Black Terns and Sparrowhawks

Hello

Some more ringing at Brixworth Treatment works today yielded ninety-two captures which included two juvenile male Sparrowhawks, twelve Chiffchaffs, three Reed Warblers, a Sedge Warbler, a Garden Warbler, twenty-five Blackcaps, a Common Whitethroat which is at least five years old, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Grey Wagtail and a Spotted Flycatcher. At least one more Grey Wagtail was also present and a couple of Ravens were present for much of the morning.

A Marsh Harrier was briefly at Stanford Reservoir this morning and the Ruddy Shelduck and two Common Sandpipers were there too. A Black Tern was still at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Clifford Hill Pits today hung on to the Black-necked Grebe plus three Black Terns, four Whinchats and a Spotted Flycatcher. Three Black Terns were at Sixfields Lake and Summer Leys provided views of a Bittern, a Marsh Harrier, nine Great White Egrets, at least one Garganey, a Pintail, a Hobby, a Ruff, two Common Sandpipers and a Black Tern.

A female Hen Harrier was watched and photographed flying south over Brixworth village and the Country Park this afternoon. Two Ravens were at Harrington Airfield and Hanging Houghton village and two new Common Redstarts were at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell this afternoon. 

Birds in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon/evening amounted to four Whinchats, a Marsh Harrier and two Hobbies.

Regards

Neil M

The two juvenile male
Sparrowhawks caught and
ringed at Brixworth today.

Red Admiral - plenty on the
wing this week-end.

Lapwing.

Redshank courtesy of
Robin Gossage.