Ringing the migrants again

Hello

It was another day suitable for ringing the migrants and Kenny and his team down at Linford Lakes were busy with a massive catch of one hundred and fifty-eight birds with thirty-six Chiffchaffs, forty Blackcaps, twenty-four Meadow Pipits and twenty Reed Buntings. Three Reed Warblers, a Cetti's Warbler and a Sedge Warbler were also caught plus a late Willow Warbler and a re-trap Sparrowhawk.

A Great White Egret and a Common Sandpiper were also present.

Another ringing session at Brixworth was much steadier with eighty birds processed which included thirty-one Chiffchaffs, a handful of Blackcaps, singles of Magpie, Sedge Warbler, Pied Wagtail and Song Thrush. Several Meadow Pipits were also processed but unfortunately the session was brought to a swift closure when Kestrels began to attack birds in the nets. A couple of Grey Wagtails were also present for much of the day and a couple of flocks of migrant Swallows lingered for a while before moving on. A Barn Owl was hunting there pre-dawn.

Presumably the same Short-eared Owl was found again in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton and there were also two Whinchats and this afternoon a Marsh Harrier too.

Pitsford Reservoir hosted a Caspian Gull and four Yellow-legged Gulls between the causeway and dam and other sightings were a Green Sandpiper, a Dunlin, a Ruff, sixteen Ringed Plovers, four Pintail, four Shelduck and a Stonechat.

Eight Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin were at Hollowell Reservoir today and one of the Bitterns showed again at Stanford Reservoir where also a Great White Egret, sixteen Little Egrets, three Cetti's Warblers, a Common Sandpiper and a Water Rail.

The Turnstone was again at Daventry Country Park and the juvenile Osprey was seen again at Whiston Wetlands/Earls Barton New Workings. A Cattle Egret and a Ruff were at Summer Leys LNR this morning.

A Cetti's Warbler was a good local record at Priors Hall, Corby and two Ravens were calling over Plumpton Wood.

Regards

Neil M

Tufted Duck.

Carrion Crow 'playing'
with a plastic toy!

Pied Wagtail.

Above three images courtesy
of Tyler Atkinson.

Sedge Warbler courtesy
of Kenny Cramer.