Summer sunshine

The weather has been good to us; just one morning when we had a heavy shower that brought 11mm in one hour before breakfast. Our garden thermometer has measured a max of 23C to 29C in the shade before 2pm every day since last time.

Following on from the sad tale of the other two Herring Gull chicks, I can report that the third one managed to fledge successfully last week - not before I was able to ring it when it was in the throws of mastering flight. They normally spend two/three days practising when it is possible to throw a towel over them and pick them up.

42 day old Herring Gull chick

The garden nets have been moved around a couple of times, with one always in the bottom of the orchard. The sun has meant an early start and an equally early finish by ringers' standards. With more racks cut out down the meadows by yours truly between garden chores (sweaty work), we were able to give that a couple of goes, too. The net runs have never exceeded 180' at either site so far, giving a max. of four nets operated.

A problem at this time of year, especially if ringing very early or very late in the day, is the possibility of catching, inadvertently, a bat. I did just that and, after disentangling it from the net, I left it to come to its senses on the potting shed door.

Small bat (Pipistrelle?)

I was lucky enough to re-catch the juvenile woodpecker in the garden again. As you can see from the photograph below, "it" (still unable to sex the bird) had just begun its post-juvenile moult. The photo shows the contrast between a new, red, adult under-tail covert and the pink juvenile ones.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker

 "Fairmead" - 113 birds of 17 species, 72 new, 41 retraps (+10 re-handlings): the vast majority were young birds. I haven't caught any Jackdaws this year (yet), but there were >105 sitting on the roof the other night.

Herring Gull - 1, 41 day old chick about to fledge (see above)

Gt. Spotted Woodpecker - (1), the previous juvenile, just starting its first partial moult

Magpie - 1, first juv we've ever caught here

Blue Tit - 9 (4), juvs plus one r/t 2CY moulting female, r/t adult male in heavy moult

Great Tit - 5 (2), juvs

Long-tailed Tit - 1 (5), juvs & 1 r/t adult female

Wren - 2 (1), juvs, probably males (on size)

Blackbird - 10 (1), 8 male & 2 female juvs plus a new 3CY+ male

Robin - 3 (4), 4 juvs, 2 r/t females, 1 r/t male

Dunnock - 3 (3), 2 r/t females, 1 r/t male

House Sparrow - 10 (9), 6 males (1 new), 4 females, the rest = juvs

Pied Wagtail - (3), adults

Chaffinch - 1, a lone 3CY+ male

Bullfinch - 6 (2), 2 new females, 2 new males, 2 old males, 2 juvs

Greenfinch - 4, all males, 1 male 2CY

Goldfinch - 7 (3), 1 r/t male, 1 new male, the rest were unsexed juvs

Siskin - (2), a possible pair

Meanwhile, down the road, our species make-up is profoundly different at this time of year. I got the most enjoyment from re-catching the adult Dipper (below) that was ringed as an adult in May last year. This time it was actively moulting, as can be seen if you study the picture closely. Visible are the contrast between old and new primaries, a row of, as yet, unmoulted median coverts and some new, black feathers appearing in the crown. 

3CY+ Dipper in active moult (mid July)

"Egrove" - 50 birds of 14 species, 42 of which were new birds; all juveniles except where indicated.

Kingfisher - (2),

Blue Tit - 1,

Long-tailed Tit - 4 (1), r/t adult female

Chiffchaff - 4,

Blackcap - 18,

Adult female Blackcap in active moult

Garden Warbler - 1, a sign that they breed 'on site'

Garden Warbler in wholly juvenile plumage
(note the pale grey collar present in the species)

C. Whitethroat - 1, a 3CY+ female with a good brood patch

Wren - 3 (1), inc. a 2CY r/t male

Dipper 1 (1), a 'this year's' young bird and territorial male in full moult (above)

Blackbird - 2 (1), a new 3CY+ female

Song Thrush - 1, the first for the year

Robin - 2, 

Dunnock - 3 (1), only 1 juv, the rest adult males with pronounced cloacal protuberances

Goldfinch - 1 (1), the r/t was an adult male

I don't split the ages of adult Goldfinches into 2CY and 3CY+ at this time of year (May - August) as differentiation in feather age is nigh on impossible. All adults revert to Euring age class 4 anyway after the moult is complete since they all have new flight feathers.

