Winter ringing

Hello

On Saturday a winter ringing session took place at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes which resulted in the capture of fifty-one birds of twelve species, thirty-one of which were newly-ringed. Nineteen Redwings was a good total, with five Blackbirds, a Song Thrush, two Chiffchaffs and two Kingfishers adding more variety. A Lesser Redpoll and a Skylark were scarce captures and other birds included Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Robin, Dunnock and Long-tailed Tit. An elusive Long-tailed Duck was on the pits there plus six Great White Egrets and at least sixty Siskins were also present.

Today and Helen Franklin was the presiding ringer at Woodford Halse in the west of the county where eighty-five birds were caught and processed made up of a Mistle Thrush, nine Blackbirds, four Dunnocks, five Robins, a Wren, thirty-one Blue Tits, three Coal Tits, thirteen Great Tits, a Marsh Tit, eleven Long-tailed Tits, a Lesser Redpoll, a Chaffinch, a Goldfinch, two Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff. Other birds seen included a Raven, a male Peregrine and a Grey Wagtail. What was quite possibly the same Peregrine was later seen between Charwelton and Badby.

A/the 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was hunting the nectar strip in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton prior to 9am this morning, the bird heading off towards the 'shrike hedge' area. It wasn't seen in that location on a subsequent visit during the day.

Three Great White Egrets and a Redpoll were noted north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and a Short-eared Owl was a roadside sighting near the Beckworth Emporium, Mears Ashby this morning.

Birds at Stanford Reservoir today included an adult Mediterranean Gull in the roost, four Red-crested Pochard, three Water Rails, a Cetti's Warbler and twelve Lesser Redpolls. At Stanwick Pits this afternoon an Otter was showing well and birds included five Goosanders, two hundred and fifty Golden Plovers, a Marsh Harrier (which has been seen daily the last four days) and four Stonechats.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Skylark courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Lesser Redpoll.

Mistle Thrush.

Red Kite.