Monday 29 April 2024

April birding coming to a close

Hello

A modest ringing session at Harrington Airfield today was discontinued late morning due to the increasing wind strength but there was time to process twenty-eight birds of fifteen species. With the appalling weather so far in 2024 this was pretty much the first opportunity to ring at the site and highlights included three Common Whitethroats, three Lesser Whitethroats, a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff, four Willow Warblers, five Linnets and two Yellowhammers. One of the Lesser Whitethroats was first ringed there as an adult in August 2021 making her at least four years old. A Barn Owl, a Redpoll and a Whinchat were all noted on-site.

Another Barn Owl was on the outskirts of Brixworth early this morning and birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning included a Whinchat and two Wheatears, although it seems they had moved on by this evening. A male Common Redstart, two Redwings and a Hobby were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell and recently-worked fields attracted at least twenty-five Red Kites and eighteen Common Buzzards creating quite a spectacle both visually and audibly!

A Whimbrel and a Little Tern were noted at Eyebrook Reservoir today and it seems today was the day for the arrival of the Hobby with further birds at Summer Leys LNR (two), Titchmarsh reserve at Thrapston Pits and near Althorp.

Single Wheatears were at Kislingbury Pits and Clifford Hill Pits, the latter site also retaining the smart Ring Ouzel in Miller's Meadow and a Nightingale was at the back of Mary's Lake at Earls Barton Pits. Eight Cattle Egrets were seen at Stanwick Pits this evening and a Common Sandpiper was at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows reserve today.

Regards

Neil M


Yellowhammer.

Linnet.

Lesser Whitethroat.

Blackcap.

Above images courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Wheatear at Kislingbury Pits
today courtesy of Tony Stanford.


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