After my 'dawn chorus' walk at Priory (Beds), I readied myself and the car for my mission.
It was almost lunch-time Sunday before I arrived, unloaded and got the nets out and put them up. Not a bad little afternoon session with 13 birds, of which a mere 6 were new. Chaffinch was to dominate the weekend with 4 males and 2 females.
The biggest male Chaffinch of the weekend [wl 91, wt 22.1]
As I was about to sit down for lunch, a raucous din drew my attention to something struggling in the net close to the pole. Knowing what "disasters" can happen when this occurs, I shot out and took the following quick pic before I un-picked this 2CY female with a stonking B3 brood patch [i.e.fully engorged].
Female Great Spot. in its first breeding season calling out to be ringed!
By the end of the day, I was half-way through the week-end's total of 27 birds. Next day, I had to get my car in for its MOT test (that ran out on Saturday) at Gayton, about 10 miles distant. Jen ferried me there so I was able to capture a few more birds in the morning only. After lunch, I had to get into Kings Lynn and pick up and pay for the service and MOT. They still do things the old-fashioned way - that means real service and no bright lights to dazzle the customers!
Allen's Garage, Lynn Road, Gayton.
The day saw me ring my first 3J of the year, a sweet Robin, destined to become a female going by its wing length.
On some younger birds, the bastard wing (alula) has become quite noticeable due to bleaching. Here is a 2CY female Blue Tit from Monday's catch.
Faded alula on a 2nd year, female Blue Tit. (May 2010)
Tuesday morning was to be my very last session here. Although I lay abed 'til 7am (that's 2 hours after sun up), it turned out to be a bit of a farewell fanfare. Nine birds of just five species. Grist to the mill turned up as 3 new Dunnocks, an English ringer's bread and butter, and 2 retrap Blue Tits from last August. But, over breakfast, I saw a Jay through the conservatory window. A developing brood patch maybe, reasonable cloaca, 176 wing, 164 weight and 12 bars on the outermost gc and a broad tail pointed towards a 6 (hatched 2 years or more ago) and a possible male at that.
Early morning Jay. Note the dressing gown!
About two hours later in the morning, low and behold, another Jay! This one was definitely a 6M - everything was that bit bigger than the earlier bird. The little finger on my left hand, which is awaiting surgery, sustained a further injury and more pain as I thrust my hand out to hold the bird while I went under the net.
Late morning 6M Jay. Note the BTO sweater cuff by now!
I finished on the only Coal Tit of the wekend, somewhat surprising, as they have been the real ' bread and butter' job for me round here these last four and a half years.
My efforts resulted in 27 birds, 15 new (12 retraps):
Gt Spot 1
Jay 2
Blue Tit (6)
Gt. Tit (2)
Coal Tit 1
Black bird 1 (1)
Robin 1
Dunnock 2 (2)
Chaffinch 5 (1)
Greenfinch 2
2CY male Greenfinch that has been on the last of the rose-hips
"If you miss . this one . there'll never be another one ... biddy-biddy-bum-bum ..."
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