Let the figures speak for themselves.
It's been amazing seeing all these Blackcaps, mainly males passing through the garden. One was first ringed 2 years ago (3rd July) as a 3J down on the water meadow; the others have been around for 3-4 days. At the same time, Phylloscs have been moving through, across the grass mainly. Have now sussed how to catch these low-flying/hopping jobs - by putting a single panel down the garden path! As well as the birds below, quite a few others were seen to avoid capture as they moved across the plot. The one red letter bird was Linnet that we have never seen in the garden before.
Chiffchaff 4 (1) - 1 female (on size)
Willow Warbler 8 (1) - all males (on size); one very yellow bird inc. legs
Blackcap 11 (5) - all males except 2
Blackbird 1 - longish winged, 2CY male,
Robin (1) - 1 of the resident cocks in fine fettle
Dunnock (1)
House Sparrow 2
Brambling 1 - 2CY male
Greenfinch 2 (1)
Goldfinch 1 (1)
Siskin 5 - mixed of ages and sexes
Linnet 1 - adult female (BP2)
36 new, 11 recaptures
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| Adult female Linnet (3CY+) |
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| 2CY male Brambling |
The heaviest Willy was 10.5g (F25 ESF). A Goldfinch was a nice weight at 18.8g (F50), 4g above 'summer norm'. Blackcaps ranged from 16.4g to 22.2g (F35), with most around the 18.4g mark. The Brambling was 27.9g (only F15). Just 2 Blackcaps had a low muscle score of 1.
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| Willow Warbler, male
We were also graced with 8-10 returning Swallows and a single House Martin. On the buttie front - Peacock, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell. No sign of last week's Small White and Red Admiral.
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Interesting BLACA retrap. Loads of people are reporting them in the gardens this week, and I was wondering if it was wintering birds moving back east, or arriving migrants from the south.
ReplyDeleteStill have one of the over-wintering females, now quite heavy at 24.0 gm (@ 7.00am today). Ringed over 30 this year, mainly in the last 10 days. Lots of newcomers by the lower fat scores and weights; but 13 of 31 April records with weight >19g & >fat2.
DeleteNice close-up!
ReplyDeleteGreat to study the details!
A great series of very interesting birds.
ReplyDeleteToday I saw lots of Willow Warblers feeding on the ground, and have been seeing LOTTI and other tits feeding on the ground all month, so there's obviously little insect food in the trees, as bud-burst is very delayed. So I wonder if these Blackcaps are arriving from the south only to find little food, and then being attracted to gardens by the lingering winterers that have been waiting for the easterly to drop before leaving. It's still very wintry in central Europe (snow and cold) and is also a very late spring there, so our wintering Blackcaps will be in no rush. Are the summering Blackcaps now learning about the new food sources in gardens from the wintering birds?
ReplyDeleteYes, Richard, I think they are by the way they queue up waiting to get to the sultanas!. The really old hands also get first dibs at the ivy berries.
DeleteAwesome birds and closeups!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds!! And loved reading your commentary.
ReplyDelete