Thursday 25 November 2021

Northants Ringing Group update

 

Northants Ringing Group (NRG).

 

Currently the group has twenty-one members comprising fourteen qualified ringers, of whom five have training endorsements, and seven trainees.

The main ringing sites are Pitsford Reservoir, Stortons Nature Reserve, Harrington Airfield and Linford Lakes Nature Reserve, which although it is in Buckinghamshire is only about two miles from the County border and BTO allows it to be within the Northamptonshire figures. There are other numerous sites where ringing is conducted within Northamptonshire by group members.

This year, so far, the group has ringed over 7,009 new birds and re-trapped 1,780 birds. Of the 1,780 birds that have been re-caught only fifteen were ringed by other groups/individuals either within the County or farther afield. Interestingly Linford Lakes Nature Reserve has been a good place for control Reed Warblers this year with four having been ringed outside the county, one from Rutland Water, one from Marston Vale Country Park Bedfordshire, one from Baden Down Farm Wiltshire and one from Girande in France. The French bird was originally ringed in August 2017 as a juvenile, possibly having been hatched in the UK and on the start of its migration, and by the time it was caught at Linford in July it will have made eight journeys to and from sub–Saharan Africa.

Map 1 below shows the original ringing location of birds caught by NRG members, known as controls, although the bulk were originally ringed in the UK.

Map 2 below shows the location of recoveries for birds that were ringed by NRG members. The Red flag indicates that unfortunately the bird was found dead. In the UK, the bulk of the ‘Red’ recoveries were the result of predation by cats.

Map 3 below shows the detail that is entered on Google maps when plotting controls or recoveries. These maps are currently only available to NRG members.

In July two members of NRG made what has become, Covid notwithstanding, an annual pilgrimage to the island of Skokholm, known as Dream Island by the wardens. Chris Payne had previously installed some cameras into a specially built Storm Petrol nesting wall, known as the Petrol Station. This year Chris obtained some excellent footage of the comings and goings of the Storm Petrols and next year plans are in the making for Chris to visit with two sound recordists to place at least eight cameras and microphones into the wall to continue their research into the secretive life of this amazing little bird.

 

Map 1

Map 2

Map 3

 Night-time view of Storm Petrol curtesy of Chris Payne.


The totals for NRG since 2002.

The 2020 decline is the result of the inability to ring due to Covid-19 restrictions.

 

Nick Wood
Group Secretary

Northants Ringing Group






Tuesday 23 November 2021

Birdfair - The End of an Era

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust regret to announce that they will no longer run the annual Rutland Water Birdfair.


https://www.lrwt.org.uk/birdfair




Friday 19 November 2021

Pitsford Nature Reserve Kingfisher Viewing Screen

Work has recently started on the Kingfisher viewing screen at Pitsford Nature Reserve overlooking a quiet backwater away from the main reservoir. The screen is being built with photographers in mind with openings at low levels as well as for general viewing from sitting or standing positions and is big enough for 5 or 6 people social distancing! 

There's evidence that the area in front of the screen is being used by both Great and Little Egrets from the 'whitewash' on the bare bank opposite and from the number of birds attempting to land while we were working there and Great Crested Grebes, Reed Warblers and dabbling ducks favour the varied habitat at different times of the year.

There will be perches set at various positions to allow for fluctuating water levels and it's hoped that Kingfishers will find it to their liking. More news including the location will be published when it's completed and ready for use. Watch this space.

Permits are required to access the nature reserve side and are available from the fishing lodge for £5 or free to Wildlife Trust members with a permit obtained through the head office.

The Wildlife Trust are also introducing car parking charges for Summer Leys very soon which will be free to members but you must register your car's number plate beforehand. 

https://www.wildlifebcn.org/summer-leys-car-park-registration



Kingfisher - Dave Jackson