Middleton Nature Reserve
Early morning ringing (JM, AD)
A productive 4 1/2 hour ringing session this morning produced a varied mixture of migrant and some local species. Over 50 captures included a good selection of warblers including Sedge, Willow, Reed and Garden, plus Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap.
The only overhead movement noted were two Swifts flying south at around 09.30. No Swallows were seen.
Moth traps set overnight on the east and west sides also produced decent catches.
More detail to follow.
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| Some nice cumulus clouds were forming early this morning. Their tops were being blown off as they rose into a faster moving airstream |
Mid morning (MD) It was warm in the sun, so the plan was to check for dragonflies, unfortunately cloud cover arrived and the cool breeze reduced insect activity. Only Emperor 3 and Common Darter 2 seen. I came across a large mixed feeding flock of tits and warblers. At least 40+ made up of adult and immature Long-tailed Tit and Blue Tit, adult Coal Tit plus Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. A flock like this is not uncommon on the Reserve, but what made it interesting was that all three birds photographed with legs visible were ringed. Most legs, indeed birds, are obscured by the foliage at this time of year but the implication is that a large proportion of this flock were probably ringed (hence the ringing endorsement). |
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| Juvenile LTT with ring. Other ringed birds were juvenile Blue Tit and a Chiffchaff |
Lighthouse area - 15:30 as tide was exposing beach next to wooden jetty (MD) Mediterranean gull- none turned up to feed on the beach. But this ringed bird was flying out from harbour mouth.  Wheatear 1  |
