Water Rails.

Hello

Scant reports of wildlife locally but members of the Northants Ringing Group have today continued with a project looking at Water Rails which now breed locally in small numbers at key locations. Seven birds were caught which included four new birds and three birds from previous occasions. Utilising methods to easily identify specific individuals without the need to catch again, we hope to learn much more about this retiring species, as there is a lack of information out there - particularly their breeding habits.

The Ring-necked Duck was again reported from Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and also a Caspian Gull was reported from Summer Leys LNR.

Stanford Reservoir hosted a Great White Egret, four Goosanders and two Oystercatchers and other local birds included a Woodcock at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and two Grey Wagtails and a Barn Owl were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Ravens were still at Kelmarsh today and the adult Yellow-legged Gull was again the only bird of note in the Pitsford Reservoir gull roost.

Regards

Neil M

Six of seven of the 
Water Rails caught and
processed today. Can you easily
 tell the difference between them?
No nor can I, so ringing and hopefully
colour ringing plus an infusion of 
technology will help the project answer
questions.

Images courtesy of Chris Payne.