Ringing recoveries

Copper Underwing.

Hello

Rain on and off today which no doubt affected observer interest!

At Stanford Reservoir today a juvenile Cuckoo was mobile but was still being fed by Reed Warblers.

A Wood Sandpiper was at Eyebrook Reservoir this afternoon, a Hobby was vocal near Kelmarsh.

A Bittern, five Egyptian Geese and a Great White Egret were all at Summer Leys LNR this morning.

At Harrington Airfield the two Common Redstarts were still present this afternoon plus an Osprey and four Crossbills flew over.

Four Great White Egrets were north of the causeway at Pitsford Reservoir this evening and a Green Sandpiper was in the Scaldwell Bay.

The most recent batch of recoveries associated with ringing activities of the Northants Ringing Group are as follows:-

1. A Kestrel ringed as a nestling at Tysoe, Warwickshire on 16th June 2024 was found long dead at Collingtree Park, Northants on 23rd May this year, some 41km away and 341 days after being ringed;

2. A juvenile Magpie ringed at Brixworth on 16th July 2024 was shot near Lamport on 22nd May 2025, 310 days later and having barely traveled 3km in a north-easterly direction;

3. A first year Chiffchaff was ringed at Linford Lakes, Milton Keynes on 10th August 2024 and found dead after hitting a window at nearby Great Linford on 21st May 2025, 284 days later;

4. A first year Reed Warbler was ringed at Weatherless Hill, Ebbsfleet, Kent on 14th September 2024 and caught again at Stanwick Lakes on 21st June 2025 when assessed as an adult male. The distance between the two sites is 173km but of course this bird has been to Africa and back in between!

5. A first year Reed Warbler was ringed at Luffenham Airfield, Rutland on 23rd August 2023 and caught again at Linford Lakes on 21st June 2025 when assessed as an adult male, 668 days elapsing between the two dates and with the bird moving 60km between the two as well as two trips to Africa and back!

6. A first year male Fieldfare was ringed way back on 20th January 2015 at Heyford Mills, Nether Heyford and it's ring was found in Norway at Hageberg, Akershus on 7th June 2025, 3791 days later at a distance between the two of 1170km. It's likely that this bird has been dead some time but it's good to know it made it back to Norway at some stage!

7. A nestling Sand Martin was ringed at Rutland Water on 29th June 2022 and captured again at Pitsford Reservoir on 29th June this year when assessed as an adult male - 1096 days later with a distance of 37km between the two sites and three winters spent in Africa;

8. A nestling Sand Martin ringed at Rutland Water on 13th June last year was caught and processed at Pitsford Reservoir also on 29th June this year when assessed as an adult female, 381 days elapsing between the two records;

9. A first year Common Whitethroat was ringed at Harrington Airfield on 1st September 2024 and caught again at Stanford Reservoir on 29th June this year when assessed as an adult male, 301 days later and 17km to the west with a visit to the Sahel, Africa in between;

10. A first year Reed Warbler was ringed at Pitsford Reservoir on 30th August 2024 and was caught again at Stanford Reservoir this month when assessed as an adult male, 314 days later.

Regards

Neil M

Large White and Essex Skipper.

Common Darter.

Cormorant.