Ringing at Stortons Pits

Hello

Some bird ringing this morning at Stortons Pits provided plenty of diversity with eighteen species encountered which included an early-in-the-season Cuckoo, a Magpie and a variety of warblers which included birds back from Africa which had been ringed at Stortons in previous years. In total thirty-eight birds were processed which also included two Song Thrushes and three Bullfinches.

At Harrington Airfield this morning at least one Ring Ouzel was present in foggy conditions and at Pitsford Reservoir an Osprey caught a fish off the dam where there was also a Common Sandpiper and at least one Yellow-legged Gull. An Osprey was also noted at Hollowell Reservoir today and birds at Stanford Reservoir were a Cuckoo, six Common Terns and two Shelduck.

The Earls Barton complex taking in the New Workings and Summer Leys LNR provided much of today's records with a booming Bittern, a Cuckoo, two Grasshopper Warblers, a Greenshank, a Whimbrel and a Hobby.

A Cattle Egret was on the Elinor Lake at Thrapston Pits and Clifford Hill Pits had a quieter day with an Oystercatcher, a couple of Lesser Whitethroats and an influx of Sedge Warblers.

A Black Redstart was reported from Yarwell Mill car park and a Bittern at Cransley Reservoir was an excellent record. Three Kingfishers were at Towcester Water Meadows and a couple of Grey Wagtails were in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth with a Raven at Kelmarsh.

A Whimbrel was at Lilbourne Meadows reserve this morning where also a Barn Owl and a Little Ringed Plover.

Regards

Neil M

Cuckoo today at
Stortons Pits courtesy
of Chris Payne.

Blue Tit courtesy
of Jane Neill.

Magpie courtesy of
Suzy Boys and Chris
Payne.