Migrants in-coming!

Hello

A very good ringing session at Linford Lakes at Milton Keynes was completed today with sixty-three birds of fifteen species processed, just over half were newly-ringed. The big arrival of summer migrants over the last few days was emphasized with twenty-nine Blackcaps handled plus three Chiffchaffs and a Reed Warbler. Other interesting birds included three re-trap Cetti's Warblers, a new Water Rail, a re-trap Kingfisher and a Tawny Owl. Other wildlife noted included another four Reed Warblers, another two Water Rails, two singing Willow Warblers, three Common Terns, five species of butterfly and at least eight Grass Snakes.

A much more sedate period of ringing at Scotland Wood provided just over forty captures which included seven new Blackcaps, two new Chiffchaffs and a re-trap Nuthatch. There were at least five species of butterfly on the wing their too plus Dark-edged Bee Fly and a fly-through Raven.

Four Ring Ouzels continued to show at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby today and birds at Pitsford Reservoir included a White Wagtail at the dam yesterday evening and today an Osprey fishing north of the causeway this morning plus three or four Bramblings, two Yellow Wagtails, two Greenshank and a Common Tern. Yesterday a pair of Mandarin Ducks were on fish ponds at Church Charwelton (south east of Charwelton village).

Three Cattle Egrets were again visible from Woodford church early this afternoon, the female Ring-necked Duck was again on Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits and an Arctic Tern was found on the deep water lake at Clifford Hill Pits this morning.

Stanwick Pits again hosted the Glossy Ibis this morning and there were also three Cattle Egrets and Reed Warblers there with a Grasshopper Warbler at Quarry Walk, Earls Barton Pits.

An Osprey and two Jack Snipe were at Hollowell Reservoir late morning with a Wheatear in a sheep field between Teeton and Hollowell.

This evening a White-tailed Eagle was located at Stanford Reservoir perched in a tree and visible from the dam (possibly on the Leicestershire bank)!

Regards

Neil M

Male Blackbird courtesy
of John Tilly.

Water Rail courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Grass Snake courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.