Changing times

Garden ringing comes to an end with the advent of May and the start of the main part of the breeding season. All the winter and passage migrants have now left us. This doesn't mean that there is no need to put the nets out from time to time, as there will be young birds to ring at some time or other. These could well form next year's breeding stock.

Instead, we have to get "on our bike" during the summer months and visit different habitats in the surrounding area. At the moment, I have three such habitats in mind that are calling for my attention. First, there is the water meadows and 'river' at the edge of the village to which we have had access for a couple of summers already. This is good Phylloscopus  territory and where I can, on a good day, catch Kingfisher and Dipper and, maybe, a Sandpiper. Secondly, I have negotiated access to a couple of woods and a bit of parkland on the edge of Exmoor that may be just right for Sylvia warblers, tits and finches. There is potential here to put up some boxes for Pied Flycatchers.

Moon rise and the sun about to follow 

Today, I set the alarm and went to the third habitat - reed fen. This was an exploratory visit (as will be the next few), partially because the site is so vast and recovering from a major "makeover". The object of this exercise will be to look at the relative abundance, productivity and survival of the four main breeding species found on the site, namely Cetti's, Sedge and Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting. Visits will be confined to the four summer months, just like the more regulated Constant Effort Scheme run by the BTO. There are a couple of hoops to jump through before ringing can go ahead.

It was early doors when I arrived, the crescent moon was up but the sun was still rubbing its eyes and the stars were visible. This is usually the best time to get an indication of what birds are nesting where. I was amazed at the amount of low level fog and mist that suddenly appeared and it hung about for a while. This hampered me in looking for potential net sites; I deferred this until the sun was rising higher in the sky . It's not the sort of site to go wandering about on your own without prior knowledge, as "the pits" have steep sides and are ca. 10' deep.  

Nevertheless, as well as the dawn chorus to listen to, I did have the pleasure of watching a Common Whitethroat drag long bents (dry grass) across a rhyne to its nest in the stump of a coppiced Willow as I waited at the car. Later, I also stood and watched a female Reed Warbler collect the "fluff" from the head of a Reedmace (False Bullrush) and take it to her chosen site in a bank of Sedge to line her nest. On leaving, I was also privvy to a male Cuckoo, my first of the year. The list of species got ever longer as time went by and the sun burnt off the mist completely to leave a fine, warm day, if a little humid.

Ringing is on hold now for ten days or so; "the management" is treating me to some narrow-gauge railway experiences elsewhere. You'll have to wait until the end of the month for more of my drivel, I'm afraid.

Apologies for the poor photo - I didn't realise (in the dark) that the (old) camera was not on the right settings

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