Thrush ringing

Hello

At Pitsford Reservoir today the two cracking drake Smew were still in the Holcot Bay, sometimes visible from the Goosander Hide. The Wood Sandpiper was again in the Scaldwell Bay plus a Green Sandpiper and a Redshank and a Kingfisher and two Water Rails were visible from the new photography/viewing screen.

At Thrapston Pits today a 'redhead' Smew was discovered on Aldwincle Lake and other birds included three Great White Egrets and a Kingfisher. The Water Pipit was still at Summer Leys LNR at about 12.30pm today and the Black-tailed Godwit was present too.

A Jack Snipe was flushed near Wicksteed Park, Kettering today and a small flock of at least five Bramblings were at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Birds noted at Stanford Reservoir today included two Goosanders, two Water Rails, two Kingfishers, a Cetti's Warbler, two Chiffchaffs, c50 Siskins and three Bramblings. Single Barn Owls were at Lamport and also in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton today. Two Bramblings were coming down to seed by the large barn in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton with another fifteen Bramblings along the Brampton Valley Way towards Draughton Crossing. Sixteen Redpolls visited a Spratton garden this morning.

Kenny and team were running a ringing session at Linford Lakes today catching 72 birds of twelve species, 61 of which were newly ringed. Thrushes dominated with a Mistle Thrush taking centre stage plus three Song Thrushes and a hefty catch of forty-three Redwings. Four Chiffchaffs included a Siberian Chiffchaff, two Water Rails were excellent catches and other birds included two Kingfishers, a couple of Goldcrests and three Reed Buntings.

At Harrington Airfield this morning a larger group of ringers rapidly processed 130 birds of fourteen species with thrushes making up the majority of the bio-mass - twelve Fieldfares, sixty-three Redwings, two Song Thrushes and seven Blackbirds. A Barn Owl was an early morning capture and the team also ringed twenty Bramblings, a couple of Goldcrests and small numbers of seven other species. Two Woodcock were seen at dawn and other birds on-site included Golden Plover, Snipe, more Bramblings and Siskins.

Regards

Neil M

Barn Owl courtesy of
Bethan Clyne/Jacob Spinks.

Chiffchaff (left) and Siberian Chiffchaff (right)
courtesy of Kenny Cramer.

Mistle Thrush courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Water Rail courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.