Ringing, another Pied Fly and lots of migrants!

Hello

On Saturday 30th July a small team of ringers led by Kenny Cramer worked mist nets at Linford Lakes in Milton Keynes where they anticipated plenty of new birds of the season and of course warblers. They were not to be disappointed with an excellent array of twenty-two species amounting to one hundred and sixty-one birds. Only nine of this total were birds previously ringed and as Kenny commented, warblers led the charge with thirty Blackcaps, sixteen Reed Warblers, twenty-one Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, two Sedge Warblers, fourteen Garden Warblers, three Lesser Whitethroats and seven Common Whitethroats. Other notable captures included two Goldfinches, a Treecreeper, a Goldcrest, a Green Woodpecker and a Kingfisher and among the tits a re-trap Long-tailed Tit was first ringed as a juvenile in 2018.

Today (Monday) and a modest ringing session at Pitsford Reservoir accounted for just over forty common birds which included some quite aged Blue Tits! Birds noted in the Walgrave Bay included a vocal Curlew flying over at about 8.40am, two Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper, a Hobby and six Ravens. Birds in the Scaldwell Bay included the still present and vocal male Common Redstart opposite the Paul Britten seat in the field hedge, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, two Common Snipe, a reported Garganey and a Yellow-legged Gull. As the name suggests the Kingfisher Screen has been paying dividends recently with up to two Kingfishers at a time showing nicely in front of the screen.

Hollowell Reservoir hosted two Whinchats and a Black-tailed Godwit today and although difficult to find the Ferruginous Duck was still to be found lurking at Daventry Country Park, hiding under willows at the south end. A Black-tailed Godwit and four Green Sandpipers were also present.

A quieter day at Stanford Reservoir still provided a Water Rail, a Hobby and five Lesser Whitethroats and at Summer Leys LNR there was a Wood Sandpiper. Eleanor's 'purple patch' continued with another Pied Flycatcher being found this afternoon, this time at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell with a flock of tits and warblers and two Common Redstarts. Nearby a Common Buzzard was flushed from prey which proved to be a freshly-killed Tawny Owl and a pair of Grey Partridges were escorting four young.

Interestingly a 'camera trap' video in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton recorded at 3.15am this morning shows an 'asio' owl, possibly an unseasonable Short-eared Owl drinking from a water source!

A Great White Egret was on Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows this morning and at least one Common Redstart remains at Harrington Airfield. Clouded Yellow butterflies were seen in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton (up to seven), Blueberry Farm and a single at Borough Hill Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Common Whitethroat.

Willow Warbler.

Reed Bunting.

Goldcrest.

Kingfisher.

Images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.