Waiting for a surge

Adult male Kestrel - July

Ten birds between two trainees - but what quality! The above adult male Kestrel was a site 'ringing tick', even though the pair is visible around the area all year. He was in heavy moult (MS=31) and not expecting his way to be barred by a mist net.

More quality followed two hours later, when the Green Sandpiper that has been around for three or four days 'collided' with our net over the river. Normally the bird flies well over our heads, constantly calling, dropping in to feed out of sight.

An old friend of mine, Tom Kittle, wrote a paper on this species for R&M back in 1975. The weight of our bird coincides nicely (at 69g) with his graph and it could easily put on 10-15g before it leaves the UK for a wintering spot in the Mediterranean basin or Africa, even as far south as Cape Province.

Green Sandpiper - retrices (July)

The full list for the morning consisted of 7 species: Kestrel 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Blackcap 4 (1), Whitethroat 2, Wren (1), Blackbird 1, Robin 1. The Whitethroats were a breeding pair, the re-trapped Blackcap a breeding female first caught as a juvenile at the beginning of July 2011 and one of the new Blackcaps was also a breeding female, this time a bird hatched only last year. Everything else was a juvenile. A kingfisher escaped from the top shelf of the net over the river and a Dipper passed underneath. Win some, lose some.

A single net in the garden the following day yielded 7 birds, including a 'strange' Long-tailed Tit. As it was ringed on the left leg, I am assuming it's one of John's from the far side of the village,>2 km in a WNW direction. The rest:- Blue Tit starting PJ moult, a juvenile Long-tailed Tit in full moult, a locally bred young Chiffchaff, two second/third-brood young Dunnocks and a retrap 2CY female Pied Wagtail.

We'll wait and see what next weekend brings.

Sivsanger og flere

Well, they cut the hay, teddered it the next day and baled it the day after. All was now clear to get onto the site beyond the area where they had been working on the river bank "repair". Three hours of blood, sweat and tears (high pollen count) saw another four racks cut out through head-high banks of thick nettle, reed, bramble, rose bay and Himalayan balsam. Two years ago I attempted a couple of sessions in the same places during August and concluded that it might be a good place for warbler passage. Now to put it to the test over the next two months.

This sub-site is right under a traditional Buzzard nest (below).

In between rounds. we were entertained by three Little Egrets, one of which was getting the worst of it. The local Swallows are now up to 40+ and going for another tranche of broods. Three Linnets appear every morning, flying high over the trees after exiting from somewhere close by; but where? 

Rear view of a young male Kingfisher

The Kingfishers and Dippers put in occasional appearances, as does the odd Blue Tit; there's an enigma in the middle of nowhere! Other signs of autumn - a Green Sandpiper flew backwards and forwards over our heads, giving its characteristic yodelling 'tittu'ee-tittu'ee' call, a Jay announcing its presence with its far-carrying call and the return of the cackling winter Canada goose flock.

We are also able to get a short net across the stream/river close by, where it could be possible to catch those migrant sandpipers as a bonus. The feeding Swifts are a bit trickier, but watching them dive down low between the reeded banks is satisfaction enough for a few (all too few) more weeks.

A couple of consecutive early morning sessions saw 13 species caught, 5 of which were warbler species. It's early days yet.

2CY male Common Whitethroat

Juvenile Blackcap

2CY male Blackcap

Juvenile Sedge Warbler

The list:

Kingfisher (1) -  from just over a week ago

Great Tit 1 - just one of several that "own" this stretch of river

Chiffchaff 3 - all juvs. as expected, and all males on size

Willow Warbler 1 - first of the autumn, a juvenile female

Blackcap 6 - including a pair of 2CY birds (nesting) 

Whitethroat 1 - a male nesting nearby; they must be close to having free-flying young by now (breeding hampered by the cold weather until 4 weeks ago)

Sedge Warbler 1 - first of the autumn, a juvenile

Wren 2 - incl.a very bleached and abraded old male (6M)