Well, that's that. The contractors are coming in to mow the rest of the hay crop this coming week which should enable us to visit more of this longitudinal site. I will report back when we have some more news to share with you.

Another beginning on the meadows

The sun shone without any rain in the air for 17 days during the last 3 weeks. Now the weather has broken and the hay that hadn't been brought in is flattened. So far it had been a bumper year of top quality hay. There may be a chance for a recovery this coming week. It'll make life easier for us to get around the meadows, that's for sure.

I digress. We, I say we because I can now get out with a trainee as I'm feeling up to it at last, made our first visit of the year to the local meadows yesterday. The work needed to open up some racks, both new and old, is daunting for these old bones though so we started simple - two nets in the trees and one across the stream.

But back to the beginning. I managed some garden ringing, both before and after our week-long trip to Penwith (the tip of Cornwall). Things started very slowly but by the time we got back, there were a lot of young birds independently on the wing. Naturally, quite a few of these succumbed to being ringed or though one or two thought otherwise.

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers are easily recognised; two pointers are visible with the naked eye from a distance. They all have a "red top", whereas the adults are black-capped, and the under-tail coverts are a delicate shade of pink, not 'post office' red. Close up, you can notice a dull eye and small, white tips to the primaries, too.

Neighbour John, from the far end of the village (but a different parish), caught a Kestrel of mine  earlier in the week that was ringed as a full adult male (t'was nesting nearby). It had only shifted 1.8 km in the 331 days since its release. As I haven't seen it hardly at all this year (on my daily, repetitive walk), I assume it has chosen either another nest site or a new bride. On the same day, he ringed 'a large number' of young Blackcaps, one of which was in my hand by the stream on our first outing here 3 days later. The only species we handled that day were Kingfisher, Chiff., Blackcap, Grey Wag., Blackbird & Goldfinch. We did see a Jay and a Little Egret and heard a Dipper.

Aggregated list of 86 new birds ringed plus 13 ringed individuals, excluding the local inter-changes above, covers 19 species.

At long last - a juvenile Siskin

Kingfisher 2 - juvs

Gt. Spotted Woodpecker 2 - a 2CY female and a juv

Rook 1 - see below; 1 of several that come for food daily

Blue Tit 5 (4) - 1 moulting  2011 male; 3 juvs now in post-juv moult

Great Tit 7 (1) - juvs

Long-tailed Tit 17 - mix-and-match juvs

Chiffchaff 2 - juvs

Blackcap 5 - juvs + 2CY male

Wren 6 - juvs; part of a brood?

Blackbird 5 (1) - juvs; 4 girls, 2 boys

Robin 1 (2) - new bird was a juv just starting PJ moult (breast)

Dunnock 3 (1) - new juvs and a breeding female 

House Sparrow 10 - all this week - it's that time of year again! 1 ad. male

Pied Wagtail (1) - juv

Grey Wagtail 1 - a juv.

Chaffinch 1 (1) - juvs

Greenfinch 11 - 6 boys, 4 girls and a grandad

Goldfinch 6 (3) - the r/ts were all 2CY males

Siskin 1 - juv
Just 9 of these birds were adults. I doubt if any of the juveniles has had a chance to move more than a couple of miles yet so far this season. Even the Lottis!

Adult female Rook
This bird was in full wing moult and still had a bare but wrinkled brood patch

I/we look forward to a few decent sessions down on the meadows before the horses are turned loose from their summer paddocks. Although the site is divided into six fields, there are no gates and two fords! This is limiting in what we can usefully do. We'll have to hurry up and catch those young Kingfishers then! We'll let you know.

Someone's first Kingfisher?

Catch up

This brings things up to date. It covers a 12 day period, ending today. I was hoping to include something about the SW Ringers' Conference at Seaton that is on today, but the blessed shingles prevented me from going (more specifically, the pain and the pills). I apologise to those friends I was unable to meet up with; some other time, perhaps?

