A ringing session at Harrington Airfield today was dominated by one species - the beautiful Brambling! We caught and processed thirty-four of these flying gems and interestingly there were several adult males amongst them which is in contrast to the birds we were catching in the late autumn of last year when nearly all birds were first years. One of the birds was first ringed at Harrington in November 2021 so it seems that some of the original birds from the initial influx are still with us locally. Other birds included a small number of common finches, two Fieldfares, a Redwing, three Blackbirds and a small variety of other common birds including eleven Yellowhammers. Other birds on-site included about twenty Golden Plovers and Grey Partridge.
Elsewhere in the county and it seemed that geese were the order of the day with a Pink-footed Goose and two White-fronted Geese at Thrapston Pits in the Islip Water Meadows area, the first winter White-fronted Goose was still at Sywell Country Park and a Pink-footed Goose still at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.
Nene Valley birding provided two Goosanders on Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits, three Goosanders and four Lesser Redpolls at Stortons Pits and a Ruff at Summer Leys LNR on the north shore of the main lake.
A Yellow-legged Gull was at Stanford Reservoir today as were nine Goosanders, one hundred and forty-eight Great Black-backed Gulls, a Peregrine, a Kingfisher, a Cetti's Warbler, six Siskins and three Lesser Redpolls.
Tomorrow (Sunday) and there is a birdwatching event at Stanwick Lakes with guided birdwatching walks and a ringing demonstration starting from about 8.30am at the Trading Places Barn between the Visitor Centre and the 'Snack Shack'. This event is planned as a pre-cursor to the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Event, there are free activities for children and guided birdwatching walks starting at 9.30am and 11am.
Regards
Neil M
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| Brambling. |
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| Goldfinch. Images courtesy of Steve Wilson. |
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