Ringing at Longham on Thursday morning (September 15th) was superb, both in numbers and variety. The scarcest bird was probably a single Garden Warbler, but there were also no less than 27 Chiffchaffs, 22 Blackcaps and 14 Meadow Pipits among the 78 birds ringed during the day, together with single Reed Warbler and Common Whitethroat.

Meadow Pipit (R H Peart)

Meadow Pipit Longham Lakes 15 Sept 2011

There was a large movement of Swallows, House Martins, Sand Martins and Meadow Pipits over all morning. Paul Morton found 2 Ruffs feeding on the blanket weed on the same day, and also had 4 Yellow Wagtails (only the second recorded this autumn.)

Other recent good records at Longham Lakes include 1 Merlin and 1 Common Sandpiper on Saturday 17th.