The first female Chiffchaff - 03/04/14

It has been a period of change. The Goldcrests and Siskins have become less apparent as they set about the task of breeding. The Pied Wagtails are also becoming less reliant on my mealworms now that the water in the stream has subsided. Blackcaps arrived on 24th but a few days passed before I caught one in the garden, by which time several were singing in the local hedgerows. It was noticeable how the Goldfinches, at last, are accumulating fat for onward migration. Chiffs appeared on 28th with a steady trickle of males until a female on the 3rd. Neighbour John was catching Willow Warblers on the 30th but none turned up on this side of the village here until 4th.
  

Male Willow Warbler - first of 2014 for me
(this bird weighed 10.7 grams)

The Robins are the most advanced nesters and must have small young by now. The Blackbirds are a close second but are still sitting. Some of the Dunnocks are still making up their minds while others have laid and the Greenfinches are currently busy nest building, in line with their "cousins", the Bullfinches. The Herring Gulls sit on the chimney stacks in their pairs, shouting at one another morning and evening. A pair of Lesser Black-backs were seen over the rooftops today for the first time.
To the chase. 18 species overall and 94 new birds plus 36 recaptures of previously ringed birds made the books over the 12 days. Escapees were Collared Dove and Rook (they don't stick in small mesh nets). Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Pied Wagtail were all new to this year's ringing list.

2CY male Blackcap (30/03/14)

Woodpigeon (1)
Goldcrest 3 (1) - possibly 2 local breeding pairs
Blue Tit 2 (1)
Great Tit (2) - scarce visitors - a pair
Chiffchaff 8 - all males except the last one
Willow Warbler 1 - male
Blackcap 2 - both males, adult and 2CY
Wren 1 (1) - a new male
Blackbird 1 (1) 
Robin 1 (4) - off duty birds coming to the bird table
Dunnock (2)
House Sparrow 4 (3) - 5 of these were males
Pied Wagtail 1 (2) - a new male and a pair
Chaffinch 5 (2) - 5 males & 3 females (incl. one released unringed)
Greenfinch 4 (1) 
Goldfinch 53 (11) - many birds on passage with good fat scores (F20-F45)
Siskin 8 (3) - mainly caught in their pairs, starting to nest
Bullfinch (1)

2CY male Goldfinch

The only other birding highlights have been a Red Kite over and the return of a pair of Lesser Black-backs. The next few days do not bode well for ringing as the forecast is for much windier conditions with some rain at times. We will just have to be patient.

September comes to a dead end

Well, September wasn't like other years. Partly my fault, I know, having been away for best part of a fortnight. Now the weather has set in and ringing is off the cards.

Bumped in to old Jack (ex Skomer warden that lives up the road) and he told me he had had a 1CY male Woodchat up on St. Peter's fields earlier last month (that's by the church at the other/western end of the village) while I was away. This is my No.1 UK "bogey bird"! B*****! These are 'once a decade' in this large county. I did manage to see the Lesser Grey near Leiston, (Suffolk) though, and add it to my list, as we just happened to be in the town. This was thanks to a tip-off from my first ringing trainee, Paul Oldfield, who I was to spend a couple of days with during the holiday. Later, at Languard Bird Observatory, I met another two ringers who I had helped to train at Sandwich, Nigel Odin & Tim Bagworth, the latter being this year's warden at the Obs. 

Inside Landguard Fort

Dave Odell stayed over after we got back.  He was the county bird recorder for 14 years for Bedfordshire and was lacking Dipper for his year list. A short walk down the road turned this into a positive, and the bird was there the following two days as well. They are always elusive here during August and September (post-breeding moult & dispersal of the young).

Now, back to local goings-on. October has started extremely quiet indeed. The final days of September settled for some outward bound Chiffs and a miscellany of the offspring of what were most probably local breeders. No Blackcaps and no Goldfinches, and a background of Robins advertising their (hoped for) winter territories.

ICY European Robin

Ringing results from the last report to the end of the month:

Blue Tit 7 (1) - a pre-ponderance of small-winged 1CY birds (females??)

Great Tit 1

Chiffchaff 2 - 'dark olive green' males with a 62 wing on the 28th

Wren (1)

Blackbird 1

Robin 1 (3)

Dunnock 3 (1)

Greenfinch (1) +

Goldfinch 18 (11) - all caught over 3 days before we left. X105685, a 4M in post-nuptial moult, was from a snowy January 2011 (unaged). 

