Changing times

Garden ringing comes to an end with the advent of May and the start of the main part of the breeding season. All the winter and passage migrants have now left us. This doesn't mean that there is no need to put the nets out from time to time, as there will be young birds to ring at some time or other. These could well form next year's breeding stock.

Instead, we have to get "on our bike" during the summer months and visit different habitats in the surrounding area. At the moment, I have three such habitats in mind that are calling for my attention. First, there is the water meadows and 'river' at the edge of the village to which we have had access for a couple of summers already. This is good Phylloscopus  territory and where I can, on a good day, catch Kingfisher and Dipper and, maybe, a Sandpiper. Secondly, I have negotiated access to a couple of woods and a bit of parkland on the edge of Exmoor that may be just right for Sylvia warblers, tits and finches. There is potential here to put up some boxes for Pied Flycatchers.

Moon rise and the sun about to follow 

Today, I set the alarm and went to the third habitat - reed fen. This was an exploratory visit (as will be the next few), partially because the site is so vast and recovering from a major "makeover". The object of this exercise will be to look at the relative abundance, productivity and survival of the four main breeding species found on the site, namely Cetti's, Sedge and Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting. Visits will be confined to the four summer months, just like the more regulated Constant Effort Scheme run by the BTO. There are a couple of hoops to jump through before ringing can go ahead.

It was early doors when I arrived, the crescent moon was up but the sun was still rubbing its eyes and the stars were visible. This is usually the best time to get an indication of what birds are nesting where. I was amazed at the amount of low level fog and mist that suddenly appeared and it hung about for a while. This hampered me in looking for potential net sites; I deferred this until the sun was rising higher in the sky . It's not the sort of site to go wandering about on your own without prior knowledge, as "the pits" have steep sides and are ca. 10' deep.  

Nevertheless, as well as the dawn chorus to listen to, I did have the pleasure of watching a Common Whitethroat drag long bents (dry grass) across a rhyne to its nest in the stump of a coppiced Willow as I waited at the car. Later, I also stood and watched a female Reed Warbler collect the "fluff" from the head of a Reedmace (False Bullrush) and take it to her chosen site in a bank of Sedge to line her nest. On leaving, I was also privvy to a male Cuckoo, my first of the year. The list of species got ever longer as time went by and the sun burnt off the mist completely to leave a fine, warm day, if a little humid.

Ringing is on hold now for ten days or so; "the management" is treating me to some narrow-gauge railway experiences elsewhere. You'll have to wait until the end of the month for more of my drivel, I'm afraid.

Apologies for the poor photo - I didn't realise (in the dark) that the (old) camera was not on the right settings

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They think it's all over

The sun has come out and stays out from dawn 'til dusk. Shade temperatures in the garden have touched 20deg C. and the first of the Apple trees has decided to flower. Not good news for a bird-ringer in two ways - the birds either move off to pastures new, i.e. their breeding territories further north and east, or really get on with the business of nesting in our hedges, trees and shrubs, and, secondly, the nets become very visible in the sunlight, even with a background, except for a short while at each end of the day. 

Bullfinch, adult male

Five different Bullfinches were caught, comprising two pairs and a lone/spare 2CY female. They always reappear when the buds are swelling, just before the Apple trees come into flower. This was also the time period when the Whitethroats appeared; for this (coastal) part of Somerset, they were two to three days later this year than normal. They  seem to disappear in spring but show themselves again in July. The Willow Warblers seemed to stop abruptly on the 27th; the one pictured in the previous blog (re-shewn below) was a late male (25th) that looked quite different from our more normal, yellowy-green birds. 

Common Whitethroat (male)

Well defined head markings and paler rear underparts
(and late date) suggest
  Phylloscopus trochilus acredula

Given the current weather situation (SUN!), one could put in a lot of effort for very little reward. The only times that catching is viable is early morning and late evening. Even so, things can be pretty dire. We will have to think of alternative methods.

The last week's assortment is on record as:

Woodpigeon 1 

Collared Dove 1 - a young bird [Euring 2I] that hatched either at the end of last year or early in this. The only bird ringed so far this month (May).

Chiffchaff 2 - females on the move

Willow Warbler 5 - females, none after 27th

Blackcap 2 (2) - female ringed on 13th weighed 20.4g on 27th 

Garden Warbler 1 - my one and only for the year?

