Storton’s Pits nature reserve is one of the most urban sites of Northants Ringing Group. Originally a disused gravel pit, it has been transformed by the Wildlife Trust for Beds,Cambs, & Northants, into a significantly diverse resource, for a wide variety of wildlife. This, despite the fact it is surrounded by busy roads, sports stadia, retail and commercial industrial units. Create the correct environment for nature and it will thrive, was never truer than the example of this reserve. Storton’s is split into two distinct sections. The West Lake being the main body of open water and the Eastern end is one of the largest reed beds in the county.
The majority of the ringing takes place at the Eastern end of the site, with the reed bed and Willow Carr scrub an ideal environment for a whole host of birds, including a large number of visiting migrant warblers.
Until recently ringing was organised by John Woollett, who’s ringing experience spans over 50 years and is probably the only person to ring a Warbler in the UK, and then weeks later, encounter the same bird in Portugal.
The Eastern ringing area is split between two main sites. The North side is mainly used for late autumn and winter ringing. The South side is mainly used for spring and summer ringing. This site has provided many recoveries over the years and these are listed in the recovery and control pages on the blog.
Of the thirteen species of migrant warblers to visit UK in summer, twelve species have been ringed on site.
