Saturday's migration highlights.

Hello

A ringing session at Linford Lakes today was successful with thirty-five captures of thirteen species. Warblers dominated with thirteen new Blackcaps, five Reed Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, a Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff. Three birds not often caught included a Common Snipe, a Sand Martin and a Yellow Wagtail. Other birds present included a Hobby, two Oystercatchers, three Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper. Great Crested Newts and a Weasel were the best of the non-avian wildlife on offer.

After the excitement of yesterday, today was a much more mundane birding day, but there was still plenty of migration in full swing with terns, gulls and waders on the move.

Summer Leys always comes into it's own at this time of the year and the birding highlights included a Wood Sandpiper, the Spotted Redshank still, at least ten Little Gulls this morning, two Mediterranean Gulls, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Ringed Plover, two Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper. Two Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover were at new workings on the gravel pit complex and a Lesser Whitethroat was near Mary's Lake.

Thrapston Pits today boasted a Grey Plover, at least fifty-four Little Gulls, a Great White Egret, five Little Egrets, a pair of Egyptian Geese, a Green Sandpiper and a Grasshopper Warbler. Clifford Hill Pits supported thirteen Little Gulls, a Jack Snipe, two fly-through Grreenshank, a Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper.

The reservoirs tend not to be able to keep up with the Nene Valley gravel pits at this time of the year but Hollowell Reservoir pulled in four lingering Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Redshank and a Common Sandpiper. Birds visible at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon north of the causeway included up to twenty-eight Little Gulls, a Black Tern, a Great White Egret and the pair of Garganey again.

Elsewhere and the roadside pools at Lilbourne attracted a Whimbrel and three Greenshanks, a Whimbrel was seen in fields at Wadenhoe and a Greenshank was on the A605 Lower Barnwell lock flooded field at Oundle. The elusive Short-eared Owl was flushed up at Harrington Airfield again today and there were also two Bramblings and a Wheatear present. A couple of pairs of Grey Partridge and a Barn Owl was all the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton had to offer. A pair of Mandarin Ducks were noted at Harlestone Lake today plus a pair of Ravens nearby and three Wheatears were in a sheep field near Easton Maudit.

Regards

Neil M

Sand Martin courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Yellow Wagtail courtesy
of Keny Cramer.

Common Snipe courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Sparrowhawk with growths
inside the mouth of the bird.

Little Ringed Plover
courtesy of Dave Jackson.