I've struggled

What with the recent weather and a couple of family commitments, last week's ringing total was somewhat subdued! I still couldn't get on to the meadows because of the wet ground and that probably meant missing out on ringing some Sedge, Garden & Willow Warblers.

However, it was ten new birds and three re-traps caught and ringed, just enough to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms -

Adult (4) Collared Dove - note deep red eye

Collared Dove 1 - a red-legged adult (female)
Blue Tit 2 (2) - new juvs
Coal Tit 1 - fresh juv
Long-tailed Tit (1) - another adult in full moult
Blackcap 1 -
Wren 1 - yet another juv
House Sparrow 3
Bullfinch 1 - the last of fledglings? (makes 5)

We don't have any berries yet, black or elder. Our plums are still not ready for picking, either, which means a seasonal shift of about three weeks.

Hard, green Blackberries (mid-August)

Over the last two weeks the garden has been full of butterflies; Large White, Small White, Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock, Hedge Brown and Meadow Brown. The Hedge Brown (or Gatekeeper) has been the most prolofic. The Holly Blue has already gone through its second generation early.

Gatekeeper or Hedge Brown

The forecast for getting any ringing done during the coming week is poor - a rapidly moving mix of showers, periods of rain, thunderstorms and high winds does not bode well for any ringing ... and my step daughter, Bex, says it's going to be very warm at the weekend, to make matters worse.

Family commitments accomplished included a trip to Wells and the cathedral and the bishop's palace. We didn't chase round the city looking for all 42 swans!

Swan sculpture - one of six by the Bishop's Palace, Wells.

And to cap it all, I have had to look out for these two "charmers". They are not a threat to any birds in the nets, but they do follow me about quite closely. [H&S trip hazards!]
[Lakeland X puppy belongs to "her indoors" and the 12 year-old DSH tom-cat is "next door's"]

Amber & Misty