Ringing at Harrington Airfield.

Hello

A ringing session at Harrington Airfield took place in fine weather conditions today with finches and buntings being the chief targets. Ninety-two birds of fourteen species were safely caught and processed, the majority of them newly-ringed. The highlights were probably twenty-seven Yellowhammers (with many absolutely stunning yellow males), fifteen Bramblings (also in fine plumage and with many males in the bushes singing), seventeen Linnets and six Meadow Pipits but we also caught a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap. Common Buzzards were continually overhead and included small flocks of up to seven birds and a Yellow Wagtail was flying around this afternoon.

A fine male Ring Ouzel was with two Fieldfares in the traditional stop-over paddocks at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell but seemed to fly towards the village early this afternoon. A pale Chiffchaff at Stortons Pits may have been something a little more interesting but wasn't heard to call (possible Siberian Chiffchaff).

At Pitsford Reservoir today an Osprey and a Common Tern were seen in the Walgrave Bay and there were two Common Sandpipers on the dam. Birds at Summer Leys LNR included a Great White Egret, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Little Ringed Plover, two male Ruff, three Garganey and Bramblings. The Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and two Little Ringed Plovers were still on a pool at Upton Mill/Country Park this morning.

Two singing Sedge Warblers were in the Nene Valley about 400m east of the Embankment at Wellingborough this morning, a Wheatear was at Hinton Airfield, a House Martin was at Sywell village and a Swallow was at Station Cottages, Brixworth.

A female Ring-necked Duck, presumably the same individual seen earlier in the year at Thrapston and Ringstead Pits, was on the Main Lake at Stanwick Pits this morning and the Glossy Ibis was still there too.

Regards

Neil M

Meadow Pipit.

Reed Bunting.

Yellowhammer.

All images courtesy
of Steve Wilson.