New Year's Eve

Hello

I have been lucky enough to be away for eight days and over the Christmas period working as tour leader in the Algarve, Portugal. I have created a page or tab entitled Algarve at Christmas 2024 where images from the trip will be posted.

Today and the last day of the year sees the Glossy Ibis remain at Summer Leys LNR and a single Hawfinch was seen at Blatherwycke Churchyard at lunchtime.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a Caspian Gull, two Great White Egrets, a Goosander and a Stonechat.

Ravens were at Scotland Wood and Hanging Houghton today, a Redpoll was at Scotland Wood and a single Tree Sparrow was at the Old Scaldwell Road Feeding Station at Pitsford Reservoir with an adult Yellow-legged Gull between there and the causeway.

Two Green Sandpipers and a Grey Wagtail were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and the Blueberry area near Maidwell provided sightings of two Woodcock, a female Peregrine and four Ravens.

A huge thank-you to all the readers and contributors to this blog during 2024.

Happy New Year!

Neil M

Great White Egret.

Chaffinch.

Blue Tit.

Otter.

Images taken locally by Tony
Stanford over the festive period.

More Sunshine !!

 It has been an absolutely glorious winter day with hours of sunshine and blue skies.  It was just so nice to have so much light rather than the gloom of the recent foggy days. As usual I was up and out early and as I took Rouzel for her walk we were treated to a wonderful sunrise with an amazing mixture of colours. Just a short walk for her as she is recovering from surgery.  Then it was time to take the boys out for their walk. It is amazing what just a bit of brightness and sunshine does as the birds were definitely more vocal and up and about early too.  A good start to the day with Barn Owl,  Green Sandpiper and 2 Grey Wagtails.  The hedgerows and weedy area near shrike hedge were alive with passerines including at least 60 Linnets and a similar number of Goldfinches.  The noise was deafening but so nice to hear.  There was also 15 Skylarks and several Meadow Pipits.   As expected the Red Kites and Common Buzzards were enjoying this weather too as were 4 Ravens who were tumbling around and being very vocal.  Just a joy to watch.                                                                                             Not surprisingly there were plenty of people out and about today.  I only walked across the dam at Pitsford Reservoir and it felt as if I was on the M25 as the whole world seemed to be out . The water was also pretty busy with fishing boats. The only bird of note was the long staying Great Northern Diver just beyond Pintail Bay.                                     I was out at sunset which too was pretty spectacular and a  Barn Owl was my final bird of the day.                                        Birds reported today include 2 Egyptian Geese and 2 White Fronted Geese at Ravensthorpe Reservoir whilst at nearby Hollowell Reservoir Caspian Gull,  Jack Snipe and 2 Stonechats. Over at Daventry CP a Goosander and in the roost at Stanford Reservoir a Mediterranean and Caspian Gull.  There were at least 2 Hawfinches again in  Cottesbrooke Village and the Glossy Ibis and Black Tailed Godwit at Summer Leys. 

Yesterday my heart sank when I got up and saw that it was still foggy, but thankfully it had lifted by lunchtime.  I had to visit someone in Flore so called in at Ravensthorpe Reservoir on my way home. 2 Whooper Swans had been found there a few hours earlier and I didn't hold out much hope of seeing them, but eventually they gave themselves up. The 2 White Fronted Geese were feeding with the goose flock in a field between the reservoir and village.  I'd forgotten just how striking the markings are on the adult bird and this bird looked very smart in the sunlight.               A Slavonian Grebe was reported from Perio Mill Stream at Fotheringhay,  a lovely part of the county but not somewhere that I'm very familiar with.   The Glossy Ibis was showing at Summer Leys,  Cattle Egret near Barnwell CP and 3 Hawfinches at Blatherwycke Churchyard.           

In Milton Keynes Kenny Cramer and his team held their final ringing session of the year. 94 birds were processed of 13 species and 34 were newly ringed birds. The bulk of the numbers were tits, notably 43 Blue Tits,  15 Great Tits and 9 Long Tailed Tits.  Other birds included 2 Goldcrests, 6 Greenfinches, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The accolade of star bird was awarded to another new Water Rail which fitted all the criteria for a young male. 

