Mid October birding

Hello

A ringing session took place at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on Saturday and ninety-four birds were processed by the small band of ringers there, seventy-one of which were newly ringed. Twenty species was a diverse representation which included a Water Rail, a Black-headed Gull, six Blackcaps, five Chiffchaffs, fifteen Redwings and fifteen Greenfinches. Other birds were two Goldfinches, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Green Woodpecker and a Reed Bunting. A Goldcrest was captured and at the other end of the scale so was a Mute Swan!

A small flock of Swallows passed through, a Raven was noted and three Great Crested Newts looked as if they were about to slumber for the winter.

Today some more ringing took place at Woodford Halse which was also productive producing fifty-three birds which included three Blackbirds, a Goldcrest, a Grey Wagtail and a male Sparrowhawk.

In the Nene Valley today there was a Mediterranean Gull and a Marsh Harrier at Stanwick Pits and eight Cattle Egrets were in a paddock north east of of Kinewell Lake at Ringstead Pits. Great White and Little Egrets were noted at Upton Country Park.

At Pitsford Reservoir a very weak-looking Black Tern was in the vicinity of the causeway this morning plus two Common Sandpipers were on the dam with flocks of Redwings passing over. Two Grey Wagtails were at Hanging Houghton.

Two adult Caspian Gulls were at Hollowell Reservoir today and Stanford Reservoir recorded a Yellow-browed Warbler (seen just briefly), four Red-crested Pochards, a Stonechat, a Reed Warbler, two Cetti's Warblers, two Water Rails, an adult Caspian Gull and two hundred and fifty Redwings.

This afternoon there was a female Merlin and six Stonechats in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton near to 'shrike hedge'.

Regards

Neil M

Black-headed Gull.

Dunnock.

Water Rail.

Great Crested Newt.

Images courtesy of
Kenny Cramer.