Com. Whitethroat 4 

Starling 1 

Blackbird (3)

Robin 2 (1) - all males on CP

Dunnock (2) - the garden is "over-run" with them

House Sparrow 1 (1)

Pied Wagtail (1)

Chaffinch (1)

Greenfinch 2 (1)

Goldfinch 14 (1) - birds on the move but with little/no fat reserves

Siskin 7 - suspect they are mainly local breeders

Bullfinch 1 (4) - 2 pairs & a spare female

Total (excluding double counting) - 44 new + 17 re-captures of 18 species. 33 species were seen in or over our garden during this period, including the Com. Swifts.

Between myself and John, who rings at the other side of the village, we ringed over 550 new birds of 37 species last month (April). He "grabbed" a Collared Dove, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, (Goldcrest), (Jay), Com. Crossbill (4) and Yellowhammer. For my part, he was "missing" Herring Gull, Woodpigeon (3), Pied Wagtail, Garden Warbler, (Coal Tit), Magpie, Starling (2), Brambling (2), and Linnet. I'm usually the one who misses out on the Linnets.

Egrove Lane - May 2013

As far as the trees are concerned, they've got a lot of catching up to do. Blackthorn not flowering until late April - ridiculous!

I'm am hopeful of returning to the water meadows next week for the summer months and also to go and catch a few Swallows at the stables, if the wind permits. We'll have to wait and see.

All shipped out? Not quite!

It's been a week since my last post and a good week it's been. The weather has been bright and sunny for much of the time, if a little breezy. The trees are just thinking about sprouting leaves and, surprise,surprise, the Blackthorn is flowering (6-8 weeeks later than normal)

On Friday last, it was very clear and we finished with cloudless skies that evening and a light westerly; ringing had been slow and so it was to prove the next day as well. Migration had been going on at high level but, conversely, must also have been taking place to the south of us. Sunday and Monday proved the point with an influx of Willow Warblers, after four days of virtually none. It also signalled the "change-over" between the sexes, this time females dominating the catches. 

Willow Warbler

Blackcaps have also seen an increase in the numbers of females coming through, but there are still some very heavy (high fat scores) males passing by, obviously "tanked up" for a long journey ahead of some 200 - 300 miles non-stop  - or possibly more.

"Extra large" male Blackcap

We have also had a steady trickle of Siskins, probably of local residence, coming to the Nyger seed tray and feeders. There have been a couple of females showing good signs of developing a proper brood patch, but on the other hand, a couple of males with full tracheal pits, surely a sign of on-going migration.

Siskin - 2CY male

The main attraction for me, as you all know by now, is the build up of King Harrys (Carduelis carduelis). This started in the middle of last week and is starting to gather pace. It should continue for another couple of weeks. This year, migration is likely to be condensed into just three weeks, instead of a more normal five to six week spread, purely because spring has been delayed somewhat this year [we reckon by about three weeks].

Adult female Goldfinch

The one surprise - a male Starling. There are a few pairs nesting in the village but not many. They visit the garden either to collect nest material or to raid the bird table or the vegetable plot for food for their mate/young. This was only the third to receive some bling here. Many moons ago, we used to visit winter roost sites at night and pluck a sample, and any bird with a ring on, by hand from their perches. Messy job. They're not called "flying s**t" for nothing. 

Adult male Starling in breeding plumage
(ready for the off)

To sum it all up, here's the list for the week:
Woodpigeon 1

Blue Tit 1 (2)

Coal Tit (1) - a broody female

Chiffchaff 1

Willow Warbler 32 (+ 1 control)

Blackcap 16 (6)

Starling 1

Blackbird 3 (2)

Robin (3)

Dunnock 1 (3)

House Sparrow 7 (1)

Chaffinch 1 (+ 'pegleg')

Greenfinch 5 (1)

Goldfinch 29 (5)

Siskin 13

Bullfinch 1 - a 2CY female

Total - 112 (24), 16 species

Other birds seen in the garden included Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Collared Dove (nesting), Magpie, Rook, Jackdaw, Swift, Great Tit, Swallow, House Martin, Wren (2 singing males), Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail (min 2 pairs), as well as the neighbouring Herring Gulls (2 pairs nest building) now joined by a pair of Lesser Black-back Gulls.

