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!

They're off!

At first light, it was in the net along the hedge, up from where they were nesting. No.1 fledged Robin of the year. Later in the day, I caught another, which was even smaller than the first. Another pair are still feeding young in the nest, away from the netting area, but it won't be long before they're off, too. In between feeding his scattered brood, the male finds time to defend his territory with song.


Another phenomenon is the number of new Blackbirds already ringed this month, twelve. In the previous three months, I caught and ringed 24. The majority are males and some 2CY birds are looking the worse for wear, much as this one below, where the tail feathers have broken off along the growth bars. At some stage in its young life, it (he) must have missed a meal or two.


Another female Blackcap was seduced into the garden by the singing male in the 'Robin hedge' at the bottom of the garden.


Blue Tit 1
Willow Warbler 2
Blackcap 2
Blackbird 4
Robin 2 (2) - the r/ts were both of our territorial males
Dunnock (1)
Goldfinch 1

Not so perfect ringing weather as you might think. The skies are blue with just a hint of high cloud at times, the temperature ranges from 1C at dawn to 22C in mid-afternoon, the winds are light but predominately from the north-east - which suits Arctic Terns and House Martins ... but I don't have a step-ladder big enough to flygg them!

Away day

Decided to forego ringing in favour of a day out. Took ourselves off to Brean Down with the dogs. The weather was dull at first, becoming hazy later during the morning.

By the time we left (about sidereal noon) the temperature had reached 20C.


That's "Weston-super-Mud" in the background!

There were plenty of summer migrants about; there must have been in excess of 100 male/singing Willow Warblers. Close behind on Number 2 was Whitethroat. Conditions have been favourable in the last couple of days for migrants to cross the Channel and they have pored in!

Common Whitethroat (c) Edward D Green

A fair few Chiffchaffs and plenty of Meadow Pipits were seen/heard and several pairs of Linnet gave Jen a year tick. All the while we walked the two kilometres along the lower (ha, ha) path, Herring and Lesser Black-back Gulls glided into the bay towards the River Axe, making full use of the updraughts. A year tick for me was one of my favourite birds, the House Martin, 'prritting' above the gulls.

The Bluebells were coming out and will be at their best next week-end (Easter) but the Cowslips (below) were in full bloom, often surrounded by violets.


After watching two Tree Pipits and three spanking male Stonechats, we arrived at the fort, which has an interesting history.


This was built in the middle of the 19th century, along with three others [Steep Holm, Flat Holm & one on the Welsh coast], to defend the Bristol Channel against invasion by the French. On the return walk, we only heard one of the three Grasshopper Warblers that we had picked up on the way out to the fort. As much as we stared at the vegetation (bramble, naturally)....


There was a secretive one in here, honest.

... we could not clap eyes on any of these little buggers, partly because of the steep terrain that made viewing low vegetation difficult.

Grasshopper Warbler (c) Edward D Green

We finished off our 2 hour walk with a nice mug of coffee and a lump of coffee and walnut cake at the National Trust cafe.

Some surprises

A slow, but steady, week so far. We were promised better winds but the light southerlies did not materialise, just a very light and variable breeze yesterday. Even today, when we were promised southerlies, the wind is in the north-west, off the sea.

I did manage a few birds, though, but not as many as last week. However, a couple of surprises were in store.

The Goldcrests are either nesting in our one, remaining conifer, or the one on the other side of the road junction. This female was the first of these for a month.


The Siskins also returned after a month's absence; I caught 2 of 2 Friday and 1 of 2 on Saturday (today). The latter was a breeding female with an engorged and wrinkly belly. Her partner stayed calling from above the net.


Total catch - 38 birds. The 'King Harrys' still dominate the catches with every third new bird another Goldfinch.
Goldcrest 1 female with BP
Blue Tit (1)
Great Tit (1)
Willow Warbler 3 - all females
Blackcap 2 - 1 of each
Wren (1)
Blackbird 6 (3) - a new '6 male' looked as if he was working hard (see below)
Robin (3) - 2 brooding females
House Sparrow 1
Goldfinch 12 (1) - mainly migrants carrying fat
Siskin 3



There was a C.Whitethroat singing loudly this morning two doors away! And the male Sparrowhawk came straight down the middle of the net lane and over my head later.

Some more ringing

Just the weekend this week. I returned from holiday to bright, warm sunshine and a good breeze. Still, it didn't stop me catching a few birds, most of them early on in the day. I was hoping to catch a few Phylloscs but the weather was too fair. Apparently, last Saturday was the big day hereabouts; neighbour John caught 11 new Chiffs and 34 Willies! I did manage a couple of P.trochilus though



The buds and blossom on the apples are developing fast, so it was no wonder that I trapped a pair of Budfinches.




Early doors on Saturday, I trapped my fattest yet, 2CY, male Blackcap with a weight of 21.6g [ESF 40, M2]; only one female 'browncap' was caught.



So, I ended up with 47 birds as follows:
Blue Tit 1 (3)
Great Tit 2
Willow Warbler 2
Blackcap 7 - mostly 2CY males
Wren (1)
Blackbird 2 (2)
Robin 1 (2)
House Sparrow 2
Chaffinch 2
Greenfinch 4 (3)
Goldfinch 10 (1)
Bullfinch 2

It is very useful being able to ring in our good-sized garden (old part of the orchard). Between coffees, I need just 12 minutes to unfurl all 5 nets (170' or 51m). What's more, I can keep an eye on them from my study.
I notice that the Sycamore is in full leaf, even if a bit limp yet, and the Alder and Elm have a 'green flush', while the Ash is coming into flower. The Speckled Woods are doing their dance in the dappled sunshine beneath the apple trees, which the hoverflies are busy pollinating.

Some hols

I have been away in NW Norfolk for the last week, ostensibly to bring the caravan back. I did manage some bird-watching - by taking the dog for a walk mornings and evenings around the Coastal Park - and clocked up over 70 species. A brief ringing session on the Sunday with Trevor Girling produced just 2 birds, a Chiff and a Wren.


I did manage to find the first Ring Ouzel early one morning (Sat 2nd), but missed the Gropper found by David Roche on the 5th.

Jenny has had a caravan here for many years and it was sad to leave and become just a "tourist pitch".


It was handy for the beach, dog walks and birding, not forgetting Hunstanton.


We were up there one day during high tide and the Turnstones, about 40 of them, were all feeding on the grass beside the road.


Whilst there, we had the obligatory dinner dates with old family friends, where the wine flowed. Next door is "Sandies", the local pub. Sandie was born in Luton Hoo and worked on the caravan site before taking over the pub.



The coastal park and the inner sea wall was were Jen and I first went for a walk after we had known each other for about a month (on the internet). We will always think of PFG, pink-footed geese, when remembering the area since the fields hold many after dusk; in fact, there were 250 there this week and they might remain for another 6-7 weeks yet before the last migrate north.


One historic event was about to happen; the flood siren was disconnected and siren itself was due to be 'recycled' and the post removed.


Another milestone - but will the new electronic notice boards that replace the siren be as effective? Will everybody ensconced in their 'vans/chalets be aware of the notice on the inner sea-wall if they don't venture out?