Regards Eleanor 

A Ray of sunshine at Summer Leys

Finally, a little bit of sunshine to relieve the gloom of the last few days. To celebrate I had an outing to Summer Leys to look for the Glossy Ibis.  As is frequently the case I failed in that ambition but was rewarded with fine views of Water Rail, more of which in a minute.

I was pleasently surprised at how empty the car park was at Summer Leys as I wasn't early arriving after having walked the dog first.. I had Rotary Hide to myself and enjoyed the peace and quiet whilst scanning a distant Teal that I was suspicious of, groundlessly as it turned out. the only bird of note was a beautiful drake Pintail.

Rotary Hide was next and also tranquil. The hoped for Water Rail failed to appear so I moved on to the area next to the Paul Britten hide. A good number of birds were loafing off Gull Island including a Yellow-legged Gull amongst the Great Black-backed, Herring, Common and Black-headed Gulls. A large flock of Lapwing with approximately 11 Golden Plover intermingled were in the same area.

The Stand-up/screen Hide was next to look for the Glossy Ibis, unsuccessfully as it turns out. The first of 4 Great-white Egrets was feeding to the left of the hide.

A stop at the Paul Britten hide on the return journey produced 5 Snipe, one feeding happily along the shore and 4 flying over. The remaining 3 GWEs were seen from here too.A lady called Sharon joined me in the hide and told me she had just had her best ever views of Water Rail from the Rotary Hide so I decided to have another crack at it on my way back. This turned out to be a good plan as I was also treated to lovely views of the bird as it scampered about and squealed away in the vegetation. 

    Regards,

                Neil H.

 

 

                                                          

                                                                                    Water Rail

                                                                                         Teal

 

                                                                       Great-white Egret

Dank and Dismal

Dank and dismal certainly describes the last three days of thick fog and drizzle where it has struggled to get daylight. At least Christmas Day was a nice day then it all went downhill after that. Birding has certainly been very challenging with very few birds reported. 

Birds reported on Christmas Day were Glossy Ibis,  Whooper Swan and 3 Black Tailed Godwits at Summer Leys. I went for an early morning run and heard and saw a Hawfinch in Cottesbrooke Village.  The only new bird for Boxing Day was a Cattle Egret at Barnwell CP.                           Obviously a few more folk managed to get out yesterday (Friday). The Glossy Ibis was still at Summer Leys along with 30+ Golden Plovers, 3 Great White Egrets and Peregrine.  Nearby a Black Tailed Godwit at Clifford Hill GP and Jack Snipe at Barnes Meadow LNR.   Over at Daventry Reservoir there was a 2 Red Crested Pochards and a Goosander.  In the north of the county there were an amazing 8 Hawfinches in the churchyard at Blatherwycke and a 1st winter female Greater Scaup on the lake.    A short ringing session (Dave Francis) at the feeding station at Pitsford Reservoir produced 33 birds processed with Blue Tits,  Great Tits and Goldfinches predominating.  Interestingly a Yellowhammer and Blue Tit processed had both hatched in 2020.    Today I had at least 2 Hawfinches again in Cottesbrooke Village as I ran through.    The Glossy Ibis and a Black Tailed Godwit were at Summer Leys and at Ravensthorpe Reservoir there were 10 Pintail which is a good record for that site.

Despite the dreary weather I have been out and about,  mainly because the dogs need walking and they couldn't care less about the fog and drizzle.  I have struggled to find anything apart from the Hawfinches at Cottesbrooke.  I always find this period between Christmas and New Year a bit of a strange time. Half the world seems to have gone back to work and the other half are still on holiday, and no one seems to know what day of the week it is !! I  had to smile to myself as I ran through Cottesbrooke this morning as quite a few people didn't know which colour refuse bin to put out so had put them all out !!.      My run route took me back via Blueberry which I knew was going to be very muddy so left it until last.  As I approached Blueberry I could hear  a chainsaw being used but due to the fog I couldn't see exactly where it was until I was a few feet away. As I neared the sound I was dismayed to see large gaps in one of the old hedgerows where the hedge had been cut.  I came across a guy working so asked him what he was up to. He looked at me as if I'd got two heads when I challenged him but it may just have been shock of seeing a very muddy runner and equally muddy dogs appear out of the fog !! Anyway he explained that the hedge was being managed to provide a better habit and although it looked brutal and stark there would be new growth in the spring.  Let's hope so as I will be keeping a close eyes on things. I did breathe a sigh of relief when he assured me that the "Redstart" hedges were not being touched.   It will certainly be a case of watch this space. 

