The warblers are here now!

Hello

A ringing session at Stortons Pits this morning yielded several interesting birds with a returning Sedge Warbler and three Blackcaps from previous years - more evidence of significant site fidelity. Another five new Blackcaps were processed as were three new Cetti's Warblers, two Chiffchaffs and an early Whitethroat. Other birds included a Song Thrush, four Blackbirds, two Goldfinches, five Long-tailed Tits and a Reed Bunting with thirteen species handled overall.

At least five Ring Ouzels and a Wheatear remained at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby today despite the antics of two people who flushed the birds whilst trespassing yesterday. Sadly they were apparently birders who had come in from a different direction than most attendees and their blundering was far from appreciated! It's difficult to watch birds when other people are wandering around in the same area but birders should know better - it pays to adhere to any guidance and instructions on-site or on websites/information services - for our benefit and the wildlife too! 

Additional Ring Ouzels were found on the ridge between Blueberry Farm and Dale Farm near Maidwell this morning (plus a Wheatear, two Fieldfares and a Yellow Wagtail) and at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits - in a sheep field on the east side of the lake between the car park and the river this afternoon. The female Ring-necked Duck popped up at Kinewell Lake again this evening, on the north side.

Birds at the Earls Barton complex today included Grasshopper Warbler and Willow Warbler at Quarry Walk, two mobile Greenshanks, a Little Ringed Plover, three Garganey, eighteen Common Snipe, a Common Whitethroat and a female Peregrine.

The Glossy Ibis was again at Stanwick Pits this morning together with two Cattle Egrets and a Great White Egret.

Pitsford Reservoir attracted twenty-two Yellow Wagtails, six White Wagtails and a Common Sandpiper around the dam this evening. A Jack Snipe and a Garden Warbler were found at Hollowell Reservoir and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a Little Ringed Plover, seven Yellow Wagtails, a Cetti's Warbler (caught and ringed), five Whitethroats and six Sedge Warblers.

The Wood Sandpiper was again present at Upton Country Park and birds at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows included two possible Sandwich Terns flying over high up, three Common Terns, a Little Ringed Plover, a Brambling, and Willow, Sedge and Garden Warblers. Two possible Sandwich Terns were also seen in flight later near Thrapston/Islip. Two Yellow Wagtails and a White Wagtail were at Ashton Sewer Works and an Osprey was seen to fly north over Daventry Country Park at about 1.50pm with a Common Whitethroat nearby at Braunston.

Up to five Bramblings were lingering at St James Park, Brackley this morning and a similar number were at Harrington Airfield where there were a pair of Grey Partridge, two singing Whitethroats, a Raven and an early morning 'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler. A male Brambling was in our Hanging Houghton garden today and other birds around the village included twenty Fieldfares and a Raven.

Regards

Neil M

Common Whitethroat (juvenile).

Sedge Warbler courtesy of
Chris Payne.

Cetti's Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Grasshopper Warbler courtesy
of David Smith.