Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

A ringing session at Linford Lakes on Saturday by a very small ringing team nevertheless provided ninety-one captures of twelve species including just eight re-traps. The numbers were made up of thirty-one Blackcaps, twenty-six Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler, four Reed Warblers, two Wrens, two Robins, two Dunnocks, six Blue Tits, eight Great Tits, five Meadow Pipits, a Goldfinch and three Siskins. Other birds present there at the week-end included a Bittern and a Black Tern.

Some garden ringing near Overstone Park yesterday provided fifty-five birds made up of thirty-eight Blue Tits, four Great Tits, seven Goldfinches, two Dunnocks and singles of Woodpigeon, Robin, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. All were newly-ringed and first year birds with the exception of a re-trap Great Tit.

Today (Monday) and a WeBS Count was completed at Ditchford Pits in sunny, breezy weather. West of Ditchford Lane there was a female Peregrine, three juvenile Hobbies, three Cetti's Warblers, three Egyptian Geese, a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail. East of Ditchford Lane and there was a Great White Egret, a Water Rail, two Kingfishers, five Grey Wagtails, two Cetti's Warblers and five Siskins. Odonata included Migrant Hawker, Common Darter and Willow Emerald damselfly and butterflies seen were Red Admiral, Comma and Speckled Wood.

Migrants at Harrington Airfield this morning were made up of a Common Redstart near Bunker One, two Redpolls, at least eight Siskins, a Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine with a constant flow of Yellow, Grey and 'alba' Wagtails overhead, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and hirundines. Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Blackbirds, Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were all in good numbers too.

A Whinchat was at Sywell Country Park today and at least one Cattle Egret was present at Earls Barton Pits with single bird(s) seen on Mary's Lake and on the Summer Leys reserve this afternoon. A first winter Caspian Gull was at Daventry Country Park this morning.

Regards

Neil M

This Migrant Hawker selected
a large prey item at Ditchford
today when it grabbed and munched
a freshly-emerged Crane Fly.

Blackbird courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Meadow Pipit courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.

Siskins courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.