Don't get too excited but it is rumoured that the sun will be making an appearance tomorrow  and maybe Monday too. Fingers crossed as it will make such a huge difference to us all as well as encouraging the birds to show themselves.        Have a good day.

Regards Eleanor 

Season's Greetings

We are almost at the end of another year, where does the time go to ?? I think that its fair to say that it has been a bit of a mixed year for many with happy and sad times and I know that many will be finding this a difficult time.   I am sure that our passion for birding and enjoyment of the wildlife around us keeps us going gets us through the challenges life throws at us.                   One of my other passions is running.  I just love the freedom of running with my 4 legged companions . It is "my" time and I'm always using my senses to birdwatch as I run.  This morning I ran around Pitsford Reservoir just as it was getting light. Needless to say I had the whole of the big side to myself.  The first bird I saw was the ghostly figure of a Barn Owl hunting the fields below the dam and this was followed by 3 Little Egrets heading in the same direction.  The Great Northern Diver was close to the bank in Pintail Bay and nearby a pair of Stonechat.  My ears picked up a Grey Wagtail and small numbers of Siskins on my run round.                                                                                                  My afternoon was spent topping up feeding stations at Harrington Airfield,  Kelmarsh and Scotland Wood. Just plenty of common birds waiting to be fed. I was met at each feeding stations by Robins and Blue tits, common birds but full of character.                                                                               Very little bird news today,  just the two White Fronted Geese at Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Goosander and Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys. 

Yesterday I took a detour on my way home and walked through Cottesbrooke Village where 2 Hawfinches are still present around the playing field/ T junction area.  That was about all I saw yesterday due to running last minute errands.                                                                                            However there were a few other birds reported by others. 7 Black Tailed Godwits and Glossy Ibis at Summer Leys,  2 Adult Caspian Gulls and 2 Stonechats at Hollowell,  Merlin between Tiffield and Gayton,  4 Cattle Egrets at Stanwick GP,  and a Jack Snipe at Barnes Meadow LNR. But Stanford Reservoir had the most interesting bird, an Azores Gull in the roost.

Sending Seasons Greetings to you all 

Regards Eleanor X

Robin courtesy
of Robin Gossage.

Another winter storm

Hello

Powerful weather affecting other parts of the country seemed to find it's way to us this afternoon with some particularly impactive gusts. A cold but clear day with intermittent showers meant you had to wrap up to be out.

A Peregrine and a Kingfisher were at Stanford Reservoir today and yesterday there were six Goosanders, a Great White Egret, a Chiffchaff and forty Golden Plovers.

Two Ravens and a Grey Wagtail were at Hanging Houghton this morning and there were two Woodcock and two Green Sandpipers in the Blueberry Farm area near Maidwell. A Short-eared Owl and a Woodcock were at Harrington Airfield this morning. Although Short-eared Owls crop up quite regularly at Harrington they rarely hunt or quarter during the day as at some sites and tend to be flushed or are fly-over birds.

The Glossy Ibis was at Summer Leys LNR this morning, back again by the feeding station. A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier, a Merlin and a flock of Golden Plovers were seen between Gayton and Tiffield this morning. An immature male Merlin flew west at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, just north of the causeway.

This afternoon there was a Redpoll in Cottesbrooke village and Ravensthorpe Reservoir was still the venue for the two White-fronted Geese in a field just to the south-west of the causeway. A Great White Egret and a Siskin were there also. Two Smew remain at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard.

Goldfinch.

Redpoll.

Brown Hare.

Reed Bunting.

Above three images
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Muddy Northamptonshire

Hello

It seems as usual that it's a case of living in a pair of wellingtons each winter from September to May if you want to take a wander in the Northamptonshire countryside! With wet, mild and breezy winters being the norm now, gone on the days when you could wander around in a pair of walking boots.