Bee Fly spp.
(found clinging to the net)

Down the lane, I also picked up my first Sand Martin, Common Whitethroat, Little Owl and Kestrel. A lone Little Egret reconnoiters the stream daily.

It's predicted to turn much colder next week with northerly winds again, so 'fingers crossed'.

Red letter, Yellow letter

The stiff wind has put paid to any garden ringing for a couple of days or so.

It's not been 'all bad' as the migrants are still (were) passing through. Even another Lesser Redpoll (or whatever - subject to lumping again?)

I do love these coverts!

(Lesser) Redpoll

It's been up and down by species but overall things are looking good. The only worry is the severe lack of insects as is shown by the Phylloscs feeding on the ground, especially early in the day. The Blackcaps continue to queue up for their ready-soaked sultanas (7 in view around one bird table the other day) before attacking the Ivy berries.

2CY female Blackcap
(3CY+ females have a proper chestnut cap)

Two of the over-wintering Blackcaps were re-caught - two 3CY females at 24.0 g and  24.3 g (early morning), both ESF fat 5. On the other hand, a returning 3CY male only weighed 18.1 g, still holding on to a small amount of fat after his return migration.

We have been graced with two Common Redstarts, a young female and a young male, the latter staying for a morning and finding its way into and out of the fruit cage. 

Common Redstarts - 2CY female (top), 2CY male

At the same time, the Siskins continue to find the Nyger seed ... and some the net (the sheltered one, between the bare Apple trees).

male Siskin (April)

Since the last blog, the birds caught are as under:

Blue Tit 1 - female, thinking of breeding (no proper BP)

Great Tit 1 - cocky adult male

Long-tailed Tit 1 - a hen with a nest somewhere hereabouts

Chiffchaff 5 - all the fairer (and smaller) sex

Willow Warbler 17 - looks like the ladies now outnumber the men 2 to 1

Blackcap 30 (4) - plus several same period retraps

Wren (1)

Blackbird 2 - both brooding hens

Robin 1 - a new, full adult male

Redstart 2 - both 2CY as told by their old greater coverts

Dunnock 1 (2) - 

Chaffinch (1) - the cock minus a foot caused by 'leg mange'

Greenfinch (1 control) - ringed as a 2CY male 2 winters ago

Goldfinch 4 - 2 male, 2 female; a rather 'chunky' male off somewhere

Siskin 11 - in all stages of abrasion into breeding plumage

Lesser Redpoll 1 - 4th of the year

Bullfinch (1) - the male hatched 2011, now in full glory.

Total - 77 new + 10 retraps 

Black Friday

Let the figures speak for themselves. 

It's been amazing seeing all these Blackcaps, mainly males passing through the garden. One was first ringed 2 years ago (3rd July) as a 3J down on the water meadow; the others have been around  for 3-4 days. At the same time, Phylloscs have been moving through, across the grass mainly. Have now sussed how to catch these low-flying/hopping jobs - by putting a single panel down the garden path! As well as the birds below, quite a few others were seen to avoid capture as they moved across the plot. The one red letter bird was Linnet that we have never seen in the garden before.

Chiffchaff 4 (1) - 1 female (on size)

Willow Warbler 8 (1) - all males (on size); one very yellow bird inc. legs

Blackcap 11 (5) - all males except 2

Blackbird 1 - longish winged, 2CY male, 

Robin (1) - 1 of the resident cocks in fine fettle

Dunnock (1)

House Sparrow 2

Brambling 1 - 2CY male

Greenfinch 2 (1)

Goldfinch 1 (1)

Siskin 5 - mixed of ages and sexes

Linnet 1 - adult female (BP2)

36 new, 11 recaptures

Adult female Linnet (3CY+)

2CY male Brambling 

The heaviest Willy was 10.5g (F25 ESF). A Goldfinch was a nice weight at 18.8g (F50), 4g above 'summer norm'. Blackcaps ranged from 16.4g to 22.2g (F35), with most around the 18.4g mark. The Brambling was 27.9g (only F15). Just 2 Blackcaps had a low muscle score of 1.

Willow Warbler, male

We were also graced with 8-10 returning Swallows and a single House Martin. On the buttie front - Peacock, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell. No sign of last week's Small White and Red Admiral.