Evening all

The sun and the wind and the showers have persisted. A different tack was called for and it came in the form of calmer winds at the end of the day, or even a slight shift so that the wind came from the north where we are somewhat sheltered by 40' (13m) trees.

The beginning of this week has turned up a small but significant group of birds. The 2CY female Great Spot has been back again, this time in the net after feeding.


GRSWO - 2CY female with old greater coverts and white tips to the primaries

The fully adult Blue Tit pair have been foraging in the apples for a while now and both were caught, separately, on Tuesday. It should not be long before they bring their new offspring to the orchard.

Apart from re-trapping one of the four young Robins, a noisy, and probably unsure, >3CY male was caught and ringed; the last "resident" male was trapped on 14th February. The pair with the fledged young at the bottom of the garden have taken them off in the opposite direction to the one the interloper came and left.


ROBIN - adult male, the "interloper" 958


SISKIN - 2CY female

Three Siskins were caught over three evenings but the most pleasure was had when four 1J (just fledged) Goldfinches turned up close together in a net with one of the parents singing/calling madly by the end of the net. They most likely bred in the front hedge where there is also a second pair.


EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH - age class 1J

11 new and 4 r/t of 7 species:
Gt. Spot. W-pecker (1)
Blue Tit (2)
Robin 1 (1)
House Sparrow 1 (incubating female)
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 5
Siskin 3

Sun, wind & rain

Last week saw a progression of all three across this part of the county of Somerset.
First it was sunshine wall to wall and from first light. Then the winds started to pick up and veered from NE to SE. As they did so, the cloud began to increase and then the thundery showers began, with the winds now at F5 (or gusting 30 mph).

That makes ringing almost impossible in the garden. However, I did manage a few birds, more by accident than with any real endeavour (good old Morse!). Monday last was the only day that ringing took place and I succeeded in catchin 6 and ringing 5. Later in the week, i was lucky enough to 'pick up' a fleshly fledged Dunnock and another of those young Blackbirds that were provoked into fledging last week by a cat [presumably the stray that looks like a patchwork quilt].

Collared Dove 1
Blackbird 3
Robin (3)
Dunnock 1
House Sparrow 1
Greenfinch 1

After 5 weeks without any rain, we have now had 25mm (1 inch) in 48 hours and the temperatures have fallen back to 9C (48F) at night and to 17C (63F) by day, which is more normal for the time of year. The blossom has gone, the trees are in fresh leaf and the grass is growing like the clappers.


The orchard, Fairmead, in early May

It looks as if I shall have to wait until Thursday before I get a weather window for opening the nets again.

All quiet

This last week has been characterised by moderate winds from the north-east, warm daytime temps. and many sunny days and nippy nights. As the week progressed it got gloomier but still no rain to freshen things up. Definitely not ringing weather. Just as well as I was busy away from home. I did, however, hope to get some ringing done in a Bucks wood - but the electronic key would not open the gates.

As it is, I got in a couple of hours this morning at dawn. Fortuitous really, as the weather turned quite stormy later (wind and dark clouds, no rain - yet!). Not much to report barring I re-caught all four Robin chicks and their dad. The youngsters are much bigger although still not fully grown, with wing lengths 10mm greater than last week. All have lost their "chubbyness" but maintain a reasonable weight. It looks like 2 males and 2 females going by their sizes.

I also caught (by hand) a 1J Blackbird after a cat provoked early fledging, this bird having decided to come into our garden from the dividing hedge while the rest of 'his' siblings went the other way. Our young Lakeland Terrier turned 'pointer', kindly cornering it for me.


Rubbish totals:
Collared Dove 1 ad fem
Willow Warbler 1 ad fem (above)
Wren (1)
Blackbird 1 (1)
Robin (5)
Goldfinch 1 ad fem

Nowt

Gave up and furled after a female Sparr hit the '20' and wriggled free before I could get on her. No other birds "caught". As I will be away for the next few days, no garden ringing until the week-end. The wind's all wrong and NE, so it's no great worry. Stay tuned.

5 - 1

No, not the Canaries vs Tractor Boys result, but the number of new birds ringed and the number of new species for the site. Although an Ipswich supporter (my mother's family were rooted in Suffolk, even if they started off somewhere in Norfolk 'round Wymondham), I wish Norwich well in their aspiration to return to the Premiership (even if they ran all over us).


In the pre-dawn, came the newbie - a Sedge Warbler. Obviously fresh in, it carried little weight (9.8g), fat (0) or muscle (1-2). Also caught in the gloamin', at the other end of the orchard, the third youngster from the brood of Redbreasts in the bottom hedge. Shortly therafter, a 2CY male Blackcap and then a run of re-traps. Much later came a Goldfinch and then, to finish, the first Song Thrush in three months.

Father Robin followed soon after his offspring, the Coati and Blabi waited until breakfast, with both Blueies, a pair of 6's, busy elsewhere until elevenses.
Blue Tit (2)
Coal Tit (1)
blackcap 1
Sedge Warbler 1
Blackbird (1)
Song Thrush 1
Robin 1 (1)
Goldfinch 1

That's all folks; now to finish off those Hot Cross Buns!