Today was one of those typical days with fast moving weather, mild temperatures, some rain and wintry sunshine and plenty of mud!

A couple of Hawfinches were still on show today with one at Deene Churchyard this morning and one by the church at Cottesbrooke village also this morning where there were also a couple of Redpolls and several Siskins. Singles of Siskin and Redpoll were at Kelmarsh this afternoon.

At Summer Leys LNR a Black-tailed Godwit was rather unseasonable but then many of this species go no further than the the UK these days to winter. The Glossy Ibis was sighted again, this time in a field visible from the old railway track.

Wintering Blackcaps included two coming to fat balls in a Kettering garden and one likewise in a garden at Brixworth.

At least two Green Sandpipers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton where there was a Grey Wagtail and a Barn Owl.

Two Scaup were at Blatherwycke Lake this morning, five Cattle Egrets were at Kinewell Lake, Ringstead Pits before flying east towards Woodford and at Hollowell Reservoir a Jack Snipe and at least five Common Snipe were located.

Two Smew were still at Eyebrook Reservoir today.

Regards

Neil M

Mute Swan.

Cormorant.

Goldeneye.

Pre-Christmas birding

Hello

A mixture of weather today didn't provide any new birds for the county.

The Summer Leys LNR Glossy Ibis seems to be spending much of it's time in the meadow between the Screen Hide and the Feeding Station and present again today.

Two White-fronted Geese were still in fields south west of Ravensthorpe Reservoir late this morning and birds at Stanford Reservoir included a Great White Egret, two Stonechats, a Water Rail, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff. Two Jack Snipe were located at Hollowell Reservoir.

Two Stonechats and seven Common Snipe were at Upton Country Park and two Goosanders were at Stortons Pits. Two Ravens were at the dam end of Pitsford Reservoir and a Grey Wagtail was in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth with two Green Sandpipers and a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this morning.

Regards

Neil M

Common Buzzard.

Stonechat.

Above courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Raven.

Brown Hare.

Ditchford WeBS count

Hello

A quiet day yesterday (Wednesday) with very little local bird news but the Glossy Ibis was again at Summer Leys LNR and an adult Caspian Gull roosted at Stanford Reservoir where there was also a Great White Egret, four Goosanders, a Chiffchaff and two Stonechats. In addition there were about fifty Golden Plovers between Gayton and Tiffield, two pairs of Stonechats at Towcester and a Raven at Little Billing, Northampton.

Today (Thursday) and Birdguides reports indicate that the juvenile Great Northern Diver was still present at Pitsford Reservoir, the two White-fronted Geese were just south-west of Ravensthorpe Reservoir early this afternoon, the Glossy Ibis was still by the Feeding Station at Summer Leys and the Ruddy Shelduck was still at Winwick Pools.

A Bittern was again at Hollowell Reservoir this afternoon after being flushed from near the Sailing Club and at Hanging Houghton there was a Barn Owl in the Brampton Valley this afternoon and two more just north of the village. A Stonechat was at Upton Country Park.

December's WeBS count was completed at Ditchford Pits today but proved to be a quiet and cool affair. At least five Great White Egrets were present with at least four of those west of Ditchford Lane. Other birds included two Kingfishers, thirty-two Common Snipe, two Water Rails, a couple of Cetti's Warblers, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff.

Regards

Neil M

Cracking Otter photos from Sixfields,
 Northampton courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Yellowhammer.

Mute Swan.

Mid-December birding

Hello

The Summer Leys LNR Glossy Ibis was seen again today, this long-staying prober of the mud clearly liking the reserve. Possibly of not such good provenance, the very long-staying Ruddy Shelduck (originally one of a pair) was again at Winwick Pools. 

An adult Caspian Gull was again at Hollowell Reservoir and other birds were a Jack Snipe, four Common Snipes, a Chiffchaff and three Stonechats. At Daventry Country Park there were a pair of Red-crested Pochard and three 'redhead' Goosanders.

A male Blackcap was in a garden at Brixworth and one or two Barn Owl(s) and two Green Sandpipers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

A 'ringtail' Hen Harrier was over fields at Tiffield heading towards the village from the A43 this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

'Redhead' Goosanders.

Pair of Red-crested Pochard.

