Old birds at North Wootton

Have just heard about two local retraps that were caught in Jen's garden on the weekend of 4th/5th July. Both were adult Chaffinchs; both birds were first ringed by NOA (Holme Bird Observatory) in Fred Cooke's garden, which is about 2km away on the other side of the wood, Ling Common.

The female was ringed as a 5F (2CY) in February 2003, which makes it just over 7 years old (interval = 6yr 134days). The other, a male, was ringed as a juvenile (1CY) in June 2004, which puts it at a little over 5 years old (interval = 5yr 11days).


We (I include the 'good lady') are waiting on the ringing details of a Belgian Brambling and 3 British Siskins that were trapped back in February/March.

Kite country

Had to go to High Wycombe on Sunday 23rd. Jen attended to her late husband's grave while I watched for Red Kites on a windy day with great visibilty.

Jen at Paul's graveside Feb 09

Looking across the valley where 2 pairs are often seen

As is often the case (with me, anyway) a bird suddenly appeared below and close to, only then to disappear behind the neighbouring gardens' trees. Frustrated I put the camera away (a Fuji F610) when Jen had finished and we drove off. Just then, it popped out over the cemetery and I fumbled for the camera, leapt out, turned it on and managed to just get this one shot (below) as it veered away from us!. I could have had a brilliant pic if I had been prepared earlier. At other times, they have sailed over the open grounds of the cemetery and our heads.

Record shot at H.W. cemetery

From here, we went to Hughenden Manor. The objective was to walk to Naphill and have lunch in the pub there. However, we were directed along the 'blue' trail when we should have been on the 'purple' one. At the far end of that, Jen would have been able to connect with a footpath to the pub she was looking for. Never mind, it was pleasant enough the way we went.

Hughenden Woods (NT)

Decision time. We then went for lunch at a pub in Great Kingshill called the "Polecat". Good 'home-made' food on the menu for a reasonable price (for this 'posh' area) .

The "Polecat Inn" sign

Afterwards, we went for coffees at some friends' house, which overlooks a regular kite area. The field opposite had recently been cut and was littered with the remains of many voles, shrews, etc.
An adult Red Kite was mantling something while 2-3 Crows strutted their stuff nearby.

Looking towards 'Combe Hill' .
Nearby is " Chequers"

We make this journey every 3 months or so; graves should not be left un-tended, me thinks.

Essaichonetee!

Saturday, not my day me thinks. Need a good kip!

Friday (yesterday) spent a pleasant day at the Bird Fair at Rutland Water. My friend Bill Jordan didn't have a stand there this year, so that was one less catch-up made. (I'll have to trot along to Pensthorpe now). After a two hour wander, spent most of the day from noon overseeing the ringing demonstration; we probably caught about 15 birds including Sedge, Reed and G/hopper Warbler, Dunnock, Bullfinch, Gt.Tit & Blackbird. 110 mile round trip.

Saturday - Abandoned by my regular trainees, Jason came along to help. Haven't seen him since I wrecked the underside of my car at Harrold CP in May. Caught 8 Blackbirds, incl. a new brood of 4, 5 new Blackcaps and one each of Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler & Treecreeper. It all stopped at 09:30 but we hung on 'til noon - just in case. That 'in case' probably turned up this afternoon when no-one was about! The sun shone throughout and the temperature rose from a cool 9C to a warm 22C in the shade.

Jenny should roll up later, so I'll have to do a 'proper cook' tonight and not have a bachelor's 'quickie'.

Hot, hot, hot.

As today's temperature was expected to reach 27-28 degC, it was up early. I arrived at the park at 5:30 to find the barrier open and a couple of dog-walkers cars already there. The reason for this visit was to check on the Reed Warblers, because Mark & Ed had gone to a reed bed at Willington GP (about 3 miles east) on Monday evening without any luck at all during their two hours.

Dave had also remarked on the sudden drop here, at Priory. Anyhow, two nets up for three hours and only 3 fledged juvvy RWs caught - and those before 6:30! So it's true, the bulk of the breeding population has cleared off quite a bit earlier than usual. There was a pair busily feeding young by my parked car. I failed to catch much else, just a Dunnock and a Blackbird (both young 'uns).

The morning was not a wash-out as I witnessed around 5-600 Jackdaws leaving the roost; what a racket they kick up! Also had a Redstart (on passage) and 5 Gadwall.

On the way home, I called in to make a doctor's appointment, then put some washing on, entered today's data, re-erected the garden net, picked brother Bev up from Headway and took him grocery shopping, saw the quack and got my perscription. Busy day - next stop, evening meal.

