The Blackcaps keep coming!

Hello

A couple of Northants Ringing Group sessions were undertaken today which helps to underline the sheer number of Blackcaps on the move at the moment. The ringers at Stanford Reservoir have shown in the past that it is possible to catch and ring two hundred of these birds in a day, such are the concentrations of this successful migrant warbler. These days it is more of a short and medium distance migrant and during passage eats plenty of berries to supplement it's insect diet. They are now capable of eating a variety of wild bird food put out for birds in general in gardens and despite being ruthlessly persecuted in the Mediterranean region it is a species that seems to be doing well.

Chris Payne and small team were ringing at a private site near Greens Norton today and in one morning caught and ringed 144 Blackcaps out of an excellent total of 161 birds. A Kingfisher is always an undoubted highlight!

Some more ringing in the Walgrave Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning wasn't quite so spectacular but ninety birds were processed which included thirty-two Blackcaps. One of these birds was carrying a ring from elsewhere so hopefully we will find out soon where from! Other warblers caught and ringed included eight Chiffchaffs and singles of Sedge Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat, and a Treecreeper is always great to admire in the hand.

Birds on-site at Pitsford Reservoir today included the Wood Sandpiper still in the Scaldwell Bay (just to the left of the Bird Club hide), a Greenshank, four Great White Egrets, two Pintail, two Ravens, a Kingfisher and several Siskins bouncing overhead. Several Badgers were seen early this morning as well as the usual Brown Hares and Muntjac.

An interesting list of birds for Summer Leys LNR today included the Bittern again plus two Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper, two Great White Egrets and seven Little Egrets with a Ruff, a Common Sandpiper and a Common Snipe at Clifford Hill Pits.

Seven Black Terns were at Eyebrook Reservoir early this afternoon and the birds seen at Stanford Reservoir included still two Marsh Harriers, eleven Pintail, two Hobbies, a Common Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper and two Common Snipe.

The Little Stint was still at Hollowell Reservoir today where the supporting cast were one or two Greenshank(s), a Common Sandpiper, two Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, three Whinchats and Siskin. An adult Caspian Gull was at neighbouring Ravensthorpe Reservoir early this afternoon.

A Corn Bunting, a Common Redstart, three Whinchats and a Wheatear were around Shrike Hedge in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon with eight Spotted Flycatchers and two Common Redstarts at Lamport Hall.

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Blackcaps courtesy
of Robin Gossage.