Ringing at Scotland Wood today.

Hello

After a cold start (-3C) and moonlit night, today developed into a lovely winter's day with plenty of sunshine.

A ringing session took place at Scotland Wood on the Kelmarsh Estate today in somewhat wet and muddy conditions and after a slow start with ice-bound mist nets a reasonable number of 151 birds were processed of thirteen species. The star of the catch was a stunning-looking Tawny Owl and other birds were a Song Thrush, a Dunnock, five Robins, two Wrens, a Goldcrest, forty-four Great Tits, seventy-one Blue Tits, nine Coal Tits, three Marsh Tits, two Nuthatches, three Chaffinches and eight bright Siskins. At least two Woodcock were present.

A Short-eared Owl was hunting next to the old Beck Dairy on the outskirts of Cottesbrooke this morning, a 'redhead' Smew was still at Eyebrook Reservoir and two Cattle Egrets were on Hawthorn Island at Summer Leys LNR where there were also two Pintail, two Great White Egrets, two Oystercatchers, two Redshanks, sixty-five Golden Plovers and at least three Chiffchaffs. Approximately thirty Siskins were in alders along the path to the Double-decker hide.

A Goosander was on the fishing lake in Wellingborough opposite Sainsbury's on the Northampton Road and four Great White Egrets and a Grey Partridge were at Ringstead Pits. A further influx of Siskins included at least twenty in a garden in Creaton and three in our garden at Hanging Houghton where there was also singles of Brambling and Reed Bunting. A pair of Stonechats were at Borough Hill Country Park, Daventry this afternoon.

Five Waxwings flew NW over Stanford Reservoir at about 4.10pm, hopefully the first of a late winter/spring passage as they consider moving back to the continent.

Regards

Neil M

Tawny Owl at Scotland Wood
 today courtesy of Bethan Clyne.

Nuthatch at Scotland Wood
today courtesy of Bethan Clyne.

Male Siskin at Scotland Wood
today courtesy of Lewis Aaron.

Marsh Tit at Scotland Wood today
courtesy of Lewis Aaron.