Blackbird 5 - included a 2CY pair

Song Thrush 2 - a first and a second brood bird (3O & 3JJ) 

Robin 4 (1) - 1 2CY adult

Dunnock 1 - juv. just starting post-juvenile moult (3JP)

Chaffinch 1 - juv male (on size)

New - 27, re-captures - 2

2CY European Robin

Adult (3CY+) male Eurasian Wren

Situated in a wide valley surrounded by hills, come nine o'clock, the sun reaches all parts of the site and we call it a day. Recently, there has been a stiff north-easterly blowing which also hampers our efforts. You can't win them all and we have to grab any reasonable chance that presents itself. That, we hope, will be another couple of sessions this week-end - after some sorely needed rain. [Last night's storms missed us]

The future looks bright!

Recently built & lined HOUMA nest

Not least because of this emblem of good luck that has appeared outside our bedroom window!

We have had a couple of sessions down at the meadows during the last week, but today I noticed that they had been in behind us and cut the hay, which was over 1 metre high in places. This bodes well as we can now get in to the whole site and, what's more, open up some old stream-side racks where there is more cover and little disturbance. Just in time for the Willow and Sedge Warblers to arrive.

For both sessions, we placed a 40' net across the ford and three nets "in the bushes" where we know we will catch - when the season picks up, that is. A third effort consisted of an early foray into the garden before the local workmen started about their business. The abnormally clear and hot weather is making the birds reticent to even come for food, our local Pied Wagtails being an exception.

Juvenile Kingfishe No.8

Kingfisher 5 (1) - all juvs.; makes 8 known young

Blue Tit 3 - all juvs
Great Tit 2 - both juvs
Chiffchaff 6 - all fluffy juveniles (and just a singleton female type)
Blackcap 6 (1) - the retrap a 5M ringed last year as a juv.; this had a growth on its left foot (see pic)
Whitethroat 2 - a 2CY pair nesting stream-side in Rosebay
Wren 3
Dipper 1 - another juv., this one starting to acquire its belly patch (see pic)
Blackbird 1 (3) - 2 males from August 2011 on the meadow
Robin 3 - all juvs. (see pic)
Dunnock (3) - incl. a known pair from summer 2011
House Sparrow 4 - 2 very recent fledglings (FL) & 2 juvs starting full moult
Greenfinch 1 (1) - presumed nesting pair, male a 5M when ringed, June 2011
Goldfinch 1 - a juv. (see pic)
14 spp, 38 new + 9 re-captures

Juveniles of - Dipper, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Robin

I have had a look at this year's "Top Ten" and compared them with the previous two years, also at the 28 week stage.
Goldfinch 176 (104, 237)
Siskin 170 (19, 42)
Blackcap 84 (43, 79)
Willow Warbler 73 (33, 19)
House Sparrow 68 (35, 35)
Greenfinch 60 (49, 85)
Chiffchaff 53 (12, 63)
Blackbird 45 (28, 81)
Dunnock 22 (20, 30)
Blue Tit 21 (32, 91) 

Young, male Goldfinch 

The effects of last year's wet spring and summer can clearly be seen in some species, as can the fierce winter the year before. So far this year, things are not too bad. The Sparrows certainly love the drier weather and the heat.

More ringing - after I've done some "habitat management".

The beginning of Autumn?

During the week, small parties of Starlings have been spotted moving west to the moors. Numbering 6-10 for the most part, they have increased to noisy groups of up to 20 strong in the last two days. This is always a sign of approaching autumn and the closing stages of the breeding season. Another sure sign is the adult Robins beginning their annual, full moult.

However, many birds, including the Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat are still in full song and preparing for more broods of young,  to add to the young that are already on the wing. These migratory species have a lot of catching up to do as "their spring" was very much delayed this year. They are all "thin on the ground" this year, as it is, thanks to last year's torrential rainfall.

Net across the ford

Good news. The Kingfishers have bred and produced independent young. Bad news (in a way). Another Herring Gull, them that breed on next door's roof, got caught in the garden mist net; the damage - just the loss of 8-9 net meshes (phew!). Oh, and a bad laceration to my left thumb!