Total 33 new birds and 18 re-captures of 9 species

1CY Chiffchaff showing the short primary projection
(compared with the tertials)

One last bit of news - an incoming email and subsequent 'phone call delivered a Hawfinch recovery, some 188 km away in a northerly direction (details not yet received from BTO).

Now to make the most of the bad weather and dye some nets.

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.

They think it's all over

The sun has come out and stays out from dawn 'til dusk. Shade temperatures in the garden have touched 20deg C. and the first of the Apple trees has decided to flower. Not good news for a bird-ringer in two ways - the birds either move off to pastures new, i.e. their breeding territories further north and east, or really get on with the business of nesting in our hedges, trees and shrubs, and, secondly, the nets become very visible in the sunlight, even with a background, except for a short while at each end of the day. 

Bullfinch, adult male

Five different Bullfinches were caught, comprising two pairs and a lone/spare 2CY female. They always reappear when the buds are swelling, just before the Apple trees come into flower. This was also the time period when the Whitethroats appeared; for this (coastal) part of Somerset, they were two to three days later this year than normal. They  seem to disappear in spring but show themselves again in July. The Willow Warblers seemed to stop abruptly on the 27th; the one pictured in the previous blog (re-shewn below) was a late male (25th) that looked quite different from our more normal, yellowy-green birds. 

Common Whitethroat (male)

Well defined head markings and paler rear underparts
(and late date) suggest
  Phylloscopus trochilus acredula

Given the current weather situation (SUN!), one could put in a lot of effort for very little reward. The only times that catching is viable is early morning and late evening. Even so, things can be pretty dire. We will have to think of alternative methods.

The last week's assortment is on record as:

Woodpigeon 1 

Collared Dove 1 - a young bird [Euring 2I] that hatched either at the end of last year or early in this. The only bird ringed so far this month (May).

Chiffchaff 2 - females on the move

Willow Warbler 5 - females, none after 27th

Blackcap 2 (2) - female ringed on 13th weighed 20.4g on 27th 

Garden Warbler 1 - my one and only for the year?

Com. Whitethroat 4 

Starling 1 

Blackbird (3)

Robin 2 (1) - all males on CP

Dunnock (2) - the garden is "over-run" with them

House Sparrow 1 (1)

Pied Wagtail (1)

Chaffinch (1)

Greenfinch 2 (1)

Goldfinch 14 (1) - birds on the move but with little/no fat reserves

Siskin 7 - suspect they are mainly local breeders

Bullfinch 1 (4) - 2 pairs & a spare female

Total (excluding double counting) - 44 new + 17 re-captures of 18 species. 33 species were seen in or over our garden during this period, including the Com. Swifts.

Between myself and John, who rings at the other side of the village, we ringed over 550 new birds of 37 species last month (April). He "grabbed" a Collared Dove, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, (Goldcrest), (Jay), Com. Crossbill (4) and Yellowhammer. For my part, he was "missing" Herring Gull, Woodpigeon (3), Pied Wagtail, Garden Warbler, (Coal Tit), Magpie, Starling (2), Brambling (2), and Linnet. I'm usually the one who misses out on the Linnets.

Egrove Lane - May 2013

As far as the trees are concerned, they've got a lot of catching up to do. Blackthorn not flowering until late April - ridiculous!

I'm am hopeful of returning to the water meadows next week for the summer months and also to go and catch a few Swallows at the stables, if the wind permits. We'll have to wait and see.

Autumn passage

This last week we have noticed that autumn passage seems to have got under way down here. This doesn't mean to say that some passage, especially of warblers, has not been going on for the last two months, but merely that some other species are now being heard, seen and caught. Newly trapped birds have been showing evidence of laying down fat for their onward migration, most likely across the English Channel (La Manche for you francophiles).        

Not a lot of ringing has been done this week but the birding has been interesting. There was an influx of Swallows on Saturday, with much feeding over the meadows. Fortunately, the other half of the hay meadow (across the stream) was cut and left in winrows on the same day. This must have exposed or disturbed much of the insect life that the hirundines then exploited. Where the birds went to roost is a mystery, but it may have been in an area of willow and tall Himalayan Balsam to the north of where we usually ring. The birds were certainly apparent early on when I set up for a session on Sunday.

Swallows 'resting' between feeding bouts on the HT overhead cables.

