Ringing at Kelmarsh Hall.

Hello

A rather busy ringing session at Kelmarsh Hall today yielded 132 captures of fifteen species, half of which were birds previously ringed on-site. Amongst these re-traps there were Blue Tits originally ringed as youngsters in nest boxes on the estate including one in 2019 and a Goldcrest was first ringed there in the autumn of 2019 (these tiny birds are very short-lived). Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Treecreeper were new birds but two Nuthatches were fairly recent re-traps and other birds included a single Redwing, two male Blackcaps, seventeen Goldfinches, six Greenfinches and several Chaffinches. Other birds noted on-site included Ravens, a Brambling and a singing Swallow.

On the outskirts of Northampton, five Lesser Redpolls were caught and ringed in a private garden, continuing an excellent run of these birds in the same garden as winter turns to spring.

Harrington Airfield held up to twenty-six Bramblings today and the re-set field between the Chippings Compound and the main concrete track also attracted a Yellow Wagtail, fifteen Pied Wagtails, a flock of eighty Linnets and other birds. Please note that the bunker areas and scrub surround will be subject of a ringing session on Sunday when access to the area will be restricted.

Little Owls were noted at Delapre Park, Northampton and Hanging Houghton today with a Barn Owl again on the outskirts of Scaldwell village yesterday evening.

Birds at Earls Barton Pits today included a Wheatear on a cleared area at the back of Mary's Lake, three Garganey on Summer Leys scrape, a Yellow Wagtail still at Hardwater Lake and at least eight Bramblings at the Summer Leys Feeding Station. A Garden Warbler seems remarkably early.

The female Ring-necked Duck was again on Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits this afternoon together with a Great White Egret, a Common Tern, a House Martin and a Common Whitethroat. Nearby, three Cattle Egrets were visible in fields from Woodford Church.

The Wood Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper were again at Upton Country Park this morning and a Black Redstart was reported via Birdguides as being present in a Wellingborough garden this afternoon.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included two Lesser Redpolls, plenty of Blackcaps, two Oystercatchers, a Peregrine and up to six Cetti's Warblers.

Regards

Neil M

Little Owl and Wheatear
courtesy of John Gamble.

The wonderful Starling
courtesy of John Tilly.

Drake Eurasian Wigeon
courtesy of Dave Jackson.