The Singing Camellia

Well, it's raining today - and probably tomorrow. That means many other things can be done while the net(s) have to stay closed, like shopping and sheaves of waiting paperwork. On the horizon is the prospect of some spring migration, both inbound and outbound but there is some much needed habitat management to do before then. [For habitat management read 'cutting down the trees and shrubs alongside the netting areas to a height to match the extended nets in order to stop the birds going over the top'.]

The 'singing' Camellia (Feb. 2015)

It's now 23 days since my last blog and the preponderence of some species has changed quite noticeably during that time. The birds that have become more numerous are, in particular, the Chaffinch and the Greenfinch. After a slow mid-winter, the colder weather to the north of us seems to have pushed the birds south at last. It also brought many more House Sparrows, Robins and Pied Wagtails to the bird-table and the closest lawn, all in search of a 'hand-out' to keep them in good shape during the frosty period that has existed for much of the time since my last blog.

Back to the Camellia. Oblivious to the squabbling Blackbirds (male v male and female v female) going on below or the combative Robins charging from the bird table to the shed roof above, a small, unobtrusive bird warblers a quiet song from the depths of the evergreen bush. It is the emboldened, 'rising five' Blackcap that has snuck across from the bottom hedge, where he normally gives a far superior rendition of his signature tune. He is endeavouring to irritate his younger fellow Blackcap that warbles against him from the side hedge every morning. What worries both of them, I suspect, is the fact that the third male doesn't join in and the lone, virgin female takes no notice of either of them (so far)!

Here is the sum of my on-and-off efforts since last time. Additional retrapped individuals in brackets.

Collared Dove - 1

Goldcrest - 1

Blue Tit - 2 (2)

Great Tit - 4 (1); beginning to show signs of a brood patch (BP1)

Long-tailed Tit - 4 (3)

Blackcap - 2 (2); new 2CY male & female plus a December 1CY male and the male now in his 5th calendar year.   

Wren - (1)

Starling - 2; makes 5 this year - a garden 'rarity'

Blackbird - 6 (8); an influx, plus what looks like 4 local pairs, inc. 2 females with BP1

Robin - 5 (7); again, a sudden influx and some quite small birds among them. No BPs.

Dunnock - 4 (8); it amazes me where they all come from/hide! I had no less than 58 last year.

House Sparrow - 4 (12); still managing to ring new birds (138 new last year)

Chaffinch - 11 (1); even split between the sexes

Bullfinch - 1 (1)

Greenfinch - 6; mainly birds with longer wing-lengths than we are used to suggests these were migrants

Goldfinch - 27 (25)

Siskin - 3 (2)

Of the 179 handlings, 83 were new birds and 73 were already ringed. 23 birds, or less, were caught, therefore, more than once.

Come the spring equinox (in another 4 weeks), I will stop feeding suet pellets, soaked sultanas and dried mealworms and just put out mixed millet and SFH during the summer. By then, the fruit trees may be in flower and the Ivy berries at their ripest. This is usually the time that we say 'good-bye' to the Blackcaps and 'hello' to the Chiffchaffs. A cold snap may make me change my mind about what I feed, however. We are already noticing an increase in amphibian and insect abundance and the grass is trying to grow where we have walked it flat between the back door and the nets. 

Next time, I hope we can bring you some news from the water meadows, barring another flood.

We're on the move

Things have been a little slow of late, hence the long interval between posts, but there seems to be some movement just recently. Over the past three weeks, my new bird totals have been 17, 17 and 34 - and the weekly species total has risen to twelve.

First year male Goldfinch completing PJ moult (October)

Naturally, at this time of year, Goldfinches have returned to Number 1 spot, with 18 new birds and 9 retraps last week, despite the periods of wind and rain that hamper much of our ringing hereabouts.  I am well over 500 new for the year already - with the main influx of newbies still to come (hopefully) - plus 72 individuals from last year, 14 from 2012 and 7 from the year before, my first here.

First year male Blackcap (October)

Same bird - underside (note the pale yellow flush)

The other tell-tale sign of winter is the catching of Blackcaps; the first (a 1CY male) on the 18th was right on cue, then another (1CY female) on the 22nd and three more since. I checked on the number of birds that were ringed in the orchard last winter (November - mid-March); it came to 22 birds, with two of those returning from previous winters.

Fun shot of a male Goldcrest's crown feathers

Another sign of the impending short days was the presence of a few new Goldcrests. The species breeds quite locally to us and I retrap birds from March to June, but after that it's only the odd new bird until the clocks go back when we then expect some winter arrivals, most likely passage birds heading for the Exmoor forests to the south-east of us. 