Early on Sunday morning (ca.7am) 54 CANGOs (les Bernaches du Canada) moved quietly south, presumably to Hawkridge, or even Durleigh, Reservoir. About one hour later, a noisy flock of 73 Canadas returned from that direction. Had they come across a shooting party? Another hour later and over 100 returned, split into six parties of approx 20 each, from the direction of Blue Anchor/ Dunster Beach. What was going on?

Including a few hours netting in the garden, the total for the week reached 14 new birds and 9 retraps of 10 species; not a lot, I know, but the result of a poorer than usual season. Trainee Lizzie was unable to come this weekend but has promised to turn up one day this coming week before I disappear to NW Norfolk for some incoming "Pinkies", etc..

Great Tit (2)
Coal Tit 2 (1)
Chiffchaff 1 (1) - with fat10
Blackcap 2 (1) - 2 males with fat10, female fat25 (ESF)
Blackbird (1)
Robin 1 (2) - new bird had fat10; migrant?
Dunnock 2 (1)
Meadow Pipit 1 - on migration, fat20
Chaffinch 4 - on migration, all fat10
Goldfinch 1


The Meadow Pipit photo clearly shows the pronounced 'tooth' on the (3) juvenile median coverts and the inner greater coverts with their 'indentation' compared to the outer ones that have a more diffuse margin.


One of the other migrants, a 1CY female Chaffinch.

The retrap Blackcap was originally ringed here on 10th July last year as a 3J male. All the other recaptures are, not surprisingly, of this years juveniles.

I am hoping that the hay will be baled today, [it was teddered - that means we can drive between the rows instead] so that I can attempt a ringing session in the 'orchard' and set a tape up for some more Mipits!

          
This is the second of these to be found moving across the lawn this month.

By a babbling brook ...

The stream eating into the bank alongside the 1st net run

At last! Have managed to cut out three of last year's racks so far. The stream is still high (for summer-time) and the crossing points are 2 feet deep or more, thanks to the re-alignment of the stream following the winter and spring floods. Getting over to the 'orchard' side is currently out of the question, since "Bob", a poorly nag, is occupying the 2 acre entrance field which we have to negotiate in order to cross the 'leat' to get to the other side of the water meadows. The problem will go away shortly as the owners have to take a silage cut in the very near future [the grasses are very tall and seeding right now] and access will then be restored.   

Not wanting to waste all that hard work, I put up three nets in said racks. The weather was not at its best for ringing but, nevertheless, I did manage a few birds, namely 13 new and a couple of retraps. It is noticeable that there is a distinct lack of tits this year and that the finches are particularly late in nesting. The warblers are all beginning to sing again, a sign that they are attempting a second or replacement clutch. The only really noticeable birds are the House Martins, Swallows and Swifts, feeding over the meadows, along the hedgerows and skimming the water.     

Jay - doing what Jays do!  Ouch!

 Once more, a modicum of success, especially as it was an afternoon session. Top bird was surely the Jay that was ringed as an adult in the garden 13 months beforehand. The other retrap was a 6 female Blackbird that was ringed in mid-November. All these short-winged Blackbirds seem to stay with us all year; by short-winged I mean 127/128mm when fresh, females generally a tad shorter than the males, as normal.     

Jay (1)
Blue Tit 1
Chiffchaff 2
Blackcap 6
Blackbird (1)
Dunnock 2
House Sparrow 2     

Recently fledged Chiffchaff  (don't know why it flipped)

It is exactly one year since I started ringing down at the water meadows and, looking at my records, I can see that the pace will not pick up here for another two or three weeks. Definitely a dispersal site, where many young birds come and feed up prior to ab-migration.       

i managed to achieve two significant 'tetrad' upgrades for the local county Bird Atlas (in its last year) during my visit. First was a Garden warbler with food for young that also gave me some serious ear-ache. Second was a male Reed Bunting entering a nest on the edge of the stream, this as part of a food pass to its mate and a 'comfort break' for her.

Next, garden chores to catch up on, now that I am feeling better. Mowing, fence repairs and a good bonfire are on the cards. Then it's off to see my disabled brother and my grand-daughter whose birthday I missed. If the weather holds next week, it'll be more ringing and taking the 50-year old front fence down. See you soon.