Titchwell 16/08

Popped along on Sunday afternoon to view the progress with the new sea wall (you can't stop an old civ.eng!). For the first time ever, I did not see a single birder that I knew - unless you include Maureen who serves the teas and lives in the village.

Not much about but did manage - Cormorant, Heron, Little Egret, Mute Swan, Shelduck (ordinary ones), Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Marsh Harrier (and 3 Monty's somewhere not too far away), Sprawk, Moorhen, Coot, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover (lots), Lapwing, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Spot. Redshank, Greenshank & Turnstone. A good few Linnets, too.

Had a lovely, bright-white (male) Barn Owl at Guyhirn (A47) in the dusk.

We bin Narfok

Juvenile Greenfinch before it starts the PJ moult.
No, it's not a Yellowhammer! Doh!

Thees ere weekend, oi (no more dialect) repeated the netting I put up a fortnight ago. Then I caught 101 new birds and 13 retraps. You can look up the detail under 4th August.

This time, it was a mere 38 new birds plus 19 birds, all from last time, the first session of the autumn (or post fledging/breeding). Blackbirds remained steady at 2(1), though, and I recaught 3 of the 4 Marsh Tits. The young Dunnocks (2) have started to make an appearance at long last.

Coal Tit 8(4) versus 11(2) last time would suggest a population of some 3 dozen - but I caught something like 160+ individuals in the previous 12 months (and just under 100 the 12 months before that).
Blue Tits were way down from 33(8) to 8(4), but it's still nice to know that there are new birds out there every time. From August to July each year, I reckon to catch about 200 birds in this particular garden. Ours lies on the western side of the wood and bods from NOA (Jed Andrews & Co.) set a net at Fred Cooke's place which lies on the NE corner, about 3/4 mile away. Needless to say, we end up catching each others - but not as many as you would think.
The "surprise" (if you can call it that) was the decent numbers of new Great Tits at 14(7), suggesting a local population of, perhaps, 150. Last year (prev.12 months) I caught 120 individuals, so it looks like I'm missing some or they had a darned good breeding season!
The last species on the list is Greenfinch; a couple of Juvs (see photo) and a couple of 'dads', "with no passes".

This weekend, the butties were few in number, mainly Large & Small Whites and 2 Gatekeepers. Last time there was a profusion feeding on and around the Buddliea & Hydrangeas - the 2 Whites (17), Brimstone, Peacock (11+), Red Admiral (3), Painted Lady (4+), Small Tortoiseshell, Comma (2), Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Holly Blue & Gatekeeper (2).

"Flying shit" - bagged!

Thursday - just watching the 'Look East' weather, when I noticed something flutter down onto the grass verge outside the window from the corner of my eye. A quick 'shufti' and I see Starlings. Remembering that I had a 40 foot Jap and some bits of bread on the back lawn (which I had diligently cut this lunchtime), I got up to go outside, first grabbing a handful of bags.

In - well most were - the net were about 15 Starlings. As Jap nets are not the best for holding these birds (unless they're carpalled, ugh) some managed to flap about and eventually get out. In the end I had eleven (see 1st pic)

Eleven in the bag(s)!

As I only have a few 'C' rings in the house (for the occasional Blackbird), I had to go out and fish the string out of my ringing box, which was in the boot of the car. The birds ranged from 119 mm wing length to 132 mm. Weights varied from 67 grams for the smallest (2nd pic) to 82.5 g for the biggest.

3J Starling in the early stages of 'full moult'

Two of the birds, both with a wing of 128 and a weight of 80 g, were coming to the end of their 'complete moult' (see 4th pic) and had full tails - unlike many of the 'intermediates', which were replacing primaries, secondaries and tail feathers all at once (see 3rd pic).

An 'intermediate; note "short" tail which is being replaced.

A '3E'. Note the few juvvy feathers on the crown and
the all black bill, diagnostic of 1CY birds.

A good show!

Last weekend, 12 of the county's ringers (this includes 7 trainees) managed to cover the 3 CES sites plus another major site and a garden. In total, they caught 228 birds of 26 species, of which 39 were re-traps. The greater proportion of the new birds were juveniles, as you would expect at this time of year. Well done to all.