Grey Squirrel posing as 
a teddy-bear!

All images courtesy
of Tony Stanford

                                   

                                                    Video courtesy of Chris Payne

                                                     and SW Wildlife Monitoring

                                                     depicting two Tawny Owls evicting

                                                     a Barn Owl from a nest box.

                                                                       

Pitsford WeBS count

Hello

Today was the monthly waterbird count at Pitsford Reservoir, taking over four hours with three recorders. Excess water and mild temperatures ensured good counts of Common Snipe (up to one hundred and fifty-eight) and Lapwings (nearly two hundred birds). The area between the causeway and the dam was exceptionally quiet and to the north of the causeway there was a Mediterranean Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull but little in the way of variety.

A Hawfinch showed in trees in Brixworth Hall Park this morning with a small flock of Greenfinches.

At Stanford Reservoir today there was a Mediterranean Gull, two adult Caspian Gulls, a Great White Egret, three Goosanders, seventy Lapwings, a Cetti's Warbler, a Chiffchaff and two Stonechats.

Four Smew remained at Eyebrook Reservoir (three drakes) and the long-staying Glossy Ibis was again near the feeding station at Summer Leys LNR.

The two White-fronted Geese were again seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir today and at Clifford Hill Pits there was a Pink-footed Goose and four Red-crested Pochards.

Regards

Neil M

Record shots of Hawfinch at
 Brixworth Hall Park today.

Mute Swans at
Pitsford Reservoir.

Mid-month mildness

Hello

More sunshine with mild temperatures, a breezy southerly and beautiful colours in the sky to the west before the day's end.

Eyebrook Reservoir accumulated up to four Smew (three drakes) today and a Knot and a Scaup were seen there too. At Stanford Reservoir two adult Caspian Gulls and one hundred and forty-five Great Black-backed Gulls were in the gull roost and other birds included fifty-four Pied Wagtails, five Goosanders, a Kingfisher, two Stonechats and a Chiffchaff.

A pair of Stonechats were at Lilbourne Meadows with two hundred and fifty Lapwings on the ground and one hundred and fifty Golden Plovers flying over. The two White-fronted Geese were again at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

At Pitsford Reservoir there was a female Stonechat north of the causeway on the Scaldwell bank and two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Grey Wagtail were visible from the dam this afternoon. A Short-eared Owl, a Barn Owl and two Green Sandpipers were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton.

Two Ravens and two Siskins were at Scotland Wood with singles of Redpoll at Kelmarsh and Hanging Houghton.

The Glossy Ibis was again at Summer Leys LNR near to the feeding station and a drake Red-crested Pochard was at Whiston Pits. At least two Mandarin Ducks and a Chiffchaff were at Barnwell Country Park.

Regards

Neil M

Perhaps rather unseasonal
Dog Vomit Slime Mold at
Kelmarsh today.

Common Gull and Tufted Duck
courtesy of Tony Stanford.

Great Crested Grebe courtesy
of Tony Stanford.

Little Egret.

Rare sunshine sighted in Northants!

Hello

It was rather low in the sky and didn't exude much warmth but there was definitely a sighting of the sun today!

Some seasonal bird ringing at Kelmarsh Hall today provided over a hundred captures of thirteen species with the mainstay being tits which included singles of Coal Tit and Marsh Tit. A particularly bright Grey Wagtail was perhaps the star bird although a female Great Tit that was at least six years old was pretty special. Nine Robins included six re-traps suggesting good adult survival rates and eleven Dunnocks were probably attracted to the food on offer. At least one of the Blackbirds caught and ringed today displayed traits normally associated with being from the continent and other birds included a Bullfinch, six Goldfinches and three Goldcrests. Other birds present included several Siskins and two Ravens.

Two Bewick's Swans at Upton/Kinslingbury in the Nene Valley west of Northampton were a good find but they appeared to move on this afternoon. The two White-fronted Geese were again seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir plus a high count of seven Egyptian Geese, and neighbouring Hollowell Reservoir provided a rare Bittern sighting for that locality and earlier two Jack Snipe and five Common Snipe were also seen.

