While the cat's away ...

While I was driving down to Somerset, two of my 'C' ringers went off to my DEFRA site in Bucks. This is an ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) at the headwaters of the River Ray.

We have been charged with providing a written report of the birdlife of this 30 acre new wet woodland - it's 15 years old - and ringing helps us seek out some of the birds and tells us a bit about their lifestyle.

One useful bit of info. that they found out was a roost of Bullfinch; they caught 10 new and 2 r/t at dusk. Behind there, there was also a roost of thrushes. One 'bogey' bird was caught at long last - a Great Spot. So far, they have taken to avoiding (or clinging on to) the nets.

I have added Ed's view of the weekend ....

Monday, 8 November 2010

A weekend near Aylesbury

One and a half days ringing and 88 birds of 19 species were ringed at Edgcott, near Aylesbury. The site is a 15 year old woodland plantation crisscrossed with rides where nets can easily be erected.

Blackbird  10
Blue Tit  5 (4)
Bullfinch  11 (3)
Chaffinch  2
Dunnock  2 (1)
Goldcrest  1 (4)
Goldfinch  1
Great Spotted Woodpecker  1 [first for site]
Great Tit  2
Greenfinch  1
Jay  1
Long-tailed Tit  6 (13)
Marsh Tit  (1)
Redpoll  3 [new for site]
Redwing  9  [new for site]
Robin  1
Song Thrush  1 [first for site]
Treecreeper  1
Wren  4

My favourites were Redpoll (unexpected) and Jay but I was also pleased with a Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

We also picked up a Goldcrest and Blue Tit that had been ringed elsewhere & not by us - I'd be very interested to find out where in Britain they have come from.



Above: One of three Redpoll.



Above: A Jay - for some reason Blogger has rotated this photo and I can't get it to change. Humph! I'll try again another time.



Above: Great Spotted Woodpecker.