The bird that is missing so far - is Redwing. I saw one locally on the 14th and then a flock of 18 on the 25th. There was a major arrival on the north-east coast of England overnight on 28/29th so it will be another week or so before we see them regularly and, hopefully, one or two in the net.

Perversely, we saw a Swallow hurriedly heading south over the house on the 22nd in the late afternoon! Our local birds left ages ago.

The composite list for the last three weeks is: 

[same period retraps omitted]

Gt. Spotted Woodpecker 1 - adult male

Goldcrest 3

Blue Tit 1 (5)

Great Tit 1 (1)

Long-tailed Tit 4 (6)

Chiffchaff 1 - hatch year female

Blackcap 5

Wren 3 (3) - all young birds

Blackbird 2 (3) - just the 1 adult (female), retrapped

Robin (3)

Dunnock 2 (5)

House Sparrow 5 (6)

Chaffinch 1

Greenfinch 1

Goldfinch 38 (18)

118 birds of which 68 were new birds

Immature male Great Tit. Note the large, shiny bib.

One piece of late news - the southern end of the meadows has been fenced off, the horses now confined to the northern section. This means we can put nets up again, not just while the hay crop is growing.

Middle March

It's been longer than a week, but the current weather is holding things back right now after what promised to be a mild and gentle beginning to spring. Progress has been slow,in part due to the extremes of bright sunshine or blustery winds first thing in the morning. The weathermen must have realised that I was due a dose of shingles. Got to have something to occupy ones mind when the catching is slow!

Male Lesser Redpoll

This is what ten days from 15th to 24th have accomplished:

Collared Dove 1 - a second escaped (as they do)

Blue Tit  (3) - no brood patches apparent

Great Tit 1 - a female with the beginnings of a brood patch
[Note: Great Tits generally nest 7-10 days earlier than Blue Tits]

Chiffchaff 2 - first on 19th, next on 21st; low fat scores indicate "local" birds

Wren 1 - 2CY female

Blackbird 1 (2) - another new full adult female

Robin 2 (2) - nesting in progress. 4th & 5th new birds of the year also

Dunnock 1 (3)

House Sparrow 1 (2)

Chaffinch 3 - plus one released unringed ("scaly leg")

Greenfinch 1 - cracking male

Goldfinch 13 (10)

Siskin 1 (2) - all males

Lesser Redpoll 1 - only the second of the year

29 new birds + 23 recaptures of 14 species  

There was not much sign of passing Goldfinches. One female was carrying a large amount of fat deposits (ESF 40) sufficient for a migration of perhaps 200+ miles, with another two birds with less (ESF 25), enough for 100 miles or so. Half of the birds showed no or little traces of fat so they must be intending to remain locally for the time being. We know that they cross the south-west peninsula, seeking the warmer English Channel coast during winter, before returning north to areas around the Bristol Channel.

Goldcrest
(heard but not caught - yet)

 My apologies for a late posting - due to my current, painful affliction. Should be able to catch up later this week, I hope.

Surge of the Siskins

The fine days, when ringing was practical, were memorable for the influx of, first, the continuing show of Siskins, mixed in with a bit of movement through the area, and , secondly, for the passage of Goldfinches. The latter are now under-going a bit of pre-breeding fattening and are also showing signs of some body moult. Got to look their best!

It is quite noticeable with Goldfinches how they hold their weight down in winter when they can rely on a regular source of food, i.e. somebody's feeders. This is a survival mechanism, allowing them to flee quickly from predators. On the other hand, birds on passage can be picked out by either having a residual store of fat and, sometimes, low muscle condition (both used to give up energy for flight) or the fact that they can be re-caught after a day or two with a higher 'fat score', as they go about replenishing their energy levels, never to be seen again. The local birds are picked off early in the day, breakfasting on the feeders, most with "BTO bling" in evidence; thereafter, they spend much of their time singing and preening up in the tops of the boundary trees. Strangers, however, are usually caught during the 'body' of the day, as are some of the irregular "district" birds that circulate between the local ringers.  

Here's a jolly young Greenfinch in his first breeding season- all dolled up ready to catch the lady's eye! 

I managed to catch the following in dry, less windy interludes over the period, consisting of 72 new birds & 31 re-captures from earlier:

Woodpigeon (1) - another "fatty" from last spring (>600 g)

Blue Tit (2) - one of two resident pairs

Great Tit 2 (1) - strangers these days - looking for a nest site or a food source?

Long-tailed Tit (1)

Blackbird 2 (1) - the new immatures turned up on consecutive days - passage? 

Dunnock 1 (1) - the 5th new Dunno of the year!

House Sparrow 2 - a 'saucy' pair not looking what they were doing?

