Sanderling and Quail!!

I've been out of county again for a couple of days competing with Jaeger and Rouzel who picked up more placings.  So my birding has been confined to early mornings and late evenings. Sometimes I think that these are the best times to be out across the fields as it is just myself, dogs and the wildlife. 

A Quail was calling for most of the day from a private field next to Stanford Reservoir but it wasn't heard today. This is usually a bird that I just tend to bump into when I'm out walking so I'd better start listening for the characteristic " wet my lips" call.                                                                               Today there were 5 Sanderling and 13 Ringed Plovers at the New Workings Earls Barton GP, no doubt pushed this way by the weather conditions.                                                     At Old Sulehay Wood a Nightingale was singing and at least one Nightingale remains at Stortons GP. Incredibly a Nightingale has been reported here for 20 days !! Perhaps not where you would expect to find a long-staying bird.         Very few other birds reported -  Whimbrel at Summer Leys,  Osprey near Naseby Reservoir and 2 Cattle Egrets at Stanwick GP. 

On Saturday (16th) Kenny Cramer and his team held a ringing session at Linford Reserve,  Milton Keynes.  A grand total of 107 birds were processed with 22 species represented and 68 were newly ringed.  Greenfinches dominated with 22 individuals processed, with many being this year's youngsters.  Ten Goldfinches were also processed including a youngster.   A good selection of warblers were processed - 8 Blackcaps, 5 Garden Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 7 Common Whitethroats,  2 Cettis Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs.       This site is always good for Cuckoos and a male was re-trapped and he had been ringed almost exactly a year ago.  A female was also seen in the area accompanied by the re-trap or a new male.  Other interesting but vocal birds caught included 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, 1 Jackdaw and an adult male Ring-necked Parakeet !!                               The star bird of the day was awarded to a young Mistle Thrush, which was only the 6th to be caught at Linford. 

Regards Eleanor 

Juvenile Goldfinch.

Cuckoo.

Jay.

Juvenile Mistle Thrush.

Male Ring-necked Parakeet.

Images courtesy of Kenny Cramer.