Six Cattle Egrets were at Ringstead Pits in paddocks near Kinewell Lake and the Summer Leys LNR Glossy Ibis was seen again. The Ruddy Shelduck was still at Winwick Pools and the drake Smew still at Eyebrook Reservoir.

Harrington Airfield provided two Woodcock, a pair of Stonechats and twenty-five Golden Plovers this morning.

Ferry Meadows at Peterborough has had several Yellow-browed Warblers during the autumn but today went one better and hosted a Pallas's Leaf Warbler! Still a bird we are waiting for in Northants...

Regards

Neil M

Redpolls courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Mallard.

Common Gull.

Birds of the murk

Hello

A grey, gooey day again and it never did seem to get light!

At Stanford Reservoir today there was an adult Caspian Gull, one hundred and forty-six Great Black-backed Gulls in the roost, seven Goosanders, a Kingfisher and a Chiffchaff.

Not too far away the Ruddy Shelduck was at Winwick Pools, a drake Smew was again at Eyebrook Reservoir and the two White-fronted Geese were with Greylags at Ravensthorpe Reservoir. An adult Caspian Gull, a Kingfisher and two Great White Egrets were at Hollowell Reservoir but the Slavonian Grebe of the last two days wasn't seen.

This afternoon a Cattle Egret was seen off Mill Lane, Earls Barton and then flew towards Grendon. Also this afternoon a Barn Owl and a Green Sandpiper were in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and five Goosanders were at Daventry Country Park.

A ringing session took place at Harlestone at a new site resulting in over seventy common birds being processed, the majority being tits including a Marsh Tit and three Coal Tits but also a Song Thrush, three Blackbirds, a couple of Goldcrests and the highlight was a Woodcock. Other birds seen there included at least one more Woodcock, one or two Raven(s) and a Siskin.

Regards

Neil M

Blackbird courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Muntjac courtesy of
Tony Stanford.

Woodcock.

Ringing recoveries

Hello

A grey, murky day with drizzle and low cloud failed to inspire!

The Great Northern Diver was still at Pitsford Reservoir this morning, fishing out in open water between Pintail Bay and the Narrows. A Grey Wagtail was on the dam.

The Hollowell Reservoir Slavonian Grebe was reported via Birdguides today and a first year Caspian Gull was reported from Daventry Country Park.

Two Ravens were at Hanging Houghton and a Grey Wagtail and a Siskin were at Kelmarsh Hall.

Ringing recoveries associated with Northants Ringing Group activities are as follows:-

1. A first year male Reed Bunting was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 13th October 2024 and captured again at Marsworth Reservoir, Tring, Hertfordshire on 4th December 2024, 52 days later having travelled 59km in a SSE direction;

2. A first year drake Mallard was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 15th June 2021 and then shot near Lamport on or about 29th November 2024, 1263 days later;

3. A first year female Goldfinch was ringed at Cropwell Bishop, Nottinghamshire on 29th October 2024 and caught again at Greens Norton on 5th November 2024, seven days later and having traveled 83km in a southerly direction;

4. A first year Great Tit was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 10th August 2024 and caught again at Stanford Reservoir on 26th October 2024, twenty km WNW with 77 days having elapsed;

5. Another first year Great Tit was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 23rd September 2023 and caught again at Bliss Wood, Wiltshire on 21st October 2024, 394 days later with this bird having moved 129km in a south-westerly direction;

6. A second year female Goldfinch was ringed at Greens Norton on 21st March 2024 but was found dead in the same village on 14th October 2024 (207 days later) after colliding with a window;

7. A juvenile Chiffchaff was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 29th June 2024 and caught again at Lodge Hill, Medway, Kent on 29th September 2024, 92 days later after traveling 117 km in a south-easterly direction;

8. A first year Sedge Warbler was ringed at Icklesham, Sussex on 26th July 2023 and caught again at Stanwick Pits on 23rd June 2024, 333 days later after no doubt having traveled to Africa and back;

9. A first year male Blackcap was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 18th August 2024 and caught again just eight days later on 26th August 2024 when at Stanford Reservoir, having traveled in a NNW direction.

Regards

Neil M

Little Egret.

Dunnock.

Goldfinch.

All above images taken
locally yesterday courtesy
of Tony Stanford.