Chaffinch 1

Greenfinch 4 (2) - showed up for a few days and then disappeared again

Goldfinch 25 (16) - 19 of these were 2CY females 

Siskin 35 (6) - 26 were males & 33 were 2CY birds

        Just 11 species, but it won't be long before the migrants begin to show. Our male and female Blackcap are still with us, but I have not made any deliberate attempt to intercept them on their way to or from the bird table that houses the sultanas. I will need to before they depart.

A new black cat, I suspect it's a youngish one, has appeared a couple of times when the net(s) have been open. It soon beats a hasty retreat when our dogs charge over to that corner of the garden in full cry, where it will, hopefully, make a sharp exit over the larch-lap fence. I have planted Hawthorn and Dog-rose there as a future deterrent. Meanwhile, our cat remains indoors, oblivious, usually on the bed.

Whoosh!

Well, we've had some more torrential rain - and our third severe gale of the winter. Trees down, tiles off, glass smashed ... but the nets stood firm! February rainfall now 168mm, that's more than twice the monthly recorded average for the time of year, and we're only half way through the month. Any way, it's started raining again. The forecast does look to be improving at long last, though. That should help the pumps down on The Levels (locally re-named "Lake Paterson"). 

I managed to get out and set the net for the best part of a day on three occasions this week, whenever the wind had died down to a safe level. I do have some shelter in the orchard if the wind is in the right vector. Ryan, a trainee, came yesterday and cut his teeth on a new species for him, Siskin.

Male Siskin

The 21 re-captured Goldfinches comprised - 1 from the 2010/11 winter period, 3 from 2011/12, 4 from 2012/13 & 13 from previously this winter. The oldest bird would have been hatched in 2009 (or earlier). One of the Siskins was a control from 8km west, ringed as an adult male last spring; the other re-trap was also from the last winter period, while it was still immature. The suspicion is that the wet weather and the gales have ruined the remaining Alder tree seeds for the Siskins, bringing them back into the gardens at last.

How we got on:-
Great Tit - 2; first of the year
Chaffinch - 1; a large, adult male bird
Greenfinch - 6 (1); an awaited increase in numbers
Goldfinch - 36 (21); still coming through, (see above)
Siskin - 16 (2); a sudden, noticeable increase in numbers coming to the feeders
Bullfinch - (1); a 2011 female
Others - 5 spp. (8)

The sun's come out, albeit briefly!

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.

Allez oop

Despite the weather it has been a good week in most respects. I have been able to do some ringing every day, though Tuesday only saw 1 new Blue Tit in the bag before the wind got up.           

The garden produced 96 new birds (10, 1, 16, 11, 12, 26, 20) and 13 recaptures of 10 species using one 60' in our small orchard. Thursday morning at  Highbridge meadows yielded 21 new plus 3 re-traps including a new species, Grewo, originally from Five Bells, a couple of km to the north-west. There was a passage of Chaffinches but no Mipits or Swallows. Saturday at the meadows saw the temperature down to 0C with clear skies and just 4 new AA rings plus 2 re-traps. 12 Jays moved overhead from the direction of the Crown Estate (mainly coniferous) towards the Quantocks (large tracts of deciduous) at 08:30 and 4 Meadow Pipits took an interest in the "tape" but decided to avoid the net and moved on. Just 2 lone Swallows were seen hastening south. There was a noticeable increase in the number of Siskin feeding high in the Alders, which coincided with their attraction to the garden feeders.

Siskin - male 2CY (October)

*** Birds trapped at the meadows = 25 (4):
Green Woodpecker - control
Blue Tit 1 (1)
Great Tit 4
Long-tailed Tit 7 (3)
Chiffchaff 5
Wren 1
Blackbird 1
Robin 1
Dunnock1
Chaffinch 4

The main event at the house was the number of Goldfinches that appeared from Tuesday onwards. Until now, it has just been the local birds - that know their way around the feeders without getting caught too often.

1CY Goldfinch - After PJ moult

1CY Goldfinch - During PJ moult

 *** Birds caught at the house = 96 (12) [excludes any same week re-traps]
Blue Tit 10 (6)
Great tit 3 (1)
Coal Tit 8 (1) - 2 adults
Chiffchaff 2 - both 'long-winged' @ 64mm
Robin (3)
Dunnock 1
House Sparrow 1
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 59 (1) - a dozen adults, F=M
Siskin 10 - influx Fri/Sat (6/7th Oct); 8 adults, 2 juvs

Coal Tit - 1CY

Just thought that I'd show some "rear views" for a change. I will be going to be away from the village for much of the next two weeks and therefore ringing at the house will have to be snatched "as and when". However, my pliers will be in use elsewhere!