Wake up to Whimbrel

The weather hasn't been all that conducive for ringing of late - and probably not for the birds, as well, while many are undergoing their annual moult in preparation for winter or a long journey south. Seven new birds in the garden/orchard and 12 new birds down at the meadows/stream is not a lot to show for eight days at, what should be, peak migration time.

Today, I noticed more Blackcaps around, 'ticcing' from the trees and hedgerows. Yesterday, we were lucky enough to see 14 Whimbrel just after dawn, in-off the Bristol Channel on their way to some resting and feeding spot further south. The birds were calling and flying in line-astern. The most noticeable event of the week was the number of newly fledged, and, as yet, unmoulted juvenile Wrens, six in all (or 25% of the catch!)

The lists: 

House - Blue Tit 1, Chiffchaff 1, Wren 3, Blackbird 1, House Sparrow (1) & Goldfinch 1. Every bird was a juvenile.

Juvenile Whitethroat

Farm - Kingfisher (2), Blue Tit 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 1 + a control, Whitethroat 1, Wren 3, Robin 1, Dunnock 1.

Juvenile (female) Kingfisher [retrap]

Again, all juveniles except the controlled Blackcap, which was an adult male and just over half way through its wing-moult. [Y922nnn if anybody's interested]

As I have family duties to attend to over the next three days, it will be the weekend before we get another chance for ringing or birding. I've also been told that the badger cull starts hereabouts next week, with pre-baiting already on the go.

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.

All shipped out? Not quite!

It's been a week since my last post and a good week it's been. The weather has been bright and sunny for much of the time, if a little breezy. The trees are just thinking about sprouting leaves and, surprise,surprise, the Blackthorn is flowering (6-8 weeeks later than normal)

On Friday last, it was very clear and we finished with cloudless skies that evening and a light westerly; ringing had been slow and so it was to prove the next day as well. Migration had been going on at high level but, conversely, must also have been taking place to the south of us. Sunday and Monday proved the point with an influx of Willow Warblers, after four days of virtually none. It also signalled the "change-over" between the sexes, this time females dominating the catches. 

Willow Warbler

Blackcaps have also seen an increase in the numbers of females coming through, but there are still some very heavy (high fat scores) males passing by, obviously "tanked up" for a long journey ahead of some 200 - 300 miles non-stop  - or possibly more.

"Extra large" male Blackcap

We have also had a steady trickle of Siskins, probably of local residence, coming to the Nyger seed tray and feeders. There have been a couple of females showing good signs of developing a proper brood patch, but on the other hand, a couple of males with full tracheal pits, surely a sign of on-going migration.

Siskin - 2CY male

The main attraction for me, as you all know by now, is the build up of King Harrys (Carduelis carduelis). This started in the middle of last week and is starting to gather pace. It should continue for another couple of weeks. This year, migration is likely to be condensed into just three weeks, instead of a more normal five to six week spread, purely because spring has been delayed somewhat this year [we reckon by about three weeks].

Adult female Goldfinch

The one surprise - a male Starling. There are a few pairs nesting in the village but not many. They visit the garden either to collect nest material or to raid the bird table or the vegetable plot for food for their mate/young. This was only the third to receive some bling here. Many moons ago, we used to visit winter roost sites at night and pluck a sample, and any bird with a ring on, by hand from their perches. Messy job. They're not called "flying s**t" for nothing. 

Adult male Starling in breeding plumage
(ready for the off)

To sum it all up, here's the list for the week:
Woodpigeon 1

Blue Tit 1 (2)

Coal Tit (1) - a broody female

Chiffchaff 1

Willow Warbler 32 (+ 1 control)

Blackcap 16 (6)

Starling 1

Blackbird 3 (2)

Robin (3)

Dunnock 1 (3)

House Sparrow 7 (1)

Chaffinch 1 (+ 'pegleg')

Greenfinch 5 (1)

Goldfinch 29 (5)

Siskin 13

Bullfinch 1 - a 2CY female

Total - 112 (24), 16 species

Other birds seen in the garden included Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Collared Dove (nesting), Magpie, Rook, Jackdaw, Swift, Great Tit, Swallow, House Martin, Wren (2 singing males), Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail (min 2 pairs), as well as the neighbouring Herring Gulls (2 pairs nest building) now joined by a pair of Lesser Black-back Gulls.

Bee Fly spp.
(found clinging to the net)

Down the lane, I also picked up my first Sand Martin, Common Whitethroat, Little Owl and Kestrel. A lone Little Egret reconnoiters the stream daily.

It's predicted to turn much colder next week with northerly winds again, so 'fingers crossed'.