Moving on

Garden Ringing

The weather precluded going down the water meadows, much as I would have liked. The nets there are set up some distance apart and it would be impractical to supervise them all if a squally shower came through. Meanwhile, my "assistant" is away on CABS duty in Malta.

A little rush of lady Willow Warblers over the weekend, pushing on northwards in a bit of a hurry, going by the fat they were carrying.

Results: 16 new & 6 re-traps

Blue Tit (1), resident, eggy female

Willow Warbler 4, all girls - maybe Scots Lassies, Fat Slags or Norfolk Dumplings? certainly not local.

Blackcap 2, both 2CY boys

Blackbird 1 (1), 

Robin (2), probably a young pair from next door

Greenfinch 4 (1) - [see also below]

Goldfinch 3

Siskin 2, incl. the 1st Juv. of the season
Bullfinch (1), smart 6M 


Escapees - Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook. One of each. What do you expect with a "superfine" set for LBJs? 
The remains of two recently fledged Greenfinches were found on the path by the fruit cage; Sparr suspected as the perpetrator.

The Blackbird I controlled last week was originally ringed back in 2006 as a fledgling. So far, she has survived 2122 days. There is no intermediate history.

Day trip

Took a day off on Friday to go on a coach trip to the Swanage Railway with the volunteers down at the local West Somerset Railway station. I attach a picture on the return journey of some of the reprobates before we boarded .

 

We were taken to the workshops where three 'Battle of Britain' class locos are undergoing "re-ticketing" or restoration. It was a long walk but this was well worth it.