D is for Dunnock!

Hello

A ringing session at the Brixworth water treatment works today provided one hundred and eight captures of sixteen species of which eight birds were ringed birds from previous years. The re-traps included returning summer visitors in the form of two Chiffchaffs and a Common Whitethroat. A Starling ringed as a juvenile in 2020 was caught again today and a Dunnock ringed as a first year in December 2018 was also encountered.

With Bullfinch numbers at a low ebb these days it was pleasing to catch and ring an adult male bird which hopefully is breeding nearby. Eight new Chiffchaffs were ringed including juvenile birds, and of three Blackcaps one was a fresh juvenile. Three Sedge Warblers were somewhat unexpected and with sixteen new birds ringed (adults and juveniles) it was the day of the Dunnock! Ten new Robins also found the mist nets as did eleven adult Swallows, seven Grey Wagtails (two adults, five juveniles) and twelve Pied Wagtails (two adults, ten juveniles).

A calling Osprey flew over heading towards Pitsford Reservoir and three Ravens flew north.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a Whimbrel, a Pink-footed Goose and two Cuckoos and at lunchtime an Osprey was seen fishing near Desborough. Three Little Egrets were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning with another single at a pond at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

In the Nene Valley there were two Hobbies and two Wigeon at Irthlingborough Lakes and Meadows LNR and a Dunlin at Summer Leys LNR.

A Hobby and a Barn Owl were out hunting this evening around Hanging Houghton village.

Yesterday (Monday) and Ospreys at Pitsford Reservoir were seen flying over the Walgrave Bay and fishing near Moulton Grange Bay and the singing Wood Warbler was still present at Harry's Park Wood. A Little Tern was at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Great Pied Hoverfly
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Juvenile Chiffchaff
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Banded Demoiselle courtesy
of John Tilly.

Chimney Sweeper moth
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Orange-tip butterfly
courtesy of David Arden.

Grass Snake courtesy
of David Arden.