Malcolm Stewart

Dear Members

It’s with regret and sadness that I have to inform you that Malcolm Stewart passed away on 14th April. He was in Milton Keynes Hospital, suffering from the effects of Prostate Cancer. He died surrounded by family.

Malcolm was a founder member of the Friends of Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (in those days we were The Friends of Hanson Environmental Study Centre), he loved the Nature reserve dearly and served as a Committee Member for many years.

Malcolm was a lovely man of great integrity, honesty and loyalty. He was smart, gentle, funny, interesting and very kind. He was very much loved and is remembered fondly. A rare example of a truly good gent!

We send our condolences to his family.

Ringing Results Saturday 22nd April

Hi all,

As predicted, we had a noticeable increase in bird numbers and species this week, largely due to the much more favourable weather conditions compared to recent weeks, and despite there being little in the way of new arrivals since the last session. Totals for the day amounted to 44 birds processed of 18 species, 27 of which were newly ringed.

In the warbler department we had 6 chiffchaffs, 6 blackcaps, 4 cetti's warblers, a willow warbler, and we said hello to our first reed warbler, sedge warbler and whitethroat of the year.

Representing the non-passerines were 2 kingfishers, one of which was newly ringed, and a rather interesting green woodpecker. This bird was originally ringed as an adult in 2015, making it at least 9 years old. It was retrapped last April and at the time, we noted an odd anomaly with its eye colour - one iris was deep red, while the other was a more normal silvery grey, but with flecks of red starting to appear. Comparing today's images with last April's, it shows the red flecks are spreading as the bird ages. The bird was otherwise healthy, and with the longevity record for green woodpecker standing at a smidge over 15 years, we'll hopefully continue to see him around for a few more years to see how the condition develops.

Adding to the variety were a mini flocklet of 3 goldfinches and a very feisty magpie which had a definite taste for ringer's fingers!

Other birds around the reserve included a great white egret, a raven, a peregrine, two snipe, an oystercatcher, a red kite, a buzzard, and at least two cuckoos. A steady stream of swallows and house martins were passing through and around 10 sand martins spent most of the morning circling the Sand Castle, with a couple seen venturing into the nest holes. Hopefully they liked what they saw and decide to stick around!

Non-avian records included our first grass snake of the year, 3 common shrews, a water shrew, a common newt and a common toad. Butterflies were on the wing with peacock, orange tip and speckled wood all taking advantage of the relatively calm and warm conditions.

Many thanks to Keith and Steve for their help with keeping things ticking over this week.

Cheers!

Kenny

REEBU (3)

CHIFF 2 (4)

BLACA 5 (1)

GRETI 3

ROBIN 1

CETWA 1 (3)

DUNNO 1

WREN 2 (1)

BLUTI 2 (2)

KINGF 1 (1)

WILWA (1)

GREWO (1)

GOLDF 3

SEDWA 1

REEWA 1

LOTTI 2

WHITE 1

MAGPI 1