For those interested, here are the totals (retraps in brackets):
Wood Pigeon 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Wren 7 (4), Dunnock 6 (4), Robin 7 (2), Blackbird 5 (2), Song Thrush 1 (1), Sedge W. 11, Reed W. 35 (3), Lesser 'throat 1, Whitethroat 16 (2), Garden W. 7 (1), Blackcap 16 (2), Chiff 6, Willow W. 1, LTT 8 (6), Blue T. 24 (9), Great T. 5 (1), Treecreeper 3, Jay 1, House Sparrow 3 (2), Chaffinch 6 (1), Greenfinch 3, Goldfinch 1, Bullfinch 6 (2), Reed Bunting 3.

Vis mig close-up

Juvenile Garden Warbler

Saturday was yet another early start, this time up at 4am and on site just after 5am to erect the nets before the trainees arrived. A really great day, with 42 birds (36 new ones), glorious sunshine and no wind to speak of. Of the total, 23 birds were warblers; 3 Reed, 1 Lesser, 5 Common, 5 Garden, 8 Blackcap & 1 Chiff. The young Garden Warblers (above) were all "full of fat", i.e. ready for a sizeable journey across the sea towards Africa.

Myvisiting cook, collecting "food for free", e.g. Blackberries
for my tea, beside nets 3 & 4

One of the reasons why we are able to catch good numbers of birds, which are about to migrate, is because of the good number of really 'plumptious' Blackberries here. The western side of the line of nets faces banks of Blackberries or Elders, whereas the other side is mainly Hawthorn and Dog Rose. As the public are excluded from the area, the birds only have to compete with rangers, ringers and ex-wardens - who know not to decimate the berried bushes , but only take enough for a pie or two! [In this case, also 12 lbs of Blackberry & Apple jam]

Note: Decimate in Roman times meant to kill every tenth man.

Spuggie come-back

My best year yet in the garden for the charming House Sparrow. In 2004/05, I caught 67 & 34 respectively. Over the road, the field was surveyed and the archeologists moved in. Right opposite was a broken line of Blackthorn on the banks of the brook. In 2006 the civil engineers moved in and realigned the brook to take a new culvert, this as part of the new roundabout that would allow access to the 'new estate'.

The "new build" summer 2007

With the Spuggies' nest sites removed, I managed a mere 5 birds in '06. My buddy "up the road" and I had usually managed to catch similar numbers, but his that year bettered mine. Since then, there has been a general improvement so the little critters had managed to find somewhere else to nest in the locality. Also, in the last two years, the undeveloped 'flood plain' has been planted up, the bank side vegetation has not been violated by the IDB, and there are swathes of wild flowers (mainly tares, St. John's Wort and Bristly Ox-tongue).

3J (juvenile) House Sparrow undergoing full moult

To date, the total of new birds is 91, with 15 re-captures. Of the latter, 1 has been a 3CY (third calendar year), 3 have been 2CY and the others this year's young. The time that has elapsed between catching the youngsters has varied from 2 to 37 days, with an average of 16 days. The first juveniles started their moult into adult plumage in the middle of July. More recently, another brood of 'just-fledged' young has appeared, demonstrating the long breeding season that the species is capable of.

August '09 - first weekend

Just a bit of garden ringing round a friend's house. Had a forty foot up before dusk for an early start. This is between the shrubbery, which backs onto the footpath and the wood, and the feeders in the Almond tree.

Set me back a few bob as I got through about a hundred rings. Before this weekend, I had ringed 211 new birds of 19 species in this garden; I had also clocked up 139 re-traps (re-captures from previous visits/years). Among them were a Sparrowhawk, a Stock Dove & a Collared Dove (awkward things to catch), a couple of Bramblings and 44 Siskins.

Now, almost the first bird out was a male Great Spot. that I had ringed as a 2CY back in 2007. As time went by, the following plopped into the net (re-traps always in brackets). Dunnock 1, Robin 4, Blackbird 1, Blackcap 1, Marsh Tit 4, Coal Tit 11 (2), Blue Tit 33 (8), Great Tit 32 (1), Chaffinch 11 (1) & Greenfinch 2. The only adults I caught were the Blackbird, both Greenfinches, a new and two re-trap Coal Tits, a re-trap Blue Tit and the Dunnock. That makes a total of 105 young birds this session.


The majority of the Tits were youngsters undergoing their post-juvenile moult; only one of the Blue Tits was shedding part of its tail, whereas most of the Great Tits that were in advanced stages of moult were dropping their tails and growing new ones.

I had to let one bird go. It was a fg male Greenfinch that had severe leg mange. It had lost all its claws (but was able to stand on the feeder bars) and was also a bit thin on top.