreeper courtesy
of Chris Payne.

The wonderful Hobby
courtesy of Robin Gossage.