Local and not so local ringing recoveries

Hello

Seemingly a quiet day in the county with few reports but plenty of sunshine as well as blustery conditions.

At Stanford Reservoir today there were two Cuckoos, a Common Sandpiper and two Cetti's Warblers with a Hobby and four Common Sandpipers there yesterday.

At Earls Barton a Cattle Egret was seen flying over Summer Leys LNR at 10am, a Hobby and a Little Ringed Plover were noted and the singing Nightingale remains at the back of Mary's Lake. Eight different species of warbler were vocal along the old railway track and the New Workings complex attracted a Peregrine, a Little Ringed Plover and two Shelduck.

Two Hobbies were over the Wilsons Pits complex at Ditchford Pits today and a Common Sandpiper was a meagre offering at Clifford Hill Pits. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling at Sixfields, Northampton today (photographs indicate it is a ringed bird).

A single Common Sandpiper was in the Sailing Club grounds at Pitsford Reservoir this afternoon and a Osprey was off the dam this evening.

A few ringing recoveries associated with the work of Northants Ringing Group ringers are as follows:-

1. A first year male Blackcap was ringed at Stortons Pits on 10th August 2023 but killed itself on a glass window in nearby Duston on 25th April 2024. It is likely that this bird migrated away from the area and sadly died on it's return 259 days later;

2. A first year female Starling was ringed in Scaldwell village on 5th December 2023 and was found dead but intact on a wall in the same village on 21st April 2024, 138 days later;

3. A second year male Greenfinch was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 3rd February 2024 but died after hitting patio glass in Haversham, Milton Keynes 66 days later (just 2km away);

4. A juvenile Goldfinch was ringed at Knockalahara, Waterford, Ireland on 17th August 2023 and was caught again at Overstone Park, Northampton 226 days later on 30th March 2024, this small finch travelling 475km in an easterly direction to visit us.

Tomorrow evening (Wednesday) sees the monthly Northamptonshire Bird Club meeting at the Fishing Lodge, Pitsford Reservoir where we are fortunate to receive a presentation from Mark Tyrrell the county odonata recorder responsible for documenting the records of dragonflies and damselflies in Northamptonshire. Members and non members are welcome!

Regards

Neil M

Orange-tip butterfly
courtesy of John Tilly.

Peacock butterfly courtesy
of John Tilly.

Common Whitethroat courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Male Blackcap courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Goldfinch courtesy of
Robin Gossage.

Map depicting the movement
of the Goldfinch between Waterford
and Overstone Park courtesy of
Nick Wood.