Ringing the passage migrants

Hello

A bird-filled ringing session at Linford lakes LNR began last night with the capture of birds coming into roost and continued this morning from dawn. The small team of ringers led by Kenny Cramer succeeded in processing no less than a staggering one hundred and ninety-seven birds of twenty-three species.

This total included thirty Swallows, thirteen Sand Martins, a Yellow Wagtail, sixteen Reed Warblers, eleven Sedge Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler, thirty-eight Blackcaps, five Garden Warblers, twelve Chiffchaffs, seventeen Willow Warblers, three Common Whitethroats, five Robins, seven Reed Buntings and a Treecreeper. In addition to the Yellow Wagtail, further star birds trapped included a male Sparrowhawk and a migrant Tree Pipit. One of the Garden Warblers bore a ring from elsewhere.

In comparison a more leisurely morning's ringing in the Brampton Valley below Brixworth provided ninety-eight captures with warblers dominating - twenty Blackcaps, two Garden Warblers, four Lesser Whitethroats, eight Common Whitethroats, three Sedge Warblers, five Reed Warblers, fifteen Chiffchaffs and seven Willow Warblers. Other birds were a young Kingfisher, two Magpies, two Goldcrests and two Grey Wagtails. A Blackcap and a Reed Warbler already with rings were from Stanford Reservoir where they were ringed as juveniles during the summer. A Hobby and a Raven were seen.

At Stanford Reservoir a hundred and seventy new birds were ringed which included three Common Redstarts and two Grasshopper Warblers. Birds noted on-site included two Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, two Common Sandpipers and at least four Spotted Flycatchers.

Eyebrook Reservoir today attracted a Wood Sandpiper and an Arctic Tern with the female Ruddy Shelduck again being seen at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

Naseby Reservoir was good for the German-ringed Caspian Gull again plus two Common Sandpipers and a Common Snipe. A Common Redstart and two Spotted Flycatchers were at nearby Welford Quarry.

Hollowell Reservoir provided a Crossbill, two Whinchats, one Common Sandpiper, three Greenshanks and a Ringed Plover and Pitsford Reservoir produced three Greenshanks, three Green Sandpipers, three Common Snipe, a Dunlin, a Common Redshank and a Spotted Flycatcher.

The Blueberry Farm area near Maidwell yielded a Marsh Harrier, two Common Redstarts, two Whinchats, a Hobby Family and six Crossbills flying south-west. Two Ravens were in Hanging Houghton village.

Summer Leys LNR was the venue for two Wood Sandpipers, three Greenshanks, two Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers and a juvenile Marsh Harrier.

Regards

Neil M

Sand Martin.

Sparrowhawk.

Swallow.

Tree Pipit.

Yellow Wagtail.

All images courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.