Northamptonshire Birding: Pitsford CBC and ringing

Hello

I completed the last Common Bird Census of the season on the reserve at Pitsford Reservoir, and it proved to be a quiet affair. A few warblers were still singing but several were clearly using their energy feeding the next generation and I saw several Garden Warblers carrying food. At least six Little Egrets were on the reserve but another year goes by without us being able to confirm whether or not they breed on the reserve. There are still young Cormorants squeeking in the nests and they seem to have done very well.

A Crossbill was in one of the plantations at the juncture of the Walgrave and Holcot Bays, a Tawny Owl was day-hunting in Christies Copse, a Lesser Whitethroat was the first on the reserve since the spring (but they have a habit of breeding right under your nose) and the Gadwall numbers reached over four hundred. The very last of the Black-headed Gull chicks and the latter half of the Common Tern chicks have still yet to fledge off the rafts.

Butterflies noted included Marbled White and Small Copper (both in the Scaldwell Meadow section) and the odonata were absent for much of the walk and the range of species unremarkable when they did appear.

A little ringing around the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station yesterday evening and this morning provided forty-three captures which included six Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler, two Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Whitethroat and five Tree Sparrows.

A very industrious ringing session at Linford Lakes this morning caused 106 birds to be processed which included a whopping fifty Reed Warblers, nine Sedge Warblers, eight Garden Warblers, ten Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a juvenile Cetti's Warbler and a Sand Martin. One of the Reed Warblers bore a French ring and two more Reed Warblers were birds ringed elsewhere in the UK and had previously been controlled at Linford. Birds about included a Marsh Harrier and a Common Sandpiper.

Elsewhere and a Cattle Egret was seen at Stanwick Pits both yesterday and today, there was a Common Sandpiper at Clifford Hill Pits, and a Common Sandpiper and a Yellow-legged Gull at Thrapston Pits.

Over at Braunston four pairs of Spotted Flycatchers are being monitored and two of these pairs are attempting second broods. Steve found at least four Spotted Flycatchers at Lamport Hall today.

Painted Lady butterflies have been rather scarce so far this year and today singles were seen at Braunston and south of Hanging Houghton.

Regards

Neil M