Autumn bluster

Hello

A quiet, blustery day in the county with many small birds deep in cover during the strong autumnal winds.

The ringers at Stanford Reservoir were busy again today and caught and ringed three more Common Redstarts (that is seven already this autumn) plus their third Grasshopper Warbler. Other birds seen at Stanford included a Peregrine, a Hobby, two Shelducks and a Common Sandpiper.

At Eyebrook Reservoir a drake Common Scoter was near the island this afternoon and at Hollowell Reservoir there was an Osprey, the female Ruddy Shelduck, the Pink-footed Goose and a Great White Egret.

At Summer Leys LNR the Cattle Egret was again present today plus a Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Sandpiper and a Peregrine was near Stortons Pits yesterday and two Hobbies were at Lamport Hall in the evening.

A few ringing recoveries have been received as follows:

1. A juvenile Starling was caught and ringed at Hanging Houghton on 10th June 2023 and caught again by a ringer on 4th August but this time in Corby, 21km north-east and fifty-five days later. Starlings are renowned for their post-juvenile wanderings in search of food;

2. A juvenile Chiffchaff was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 17th August 2022 and re-trapped at Stanford Reservoir on 1st July 2023, 318 days later when probably a breeding male;

3. A juvenile Reed Warbler was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 30th July 2020 and caught again at Stanford Reservoir on 4th July 2023, 1069 days later and after six journeys to or from Africa;

4. A juvenile Great Tit was ringed at Woodford Halse on 18th August 2021 but sadly was caught by a cat on or about 31st July 2023 still in the village of Woodford Halse, 712 days later.

Regards

Neil M

Speckled Wood butterfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Tufted Duck with ducklings
at Pineham courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Green Woodpecker
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Marbled Green moth.

Willow Emerald damselfly.