Mid April birding

Hello 

Checking through the re-trap records for our Harrington Airfield ringing captures indicates that one of the Blackbirds was first ringed as a first year bird in November 2016 and hasn't been encountered since 2020 -  which will make it seven years old this year. The three re-trap Willow Warblers were previously ringed as an adult in June 2020, an adult in 2021 and a juvenile in 2022 - these small warblers often only weighing 9-10g winter deep down in Africa and undertake a very long migration for the size of the bird.

Kenny and his team were also ringing yesterday at the Milton Keynes venue of Linford Lakes and birds caught here included a fine Green Woodpecker, eight Blackcaps, two Willow Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler, a Bullfinch and a Treecreeper. Sedge and Reed Warbler were noted on-site as was a singing Water Rail, a Redshank, two Great White Egrets and a Cuckoo.

Some garden ringing by Dave Francis on the outskirts of Northampton provided a first year female Brambling, eleven Goldfinches, two Greenfinches, three Reed Buntings, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Woodpigeon. Two of the Reed Buntings were re-traps - originally ringed locally at Stortons Pits and Pitsford Reservoir!

A Blue Tit that turned up in a Scaldwell village garden on 18th March 2023 had first been ringed as a nestling in a nest box at Chase Park Farm, Yardley Chase on 22nd May 2022. What possesses a Blue Tit to move a minimum of 18 km from one side of Northampton to the other and seemingly abandon it's natal area is not known. What we do know is that with the relatively high number of Blue Tits that are ringed in the county, such recorded movements are unusual.

Today and nine Yellow Wagtails were resplendent along the dam at Pitsford Reservoir and a Common Whitethroat was north of the causeway in Christies Copse. A Wheatear and a Common Whitethroat were at Honey Hill, Cold Ashby this morning. Eleanor's morning run along the Brampton Valley Way was the means to locate a White Stork on the new wetlands below Brixworth, with this bird flying off at about 8.30am. About an hour later and the bird was thermaling over Cottesbrooke and appeared to head south. It was just visible from Hanging Houghton at 9.40am until lost to view due to the great distance. A Water Rail remains in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth.

A Kittiwake and a Common Scoter were seen at Eyebrook Reservoir today and a drake Garganey made a brief appearance at Daventry Country Park before swimming off into cover. Single Ospreys were noted at Hollowell and Ravensthorpe Reservoirs today, a Wheatear was in a sheep field between Upper Benefield and Deenethorpe, a Marsh Harrier was seen at Polebrook Airfield this afternoon and Barn Owls were at Hanging Houghton in the Brampton Valley and at Lamport Hall. Two Lesser Redpolls visited out garden feeders at midday today.

Regards

Neil M

Green Woodpecker courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Great Tit.

Blue Tit.

Marsh Harrier courtesy
of Robin Gossage.