Wednesday 13th
It was windier than hoped but still okay before thundery and icy showers arrived mid-morning. The attempt was rewarded with a variety of new birds. This included the first juvenile Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tits (8). A new, full adult, Blackbird and a Chiffchaff were unexpected. It will be interesting to see if the colour ringing of the Blackbird helps reveal if it is indeed local. The bird was caught in the heligoland which is one of the few remaining patches of damp, soft, ground. The other new birds were singles of Moorhen and Woodpigeon.
Unsurprisingly, after a very slight increase, House Martins disappeared this afternoon. We usually hope for about 4/5ths of the 19 boxes to be occupied but ther are 3 or 4 at best so far. I hope this pattern is not repeated around the country.
Saturday 9th
An interesting, if sad, Goldfinch movement has been reported. The bird was ringed here on 16th October 2025 and was found freshly dead at Burravoe, Yell, Shetland on 18th April. This is 1,035 km north. It would be difficult (using straight lines) for a bird to do a much longer movement within the UK.
The main activity over the last two days has been nest box checks and 30 Blue Tits, 19 Great Tits, and ten House Sparrow pulli have been ringed.
Friday 8th
The wind dropped and with a strong sun the day quickly warmed up. Eight new birds included the first Reed Warbler of the year and a second Lesser Whitethroat. Amongst the subsequent encounters was a Whitethroat which had been ringed elsewhere in the UK last year.
A Mediterranean Gull with a colour ring was recorded on Restharrow Scrape on 5th May. It had been ringed as a chick last year on 24th June, at De Natte Hond, North Holland.
Wednesday 6th
The wind shifted back to North-East and it was noticeably cooler. This put a stop to migration and ringing yielded nine retraps (three Blue Tits, two each of Robin and Great Tit, plus single Dunnock and Chiffchaff).
Most interest was provided by the start of checks of the nest boxes. Those that are being used are doing well, hopefully this cool snap will not last and the birds will do fine. We ringed a brood of nine Coal Tits - the first to use a nest box on the Estate. We also ringed 36 Great Tits and 17 Blue Tits.
A check of House Sparrow boxes showed that around the Observatory they are finally getting going (about two weeks later than 500 metres down the road at Sandown Road).
The big concern now are House Martins. Although they have been around for nearly three weeks there have been no more than 12. At most only four boxes are being used, maybe they are waiting for this cool wind to go?
Monday 4th
A calm, mild, start to the morning meant a small team could get some nets up. The session was ended mid-morning as a fresh, cool, wind from the sea got up.
There were five new birds, including singles of the usual Chiffchaff and Blackcap, plus the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year. The other two birds were a bit of a surprise as they were both Song Thrushes, but both birds fledged last year.
The first tit pulli of the year were ringed - eight Great Tits.
Saturday 2nd
A rarity last night it rained heavily, if only for 15 minutes. The morning was warm and calm. The trickle of Chiffchaffs (three) and Blackcaps (2) continues along with a single Whitethroat. The interesting bit about the new migrants is that they have healthy fat scores of three or four, not indicative of having done a long journey.
Friday 1st
A drop in the wind, but not quite as much a hoped for, allowed ringing to proceed. It remains very dry. There was little change and the new birds included two each of Blackcap and Whitethroat and singles of Blackbird, Goldfinch, Wren and a juvenile Robin.