Ringing recoveries

Hello

A few more Northants Ringing Group ringing recoveries have come through as follows:-

1.  A juvenile Blackbird was ringed at Stortons Pits on 6th August 2017 and on the 15th June 2021 this bird (then identified as a male), was killed by a cat at Briar Hill, Northampton, some 1409 days later (only about 2km distance);

2.  An adult female Goldfinch was caught and ringed at Wasps Nest, Nocton Fen, near Lincoln on 10th November 2020 and caught again in a mist net at Hanging Houghton on 19th June this year. On this latter date she was heavy and exhibiting a brood patch suggesting she was breeding locally. The distance between the two localities is 98km and she travelled SSW to reach Hanging Houghton;

4.  A juvenile Reed Warbler was caught and ringed at Baden Dow Farm, Wiltshire on 27th August 2020 and this year was re-captured at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 5th June when assessed as a male. The distance between the two sites is 113km but of course in the intervening time this bird has been to Africa  and back!

5.  An adult Reed Warbler was caught and ringed at Marston Vale Millenium Country Park, Bedfordshire on 16th April 2017 and re-captured at Linford Lakes also on 5th June 2021 when assessed as an adult male. This bird which is at least five years old will have travelled to Africa on at least five occasions; 1511 days elapsed between the two captures.

A wander at Harrington Airfield this afternoon proved quiet for birds, one or two pair(s) of Grey Partridge are believed to part of a contingent of three pairs on-site - and so far no young have been seen this year. A couple of new flowers found there during the last couple of days include Common Twayblade (a green orchid) and the tall and rangey Yellow Sweet Clover.

A gaggle of gulls off the A5 near Lilbourne by the DIRFT3 site this morning included two first summer Caspian Gulls and five Yellow-legged Gulls.

A Barn Owl was hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton early this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Male Blackbird.

Goldfinch.

Reed Warbler courtesy
of Chris Payne.