SP55 Long Day count

Hello

A much quieter day in the county today but Summer Leys LNR attracted a Black Tern, a Spotted Redshank, a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper, two Black-tailed Godwits, a Great White Egret and Hobbies and Clifford Hill Pits hung on to the eight Whimbrel and a Wheatear.

An Osprey fished successfully north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this morning but it was harrassed for a long time by a Great Black-backed Gull. The Cattle Egret hunted for insects in the meadow between the causeway and Maytrees Hide and was still present this evening. A Hobby was also north of the causeway and two Common Sandpipers were on the causeway.

A Hobby was playing in the wind in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon and a Hobby and a Wheatear were at Harrington Airfield.

Helen Franklin completed the BOS Long Day Count in SP55 today in less than ideal conditions, dodging short, sharp showers over lunch time and later wind speeds which were certainly more than the “moderate breezes” forecast. The largest proportion of time in this square is always devoted to the Fawsley Estate and this lovely area did not disappoint with the count commencing as very often happens with a pair of Little Owl making their appearance in their customary tree and the Tawny Owl signalling the start of a new day.  The water was quiet, with no exciting waders and migrants experienced in other parts of the county over the last few days. Swallows, House Martin and Swift were all hawking around the Hall and Grey Wagtails are breeding near the sluice from the upper lake.

Travelling round the square for the remainder of the day added a steady tally of birds in one’s and twos, many of them now thought of as bankers, they are so site-faithful. It is always puzzling to see the common birds missing from the final tally - where have the Bullfinches gone?  The wind obscured the calls of Goldcrest, Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow Wagtail - that’s her excuse anyway.

The total at the end of an enjoyable 12-hour day was only 60 birds, well short of the par score for the square. Must try harder next year!!

Some ringing recoveries associated with Northants Ringing Group activities are as follows:-

1. A Great Tit nestling was ringed at Stanford Reservoir on 23rd May 2020 and was then caught and processed by ringers at Pitsford Reservoir on 3rd March 2021 when it's gender was established as a female. This bird had travelled 20km in an ESE direction;

2.  A young female Sparrowhawk was caught and ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 17th October 2019 and was reported as a road casualty near Lamport on 3rd April 2021, 534 days later and only 4km from where first ringed;

3.  A male Tawny Owl was ringed at Linford Lakes on 24th November 2019 when aged as a second year bird and was taken to a vets on or about 7th April 2021 where it died, apparently another road casualty victim. Five hundred days elapsed between these two encounters with the owl being found about 10km from where ringed;

4.  A first year male Blackbird was ringed at Hanging Houghton on 28th December 2020 and found dead after being predated by an unknown creature at nearby Brixworth on 6th April 2021, 99 days later.

Regards

Neil M

Great Tit.

Yellow Wagtail courtesy
of Nathan Jones.

Wheatear courtesy of
Dave Jackson.