Ospreys, warblers and shorter days

Hello

It was decidedly grey and even a little chilly at Harrington Airfield this morning and a ringing session netted a modest number of birds which in the main were probably mostly post-breeding adults and juveniles from local stock. A few exceptions included a couple of Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler and it's likely that some of the Willow Warblers would be breeders and offspring from much further north. A Whinchat was seen in a wheat field there, a couple of Ravens were never far away and a Barn Owl was present pre-dawn. A couple of Grey Partridges were calling but kept a low profile.

At Lamport Hall the Spotted Flycatchers flock had grown to over eight birds, possibly two family parties joining together, and a Common Redstart was still there too.

Ian again found two male Common Redstarts at Woodford Halse LNR.

At Pitsford Reservoir the blue colour-ringed Osprey 3AY was again perched up in dead trees near the Bird Club hide this afternoon, the same bird was there on Thursday. This bird originates from the Rutland release scheme and apparently is a five year old (currently non-breeding) male which has been seen at Stanford Reservoir recently. A week on Friday ago Dave Jackson saw it at Pitsford perch on a perch with a Perch (fish)! 😀

Other birds for Pitsford today included a Red-crested Pochard, three Great White Egrets, a Common Sandpiper and a hundred and fifty House Martins.

Birds of interest at Summer Leys LNR this afternoon were made up of a Marsh Harrier, a Great White Egret, a Green Sandpiper and a brood of eleven Tufted Duck ducklings. Even by modern-day standards, twelve Cattle Egrets at Stanwick Pits this morning was an excellent total, seemingly made up of adults still in breeding plumage, duller birds and also juveniles.

The Ruddy Shelduck was still at Stanford Reservoir today where there was also one hundred and sixty Tufted Ducks, a Raven, a Hobby and two Common Sandpipers. Two Ospreys were fishing there at 3.30pm.

Two Barn Owls were hunting in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this evening.

Regards

Neil M

Evening flying ant hatch
at Harrington Airfield.

Reed Warbler courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Long-tailed Tit courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Osprey 3AY in action at
Pitsford Reservoir last
Thursday courtesy of
Robin Gossage.