Juvenile Kingfisher

On the garden front, we had a 'in tick'. No doubt attracted by the sheep in the field opposite, a 'pair' of Ravens popped in at 5.30 in the morning. We see them around the general area from time to time but not so close to the village proper. One of the local Buzzards has taken to visiting the orchard, and, if it tries to sit in the large Greengage tree (which is half dead), the nesting Herring Gulls harass it into the belt of Ash trees. They continue their racket, which usually alerts us, until it eventually gives up and moves elsewhere.

Totals for the week are:

Herring Gull 1 - the other one of the 'old-timers' pair

Woodpigeon 1 - in moult & not that heavy for a pig

Kingfisher 2 - juvs

Blue Tit 1

Great Tit 1 (1)

Chiffchaff 2 - juv female & adult male

Wren 1 - breeding female

Blackbird 1 (3)

Robin 2 (1)

House Sparrow 10 (1)

Pied Wagtail (1)

Chaffinch 1 - 2CY male

Greenfinch 3 (2)

New - 26, recaptures - 9, 13 spp.

Everlasting Pea flowering in our garden hedge

When I've cut out a few more racks, it's back down the meadow for another session before the European visitors arrive. Perhaps there will be more in the way of fledged youngsters?

P.S. (for Phil)
Here's the thumb damage, courtesy of HERGU.

Hard cheese

Hard graft, more like, for a few more weeks to come. My absence has been forced by a computer "mal-function", commonly known as the OS going nutty during a Win7 update, forcing complete closure and re-programming. Still - we're up and running now, but minus a large chunk of my ringing database. Hence the introductory comment.

A few ringers have been remarking on the poor breeding season, with special regard to provisioning of the young with food. Irregular feeding results in poor quality plumage in extremis but is generally evident in the growth bars present in the flight feathers. (That includes the tail). Sometimes the feathers lack pigment, giving the young birds an uncommon plumage hue. Their poor quality can lack insulation properties, making life even harder than it should have been as they enter the world. Here are two of the examples I have handled  recently.

Blue Tit fledgling

House Sparrow fledgling

Well, it's not been all bad. I've managed to ring in the garden in between fixing "the box" and other duties, wind and sun permitting. Suddenly, it seems as if the one-time nestlings have all popped out and are having to fend, in part, for themselves. I've racked up 94 new birds since being "off air", with another 21 recaptures. Today, I sloped off down to the 'river' after a three week gap, and added to the garden mix by way of Blackcap, Dipper and Swallow juveniles. 

Juvenile Dipper

Juvenile House Sparrow

Juvenile Siskin

Juvenile Goldfinch

Things are very quiet down there, with many birds singing heartily still, but very little evidence of any young about, excepting some Blue Tits, ... but the wind didn't help.

The totals over the 16 days were as follows; no double-counting. The re-traps, by and large, were adults

Jackdaw 1 - a cocky male

Blue Tit 9 (1)

Great Tit 7 (1)

Swallow 1 - juv

Blackcap 1 (1) - first juv and a 2010 male

Wren (1)

Dipper 1 - second juv

Blackbird 15 (4) - 7 were adult

Robin 7 (4)

Dunnock 5 (5)

House Sparrow 15 (2) - the r/t's say why I don't do a RAS!

Pied Wagtail 1

Chaffinch 5 - plus 2 with leg mange (unringed)

Greenfinch 5 (1)

Goldfinch 17 (1)

Siskin 4 - all juvs

16 spp., 94 new, 21 r/t 

The last bird of the day was a re-trap, male Blackcap. He was originally ringed, as a 2CY bird, in virtually the same spot, on, to all intents and purposes, the same day two years ago. It was only the third ever visit I had paid to the site and the first time I had set a net between those trees. Nine of the 12 Blackcaps I caught that day were juveniles. Not so this time. I do love my Sylvia warblers. 

I'll try to get another bulletin out before our German & Austrian visitors arrive in eleven days time. So long.