Passerine migration in full flow

Hello

A ringing session at Harrington Airfield yielded seventy-five captures of eighteen species, with nothing unusual in the catch. Most of the birds were hatched this year and included a single Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroats, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Linnets, Goldfinches and Yellowhammers.

Other birds on-site included the Common Redstart between the Chippings Compound and Bunker One and a couple of Ravens. A nice array of butterflies included Common Blue, Brown Argus, an aberrant Comma, Brimstones and a single Small Copper. Active beetles included several of a species of Devil's Coachhorse. A Painted Lady butterfly and three Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village.

At Pitsford Reservoir today Eleanor ran the circuit between the dam and the causeway and saw a Great White Egret, two Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and at least two Siskins. To the north of the causeway David Arden saw the male Common Redstart in the Scaldwell Bay again plus three Great White Egrets, a Green Sandpiper and plenty of common juvenile warblers.

At Blueberry Farm, Maidwell three Common Redstarts were again on show plus a Wheatear and nearby another Common Redstart and a Whinchat were in a weedy field.

Over at Woodford Halse the Common Redstart was seen on the reserve again where there were also four Spotted Flycatchers.

At Stanford Reservoir the ringers ringed another 298 new birds which included a Spotted Flycatcher, a Common Redstart and a Grasshopper Warbler. Other birds noted included a Wheatear, another three Spotted Flycatchers, a Common Sandpiper and three Shelduck.

At Hollowell Reservoir Jon saw a Black-tailed Godwit pass through plus five Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers and 3-4 Spotted Flycatchers. An Osprey was present at the Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits for 45 minutes this afternoon and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen there too. An adult Caspian Gull was at Stanwick Pits this afternoon and then flew off east.

Regards

Neil M

The vivid yellow juvenile
Willow Warblers are pouring
through the county at the
moment. Image courtesy of
Jane Neil.

Common Whitethroat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Common Blue butterfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Robin courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Small Copper butterfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Brown Argus courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Muntjac courtesy of
Tony Stanford.