Great news from Thornton, several Brambling still present at feeders and two (including this spanking male) ringed. Also ringed today 7 Heron chicks at Watermead.
Good report from Dave Bradley ringing at Swithland Reservoir yesterday. This superb adult male Whitethroat (below right) was the first of the year but the highlight of a nice range of species ringed was a Mute Swan caught by Chris Bradley, well done Chris.
In poor weather hirundines (swallows and martins) gather at places where food is concentrated e.g reservoirs, sewage works etc. A handful were ringed at Wigston sewage works today where swallows predominated with perhaps 300 but only a few sand and house martins were present. I am pleased to report that weights were about average so despite some dreadful weather they are clearly still finding food. Also there 10 yellow wagtails and 2 wheatear. Nearby on Bambury Lane there were 9 wheatear in the ploughed top field.
Dave Bradley was at Swithland this morning and amongst an excellent selection of birds ringed was a Great Spotted Woodpecker and the first Willow Warbler of 2006 but also this stunning adult female Kingfisher. It is easy to sex this bird even in the field as females have a largely all orange lower mandible.Andy Smith and I grabbed a gap in the weather to make our annual trip to Bagworth Heath to ring Grasshopper Warblers. We ringed three including this one (below right).
New species for the year ringed at the weekend included female 'Greenland' Wheatear (right) and Tree Pipit also another Grasshopper Warbler ringed by Andy. A Little Ringed Plovers nest with 4 eggs was found (below) and will hopefully produce more of this delightful wader and yes they are 'little'. Sad news from Neil Hagley is of an unringed female Barn Owl found dead on the M69 near Huncote on the 3rd. Thankfully there was no sign of a brood patch, so probably not a breeding bird.
